[Dgizzi]

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages

A BIG advantage of the older homes around Spanish Springs is that their bond is either paid off or nearly so.

When you purchase a newly built home, it comes with a bond that you are obligated to pay, in annual installments added to your property tax bill. The bond amount is around $40,000 or so, and is additional to the price of the home.

With pre-owned homes, annual payments were being made. The older the home, the more payments that were made. Some homes may have even paid off the bond. So when you purchase an older home, your bond obligation is reduced or eliminated. In the historic section, there is no bond.

Your bond depends on lots of factors. $40,000 is not the average. Live in monarch grove. Ours was $30,000. I know some that are less. But I would rather pay that and be around newer stores and landscaping and new everything. Spanish spring looks run down and old.

[tophcfa]

All I can say is to spend some time there. It is not like other places in the Villages. Very warm and fuzzy and friendly atmosphere. My wife and I made an offer on a home there but it did not work out. Even though we finally winded up getting a home elsewhere, we go there often and love every visit.

[Neils]

Originally Posted by jebartle

No bond in lake County also.

Their IS bond in Pine Hills. lake County

[jebartle]

Originally Posted by Neils

Their IS bond in Pine Hills. lake County

Ooops, no bond for Lady lake, fl., lake county, village of La Zamora.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by justjim

OP, as I’m sure you found out if you want a new construction home they are south of State Rt 44. The only exception would be in the Historical section (east of 441). Those on TOTV who live there can report if that is still being done. Frankly it’s been several months since I visited the Historical side of The Villages. A year or two ago the Developer was buying up older mobile homes and building a number of site built homes in that area of The Villages. The area you speak about near Spanish Springs is a mix of site built homes, some Villas, some condos.and some manufacture homes. Some prefer them because they generally have fewer deed restrictions. Some of these homes have been updated and some haven’t. Lots of choices of various homes in The Villages. Something for everyone and generally in every price category.

New homes are still being built here although the building has slowed.

One advantage over here is that you can use any builder that you want. You don't have to use The Villages.

There are a few different ways that new homes are being built. At first, The Villages bought up a bunch of manufactured homes that were on the market, removed them and built new home on those sites. I have one of those.

Secondly, some people that owned manufactured homes had them removed and built new site built homes or replaced them with newer manufactured homes.

Some people bought manufactured homes and had them removed and built new homes.

I believe that The Villages may have bought some and had them removed and are now selling the lots. I think that in those cases you do have to use The Villages builders and have one of their models built.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

There are some people in District 11 that would disagree with you.

It may be a Lady Lake ordinance and not all of Lake County.

[Bay Kid]

Mature beauty.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Inspector Mark

One of the best concepts of The Villages is the villages. The various housing styles and price points allow people to move into an area where they fit in socially and economically. I would not feel comfortable with a $300,000 home in a neighborhood with million dollar homes. I would not fit in nor could I keep up with their life style.

My goal is to move into a neighborhood where I can meet and have many friends that are in basically the same position as I

That being said, I have driven all through Orange Blossom and though it was quite nice. The trick is to do as much research as you can to find a village that you can afford and where you think you might fit in.

had something to do with a person’s wealth or social status couldn’t be farther from the truth , many people here didn’t want a big house or had one and don’t want one anymore and for those who do want them the million dollar houses are a small part of the villages , and most people are not going to feel out of place socializing and if you do it’s either your fault or there’s, I’m a single man could I have a million dollar house yes would I want one no .

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

had something to do with a person’s wealth or social status couldn’t be farther from the truth , many people here didn’t want a big house or had one and don’t want one anymore and for those who do want them the million dollar houses are a small part of the villages , and most people are not going to feel out of place socializing

agree.....this place is a great melting pot
met a ton of great people and have never asked about their net worth

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by SugarBear

The area between 466A and SR44 is in fact the highest priced area in all of The Villages. We purchased 2 homes in this area since 2014. Last one purchased in June 2017 for 455K and sold this past October for 635K. No other area in TV has appreciated as much.
Knowing we have reached the peak of the bubble here in TV we are using the profit and building on the coast in SW Florida.

Wow. You must be really rich.

I know the folks over in Sarasota will be really impressed when you buy a nice big house over there.

I think that each home here is a castle, a haven, a beautiful place to enjoy life and it really doesn't matter how big it is or how little it is...or how much it costs. We all have the same amenities and the same fun things available. People do not seem to care whether your home is big or small or if you had an impressive career before you arrived here. It is one of the things I love about The Villages.

[John_W]

What is the attraction of the historic section?

If you live in any other area of TV, you won't even know the historic section is there. I've never played the golf course, it would take me close to an hour by cart each way and I've got 8 other championship courses with 25 minutes by cart. If I want to eat at country club, I have all those for that as well. I've driven through the historic side a couple of times just to see what it was like. Otherwise I don't even know it's there. If you don't plan on living there, don't even think about it.

The Spanish Springs square I to go to regular for a couple of years if the band playing was one I wanted to see, or go to the movie theater if the film was only playing there. I think the last time I had to do that was for Gone Girl, that was only there and shouldn't have been, the lines were out the door. Now that's been refurbished it should be good when it reopens. I've been to enough Cruise-ins that I don't need to see anymore and I prefer watching the bands at LSL or BW much better. The only time I get over to the area of town is for the shopping on 441. Kohls, Sams Club, Walmart, Target and the restaurants, Outback is my favorite. Maybe once a month, twice at the most, otherwise I hanging out around Colony, Trailwinds, Traverse and BW and LSL.

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by DaveGodin

I do not see any deficiencies in the historic area. We built a house here on a vacant lot 2 years ago, are satisfied with our choice, and have no intention of moving.
There are advantages to the area.
1). easy access to grocery stores. Two Publix, a Winn Dixie, Walmart, and Aldi all within easy golf cart access. The publix and winn dixie are less than 2 miles from my house.
2). Other shopping. Lowes, ACE hardware, Belk, Target, and numerous other stores are very close.
3). quieter streets. You don't pass through the historic area to go somewhere else. This makes it easier to drive around in a golf cart as well as run, bike or walk on the roads.
4). Two adult pools and a family pool within 2 miles. (also a premium pool at Orange Blossom Golf Course
5). Plenty of golf. Two executive and one Championship just in the historic area and more nearby.
6). Healthcare is close (even if you don't like the Villages Hospital.
po
I could go on.

Dave G.

Indeed! And in addition to all of that good stuff no one I know here is trying to compete with anyone else's lifestyle - there's no keeping up with the Jones' whoever they may be! We're friendly, helpful, accepting, funny and fun loving! Sure we probably have our share of grouches and folks who think they "own" chairs at their favorite pool - but they help us appreciate our other neighbors as well as what we have here! And the best way to meet us is to invite us to a bring your own chair/beverage to a driveway party as soon as you are almost settled - masks required!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by DaveGodin

I do not see any deficiencies in the historic area. We built a house here on a vacant lot 2 years ago, are satisfied with our choice, and have no intention of moving.
There are advantages to the area.
1). easy access to grocery stores. Two Publix, a Winn Dixie, Walmart, and Aldi all within easy golf cart access. The publix and winn dixie are less than 2 miles from my house.
2). Other shopping. Lowes, ACE hardware, Belk, Target, and numerous other stores are very close.
3). quieter streets. You don't pass through the historic area to go somewhere else. This makes it easier to drive around in a golf cart as well as run, bike or walk on the roads.
4). Two adult pools and a family pool within 2 miles. (also a premium pool at Orange Blossom Golf Course
5). Plenty of golf. Two executive and one Championship just in the historic area and more nearby.
6). Healthcare is close (even if you don't like the Villages Hospital.

I could go on.

Dave G.

I also have a newer home on this side. I agree with everything here although I would rather play some of the other golf courses. But there are plenty within a short golf cart ride.

We also have the best pool tables in The Villages. The good pool players love to come and play on the old tables over here.

There's a great mix of people as well from those living in inexpensive manufactured homes to those who have built large expensive homes and we all get along well.

Another advantage is that if you want to come here and buy a lot, you can put any kind of house that you want on it. You don't have to use The Villages builders, not that I have anything against them, I own a Villages built home. That makes it look much less cookie cutter. Eventually, most of the manufactured homes will be gone and there will be a wide variety of site built homes.

Also there is no bond in the town of Lady Lake.

People have also commented that they like the mature vegetation. Then again, some people like everything new looking.

It's all about what you like and what you can afford.

[andercat]

We have one of the best jig saw puzzle exchanges at Silver Lake Rec Center. Huge selection. I haven't been since the Covid shut down. I now have a bunch of puzzles to donate to the supply.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I also have a newer home on this side. I agree with everything here although I would rather play some of the other golf courses. But there are plenty within a short golf cart ride.

We also have the best pool tables in The Villages. The good pool players love to come and play on the old tables over here.

There's a great mix of people as well from those living in inexpensive manufactured homes to those who have built large expensive homes and we all get along well.

Another advantage is that if you want to come here and buy a lot, you can put any kind of house that you want on it. You don't have to use The Villages builders, not that I have anything against them, I own a Villages built home. That makes it look much less cookie cutter. Eventually, most of the manufactured homes will be gone and there will be a wide variety of site built homes.

Also there is no bond in the town of Lady Lake.

People have also commented that they like the mature vegetation. Then again, some people like everything new looking.

It's all about what you like and what you can afford.

Shhh - It's not a secret if everyone knows.