[wlou]

We all know that when you purchase a home here in TV, your "water view"is not guaranteed and you sign a plot map saying you understand that. My question is, anyone have actual experience with buying a "waterview" home only to have their lake ( pond really! ) dry up? I thought I read that one actually did dry up north of 466, but do not know that for sure and wonder if anyone else has had it happen? We pay a lot to enjoy the water views and hope it keeps as a great resale tool, but if it dries up, you lose a lot of that value...Let me hear from you IF it has actually happened to you or your neighbor..I would think that a lot of the folks contemplating buying would really love to know also......Thanks!

[Bryan]

In The Village of Alhambra (off of El Camino Real across from the Savannah Center) the pond near our village entrance suffered from a sinkhole and drained out overnight (this was six months ago or so). The sinkhole was so bad that they actually had to repave several lanes of El Camino Real (the pond if right next to the road on one side and surrounded by "water view" lots in Alhambra on the other three). The repairs did not alleviate the problem totally so it because a "swamp view" with lots of new growth sticking up out of the two or three inches of water now in the pond. About two months ago, they tried another repair effort which, so far, seems to be working better. The water level is back to pretty much normal and seems to be holding - only time will tell. I actually have no idea if any of the two dozen or so homes bordering this pond went on the market while the pond was having all the troubles.

[EdV]

I belive this is a picture of it:

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/23504162

[downeaster]

There are two retention ponds on Talleyridge opposite the Bell Aire postal facility that dry up on occasion. I believe this is in part due to irrigation use. They also seem to pump them full when heavy rain is expected. Only a few houses back up to them and I do not know if they were ever billed as water view.
There is an upside to this fluctuation. The bird life there changes as levels rise and fall.

[wlou]

Thanks guys, just trying to get a feel as to how often this has actually happened....

[Russ_Boston]

Even if it dried up they wouldn't have 'kissing lanais'. Grated, maybe the premium shouldn't be so high but still nice to have space in the back. I'd risk it.

[diskman]

Originally Posted by wlou

Thanks guys, just trying to get a feel as to how often this has actually happened....

I believe water=Alligator

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by diskman

I believe water=Alligator

Actually, for me far more disturbing would be water=snake (especially poisonous). Our realtor lives on a pond and ended up with a water moccasin in his laundry room!!! No thanks.

[gemorc]

Rumor has it that a lake view was totally lost on the Lopez Golf Course. It seem a large pond, small lake, disappeared on the Erin Glen course. It was located around #2 and #3 holes. I have been told that the present plot waivers are a result of TV having to reimburse the the land owners, who paid top dollar, for a lake view.

[dolpterry]

I hope people realize that the lake view property in the villages are just retention ponds that have to be built by the developers. These ponds will dry up at certain times of the year and if they dont you are more then likely in a wet low lying area. Since this area is stagent and not cirulating it is a breeding place for mosquitos. And you have to pay extra for this?

[Donna2]

Originally Posted by dolpterry

I hope people realize that the lake view property in the villages are just retention ponds that have to be built by the developers. These ponds will dry up at certain times of the year and if they dont you are more then likely in a wet low lying area. Since this area is stagent and not cirulating it is a breeding place for mosquitos. And you have to pay extra for this?

LOL I just love a pragmatic viewpoint.

[HMLRHT1]

We have a pond view and it does get lower at certain times of the year. But we have not had many if any mosquitoes. Also I was told the lakes, ponds, retention basins are sprayed periodically to destroy alot of the larva.

[uujudy]

I have noticed that they use Gambusia fish to keep the mosquitoes under control. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquitofish
If you look in the stream with the little bridge at Spanish Springs you'll notice the minnow-type gambusia fish in the water. It would make sense for them to use the same fish throughout The Villages.

We live on a pond, and I've seen exactly 2 mosquitoes at our villa in the 1 1/2 years we've been here. The only spraying I ever see is for the algal blooms we occasionally have on the very hot days. Anyone who has ever maintained even a small patio pond knows how much maintenance goes with it. I'm amazed that our ponds in The Villages are so lovely all year long.

The wildlife they attract is one of the reasons we chose a water view. We see herons, egrets, ibis, wood storks, eagles, osprey, kingfishers, ducks, anhingas, turtles, and many more -- all from our lanai. We also see an occasional gator, but to get to our house he'd have to climb through the bushes, scale a 4 foot wall, and then climb over a short fence. There are many other tasty treats that are easier for him to catch than my kitties on the lanai.

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by dolpterry

I hope people realize that the lake view property in the villages are just retention ponds that have to be built by the developers. These ponds will dry up at certain times of the year and if they dont you are more then likely in a wet low lying area. Since this area is stagent and not cirulating it is a breeding place for mosquitos. And you have to pay extra for this?

If our water dried up no worries.
There would still be a nice preserve.

And to those who scorn the water or preserve we say
kiss my lanai.
L&L

[jojo]

My worry was the opposite of the pond drying up. When we first moved in, Tropical Fay came along and dumped 14 inches of rain in a short time. I called The Villages because the water was rising precipitously. I was assured that we would see the irrigation system going on the golf course in the midst of the deluge and that is what happened.