[tsew22]

Hope someone, can give us a little info. on putting a deposit on a lot. We will be in TV in July for our 3rd time, second Lifestyle, and a previous two week rental. Testing the waters to see how hot it is! We are almost ready to list our house in MA. Think for our budget pre-owned is best, we have a lot on our wish list, and feel it would be hard for us to find what we want pre-owned. Now thinking new might be better. So if we found a lot, and build new, how long do you have if you put a deposit down, before you must built. Also we like the Allamanda model, do you have to know what model you want at the time you put a deposit on a lot. Or can you have two or three models in mind for the same lot?
Find this forum wonderful, and hope all you experienced Villagers can help.

[GomerPyle]

tsew22, Seems like someone should have resposed to you by now, so this will help get you to the top of the list again.

It is my understanding that when you decided what model you want to build, if it will fit on the lot purchased, they will build. It not, then they will give you the option to select a lot that will fit the model you want.

If the lot is on a golf course, you must build soon, within maybe 3 months, if not on GC, then you have more time to wait, maybe 6 months.

They are building designer homes in 70-75 days.

I worked in Waltham MA for many yrs while with Polaroid Corporation.

Its warm here these past few days, but overall, you will just love it here. Its like having the converse of The Blizzard of '78. Remember that Feb in 1978? Beautiful weather daily, many things to do and see and participate in.

Welcome Home, we have lots of folks from the Northeast here too.

Regards,

GP

[getdul981]

We did our down payment on May 6. We were there looking at houses and lots with Lindsay Lowe, our realtor. We looked at several houses and pretty much decided that we want something in the Begonia/Gardenia size and price range. Then we started looking at lots. The first ones we looked at he told us that we would have to start construction within 90 days. We said that would not be enough time as we have to get back to VA and get our house listed and sold. The next lots we looked at had to have construction started on within 6 months. We told him that we thought that might be workable, but still was maybe too tight. He took us to Pennecamp and showed us a couple of lots that he said we would have up to 1 year to begin constrction. We figured that should be plenty of time to get everything done, so we put our down payment and came home and have been frantically trying to declutter and get listed. We're shooting for July 1 and hopefully everything will go smoothly. In case you don't know, even though you have made a down payment, you still have to make payments every 2 months to keep your contract active. All the payments go toward the purchase price though.

[tsew22]

Thank You, for the info, and looking forward to our visit again. We will talk to our sales rep. for more specifics too. We get a little cold feet, but then we read TOTV, and we get excited again. Everyone on this forum, is so helpful, I really have never heard anyone say they were sorry to move to TV. Hope to meet you all someday!

[elevatorman]

We put a down payment on a lot a year ago and were told we had a year to build. We started the build immediately because our home sold up north. Ask your agent I think if you can't build in a year you loose the lot but not the down payment. You can apply it to a different lot or a home that is already built. If you tell the agent you want to put a large home on the lot, say Lantana, they will make sure it will fit. Then change your mind and want a smaller designer it will fit on your lot. I think you will find that a new home will cost less to get into. There will be small things that you can do over time. By this I mean the new home will not have established landscaping, attic stairs, things like this. If you are looking to save more ask to look at close-outs. These are the last homes in a neighborhood that have not sold. They are marked down and sometimes even furnished. Good luck in your hunt.

[getdul981]

We're hoping that the 1 year time-line will not be an issue. We're all pumped up about moving and hope very much to be moved by Christmas.

[ncr2482]

My understanding regarding deposits is ...the more desirable the lot (golf course, pond or view) you have 60 days to begin building. Otherwise the Villages state " You can even reserve your home site for up to one year if you’re not ready to build today". Know a couple who signed the contract for a home on a retention pond at the end of December (to benefit from the Villages price reduction, etc) and the closing was in mid March. They weren't in the rush to build, but the Villages said if you want this lot that's the way it is.
Regarding the summers - we are also from Massachusetts and have lived full time for 5 years....the summers are not worse than in Mass, just more of them. I prefer summers in Florida rather than winters in NE any day. Also everything is air conditioned ---

[Russ_Boston]

We just put down a deposit in Buttonwood and have 6 mos to get the building started. Every 60 days they want another $2500 to hold the lot. If we decide against that lot we can transfer to another lot or pre-built new inventory.

Best of luck!

[dpingram]

We purchased a lot in Buttonwood in April and have 1 year to build. At that time we can trade the lot for any other lot or pre-built home (paying the difference if any). We have to make payments every 60 days which will go toward the purchase price of the home. As far as the model goes I think as long as it will fit on your lot you can change the model when you finally order your home.

[jmitchell]

Originally Posted by tsew22

Thank You, for the info, and looking forward to our visit again. We will talk to our sales rep. for more specifics too. We get a little cold feet, but then we read TOTV, and we get excited again. Everyone on this forum, is so helpful, I really have never heard anyone say they were sorry to move to TV. Hope to meet you all someday!

ncr2482,

It seems like people have had different experiences. We were there in Jan 2010 and found a lot we wanted. We were given 1 year to build. We were required to put down 5,000 to hold it for 2 months, but since we knew we would not be building within 2 months we put down 7,500 to hold it for 3 months. We are just about at our 3 months and will put down additional money. Our agent said he will need to confirm the amount but believed it would be an additional 7,500 which would hold it for the remaining 9 months. You do not need to know what model you want when you reserve the lot, but like others are saying the home choice will need to fit on your lot. You'll also want to check whether your lot is a Right or Left driveway, which can make a difference on your rear/lanai view. Certain lots, like golf course lots, we were told require you to begin building pretty quickly. Our lot is in Pennecamp and backs to a beautiful golf course, but since it is not a TV golf course we were allowed to hold it for 1 year.

Your agent should be able to print out the lot plan and give you home cut outs to see what fits. They will also be able to tell you whether it has a Right or Left driveway.

Good Luck!

[Kelsie52]

We just put a deposit on a Golf course lot in Buttonwood --we have 6 months to start building ---2500 down ---2500 every 60 days--

We more or less picked the home that fit the items we wanted --and then when we are ready ----(our home sells ) we will call and stat building

Were told 72 days later is the closing date ====5 months ago when we were there --they were only going to give us three months --for much the same lot---

Its all a matter of timing----Good luck

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by tsew22

Hope someone, can give us a little info. on putting a deposit on a lot. We will be in TV in July for our 3rd time, second Lifestyle, and a previous two week rental. Testing the waters to see how hot it is! We are almost ready to list our house in MA. Think for our budget pre-owned is best, we have a lot on our wish list, and feel it would be hard for us to find what we want pre-owned. Now thinking new might be better. So if we found a lot, and build new, how long do you have if you put a deposit down, before you must built. Also we like the Allamanda model, do you have to know what model you want at the time you put a deposit on a lot. Or can you have two or three models in mind for the same lot?
Find this forum wonderful, and hope all you experienced Villagers can help.

Based on the above varying answers, you may find it helpful to contact the sales department to get an answer tailored to your needs and desires.

[Casino]

Originally Posted by downeaster

Based on the above varying answers, you may find it helpful to contact the sales department to get an answer tailored to your needs and desires.

Downeaster...you are correct. There are so many variables .....please make sure that you ask your sales rep all the important questions....

[nniles]

We are also going to TV in July to put a deposit down on a site. I didn't realize there were different time frames for different lots. I appreciate that info. I will ask my agent for a lot plan to what home fits on it.

[Mudder]

We're from Mass. also and yes I remember Feb. 1978. My kids only went to school 5 days that month !! Had to use snow mobile to get to grocery store....I'd rather drive a golf cart in summer at TV. Lived in Florida for 15 years, you just get used to the summer heat...it's alot more tolerable than shoveling snow in Feb. Have lived at TV for 6 days, never leaving. Dont have knowledge about buying lots and building, we bought resale and couldn't be happier. Many things have already been done to house so we could start living immediately. We concluded that the actual house didn't matter as much as the location.

Philadelphia, Pa
Boxford, Ma
Tampa, Fl
TV 6 days ago and counting