[cher54461]

We have stayed the last 3 years in tv. We have put our house up for sale and plan to rent and look for a house. I think you always wonder if you are making the right move. My in-laws brother and sister can't understand why we want to move. But we loved it when we stayed, and feel we are making the right move. I don't think you can be sure until you are living there. Hope the house sells and we can come as soon as possible.

[CaribbeanAl]

Totally understand-
We first looked for 3 days Sept 2007.
Went around with Brad Becker in V Sales office- CLASS ACT !!!
What we liked to "Pull The Trigger" was out of our budget-
Spent the next year researching options, speaking to outside brokers, pouring over maps & getting our thoughts together. Rented for a month Sept, 2008. After 5 days called Brad. FL was ON SALE .The prices were down a 1/3rd from 2007.
SCORE !!! We're very excited about our V home-
I wish you well-

[ditzyfitzy]

My girlfriend, from OH, has actually PURCHASED 3 times and then re-nigged all three times.....so, don't feel bad!

My neighbor, in Hemingway, bought a designer home with the sole intent of renting it out on a long term basis. (He loves it so much down here--that he hasn't even advertised the home yet). You may want to consider renting something long term if you can afford to keep your home AND rent. My guess is that you will like it down here so much--that you won't want to go back! Seems like that happens to most.....

[BobKat1]

Originally Posted by CaribbeanAl

Totally understand-
We first looked for 3 days Sept 2007.
Went around with Brad Becker in V Sales office- CLASS ACT !!!
What we liked to "Pull The Trigger" was out of our budget-
Spent the next year researching options, speaking to outside brokers, pouring over maps & getting our thoughts together. Rented for a month Sept, 2008. After 5 days called Brad. FL was ON SALE .The prices were down a 1/3rd from 2007.SCORE !!! We're very excited about our V home-
I wish you well-

That's interesting, Al. I hadn't seen a number or a percentage given to the change in market prices in TV. Definitely a good time to buy.

I'm assuming you were looking at new homes?

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by dizz42

We were "this close" too, hlanders! I think we made the right decision but it still is so hard to leave this place! We head for home tomorrow and, of course, that is what we want to see...how we feel when we get home. First order of business: 1) talk to a realtor; 2) get an appraisal; 3) start to clean out; 4) do more research on TV; and finally, 5) get in touch with where we want to be. Sounds like a plan. Hey...we got a plan!

If you are fully retired and have some ambivalence I'd suggest a 3-6 month rental... I have a very close friend who also was "this close" to buying a house here but was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the place. They rented for 4 mos over the winter and decided they wanted a quieter lifestyle, less traffic etc. They ended up retiring in Pa and travel during the yucky months.

[Army Guy]

As far as discounts go, like I posted above our CYV, was the last to have a large discount, now they are more in the $6000-7000 range, where ours was close to $20,000, PLUS, now the CYV do not come with ALL appliances, ours still did. Now they only have garbage dispos, washer/dryer. So that also makes a difference.
I truly believe unless something else in the economy fails, the bottom has been hit at TV and prices, etc headed up again.

Army Guy

[champion6]

Originally Posted by Army Guy

PLUS, now the CYV do not come with ALL appliances, ours still did. Now they only have garbage dispos, washer/dryer. So that also makes a difference.

Wow, that's a significant change. This is the first I have heard of this. It makes me wonder if a similar change might be made with new homes. Hmmm... time will tell.

[Army Guy]

6, yes we were really surprised too. You figure that is about $3000 worth of value gone, and my amount is probably low-ball.
We bought the last 2 bed in Anita Villas, all that was left was a 3 bed Stonybrook and it sold shortly after. They started the less discount, etc with the Hydrangia (sp?) Villas.

Army Guy

[CaribbeanAl]

Brad took us to a Golf Front lot- Advised us they were closing out Hadley & offering 30% discount on the land - By the time we added on the other marketing insentives it was a "No Brainer" - It was VERY GOOD TIMING !!! Especially compared to 2007

[katezbox]

I think there will continue to be some bargains around as villages get completed. There was one Bridgeport in Hadley that was discounted about $60K before it finally sold. We did not like the exposure or closeness to Colony - but for others that is a plus not a minus. Whoever bought that house got a great deal.

Like AG I think that the market is beginning to firm up a bit. However, if your feet are chilly, buying prematurely may cost you more in the long run. Look how many posters talk to the ides a renting to be sure you really know what you want.

I have a huge spreadsheet to track our costs/investment. We also visited our friends in Largo, did a Lifestyle, went to many open houses, peeked in windows and visited TOTV and TV websites daily.

As we retire and are no longer in our peak earning years, we need to remember that financial mistakes are costly as we have less time and less income for our own economic recovery.

[hlanders]

There is so much to consider and learn that the ideal situation would be to rent for 6 months to a year and get a much better feel for what and where you want to be. I hesitate to go that route as it appears I will be selling low and looking for a "wash" with the advantage on the buying end too. It appears TV prices are coming around quicker than other areas and I want to get the most for my money. Are there any renters that have sold and now looking for the next purchase with thoughts on this?

[dizz42]

Good advise/comments all 'round, folks. Thank you for letting me know we are not alone! I am also a spreadsheet-kinda-gal and I already started making comparison notes on expenses, etc. We will also try to pay closer attention to the housing market. Our opinion is that the drop in prices is probably slowing down and is darn near bottom. Another reason to think long and hard about a move.

As we were driving home today, we discussed that Lifestyle Preview in January and also renting for a month (two if possible) next spring or summer. We know we love Florida in the winter but I think most of our hesitation is - can we live there year-round? We wonder about getting acclimatized to the heat and I worry about those great, big palmetto bugs.

[katezbox]

Hi Dizz,

My hubs felt the same way. Growing up he spent summers in Maine where the temps are around the same as a winter's day here.

As for the bugs... we have yet to see a palmetto bug - though do have to spray for them where we lived in SC. In mid May we had some type of beetles that were attracted to the lights outside - but other that having to sweep them up the next morning, they really weren't an issue. They looked like a type of beetle we had in NE that we called a "Japanese" beetle.

Kate

[angel222]

I applaud all who have taken the time to really research and get their "real" feelings down before purchasing. I came on a Lifestyle visit in July '08 with another widow and we had a blast. I decided to rent for three months in Jan.'09 to see how it would be to live there alone. I purchased a house in three weeks without selling my home in NY (although I had an offer that fell through before closing in TV). Right after purchasing my TV house I had a medical emergency and had to fly back to NY for surgery. While I was recuperating, my home in NY sold and now I had no options - TV was going to be my new home. I moved in May '09 and my cold feet are still a little chilly! Remember for me its different - I'm not a couple. I know I will love living in TV but I think the cold feet part takes some time to get through. I bought a designer home at a great discounted price - I love it but had alot of second thoughts when I first moved in because its so big. My point is: take your time and really figure out whats good for you - nothings "written in granite" but its so much better if you come with a clear head and know for the most part what kind of house you want. The lifestyle in TV cannot be found anywhere else and its great but I'm sure others have had to take time to adjust to the change as I have. I'm putting on the "defroster" for my cold feet as I write this!!!

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by dizz42

Good advise/comments all 'round, folks. Thank you for letting me know we are not alone! I am also a spreadsheet-kinda-gal and I already started making comparison notes on expenses, etc. We will also try to pay closer attention to the housing market. Our opinion is that the drop in prices is probably slowing down and is darn near bottom. Another reason to think long and hard about a move.

As we were driving home today, we discussed that Lifestyle Preview in January and also renting for a month (two if possible) next spring or summer. We know we love Florida in the winter but I think most of our hesitation is - can we live there year-round? We wonder about getting acclimatized to the heat and I worry about those great, big palmetto bugs.

Florida is the LEAST buggy place I have ever lived.... sounds crazy but true. I'm a mosquito magnet... no exaggeration--->not a SINGLE bite in a year... love bugs a very minor brief issue... plus I never saw bugs getting it on before so love bugs were a novelty.