There are ZERO registered guns in Texas...

I’ve seen a lot of threads go astray over the years on TOTV, but this train wreck wins the all time prize.

There are a lot of smart real estate developers in the world. Not many of them are as astute as Gary Morse. He took 1000's of acres in the middle of no where and created The Villages out of whole clothe. He took a trailer park and re-named it the Historic District and the name has last 20+ years.

"Full occupancy" is a huge advantage to the Developer. Every one who lives in TV, knows what "in season" is like. The squares, the restaurants, the golf courses, are all inundated with people. For the owner of all those properties, the more the merrier.

The South is a different animal. They don't really have Town Squares. They're much more like traditional FL subdivisions. Different market, different clientele, different business model.

I think the Developer will continue to "allow STR's" in the Deed Restrictions down South, for his bread & butter homes. It suits his purpose and helps drive property values.

I think the higher-line, upscale neighborhoods he has planned, will be a different animal. I suspect those and only those, will have short-term rental restrictions. IMO, the upscale homes don't have the same rental potential. They really don't have all that much to offer a renter. There's no ocean, no town square, no golf, not much shopping. Everything in the newer areas, is still on the "promise plan".

Any renter with the money to spend for a very upscale home, is going to want the Full Monty ... which means an upscale house, near the real center of The Villages.

Living somewhere and renting somewhere for a short vacation, are miles apart in motivation and needs.

As if you would know what is relevant or not. You kept posting over and over on this thread about Clearwater. You kept stating facts matter. Fact! You missed the boat completely. Clearwater has no relevance .

First you state the Developer would never stop STRS and residents will have to find 3 million dollars to fight him in court. Now you say you can see a scenario where he will prohibit STRS. You are all over the board.

You are now an authority on common sense and it is rare for others to be like you? Common sense dictates you pick a lane. You do not post the Developer WILL NEVER prohibit strs and we will need to fight him in court backed by a fund of $3 million dollars. Then, a few pages later, post it is obvious the developer WILL prohibit strs.

Common sense also dictates one does not call out others for lacking common sense when one does not use it himself.

Has anyone seen realtors describing a preowned home as an STR ready-to-go? Fully furnished and equipped with everything you need to start renting? Is this a new way to sell homes?

Yes. Absolutely - STR potential is used as a selling point in some listings.

Wow! Encouraging more people to get into the STR business. I've seen MLS listings stating good investment property but stating an STR ready-to-go home? That is not something I have seen until yesterday.

Two separate couples I know have chosen not to buy homes in TV because of the STR problems in TV. They do not want to live in a TRANSIENT community w/ nightly or weekly resident turnover - that is absolutely what many villages have become - home to transients who spend a few nights there and move on while another transient moves in. Without legal protection, any homeowners in TV are at risk of having a transient rental home next door. We will move to a community that provides legal protection /recourse from STR transient occupation of homes if this continues in TV. As much as we enjoy TV we will leave TV if TV doesn't get on board with legal protections for owners and not allowing STR - transient occupation of homes in TV) No way I'll live in my beautiful retirement home surrounded by transient, ST renters.

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What area did the Developer take the time to change the deed restriction? Interesting.

District 12, unit 20

The Law Verbatim
 

Florida state law does not allow local governments to ban short-term rentals entirely or regulate the length of stays or their frequency, but local governments may pass rules to control negative effects of vacation rentals. The state law restricting local authority over vacation rentals was originally passed in 2011, and local short-term rental laws passed before June 1, 2011, are still valid.

Furthermore, The Villages residential neighborhoods CAN restrict AirBnBs if they are paying amenities such as an HOA. The amenity fees is key to classification as an HOA. In other words, if you pay to live there you can do something about it, but only through a vote. In such case, the District would need to vote on the issue and formalize it through minute etc and give residents a 30 day notice. Anyone wishing to appeal can do so.

NO. Being part of an HOA is key to classification as an HOA. There is no HOA agreement for the homes in the Villages.

The Villages operates as multiple Section 190 Community Development Districts. An HOA is a section 720 entity. Completely different things.