[CarolSells]

.

[kstew43]

we are also in the process of attempting to buy in the villages. as a broward county florida realtor I know the rules when dealing with buyers and sellers.

when I take a listing I get all the info myself, excluding insurance, and have that prepared before the listing appointment with the sellers, so I can verify the actual with the sellers reality.

but as a buyer, working with the VLS or MLS realtors, I get a lot of possibly, probably and the best...we won't know that till just before closing when you get the HUD statement, need the info when you make an offer and a counter......Hud is way too late.....

guess what, I want to be a smart, prepared buyer, and I also need all the facts on everything, new or resale so I can compare bond, no bond and amouts and go with my best house value.

I am a informed buyer......BUT, most realtors VLS or MLS are Salespeople and push the "lifestyle" so high that even I, sometimes get lost and forget to stop and look at the reality of the financials.

Remember, realtors are salesman/woman, and we only get paid $$ if you buy......from us....so naturally we push, but I do believe that some agents who sell in the villages push really hard on the lifestyle and slide thru the money issues. I mean really, 3 city centers, music ever day, free golf.....I'm sold...Bonds, IRS, ect.....who cares...where do I sign...

My best advise, go in with your eyes Wide Open, and if you don't get the answers you feel you need, or the answers are all vague, you are Never locked into working with a realtor, switch to someone you think your can trust.

The internet county tax appraiser records should be your best friend when your buying a resale and access is available to anyone with a street address. New homes are tricky, tax records can't help there, but thats when neighbors may be able to help, plus realtors have all access you could ever need. Never accept probably....or around......

Just the Facts....Mam.....and only the facts.....

[Indy-Guy]

Originally Posted by CarolSells

We really are not akin to used car salesmen.

Having been an Automobile salesman for 40 years before retiring to The Villages. I always felt I had more integrity than most Realtor s that I have met.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Indy-Guy

Having been an Automobile salesman for 40 years before retiring to The Villages. I always felt I had more integrity than most Realtor s that I have met.

.....

[DougB]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

.....

Inquiring minds want to know.

[rubicon]

I wanted to pay off my bond and they indicted I could when I initially closed. when I went to pay it TV clerks told me it could only be paid off every July. We did pay it off that following July.

the low interests rates we thank the Fed
The concern in the bond market we can thank the Fed

the Fed's QE does make Wall Streeters richer. However it is having an adverse affect on Main Streeters and is doing nothing to boost the economy.

Now I feel better getting that off my chest

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Indy-Guy

Having been an Automobile salesman for 40 years before retiring to The Villages. I always felt I had more integrity than most Realtor s that I have met.

Originally Posted by Barefoot

.....

Originally Posted by DougB

Inquiring minds want to know.

Doug, I had a momentary impulse to do a little mud wrestling! But I overcame it.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by rubicon

I wanted to pay off my bond and they indicted I could when I initially closed. when I went to pay it TV clerks told me it could only be paid off every July. We did pay it off that following July.

I called the Special Assessment Office yesterday (352-751-3900) re discharging our bond. We were planning to pay off the bond along with paying our yearly property tax, which we always pay by Nov. 30 to get the discount. We were told that there is no benefit to us to pay it off now. However if we pay it off prior to March 16, 2014, we will receive a 50% credit on interest.

[maureenod]

Originally Posted by garyseitz

Thanks Ray for the web-site, it matches my bill exactly.

My CD'S are drawing on average 1.4%.
Money market .85%
My 30 year mortgage is fixed at 4%
And my bond interest is 6.125%

The default risk on these bonds must be greater than I would have thought.

Why would you have a 30 mortgage. Shouldn't your house be paid for at this age of your life? Or why not pay it off with CDs only getting 1.4%????

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by garyseitz

Thanks Ray for the web-site, it matches my bill exactly.

My CD'S are drawing on average 1.4%.
Money market .85%
My 30 year mortgage is fixed at 4%
And my bond interest is 6.125%

The default risk on these bonds must be greater than I would have thought.

The default risk is not reflected by what you are paying in interest but what interest rate (YTM) a buyer of the bond is able to get. I'm sure these bonds, if traded, are priced well above par.

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by maureenod

Why would you have a 30 mortgage. Shouldn't your house be paid for at this age of your life? Or why not pay it off with CDs only getting 1.4%????

That would be called a liquidity crisis.

[Skybo]

Originally Posted by maureenod

Why would you have a 30 mortgage. Shouldn't your house be paid for at this age of your life? Or why not pay it off with CDs only getting 1.4%????

Originally Posted by gustavo

That would be called a liquidity crisis.

No....that would be called rude questions.

[Indy-Guy]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Doug, I had a momentary impulse to do a little mud wrestling! But I overcame it.

.........................

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by KeepingItReal

The word "about" would have been an alarm bell for me. Too late now but verify everything you are told.

Another thing to check is you county taxes charged at closing. We were overcharged more than double what the our part of the county taxes were and had to have it refunded by the closing agent. We were told they just estimate the county taxes at closing and that this happens all the time in their favor apparently.

Get the amount of the county tax bill for the year you closed, divide it by 365 and multiply that by the number of days you owned the property in that year and see if it agrees with the amount you were charged on your closing statement amount...

Great info, thanks

[rp001]

This seems to be prevalent with some mls realtors in this area. I purchased a home in May of this year, the bond was stated as paid off by 3 different realtors and the homeowner. When I got my tax notice there is still some owed. Of course the previous owner has moved to another state and the realtors are doing a fantastic job of saying "not my job" regarding whose responsibility it is to verify the bond is paid. If this is not resolved I will be supplying names as this seems to be more common than I thought. I contacted vcdd and they have a specific form to get the payoff and they told me the ONLY folks that can get this are realtors and homeowner of record from their office. There was absolutely no mention of a outstanding payoff at closing and yes "my bad" for not reading and clarifying every document before signing. Trust but verify.