[Posh 08]

The wife and I are coming for a quick look at TV in October. Figure we'll get "the feeling" or maybe not in an overnight. If we like then we'll book a longer visit in the Spring. We are being shown around by one of the sales reps. What should we focus on?

[Mudder]

Don't spend the whole time with a sales rep. They are good people, etc...but you will get an even better feel if you just roam around by yourself. I've had many friends say that the sales rep kept them mostly in brand new areas, they had no idea about anything north of 466. Some reps didn't even take them into any Rec centers, country clubs, etc...the reps are there to sell houses and some, not all, leave out the best part....the lifestyle ! You need time to strike up conversations with residents, don't forget to go to the squares at night. One of my friends said they asked even there was a hospital nearby and the rep told them about Leesburg and Ocala....forgot to mention the Villages hospital. So, enjoy your short time here, but do strike out on your own. Also it's very different experiencing The Villages in a golf cart!

[memason]

Welcome Posh 08! Boy-oh-boy... an overnight visit will be tough to get a good feel, but I recommend you take notice of how clean and manicured everything is and how everyone gets around on golf carts. Try to get to at least one of the town squares (Spanish Springs or Lake Sumter Landing) for happy hour and the free live entertainment. By all means, talk to anyone you want about the Villages; most folks are more than happy to share their experiences and what it's like to live here.

If you're going to be with a sales rep., you'll most likely see a few homes...there are homes for every pocketbook, from less than $100,000 to over $1,000,000. Regardless of the home you purchase, the amenities are the same...

Good luck and be sure to let us know how your visit goes... Keep asking questions here, as this is a great source of information.

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by Mudder

Don't spend the whole time with a sales rep. They are good people, etc...but you will get an even better feel if you just roam around by yourself. I've had many friends say that the sales rep kept them mostly in brand new areas, they had no idea about anything north of 466. Some reps didn't even take them into any Rec centers, country clubs, etc...the reps are there to sell houses and some, not all, leave out the best part....the lifestyle ! You need time to strike up conversations with residents, don't forget to go to the squares at night. One of my friends said they asked even there was a hospital nearby and the rep told them about Leesburg and Ocala....forgot to mention the Villages hospital. So, enjoy your short time here, but do strike out on your own. Also it's very different experiencing The Villages in a golf cart!

Thanks for the reply. We'll be staying at the Waterfront Inn, so it looks like a short walk to the square? Looks like I need to investigate north of 466.

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by memason

Welcome Posh 08! Boy-oh-boy... an overnight visit will be tough to get a good feel, but I recommend you take notice of how clean and manicured everything is and how everyone gets around on golf carts. Try to get to at least one of the town squares (Spanish Springs or Lake Sumter Landing) for happy hour and the free live entertainment. By all means, talk to anyone you want about the Villages; most folks are more than happy to share their experiences and what it's like to live here.

If you're going to be with a sales rep., you'll most likely see a few homes...there are homes for every pocketbook, from less than $100,000 to over $1,000,000. Regardless of the home you purchase, the amenities are the same...

Good luck and be sure to let us know how your visit goes... Keep asking questions here, as this is a great source of information.

Did someone mention Happy Hour? LOL. I'm trying to understand the cost of a "bond". Sounds expensive.

[memason]

Let me see if I can explain the bond....

When a neighborhood is built, the developer passes on the cost of the infrastructure (streets, electric, etc.) to the home owners. It's a function of infrastructure cost .vs. home density. So, if you purchase a home in a Designer neighborhood, everyone in that neighborhood pays the same bond amount. Therefore, if you purchase a Courtyard Villa, they are more densely packed, so the bonds are less. If you go into a Premier home, they are not nearly as densely packed (larger lots), so the bond is more. Home owners only pay this once. Therefore, if you purchase a pre-owned home, a portion of the bond will have already been paid by the previous owner. In some cases, home owners payoff the bond early.

Important thing to keep in mind, is when looking at a home, treat the bond as an addition to the asking price. ie $100,000 + $5,000

Hope this helps... Someone else might have a better answer.

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by memason

Let me see if I can explain the bond....

When a neighborhood is built, the developer passes on the cost of the infrastructure (streets, electric, etc.) to the home owners. It's a function of infrastructure cost .vs. home density. So, if you purchase a home in a Designer neighborhood, everyone in that neighborhood pays the same bond amount. Therefore, if you purchase a Courtyard Villa, they are more densely packed, so the bonds are less. If you go into a Premier home, they are not nearly as densely packed (larger lots), so the bond is more. Home owners only pay this once. Therefore, if you purchase a pre-owned home, a portion of the bond will have already been paid by the previous owner. In some cases, home owners payoff the bond early.

Important thing to keep in mind, is when looking at a home, treat the bond as an addition to the asking price. ie $100,000 + $5,000

Hope this helps... Someone else might have a better answer.

Thanks, that clears it up for me. That is one of the important ??s I'll have when buying. How much bond.

[Pturner]

Hi Posh 08,
Welcome to TOTV! Memason gave you an excellent answer on how the bond works. No need to feel intimidated by the bond: just add it to your total cost when comparing the price of different homes.

The Town Squares have free live music and dancing from 5 - 9 p.m. seven nights a week. Yes, you are a short walk to LSL from Waterfront Inn. The squares are an excellent place to meet folks and ask questions.

Whether with a sales rep. or on your own, there are certain things besides homes you will want to see. Here's a suggested itinerary that will take you from one end of TV to the other. To do this on your own, pick up a $5 Villages Map at the sales office.

• Visit at least one regional Rec. Center. I'll suggest Sea Breeze. Be sure to check out the inside and outside recreational facilities there. While there, pick up a copy of the Recreation News. That will give you an idea of the breath of activities always available.
• From Sea Breeze, turn left on Bailey Trail and follow it around until it circles back to Buena Vista. This will give you an overview of some southside neighborhoods.
• When you intersect again with Buena Vista, turn left, drive north on Buena Vista (and yes, it is a beautiful vista), until you get to Arnold Palmer Country Club on your right. Check out the beautiful indoor and outdoor dining facilities, pool and pro shop. This is currently one of nine country clubs in TV. Like the Rec. Centers, they all have a different and beautiful decor.
• Cross 466-- you'll then be on the north side of The Villages-- until you get to the Polo Fields on your right. Drive in and behind the Polo Fields and you will see the softball complex.
• Get back on Buena Vista and drive north to El Camino Real and turn right. (If you have time, stop in the Savannah Center at Buena Vista and El Camino Real. Arts and craft shows and theater performances are held here).
• From El Camino Real, turn into a few of the residential gates to drive through some of the northside neighborhoods. If you don't have a gate pass, just press the red button.
• Get back on El Camino Real and continue east until you see the Assisted Living complex (I'm drawing a blank on the name) on your left and the The Villages Hospital on your right. No need to go in unless you want to-- you'll be impressed enough seeing them from the outside.
• Stay on El Camino Real until you get to the intersection with Morse. If time permits, follow the roundabout to the second exit, to Paige. Take Paige to Main Street. You'll see Veterans Memorial Park on your left. Turn right on Main Street, which will take you right into Spanish Springs Square, where you will see Church on the Square and Katie Bells in addition to many shops and restaurants.
• For simplicity, go back north on Main, turn left on Paige and this time, when you get to the roundabout, take the third exit to head south of Morse Blvd. Cross 466 (back to the LSL or for now, southside of TV). You will drive over a beautiful bridge overlooking LSL.
• If you are exhausted by now, you can turn right on Old Mill Run until you get back to Waterfront End. Or continue down Morse Blvd. south to Odel Circle. Turn right on Odel to Canal. This will take you along some more southside communities and golf courses. Turn right on Canal, then left on Old Mill Run back to Waterfront End.
• This is assuming that your TV sales agent already took you to see the new Village of Sanibel under construction south of 466a. If not, after driving over the Morse bridge, continue on Morse south all the way to 466a, cross 466a and tour the Sanibel area. Then return north on Morse, take a left at the second Odel Circle, then a right on Canal, left on Old Mill back to your hotel.

Whew, I'm already tired from the tour. Time for some Koolaide.

Others might have different ideas to share. More than one option is always good.

Mainly, just have a great, great time and keep us posted on your trip!

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by Pturner

Hi Posh 08,
Welcome to TOTV! Memason gave you an excellent answer on how the bond works. No need to feel intimidated by the bond: just add it to your total cost when comparing the price of different homes.

The Town Squares have free live music and dancing from 5 - 9 p.m. seven nights a week. Yes, you are a short walk to LSL from Waterfront Inn. The squares are an excellent place to meet folks and ask questions.

Whether with a sales rep. or on your own, there are certain things besides homes you will want to see. Here's a suggested itinerary that will take you from one end of TV to the other. To do this on your own, pick up a $5 Villages Map at the sales office.

• Visit at least one regional Rec. Center. I'll suggest Sea Breeze. Be sure to check out the inside and outside recreational facilities there. While there, pick up a copy of the Recreation News. That will give you an idea of the breath of activities always available.
• From Sea Breeze, turn left on Bailey Trail and follow it around until it circles back to Buena Vista. This will give you an overview of some southside neighborhoods.
• When you intersect again with Buena Vista, turn left, drive north on Buena Vista (and yes, it is a beautiful vista), until you get to Arnold Palmer Country Club on your right. Check out the beautiful indoor and outdoor dining facilities, pool and pro shop. This is currently one of nine country clubs in TV. Like the Rec. Centers, they all have a different and beautiful decor.
• Cross 466-- you'll then be on the north side of The Villages-- until you get to the Polo Fields on your right. Drive in and behind the Polo Fields and you will see the softball complex.
• Get back on Buena Vista and drive north to El Camino Real and turn right. (If you have time, stop in the Savannah Center at Buena Vista and El Camino Real. Arts and craft shows and theater performances are held here).
• From El Camino Real, turn into a few of the residential gates to drive through some of the northside neighborhoods. If you don't have a gate pass, just press the red button.
• Get back on El Camino Real and continue east until you see the Assisted Living complex (I'm drawing a blank on the name) on your left and the The Villages Hospital on your right. No need to go in unless you want to-- you'll be impressed enough seeing them from the outside.
• Stay on El Camino Real until you get to the intersection with Morse. If time permits, follow the roundabout to the second exit, to Paige. Take Paige to Main Street. You'll see Veterans Memorial Park on your left. Turn right on Main Street, which will take you right into Spanish Springs Square, where you will see Church on the Square and Katie Bells in addition to many shops and restaurants.
• For simplicity, go back north on Main, turn left on Paige and this time, when you get to the roundabout, take the third exit to head south of Morse Blvd. Cross 466 (back to the LSL or for now, southside of TV). You will drive over a beautiful bridge overlooking LSL.
• If you are exhausted by now, you can turn right on Old Mill Run until you get back to Waterfront End. Or continue down Morse Blvd. south to Odel Circle. Turn right on Odel to Canal. This will take you along some more southside communities and golf courses. Turn right on Canal, then left on Old Mill Run back to Waterfront End.
• This is assuming that your TV sales agent already took you to see the new Village of Sanibel under construction south of 466a. If not, after driving over the Morse bridge, continue on Morse south all the way to 466a, cross 466a and tour the Sanibel area. Then return north on Morse, take a left at the second Odel Circle, then a right on Canal, left on Old Mill back to your hotel.

Whew, I'm already tired from the tour. Time for some Koolaide.

Others might have different ideas to share. More than one option is always good.

Mainly, just have a great, great time and keep us posted on your trip!

Wow, thank you so much for the tour. That was work! Ya'll sure do like the Koolaide. LOL. Will let you know how it goes.

[Posh 08]

trying to reply with thanks PT but it keeps saying something about a Mod.

[2BNTV]

Take the trolley tour if you have time.

Memason nailed the bond question and Pturner always gives great advice.

I would visit the squares, enjoy the music and talk to people.

One day will have you wanting more time in TV and to come back for another visit.

Have a great time.

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by 2BNTV

Take the trolley tour if you have time.

Memason nailed the bond question and Pturner always gives great advice.

I would visit the squares, enjoy the music and talk to people.

One day will have you wanting more time in TV and to come back for another visit.

Have a great time.

Thanks, thinking that too.

[Posh 08]

So, I noticed that I could buy an E-book from the forum administrator? Is that required?

[tainsley]

My husband and I got "the feeling" our first day in Lake Sumter Landing. That was a year ago in June. Came back in October...spent the month of July in a rental. Bought a house in Tamarind Grove. Came back to VA to sell our house! Hope to be in TV forever by the end of the year. Where in VA do you live?

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by Posh 08

Thanks for the reply. We'll be staying at the Waterfront Inn, so it looks like a short walk to the square? Looks like I need to investigate north of 466.

Posh 08 -- Welcome to TOTV. I stayed at the Waterfront Inn in July for one night before my rental started -- you can easily walk to the square at Lake Sumter Landing (LSL) from the Waterfront Inn -- it's probably a 7 or 8 minute walk unless you stop at one of the stores or restaurants along the way. Good luck and enjoy your visit. I've heard October is a good time to visit (temps. are starting to get cooler then), so I will be back to visit TV then also.