[NJblue]

They are also probably concerned that if they stopped completely that they would lose their contractors/crews for when they needed to restart.

[jojo]

When our home sold more quickly than expected,, we made a quick trip down prepared to buy new, pre-owned, or build. In that week we found the perfect home pre-owned and did not have to go through the double move. My advice is to be open to all possibilities and allow some time to find what you want before you rent. We were fairly familiar with TV and TOTV was a big help in confirming the areas that we would consider.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by ConeyIsBabe

Will someone please explain to me why the TV Developers keep building more new homes - with such a large inventory of new homes, already built, for sale ? Just curious

Coney.

You have got to come down here and see for yourself about this place. It is unbelievable how many people are at open houses. Now they may be like us, looking for the next home here when and if (probably when) we move full time here. We have played golf twice in the past week with people who had just bought a new home here within the week. Our friends came down in late November and the homes that they looked at are mostly gone from the listing list.

Coney. WHAT is keeping you from making that first visit? The lifestyle visit is wonderful and I think the rental and the freebies are...one hundred dollars a day? Come on down girlfriend and stick your toe in the water. I know you know Florida, but there is NOTHING like this place in Florida or anywhere for that matter.

Kind wishes,

GG

[Karen83]

To respond to the building going on. I left for work at 5:30 AM last Sunday and a crew was putting up trusses with the help of a spotlight! We just moved to TV in Oct., so I didn't see the construction at it's peak, but the number of homes that have gone up since then is amazing.

Karen

[iandwk]

Thanks to everyone for all the input. We have decided to rent a house for two months this summer to acclimate ourselves so we can make the most informed decision possible. We look forward to it!

[mitchbr47]

When we were looking to buy a home last winter we looked at pre-owned and in our opinion found that a new home had more pluses-a new neighborhood, definitely no hidden problems that might surface in a few years such as replacing the roof. I didn't want a home occupied by a smoker either. As far as the south end, eventually there will be a new town center called Browntown.

[Taj44]

Just remember, location, location, location. In the future Brownwood town center will be in existence, as will golf courses, etc., north of 466A. But that all may take years, given the economy. In the meantime, if you live in those far reaches of The Villages such as Hemingway, you're a ways from everything. If you buy pre-owned in central Villages such as Caroline, Mallory, etc., you have easy access to everything now and in the future. I look at people who bought up by Lopez, for example. Resale homes in that area do not command the same price they do in more central portions of The Villages. I would think that central locations will better maintain their property value.

[iandwk]

We are renting a villa in Bonita for July and August and are really looking forward to it. We should know by the end of two months where we would most like to live. From up here in NW Georgia we keep waffling between used and new.

We have read an article about a woman who bought a new house in TV that apparently had several defects in its construction. 5he was told by TV that she would have to live in the house while repairs were made (I am assuming that meant TV would not pay for her to stay elsewhere). She refused and eventually TV bought her house back and banned her from buying another house in TV for life.

Does anyone have the straight scoop on this? With my experience in real estate I can imagine a scenario or two, but would like to hear from someone who has heard or knows both sides of the story. This story has made us lean a bit towards pre-owned to avoid any similar problems.

[villages07]

iandwk...

Whether the story you cited is true or not, I don't know. I seem to recall hearing something like that....but, I believe the other side was that the woman was so difficult to deal with that TV finally gave up and bought her out.

Regardless, this incident is extremely isolated. TV sells thousands of new houses every year (yep, probably even more than 2,000 in the 2008 slow year) and they have the building and warranty process down to a science. Sure, there are problems....I've heard builders say before there is no such thing as a perfect house. But, they are extremely responsive and efficient in making repairs. In my opinion, the warranty process is a plus rather than a minus when deciding whether to buy new or pre-owned.

Good luck...come see and explore; in 2 months rental time you will have plenty of opportunities to see all that is offered and make a decision that is right for you.

[jeffy]

Originally Posted by iandwk

We are renting a villa in Bonita for July and August and are really looking forward to it. We should know by the end of two months where we would most like to live. From up here in NW Georgia we keep waffling between used and new.

We have read an article about a woman who bought a new house in TV that apparently had several defects in its construction. 5he was told by TV that she would have to live in the house while repairs were made (I am assuming that meant TV would not pay for her to stay elsewhere). She refused and eventually TV bought her house back and banned her from buying another house in TV for life.

Does anyone have the straight scoop on this? With my experience in real estate I can imagine a scenario or two, but would like to hear from someone who has heard or knows both sides of the story. This story has made us lean a bit towards pre-owned to avoid any similar problems.

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

We settled on a new home 2 months ago. The warranty response from the builder has been tremendous. He met us at the home the morning of settlement. We had a list of about 8 very small items that needed to be addressed from when we "sneeked" into the house a week earlier. Most of those items had already been found and taken care of by workers prior to us even bringing them up. The other items were a microscopic (less than a sixteenth of an inch) scratch on a bath mirror, and a kitchen cabinet door that was a little off color. These were both very cheerfully taken care of. We are extremely happy in the quality of the two new homes we have purchased from the villages.

We are having a slight difficulty with an oak tree. This is not the responsibility of the builder but of the landscaper.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Taj44

Just remember, location, location, location. In the future Brownwood town center will be in existence, as will golf courses, etc., north of 466A. But that all may take years, given the economy. In the meantime, if you live in those far reaches of The Villages such as Hemingway, you're a ways from everything. If you buy pre-owned in central Villages such as Caroline, Mallory, etc., you have easy access to everything now and in the future. I look at people who bought up by Lopez, for example. Resale homes in that area do not command the same price they do in more central portions of The Villages. I would think that central locations will better maintain their property value.

You know, I don't think we are a ways from everything in Hadley or Hemingway. We are closer to the Colony Recreation Center where we take water aerobics and play bingo and cards, I take Art lessons at the Colony too. We are close to Kilimanjaro, Truman, Roosevelt, Bogie and Bacall Golf Courses and we are right next to Odell Recreation center where we have potlucks, Bingo and exercise class every morning! Those who play tennis, pickleball, bocce and shuffleboard are close to those activities and then not to mention the social activities that occur in your neighborhood. We are close to the restaurants and Publix at Colony Plaza too. We aren't as close to the square and the dancing as folks in Caroline.(The square is about ten minutes away) And we have to drive to Sams, Lowes, Walmart, Kohls, and Home Depot, etc. But none of those places take longer than ten to fifteen minutes. I think it is all relative.

I believe, (correct me if I am wrong) that the homes around Lopez were sold originally when the market everywhere was higher.

I don't think there is a bad area in the villages. I like new because it is a blank slate for decorating.

[Russ_Boston]

My current thought is to buy new (CYV) with a golf front. Obviously by the time I purchase (2010?) the new home will be in northern Brownwood territory. But let's think about it...

Northern Brownwood will be between two squares, Brownwood to the south and LSL to the north. 466A will be even more developed so those restaurants and shops will be convenient. Plus quicker access to the turnpike! The rec centers, pools, golf courses will be newer than those that will, at that time, be 10 years old or more. It will be similar to a northern LSL village when they were built.

So my answer is that whether the home is new in 2010-2014 etc. or a preowned there will be no bad areas in TV.

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by ConeyIsBabe

Will someone please explain to me why the TV Developers keep building more new homes - with such a large inventory of new homes, already built, for sale ? Just curious

Because the keep selling them.

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

You know, I don't think we are a ways from everything in Hadley or Hemingway. We are closer to the Colony Recreation Center where we take water aerobics and play bingo and cards, I take Art lessons at the Colony too. We are close to Kilimanjaro, Truman, Roosevelt, Bogie and Bacall Golf Courses and we are right next to Odell Recreation center where we have potlucks, Bingo and exercise class every morning! Those who play tennis, pickleball, bocce and shuffleboard are close to those activities and then not to mention the social activities that occur in your neighborhood. We are close to the restaurants and Publix at Colony Plaza too. We aren't as close to the square and the dancing as folks in Caroline.(The square is about ten minutes away) And we have to drive to Sams, Lowes, Walmart, Kohls, and Home Depot, etc. But none of those places take longer than ten to fifteen minutes. I think it is all relative.

I believe, (correct me if I am wrong) that the homes around Lopez were sold originally when the market everywhere was higher.

I don't think there is a bad area in the villages. I like new because it is a blank slate for decorating.

I can get to LSL from Hadley or Hemmingway in 15 minutes on my bicycle. That, to me, is very convenient.

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by iandwk

Thanks to everyone for all the input. We have decided to rent a house for two months this summer to acclimate ourselves so we can make the most informed decision possible. We look forward to it!

You did EXACTLY the right thing!