Nope! But that was actually one of the things we ended up liking about the process - the price is the price. We were considering building in Lakewood Ranch and that developer was having sealed bid auctions to buy the lots on a single release day with only a minimum bid made available. I thought that was absolutely insane! Just tell me how much you want for the lot!

If one poster tells you she noticed you can save money by being the last to purchase in a Village, and another tells you she did just that, and yet another states she bought at discount when the demand was low, how do you rationalize that it is not a common occurrence? If someone asks me if I know how to get a discount on a new home, I will give them that advice. I wouldn't just say, nope! never happens! Only once in a Blue Moon! And who is to say what is more desirable than others? Maybe it was something simple like the outside paint color.

You missed the point. They don't negotiate if you try. They will lower the price at their discretion if they want to "move" the house. That homeowner who is happy bought a house that was already discounted. They did not negotiate the discount.

I reread the original post. It asks about negotiating then a few vague questions follow. At this point, it is up to the OP to decide what information they will or will not use. As for me, I did learn some valuable information. I might even use it if I wish to purchase an investment home.

Unit 84 is great if you want a $70,000 plus bond on top of the other costs.

I remember a very nice house adjacent too Okeechobee Exec Course at the turn hole, which remained unsold for a long time.
Moyer Loop on one side, dog park at rear.
Location is all.

So I said it is a rare occurrence never said it never happens. If it happens say 5% of the time does that make it a common occurrence?

I like to negotiate and will always try to do so but recognize my chances might be slim or none.

3 years ago our agent asked the Morse family if they would negotiate. They said they used to but not anymore. Too much backlash from other buyers

A smart person will buy the house at as low of a price as possible. And then simultaneously buy the pool, appliances, golf cart, decorations, etc, via a separate deal. You don't want the sale price of the house to include anything extra. Taxes taxes taxes taxes taxes taxes

"Shallow" Creek...

Would someone please advise how to determine the number of: 1) new builds and 2) the total # of homes for sale on the Villages homefinder site, as I have not been able to do so, thanks and much appreciated as always, link below. I have been able to do so on Zillow, but not The Villages Homefinder site.

Homefinder - The Villages(R) Homes and Villas for Sale

Why not buy a like new, 2 yr old home in an established location like Sawgrass Grove? Lower bond, lower taxes and you can meet your neighbors before the offer. Preowned are also very negotiable this time of year. See 6022 Swicord St.

1: Go to TheVillagesHomefinder site. Zoom in on the area where new builds are happening (currently Newell & Lake Denham). Put "New Homes" in your search. All of the completed homes will show up on the left hand side of the page. The lots for sale will also show up, but you can ignore those...

Start counting...

2: See above, but include New & Pre-Owned Homes in your search...

84
 

Why on Earth would somebody want to spend the extra money to build in Area 84? The Villages won’t be expanding more towards 27. They don’t own the land and 27 has other newer developments on it. Area 84 is right next to the very busy 470 in Lake County where no roundabouts are permitted. The Village is at least 10 minutes from Sawgrass and there isn’t a whole lot of scenery to be had in that neck of the woods. A potential homeowner has a drive to get anywhere within the Villages where amenities are provided. Smart money would be better put to use in the newer Eastport area.

So you really think people buy and have zero smarts to do so.

First came to TV in “07”. We r on our 4th house 2 new spec both at a discount of closing out village, both investment, 3rd preowned bought for less than asking.

4th was custom upgrading only what would cost more aftermarket. Each house paid for the next house and then some, including adding a pool. Houses in our neighborhood sold in 5 minutes of release. Now at the 11 month mark, resale’s are selling in days.

Lots of experience and due diligence for 16 years. Maybe you could use sage advice, from the many who have experienced TV when LSL was so new,and empty, it was developer run businesses

A property resale in the villages which can be significantly negotiated would be one that has some undesirable property circumstances surrounding it. I'd say they do exist, but only come to market once in blue moons. Example: contains significant amounts of hideously ugly ceramic floor tile which is expensive to remove. This house will sit and sit on the market. Eventually you can offer a way lower price. However, given you are buying the problem as well as the house, did you actually buy something of real hidden value or simply must plunge exta cash after purchase to try and rectify?

When you buy a new house and put in landscaping, glass enclose your lanai, epoxy the garage, paint the drive way etc. Is that not the same thing?Improvement costs on any homes are to be expected. You find a home that you like and be happy with your choice.

That person didn’t bargain though. They waited until the homes didn’t sell and were reduced. when I bought I had the choice of a newer village by Sawgrass with frame homes or a discounted block model of the same house that was discounted in a different village. It backed up against Morse/warm springs and a golf cart path with power lines running along. I chose to get the regular priced frame house that backed up against the far end of the bocci ball court and a pond. It’s so quiet where I am. Every time I drive by that other one, I’m so happy I didn’t chose it for the 5000 savings.

I completely understand why people would want to live there if they back up against the woods but I’m not sure why the people in the middle houses would like it?

We drove by. I don't understand the hype. Maybe for those who work in Orlando or.just like the idea of a smaller neighborhood without traffic. Lots were smaller than I expected. And, as some have said, quite a drive to amenities.

We just purchased a house in Lake Denham, that had been on the market for a few months. We had placed 18 houses that we liked in our favorites list and watched them closely. Two weeks ago while checking them in the morning I noticed that one of our favorites had a $23,000 price drop, and we bought it. The house was originally listed for $402,000 but we bought it at $379,000 and it was a designer home style that we liked when we first started researching the Villages 4 years ago. Lake Denham is where all the new homes that the Villages are currently selling are located, so our house was not the last new home for sale in our area.

We were not allowed to negotiate our house price, but we packed our favorites list with houses we liked, adding new ones when others sold, and waited for one that we liked to go on sale. I think there is a buying slowdown due to the rising mortgage rates and you can get a good price on a new home if you are patient. The Villages will not let all these new houses just sit there, they need to sell them and they have shown us that they will reduce prices when they need to sale the homes.

Congratulations on the purchased off your new home!

Your approach sounds very smart!

It’s about cash flow. Move the inventory and build more. Reducing the occasional house is spitting into the ocean to them. They still make a nice profit.

That's exactly what happened with us. We had our eye on a fully furnished spec home. The sales agent told us the price is the price. No negotiating. When it didn't sell after a couple of weeks on the market, they dropped the price by $39k. Then we purchased it. It has made all the difference in the world not having to purchase furniture nor moving furniture from the north since we are snowbirds. No regrets...at least not yet.