[Pturner]

Originally Posted by cats12470

So good to read your posts.... we are so ready if we can get things done on the "moving" end.... so many ends to tie up etc.... we go from wanting a Villa to a home... we want to get away from the yard work and the maintance to keep it up.... the expense of having it sprayed and replacing things when they die etc.... so that is why the Villa... the Villa is not as big as we would like... and the other thing is the garage... guess we will make a decision soon... so many nice people in the Villages we just can't wait to get there and meet new friends.... someone sent me a note saying they heard nightmare stories about keeping the maintance of your neighbors etc..... we have never heard anything like this... they said it was written in their contracts..... anyone else know what this is all about?

Hi Cats, I didn't understand your question about keeping the maintenance of your neighbors. Could you elaborate on what you heard? Thanks.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by cats12470

So good to read your posts.... we are so ready if we can get things done on the "moving" end.... so many ends to tie up etc.... we go from wanting a Villa to a home... we want to get away from the yard work and the maintance to keep it up.... the expense of having it sprayed and replacing things when they die etc.... so that is why the Villa... the Villa is not as big as we would like... and the other thing is the garage... guess we will make a decision soon... so many nice people in the Villages we just can't wait to get there and meet new friends.... someone sent me a note saying they heard nightmare stories about keeping the maintance of your neighbors etc..... we have never heard anything like this... they said it was written in their contracts..... anyone else know what this is all about?

I didn't understand the bit about the neighbors either. On the subject of size and maintenance, we have a Camellia, almost 2000 sq. ft. but the lot is small and the lawn cost per month is a little over fifty dollars, for cutting, weeding and trimming. So if you yard is small it really doesn't cost a lot to maintain it.

[cats12470]

I will try and find the email that "someone" sent me about the area maintance you need to do....it was "strange"....but wanted to see if anyone knew what these people are talking about.... I opened it on my phone so I will search for it.... I'm glad no one knows what I am talking about.... seems to me someone might be angry with the Villages about something.... no one can please us all.. I just want to move to the Villages... we love it.... hope to be in a home by end of Summer..... cats

[cats12470]

We can't seem to find a home with any sq. ft. for the price we want to spend in the Villages.... Del Webb seems to have more sq. ft. for the money... anyone know anything about that area? I think it's about 5 miles from the Villages....we so want to be in the Villages but bond really raises our payment.... hope it's ok to ask about another area here.... I figure you people know more than anyone about all of this.... such a big decision.... Thanks in advance...

[bike42]

I'm sure Del Webb has its fans, as do Stonecrest, Harbor Hills and all the rest -- but being NEAR The Villages is no substitute for being IN The Villages. If the bond is a big issue for you, check on pre-owned homes in Lake County that have no bond, or other listings that have bond paid off or a very low balance.

[Russ_Boston]

If you're concerned about bond why not look at used. In the older sections many resales have bonds paid off or very low balance. I'm not familiar with the Del Webb property.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by cats12470

We can't seem to find a home with any sq. ft. for the price we want to spend in the Villages.... Del Webb seems to have more sq. ft. for the money... anyone know anything about that area? I think it's about 5 miles from the Villages....we so want to be in the Villages but bond really raises our payment.... hope it's ok to ask about another area here.... I figure you people know more than anyone about all of this.... such a big decision.... Thanks in advance...

Cats. I think that you will need to see the other areas so you can decide for yourself. I know we could have had a bigger house somewhere near, but it doesn't have the LIFESTYLE. Yes, you can come to the squares, and eat at the restaurants but the rest of it is not available.

Look it all over and then decide and I hope you will be very happy no matter what you choose.

[cats12470]

You are all so helpful.... I have to agree about living IN the Villages... my husband is so concerned about the bond.... so I am trying to see how to handle that..... and your right.... "looking" at other areas just might be the trick... thanks again.... your all great....LOVE LOVE LOVE this site...

[getdul981]

When I talked to someone at Citizens First Wholesale Mortgage, I asked if the bond could be put into the monthly mortgage payment and paid annually out of the escrow account. He assured me that it could as could the insurance. This is much like how we do taxes and insurance here in VA. You might mention this to your husband. It's not like you have to pay the entire bond all at once.

[ssmith]

Cats, not to be a party pooper ...but I would go to the Search at the top .of this forum..there has been other posts about Del Webb and see what they say... One that stands out to me was someone's post that their parents bought near the villages...Maybe Stonecrest tho..of course for the bigger home and 8 months later sold so they could be in the Villages. That ended up costing them in the long run...with Realtors and all... I know it is not for everybody being in the Villages. It is about the Lifestyle...often not about the house. Most of the fun is what you can do and not about staying at home. Just a few more thoughts on the matter. Happy hunting!!!

[kentucky blue]

TV is all about Lifestyle, sooooooooooooooooooooo much going on ,with a core of terrific people.BUT anybody who attempts to dismiss the bond, is just kidding themselves.It's a very real expense that should be considered in any offer you make. To pay 7% interest in these times in this market, is almost usury, and for 30 years, it's basically an all interest payment.Just do your homework and you'll find the home of your dreams in TV, with a bond you can live with, or better yet, no bond at all..

[BobKat1]

Originally Posted by cats12470

We can't seem to find a home with any sq. ft. for the price we want to spend in the Villages.... Del Webb seems to have more sq. ft. for the money... anyone know anything about that area? I think it's about 5 miles from the Villages....we so want to be in the Villages but bond really raises our payment.... hope it's ok to ask about another area here.... I figure you people know more than anyone about all of this.... such a big decision.... Thanks in advance...

cats, when we were doing our research I stumbled on a couple of forums that focused on some of the communities in the area. They weren't anywhere as active as TOTV, but you can get feel for the people and the pros and cons of the community.

A Google search might help to find them, it's been a while and I didn't save any information on them.

[graciegirl]

I have THIS to say about the pesky bond. If you just kinda think of it as part of the price of the house it is easier to swallow. For instance, I think you can buy a Camellia for about 230K and add about 20K for the bond. You can either pay it off when you buy or pay it yearly. We were advised to pay it yearly because YES, you will sell that house and buy again because you will know a little better about wanting A. A bigger house, B A smaller house, C on water, D, not on water etc. etc. It is easier to move in TV, people do it all of the time.

Now Just think that your new, or used Camellia costs 250K and get on with it. Add more money for a view, or privacy, subtract if you want a smaller house and add if you want a bigger house. It doesn't matter a whole lot or not at all in price if the house is north or south of 466. The older houses have things added to them that you may or may not like.

If you are a nice person who likes to sit and have a glass of wine and laugh until your sides ache, please move close to us G's. We live in Hadley with a lot, but not all, of wonderful people.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I have THIS to say about the pesky bond. If you just kinda think of it as part of the price of the house it is easier to swallow. For instance, I think you can buy a Camellia for about 230K and add about 20K for the bond. You can either pay it off when you buy or pay it yearly. We were advised to pay it yearly because YES, you will sell that house and buy again because you will know a little better about wanting A. A bigger house, B A smaller house, C on water, D, not on water etc. etc. It is easier to move in TV, people do it all of the time.

Now Just think that your new, or used Camellia costs 250K and get on with it. Add more money for a view, or privacy, subtract if you want a smaller house and add if you want a bigger house. It doesn't matter a whole lot or not at all in price if the house is north or south of 466. The older houses have things added to them that you may or may not like.

If you are a nice person who likes to sit and have a glass of wine and laugh until your sides ache, please move close to us G's. We live in Hadley with a lot, but not all, of wonderful people.

Gracie the Sage strikes the perfect chord again!

[kentucky blue]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I have THIS to say about the pesky bond. If you just kinda think of it as part of the price of the house it is easier to swallow. For instance, I think you can buy a Camellia for about 230K and add about 20K for the bond. You can either pay it off when you buy or pay it yearly. We were advised to pay it yearly because YES, you will sell that house and buy again because you will know a little better about wanting A. A bigger house, B A smaller house, C on water, D, not on water etc. etc. It is easier to move in TV, people do it all of the time.

Now Just think that your new, or used Camellia costs 250K and get on with it. Add more money for a view, or privacy, subtract if you want a smaller house and add if you want a bigger house. It doesn't matter a whole lot or not at all in price if the house is north or south of 466. The older houses have things added to them that you may or may not like.
.

Gracie, that's a good way to price homes in TV. In my area, if you go to a real estate auction and are the final bidder, at say $300,000, you must pay a buyers premiun of 10%.The house actually cost you $330,000, i HATE those buyers premiuns.Art auctions really kill you with their commission rates, but it's the same principle, final bid price is not your final cost.The contract price of your home in TV is not the final price , add the bond to get the REAL price of your home .