[Schaumburger]

After my first, brief-4 day visit to TV this month, here are my impressions (sorry for the length, but I’m a wordy person)

I took the trolley tour the first full day I was here. Actually the size of TV is about what I expected for a population of approx. 80,000. Everything is quite well laid out, clean and well planned. Traffic is about what I expected, but I’m used to suburban Chicago traffic. Since my visit was in July, I’m wondering how much more traffic is there in TV from January through mid-April?

Those traffic roundabouts were quite interesting, but it was helpful to read about them in TOTV, so I wasn’t totally unprepared for them. What is the rationale for the roundabouts – to cut down on speeding, or is there some other reason?

Do go to either Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing at night and listen to the music – very enjoyable – and free!

Weather – yes, it was humid while I was there, but not much more humid than Chicago has been on several days this summer, so I don’t think dealing with summer weather would be an issue for me, especially since 75% of the time I was indoors in A/C. I was surprised to hear from more than one person that about 70% of TV residents are full-time –I thought more residents would be seasonal. I was also told by a TV sales rep. that the average age of the person buying in TV has dropped from 68 ten years ago to 60 now.

I went to 5 open houses while I was here – 2 for new construction villas in Pennecamp, and 3 for pre-owned villas and ranch houses in Alhambra, Summerhill and Caroline. These neighborhoods are really all very immaculately maintained. Only one village had it’s guard gate actually staffed by a person, and I just told him that I was here for an open house, and he waved me in. The other villages, I just pressed the red button at the gate, and the arm popped up to let me in. Is that pretty standard for TV as far as access to enter an individual village?

Four of the open houses were conducted by TV sales reps. and one was conducted by an outside real estate person not affiliated with TV. Some of the reps. were definitely more friendly/personable than others. Of the 5, the 2 nicest were from TV, and I could see working with them if I was in the market for a home right away (my moving timetable is still a few years off). Are the TV sales reps. all actually licensed real estate agents? The outside sales rep. said that the TV reps. are pushed to sell new construction versus pre-owned homes -- does any experienced TV resident have an opinion on that? Having read TOTV for a few months now made me aware to ask the bond balance on each house I saw. On the new construction villas I saw in Pennecamp, I believe the bond was about $11K (these villas were priced at between $145-$150K). Does an $11K bond sound correct for new construction villas in that price range?

Regarding price, on new construction is there room for negotiation, or is the price set in stone by TV? If a pre-owned home is listed by a TV sales rep. is the price negotiable with the seller as it would be if the house is listed with an outside real estate agent? If you find a house in TV through a TV sales rep., who is working on the buyer’s behalf as I’m assuming the TV agent is working on the seller’s behalf?

I’m not a golfer, but the courses do look beautiful. I can see by the amount of activities/clubs/volunteer opportunities that are offered to the residents that if you get bored, it’s your fault.

I could definitely see myself buying in TV a few years down the road. I’m already contemplating renting a villa for a week or two sometime during summer of 2011. I went on the Villages 4 rent web site, and there are quite a few owners who will rent their homes on a weekly basis from May through September. I would also like to take a Lifestyle Preview visit a couple of years from now, but I would like to save that visit for when I actually have a definite move in date on the horizon.

So I guess I drank the Kool-Aid

Laura

[philnpat]

Hi Laura,
We purchased a pre-owned in Duval in November '09. We're not ready to retire yet (I'm retired...wife is not).
We used a Village realtor and we were very happy with her efforts on our behalf. We also used a couple of outside MLS salespersons.
The prices on new homes are not negotiable. Sometimes though, prices are lowered on homes in neighborhoods that are being completed.
Prices on pre-owned are negotiable.
Our salesperson showed us both new and pre-owned. When she saw that we were leaning towards pre-owned, she didn't push new construction.
I'm glad you enjoyed your stay and encourage you to do the Lifestyle visit.

[salpal]

Laura,

You are about to be chastised for using the phrase "drank the kool aid" sorry, I made that mistake a few weeks ago. I meant that I fell in love with TV after one visit as you did. But I found out very quickly on this forum that some do not consider it politically correct to use that phrase due to it's association with Jonestown, which neither you nor I were thinking about when we used that phrase....


Just moved here full time 3 weeks ago, so will let a more experienced Villager answer your quewtions. But will tell you anybody can get in a Village by pushing the red button at the gate.

Hubby and I only here 3 weeks, but are already extremely happy with our decision to move here. You will be too...welcome!

[l2ridehd]

Hey salpal and Laura, if you want to say "you drank the kool aid", say it. And those that have an issue to a Jonestown reference, so be it. They have the problem not you. That phrase has been a reference for a long time before Jonestown. When I was growing up in a small town in NH, we were kind of poor, and kool aid was only 5 cents a package and made 2 quarts. So it was always a reference to something we did good and we got to "drink the kool aid". And believe me that was a long time before Jonestown.

[Pats2010]

So-called political correct be darned. I drank the Koolaid and it was great!!!!!

I can't wait to get there full-time so I can drink the KOOL AID every day.

[Russ_Boston]

My bond on a new designer lot in Buttonwood is over 20K so I would think the 11K for a new villa is on point.

If you told your agent you wanted 'used' only then there would be no issues. They would help you out just as well. But they can only show Villages listed used homes. Other used homes would be in the MLS and any outside Realtor could help.

One thing to remember about the traffic. Not only is TV more crowded in the winter but many residents have guests at that time which swell the population.

The roundabouts are in place of traffic lights at those intersections. There is some debate as to what would be better but I like the continuous flow by using the roundabouts.

You can come back for another LSV in the future. We're coming back on one this August to choose our home and all the features.

Good luck.

[Ohiogirl]

Unless things have changed in 4 years, the bond is the same on any villa, regardless of price. e.g., a corner lot 3 bedroom villa with a pool selling for $250,000 will have the same bond as a 2 bedroom selling for $160,000, and unless I'm mistaken, Courtyard villas and patio villas have the same bond, ranches (now cottages) and designers have the same bond, and premiers have their own bond.

It was explained that the bond is based on the density of the neighborhood (average s.f. of the lots). Each new CDD (usually consisting of more than 1 village) will have the bond set (usually each new area is a higher than the one before).

For instance, my CYV bond in CDD 6 (I think - could be 9) was around $9600, my friend's in Hemingway was close to $12,000, if I'm remembering correctly.

Someone correct me if this has changed. You can also search for other posts about this, but since things could change over time, good idea to get the latest.

As you see, I'm kind of wordy too.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl

Unless things have changed in 4 years, the bond is the same on any villa, regardless of price. e.g., a corner lot 3 bedroom villa with a pool selling for $250,000 will have the same bond as a 2 bedroom selling for $160,000, and unless I'm mistaken, Courtyard villas and patio villas have the same bond, ranches (now cottages) and designers have the same bond, and premiers have their own bond.

It was explained that the bond is based on the density of the neighborhood (average s.f. of the lots). Each new CDD (usually consisting of more than 1 village) will have the bond set (usually each new area is a higher than the one before).

For instance, my CYV bond in CDD 6 (I think - could be 9) was around $9600, my friend's in Hemingway was close to $12,000, if I'm remembering correctly.

Someone correct me if this has changed. You can also search for other posts about this, but since things could change over time, good idea to get the latest.

As you see, I'm kind of wordy too.

Ohio girls = wordy.

[Walt.]

"The roundabouts are in place of traffic lights at those intersections. There is some debate as to what would be better but I like the continuous flow by using the roundabouts."

I wasn't too keen on the roundabouts but once you get used to them they're fine. Not only speeds things along but my gas milage on the old Honda has increased from 21 MPG in Miami to 26+ MPG in TV for the 10 months I've been here. Has this been anyone elses experience?

Also, when we were house shopping in TV about a year ago got NO pressure one way or another from the Village sales person. We saw anything and everything we wanted.

You'll love it here.

[Shimpy]

As far as the round-a-bouts are concerned, I read an article several months ago that talked of a study that showed that compared to stop signs, round-a-bouts reduced accidents by 80% and also reduced accidents compared to stop lights. They kept traffic moving, and when there was an accident it was much less severe than someone running a stop sign or light. Accidents in a round-a-bout were usually just a glancing blow and not a full t-bone collision which is more severe.

[iandwk]

It saeems to be a common belief or maybe just a ploy of agents working in outside agencies that TV agents always pressure their clients to buy a new house.

It's all just sales talk. We used both inside and outside agents and both were great. If you are concerned, totv members will probably gladly give you names of agents they trust when you are ready to buy.

[JohnN]

My opinion,
I do think they push new construction, I believe that.
Our first sales rep (we changed cuz we didn't like him) actually did NOT show us a couple resales we'd asked about, showing us only the new homes and then saying he had some other appointments (when he saw we weren't buying on the spot, and thus we changed reps).

Prices are prices on new construction, no haggle, which actually isn't bad.

can't remember your other questions.. LOL

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

As far as the round-a-bouts are concerned, I read an article several months ago that talked of a study that showed that compared to stop signs, round-a-bouts reduced accidents by 80% and also reduced accidents compared to stop lights. They kept traffic moving, and when there was an accident it was much less severe than someone running a stop sign or light. Accidents in a round-a-bout were usually just a glancing blow and not a full t-bone collision which is more severe.

Making a right turn from a left lane gets dicey.


.

[Vinny]

I was told that the streets are not private and therefore no one can be denied entrance. Think it had to do with whether or not the local police will patrol them since they do not patrol private roads. I believe that they do record all cars entering and leaving on video.

[Pturner]

Hi Laura,
Glad you enjoyed Lower Paradise. We definitely serve the best kool aid!

Some additional answers:

If you are interested in resales, you should use both a TV and an MLS agent. Otherwise, you will miss ot on seeing a sizeable percentage of resales available.

On resales, yes, home prices are negotiable regardless of whther the home is listed with TV or MLS.

TV sales agents are not necessarily licensed real estate agents, although I would think that some of them are.