[optv13sp]

My husband and I will be coming to TV in December to start house hunting... a new or pre owned. We prefer to be in a village directly north or south of 466A (Hemingway, Duval, Sanibel, Fernandina, etc.) Our concern is that we are in our late 60s/early 70s and we wonder if we would be older than most in those villages. The other question we have is...when is the best time to buy? We are flexible and can buy immediately or wait. Are there more homes on the market in season or off season? Is there a difference in price in season vs off season? Thanks in advance because I know I'll get a lot of good advice.

[missypie]

I can only comment on age. If you are between 50 and 127 years of age, you fit in nicely.

[teachnmo]

I would buy it during the "slow" time in The Villages after temporary residents have went back North. April through August would get you a better deal on a resale house. New houses prices tend to raise a little in late fall. Not any give on them unless they are closing out a neighborhood and want to get rid of it.

As I said just from personal experience.

[gomoho]

There are way more houses for sale in the fall and winter. Not sure you would get the best price during that time, but definitely the best selection.

[JackieandCharlie]

Originally Posted by missypie

I can only comment on age. If you are between 50 and 127 years of age, you fit in nicely.

I love this answer!

[mar/bob]

Originally Posted by dlloltv

My husband and I will be coming to TV in December to start house hunting... a new or pre owned. We prefer to be in a village directly north or south of 466A (Hemingway, Duval, Sanibel, Fernandina, etc.) Our concern is that we are in our late 60s/early 70s and we wonder if we would be older than most in those villages. The other question we have is...when is the best time to buy? We are flexible and can buy immediately or wait. Are there more homes on the market in season or off season? Is there a difference in price in season vs off season? Thanks in advance because I know I'll get a lot of good advice.

Hello, We are in the same boat as you only you are a little ahead of us.
We are mid 60's and waiting till May 2013 for retirement. All the folks at TV
are wonderful. Once you have been to TV your sick till you can be there
permanently. Have fun and all villages are great.

Mar/Bob

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by missypie

I can only comment on age. If you are between 50 and 127 years of age, you fit in nicely.

GREAT ANSWER!!!!!

Originally Posted by mar/bob

Hello, We are in the same boat as you only you are a little ahead of us.
We are mid 60's and waiting till May 2013 for retirement. All the folks at TV
are wonderful. Once you have been to TV your sick till you can be there
permanently. Have fun and all villages are great.

Mar/Bob

So True!!!!!

[ijusluvit]

A friend up North has been studying the TV housing situation carefully for the last couple of years. He is so convinced that demand and prices are going up right now that he left a month earlier than planned yesterday. He is intent on buying, probably a resale, but a new build if he must.

There was another price increase on new builds recently, and I understand sales are getting very brisk.

Good Luck. When you finally join us I'll bet you'll agree you should have done it sooner!

[misky]

Originally Posted by dlloltv

My husband and I will be coming to TV in December to start house hunting... a new or pre owned. We prefer to be in a village directly north or south of 466A (Hemingway, Duval, Sanibel, Fernandina, etc.) Our concern is that we are in our late 60s/early 70s and we wonder if we would be older than most in those villages. The other question we have is...when is the best time to buy? We are flexible and can buy immediately or wait. Are there more homes on the market in season or off season? Is there a difference in price in season vs off season? Thanks in advance because I know I'll get a lot of good advice.

I made six trips to TV before I bought. I looked at homes each time I was down. I checked home prices on a regular basis also through the internet. I did not see any significant increases/decreases based on the time of year.

[Happy-Go-Lucky]

Originally Posted by dlloltv

My husband and I will be coming to TV in December to start house hunting... a new or pre owned. We prefer to be in a village directly north or south of 466A (Hemingway, Duval, Sanibel, Fernandina, etc.) Our concern is that we are in our late 60s/early 70s and we wonder if we would be older than most in those villages. The other question we have is...when is the best time to buy? We are flexible and can buy immediately or wait. Are there more homes on the market in season or off season? Is there a difference in price in season vs off season? Thanks in advance because I know I'll get a lot of good advice.

We are selling our home in Polo Ridge. See pics and detailed info here on TOTV Real Estate Section under the heading: Home for Sale or Trade.

We're in Polo Ridge. LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!! Near banking, restaurants, Walmart, Publix, Bob Evans...etc etc. Check it out..plus we have a very lowwwww bond.

[Figuringitout]

We just closed last Friday on a home in Mira Mesa, we love the old area it is very homey, with lots of trees. We rented for 2 months Aug. & Sept., and went to many open houses, that helped us figure out what area and house model was right for us. We bought an older designer house,two other things to consider in buying is age of house and bond balance. Insurance in FL is different then in the north, because our house is older we pay more insurance, but we do not have a bond balance.

I have watched the market here for the last 3 years it does seem to be going up a little, the selection also seems better now than when we got here in August. It appears new people coming in want to be in the new areas, I think it depends on you and what you want to be close to. People told us the younger retirees like Lake Sumter, but we like both squares and live a little closer to Spanish Springs. I think just being here will help you figure it out, we were told people move 3 times within the Villages we don't expect to do that , way too much work. Good luck on your search.

[cgalloway6]

If you are going to look at new construction, the sooner the better. There was a 3% price increase in May then in August another $1000, Sept another $800, Oct another $600. These varied by model but for the Gardenia, this was the increase. The monthly increases were due to increases in the materials - drywall, concrete, lumber, paint, etc.

[shcisamax]

My rep had told me that a lot of buying goes on in March and April because all those snow birds are revved up having been down for the winter and they don't ever want to leave But I don't know if there is a less expensive time to buy. Judging from the increases that have occurred in the past six months, it doesn't look like it is going to be going down. And if new builds are going up, at some point, the resales will naturally follow.

[Geewiz]

I just bought this week (a new CYV in St. James with a sellers close-out discount)....I was told starting in mid-October the sales office gets crazier and crazier as the snowbirds come down. Remember, there are internal pressures driving demand/price as well as external factors. Right now, Citizen's is offering a 30/yr at 3.5%. Demand for Villages' properties has always been high...but, somewhat controlled because many folks couldn't unload their old homes. Depending on where you are this may be changing...and as a macro trend it appears that housing is starting to turn around. More buyers equal more demand equal higher prices. Of course, none of this is in stone and trends can reverse...that's why markets exist. These are real personal decisions and no one can give you a safe right answer. What I can tell you...is that in the few days that I've been here, I've yet to find anyone regretting their decision to move down. Hope that helps!

[jebartle]

Any pre-owned in Lake County, NO BOND, save anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 and you may find that many options have been added, and another plus, if you should go NORTH of 466 (Village of LaZamora) you will hit the jackpot of WONDERFUL neighbors, (so sorry, just a little prejudice)