Buy A New or Preowned Home?

There are advantages to buying both new and preowned homes. Join Jerry and Linda as the Villages Newcomers discuss benefits to each. They also show you some upgrades that you might consider whether shopping new, or preowned.
The channel is more than just The Villages. It features episodes designed to inspire retirees to make the most of their golden years. Kayaking, hiking, golfing, music, travel and more is featured.
Subscribe and you'll never miss a video.
“See you when you get here!”
Mailing address:
Villages Newcomers
P.O.Box 888
Fruitland Park, FL 34731
email: [e-mail]
All information and opinions in our videos are ours alone and not guaranteed as accurate. We are not endorsed by nor paid by The Villages, Florida. We are just trying to share answers to questions we had when we were trying to decide if moving here was for us.

[@ggbice]

Superb information that many people may not consider. In particular; you hit the jackpot with your home imho. The crown molding is beautiful. Upgrades equal greater resale value. Anything that minimizes maintenance is priceless. If you cook a lot, that backsplash is a necessity. The light and sun exposure in Florida is very important as well. Cooling and heating costs should be considered. While my home has lots of tile, I have carpet in living room and bedrooms. It's just preference. Love your epoxy floors. 19 years since building our house, and upgrades have really been worth it. Garage pad is 18ft. vrs 16. Closet space is abundant. There really are significant considerations that will make a house, a home. I had plans made from my original with less square footage to build again. Everything is on hold for now. A resale is still an option. Building costs are very high; land clearing and prep is almost as costly as my land. Like you started the video...... Location, Location, Location. Probably the best advice Jerry and Linda. I really feel your video could help many who may want to relocate. Sorry comment is so long!🙋✌️🙋✌️.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Never too long. GG! Thanks! 😁😁

[@melvinaspence6257]

You Folks are so real, cute and loving. You appear to be enjoying your end time life together as a couple.Most people are just living a married single life. It's nice to see you are enjoying each other. I just love you both❣

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Awwww... Thanks, Melvina!

[@Miguel195211]

Location is very important to me. I have built two homes, so I love new. But, pre-owned has some additions that other homeowners put in. Whatever makes you happy! 🏌️ You guys covered a lot in this video, good job.

[@sherrycampbell9196]

Loved this ❤️ video..it helps to hear pre owned versus new...I am getting caught up on all your videos..while awaiting the surgeon to call for my surgery to remove a mass and left knee..to get a whole new knee...blessings to all

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Good luck with that knee, Sherry! 😁😁

[@robinduke3184]

You are so right about location. You can slowly change anything about a home that you don’t like, but it’s location is permanent. 😊

[@KATE69101]

You two are so cute. The dog too. You give very informative videos. I want you guys to know how appreciative I am. Thank you again.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thank you Kate! We really, really appreciate that!

[@rescuelady4678]

This is a great video. You have shared some very helpful information about the homes in the Villages. You have a beautiful home. Wishing you many years of happiness living in Florida. Take care. Stay safe. 🐾🌺

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thank you RL!!! You too! 🙂🙂

[@bnyob3463]

That was fabulous when Gizmo fell asleep...I just loved it.❤

[@theresatitus-lawson3431]

Thanks again for a very informative video. I bought a pre-owned home also with some very nice upgrades. My home was only 6 years old when I bought. Still fairly new for a house! I love my neighborhood and love my neighbors! I've said it before and I'll say it again, The Villages is awesome! Hi Gizz! Stay well Jerry and Linda!

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thanks, Theresa... we always love your positive attitude!

[@everetteborr]

I wanted to add one more thought. With the additional “upgrades” to your home and the “paid-off bond”, you probably gained significantly more “net value” than buying a new home, and you also got a better location. You have presented a whole new way to look at purchasing a home in the Villages. You did well, and thank you again.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thank you, Rick!

[@Ellenllee]

I was chuckling like Linda when Jerry called the "stoop"..."good for nothing",lololol and EGAD! - the West facing lanai.Add the fact that Gizmo gets ac,fan and shading...well I was on the floor laughing then,my dog gets the same treatment lol.Informative and hysterical...thanks you so much for such lighthearted entertainment.Stay safe and have fun:).

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thanks Ellen!!🙂🙂

[@barbaraebner5889]

Stoop was good. What they call them in Philly.

[@scottduncan6991]

Perfect timing as we just bought a lot in the new Village of St. Catherines. We were looking at preowned and spec homes but just did not have what we wanted. Found that the preowned homes were a lot more expensive. We will be down in December for the design center. So excited for this new chapter in our lives. There will be months of construction but it is exciting to watch your neighborhood grow.

[@barbaraebner5889]

I just saw that "golden wingnut" did a drone video over St. Catherine. Looks nice. May good health and happiness move in with you!

[@saundby]

Congratulations! Things are really moving fast down there. I hope you get your home exactly as you would like it.

[@janeta3509]

Great info. A friend of mine just bought in Marsh Bend. I tried to talk him into a pre-owned for all the reasons you bought yours, especially that $30,000 bond! You have to add $30,000 to your purchase price if you buy new! And location! It took me 25 minutes to drive from Sumter Landing to his house in Marsh Bend.

[@saundby]

Marsh Bend is very nice, even if it's kinda "out there" right now. We strongly considered that village, the walking trails being a strong selling point for us, plus the houses get a lot of amenities that were extras on the older construction. In the end, we bought further north because we're impatient. They will probably have shopping in the area within a year, and a new town square in a few years, but we wanted all that a short cart ride away //now//. :D

[@MariaReyes-te7lk]

The best upgrade paint.. good paint.

[@cametientaucoeur]

Very nice points. We have built 2 homes & purchased 1 preowned. We liked most things about each home but we always selected for location, hence our lake site. You gave good advice. Prior to moving in, whether building, or buying, think carefully about your needs. Throughout the 20 years in our development, we have upgraded lots of things, living in the midst of mess. We eventually removed wall to wall carpeting, only works if leave shoes off & replaced with wood floors (except 3 bedrooms). As far as pre used toilets, new seats always a good idea. Your molding is very nice. Plantation shutters are great. Your blue walls are a very nice color & love your brick patio. Motorized screens very interesting, some people put that on their garage doors. Gizmo is so sweet. Jeanne

[@j.m.7056]

Excellent information and thoughts. Much of which can be applied when house shopping elsewhere. I have purchased both new and pre-owned homes and your presentation is spot on! Thanks for your work.

[@cynthiaamitrano8915]

Very informative and greatly appreciated. Thank you. I’d choose pre-owned any day of the week.

[@gwolfe3825]

Buy new, start new, get all the sweet upgrades! Ours is brand new, you get all the warranties. I looked at owned homes, people did not take care of them.

[@saundby]

We bought pre-owned, but the prior owners took excellent care of the home. It was also one of the show homes for this section of the development, so it came with a lot of upgrades, plus those that the prior owners put in while they were here. We vacillated between new and pre-owned, but in the end we were impatient--we didn't want to keep renting with our stuff in storage while waiting on construction! :D

[@cynthiaamitrano8915]

Carpet is like a sweater for your house. Up north it’s insulation in the cold winter months. I’m looking for a video and can’t find it. Maybe you didn’t do a home tour, but I believe you did.

[@zzzzipy12]

Yea, Gizmo...you tell them that YOU are the STAR!!!! Great advice on homes!!! Love your couch, pillows & art work!!!

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thanks Linda!

[@petemanning3012]

I never noticed the lack of gutters on all the homes we are looking at....thanks for that tip

[@carolynanderson6545]

Great video. Plain speak and informative. Homes are expensive there. Bond amounts are an issue. I'm single, newly retired looking for over 55 area but don't want to spend the rest of my life in a small box. Moderate homes are very expensive. Just have to keep looking.

[@dorebea1]

One of my favorite videos! Loved hearing your first hand experience- based thoughts on pre-owned vs build. Especially appreciated the suggested list of upgrades / enhancements. This is a major topic for all future ‘newcomers’. Question: Is there anything you would have done differently, any changes to floor plan, any additional upgrades you wish you had etc? Personally I love your house (including the painted driveway & sidewalk).

[@alexbloss4163]

I’m in the Villages tomorrow and making this same decision. Excellent timing !! Thank you...

[@barbaraebner5889]

Good Luck!

[@nataliesmithhart4511]

Great information! I couldn’t agree more about LOCATION. 🙋🏼‍♀️ 💯 You can change your home but not the location of that home. I too love to step out of bed onto plush, soft carpet! 🛏 ❤️ We made the decision years ago to remove all the carpet from our rental properties. Too costly to replace with each tenant. I LOVED your plantation shutters and all the beautiful trim work. Fantastic upgrades that are worth the 💰. Thanks for sharing! Have a great week. Best! 💕

[@floridafunprof6750]

Great info as usual; I agree that location is very important - I may prefer the old area more due to less yard restrictions, access to 441 and all it's rest/shopping, more developed infrastructure, and maybe less crowds...they need a 4th square badly it seems. Thanks again!

[@lauralampe1664]

I'm with you. I could easily buy a home on the Historical Side or right around Spanish Springs. Love the convenience of that area.

[@saundby]

We loved the homes near Brownwood, and they're a few years newer than the house we ended up buying further north. We love Lake Sumter Landing, we fell in love with the square and the lake when we visited shortly after it opened, so we decided to buy a home nearby. It we had bought further north yet, though, there would have been a lot of advantages to that compared to here. The roofs are newer there--we will probably have to replace our roof soon, if we had bought an older home, that would already have been done. There seems to me more landscaping area that's owned by The Villages up north, just an extra touch of beauty there. And we love both Lady Lake and 466 for shopping, which is more remote for us than if we'd bought further north, but that turned out not to be too big a deal, we just drive a little further. We are in an area where the landscaping is mature and well established. Most homes have upgraded from the builder's original landscaping, and there are a lot of other "younger" people like us buying into the area who are making their own upgrades as well. We also like being in an established neighborhood. The "old hands" here have made us feel very welcome. The two things that really sold us on this specific house were the lanai (oversized lanai glassed in with slider doors) and the neighbors we got to meet before settling on the place. We had another house we were looking at with a huge, magnificent screened lanai but our first encounter with the man next door made us decide that it certainly wasn't where we wanted to live.

[@mindexpanding1]

Thank you both for being so honest and objective. The salient points that you have identified have convinced me that I will not consider my retirement years at “The Villages”. Leaving metro NY to go to a community that has so many of the negatives that are our catalyst for relocation would be devastating. All best to you both and thank for your truthfulness.

[@Jyeagley1]

I have not heard any negatives.

[@mindexpanding1]

@@Jyeagley1 Very subjective. Positive items for one individual can very negative for another. The problem with the “Villages” is the endless fees and levels of upgrades available that suggest better value(s). The “fixed” costs are always increasing and the “typical” home owner has no options except to utilize the outsiders who prey on residents. This is especially true for widows who are the most vulnerable and their numbers increase daily. Do your research, look at all the abuses that local contractors perpetuate on the uneducated homeowners. I personally dated a staff member who shared much information with me that convinced me never to live there.

[@mialorenzen3538]

This was super helpful! We’ll be buying a Villa soon! I love your grandfather clock! 😊😎, Mia

[@barbaraebner5889]

Good Luck in your new home!

[@dankleman5010]

You almost have me convince to move south to the villages from Ohio when I retire next year. Now to convince my wife. Really enjoying all your videos. They are very helpful.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Haha! It is tough to convince the boss! See you when you get here!

[@patsygrace2561]

You both are so fun to watch, honest, informative, interesting. Keep on with the good workd❤️

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thanks, Patsy!

[@CynthiaMUrban]

So nice spending a Sunday afternoon with the 3 of you. Thank you for sharing and God bless.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thanks Cynthia, we appreciate it! 😁😁

[@carolapostolos8929]

Very interesting. Thanks for your thoughts Jerry and Linda.

[@foxiedogitchypaws7141]

There is a growing town in north Alabama called Gorham Bluff. The man who designed the villages also designed Gorhams Bluff.

[@lp2565]

Shout out to my old home town of WACO, TEXAS! Born & Raised!

[@derbuckeyetribe9789]

Since 2003 my father has owned 4 homes in the Villages. Two were pre-owned and two were brand new. All have been fine homes of various sizes. The first 3 he bought because they were at the end of a cul de sac with larger lots. The 4th one was a down size, He's getting way up in age. Houses 2-4 are all near Lake Sumpter Landing and Rainy Trail. Location! Near Rainey Trail and west or close to Lake Sumpter landing has given us a quick way into and out of the villages. In less than than 15 minutes I can be on the Turnpike or I-75 for Tampa, Orlando, or Home (Ohio). Not too mention a short golf cart trip into Lake Sumpter Landing or Southern Trace for shopping, etc. We're not golfers, but the lanai and birdcage on the current house overlooks the 2nd tee on the Arnold Palmer course. We've had a lot of fun in the Villages over the years. I'm hoping you two have many years to enjoy the Villages as well.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thank you so much. It sounds like you could probably teach us a few things about The Villages!

[@derbuckeyetribe9789]

@@JERRYANDLINDA You're welcome and Thank you as well. Your videos let me have a good look at how the Villages is evolving. I really appreciate the time and effort it takes to make your videos! 👍 I really miss my visits to the Villages.. Maybe this Thanksgiving!! Craving a visit to Oakwood on RT 27 for a dinner of Oakwood chicken!!

[@scottdial.45]

Great info guys! You picked a beautiful home and chose a very pretty paint color. Hello Gizmo!!

[@JWH808]

Just subscribed to your channel. I’m 45 years old, but dreaming of retirement. I’m jealous of your full head of hair. Thanks for sharing your lifestyle!

[@quiltme10]

Fabulous video today! A lot of GREAT info you gave us to think about the pre-owned & new homes! Thank you so much, Jerry & Linda!

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thank YOU, Kathee! 😁

[@lailja21]

Another plus of solar tubes is the moon glow

[@kennethbrooks9930]

You did not discuss your bidet. Did you get them installed? Good job discussing some of the upgrades on pre-owned homes.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

We sure did, we have one in both bathrooms now. They were a big hit during the toilet paper shortage.😁😁😁😁😁

[@kennethbrooks9930]

@@JERRYANDLINDA Now, if we can get the shoes off in the house we will be in business. Love the videos, thanks.

[@chineseslaves1971]

Nice upgrades! Not providing gutters...wow...shocking what they take away.

[@barbaraebner5889]

Jerry and Linda you have a beautiful home. I still am confused with this "bond". I understand infrastructure but what are taxes for? I am in the East and lived in a brand new build, no bond. On my Village " to buy" list is bond paid. Very informative video. You guys present wonderfully.

[@saundby]

The bond is a way to finance the original construction of the infrastructure--roads, sewer, etc. The taxes pay for upkeep. Since existing homeowners aren't having to underwrite the new construction costs for areas they don't live in, taxes stay lower and our tax rates aren't subject to speculation in construction. Bond paid is very nice, but it's not worth passing up the right house over. The rule of thumb that people use is to mentally add the remaining bond to the price of the home. It's not all that accurate a way to think of it, but it helps when you're prioritizing one house vs another on cost. We bought a house with $8K left on the bond last year. We had a "war chest" of money set aside to do improvements on our house when we bought it, and if there had been enough left over, we would have paid off the bond during the annual window to do that. However, we decided that we have other priorities for now, and opted to just make the regular payments for another year. Our bond will be paid in 5 years, so we may just continue that way--it'll be paid off 5 years before we pay off the house itself and we're thinking of other upgrades we'd like.

[@markskipper2199]

@@saundby everywhere we have lived the developer absorbed these cost, and it was figured into the cost of the lot. This is ridiculous!

[@garysimms1347]

EGAD. A new mnemonic for the tuning of the strings for a bass instrument! Thanks for the info!

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@beingkitschroeder2507]

We'll be down there a week from today!

[@juliegarren2994]

Linda & Jerry, thanks again for such an informative video. I was taking notes as fast as I could!

[@rowenah3723]

Hi, if I lived in the US I would move to your area,in Oz we pay stamp duty when every you buy a house, about 4,% of purchase price, to buy a place like your would cost about $700,000 US dollars here.,Rowena/Oz 🤑💙

[@LanceMcCormick]

Nice video! Laughing hard with you on that floor in garage! Preowned you can pick your own realtor and negotiate like we did! New you have to use villages sales people!

[@csnanny1882]

Hey,enjoyed, where have you guys been hanging out at ? Haven’t seen you for a while. Hope all is well, love ya, God bless.

[@jonkrispeterson6678]

I don’t know about The Villages, but if you are in West Villages/Wellen Park, homes sell in hours for 10% over asking. Almost no choice but to build.

[@robertfitzgerald6419]

Great show, enjoyed it. Your friend Bobby.

[@williamdillon1598]

Of course you have to keep Gizmo cool and comfortable!

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

I know... it's in his contract!

[@mb0314]

Jerry, another nosy question, we’re closing on March 23rd. We would like to have our garage floor epoxied as well, may I ask who did your garage floor? I would like to call them and ask the cost and if it can be done b4 we get there since we will close a few days before we arrive, if it can be done.Thank you to you and Linda for all the great info.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Our home was already finished in that regard. We have heard good things about Edison Concreations. [phone]

[@mb0314]

@@JERRYANDLINDA Thank you, I will look them up😘

[@GUITARTIME2024]

Your wife adores you, dude. You did well.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thanks, PM... I sure did! 😁😁

[@doorguru168888]

Another fine video Jerry and Linda! I will never live in the Villages, but I do enjoy your videos. All the best to you!

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Thanks, DG!

[@everetteborr]

Thank you, this an extraordinarily thoughtful video.

[@downinthebayou2143]

We learned a lot from this great video. Thank you!

[@nadeichman]

Thanks for sharing your home! Nice features!

[@edithp.7213]

I just ❤️you two. I wish you were our neighbors!🌺🌼🌸

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

That's so nice Edith! Thank you!

[@pakaza]

Yikes on the Bond! A lot of money, that could be spent on your own upgrades.

[@saundby]

Part of why new houses are listed at lower prices than preowned in many cases. Though the newer houses also have many more amenities built in. Golf cart garages and walk in showers are pretty much standard in the new construction designer homes. Rule of thumb is to add the bond to the price of the house, see how it compares to others you're considering.

[@ceciliapetrowsky2572]

Beam me up Scotty. Haha. Loved that reference Linda.

[@haroldwiser2641]

Thanks for a great, informative video with a few chuckles along the way!

[@jeffreyhoffman760]

I see they are building new apartment near the square can you do a show on those please

[@barbaraebner5889]

That seems to be a sore subject down there!

[@pmholcombe453]

Very informative! Never dealt with a mortgage bond in GA.

[@jaywinger8131]

Thanks for sharing great information hopefully give me to get a good golf game will you guys will be down there visiting in December

[@matt51402]

Yes indeed, the bond is so expensive! And location, location, location! I'm holding out to Spanish Springs or Brownwood.

[@saundby]

I definitely tell people to pick their town square and live near it. We were vacillating between the house we bought and one down near where Jerry and Linda are. In the end, my wife's preference for Lake Sumter Landing made the decision for us, plus we're about equal distance between Spanish Springs and Brownwood, close enough to take the cart to either, but of course we normally go to LSL because it's closer.

[@matt51402]

@@saundby that the way of doing it,equal driving to both town squares!.

[@suespony]

Must admit, I am not a carpet fan, we live in the finger lakes area of New York, it's gets very cold, we have a few throw rugs, but that's it. We are still in the process of getting a winter home in Florida, we plan to still live in new York in the Summers. Covid has definitely put us behind some as for finding a winter home.thanks for all your thoughts and input, is very helpful.

[@judithcicalese842]

Love your informative videos!!!! Thank you for all the great details.

[@jimroberts2852]

Thanks Jerry & Linda - quality video like always!

[@markskipper2199]

Didn’t see anything on home prices. Did I miss this?

[@elsacleary9065]

Thank you great video, except you didn’t introduce little Gizmo, he looked so sad..

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

He's overpaid and underworld! 😆😆

[@samsmullen991]

I personally hate carpets. I want floor to be clean and with carpet, you couldn't see how dirty it is.

[@mmengyan]

Maybe I missed it, did you explain what a "BOND is ? I think it is a passed - thru cost of developing the infrastructure of the land the neighborhood sits on. Not used in the east or midwest. Developers just add that to the upfront price of the houses. That is so they can advertise a house "PRICE" without being honest about the true price.Kind of underhanded or fake to add it as an additional line item. jmho

[@saundby]

Not really, since the price of the home goes to the seller, but the bond goes to the local government. It's part of what makes things grow so quickly down here. Without it, The Villages wouldn't be what it is. Nobody tries to hide the bonds. In fact, it's usually right up top on the info sheets, especially if it's paid, in which case it's all caps with exclamation points.

[@ggjr61]

Thanks for explaining what a bond is I had no idea.

[@Judes121]

Thanks for sharing !

[@richardc488]

Thank you for the information!

[@jrgolferty7898]

We are back to school for the villages charter middle school yahhh

[@emmylou-y4b]

This is most helpful as usual. Thanks so much!

[@TomTom-gz7jo]

excellent video, many great insights

[@markforbes4389]

Did u look around different parts of Florida and if u did what made u decide on the Villages?

[@jimhunt7634]

Great info.. Thanks guys

[@jim-uu2db]

At some point could you go,over how you searched and found your home. Also your visiting experiences.

[@silverbubbles4728]

Just Love your backyard! Love, Love, Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gorgeous! One question though, are the motorized screens in the windows expensive to fix/replace? Thanks for your time. God Bless!

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

The motorized screens are warrantied... we don't know how hard they'd be to fix if they broke. Hope we don't find out.

[@silverbubbles4728]

@@JERRYANDLINDA Thanks, hope you don't have to find out either! Tonite, you two need to sit back in your lanai, open up a bottle of wine & have a drink while looking out into your backyard. When you do, just say, "This one is for you, Barb!" Ha ha ha.....

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Cheers!

[@freddiebasset4298]

Carpet is nasty! When they took up my carpet the crud under was gross! Wood floors are the best!

[@godsloveasall.4984]

In 27 years here in Florida, i owned 3 homes already, I always prefers a new home cuz i got to peaked the color and choose what i want to be upgrade in the house. Beside i kinda have a bad feelings about the history of the home and the previous owner. Maybe I just been watching to much scary movie😆 i live by myself so i don't want scary home😆 an also I just can't afford to keep the maintenance to soon, and here in Florida, also it can be dangerous for someone you don't know to come into your home knowing that you an older woman that living alone. Not a good idea here in Florida, that's why i always choice a new home 🏡 an i stayed for 9 years an then i sold and find another new home. It's how i do it here myself.

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Liza, there are great companies that can come in and get out most of the blood stains. 😝

[@ceciliapetrowsky2572]

@@JERRYANDLINDA 😂

[@gracealleman4102]

To answer your question about why people don't like carpet: Stains easily shows very badly if you cannot get it out...dog pee etc Smells more than tile If you're allergic to the smell of carpet it's hard to get it out more allergies in carpet than in tile If you put in the color of carpet and you get sick of it that's it, with tile at least you can cover it with a throw rug or another piece of loose carpet The fibers in the carpet they have done studies attract more disease, more allergies, and health problems Carpet cleaning companies that come in and clean your carpet are not cheap Install a cork floor or a flooring with a cushion underneath instead of carpeting

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

I Y H O

[@LarryNewmanSusanNewman]

I always have to laugh at how people worry about carpet be being dirty so they put down tile and then put rugs over it. Duh...

[@tammirfowler1216]

Thanks for the great info. We were there last week looking around and agree that location is important. How did you find your home? Did you pick location first and then floor plan? How long did it take you to find what you wanted in your price range? You have some wonderful upgrades! Thanks for sharing.

[@saundby]

We picked our favorite villages based on location relative to our favorite town square. We had favorite floor plans, but there can be very clever modifications to any of them that dramatically change the house--we have a Lantana as do our neighbors behind, but moving the master bedroom door gave them a closet almost twice the size as ours. My mother has a Lantana as well, but they grafted on the master suite of a Premier home, expanded, extended, and raised the ceiling. So it shows like a Premier home even though it's a Designer. But they had to extend their lanai later to get one as large and usable as ours. ;) Start with your favorites, but look at anything in the right size range, and know what kind of flexibility you have in how you will use your rooms and the public areas of the house. I did up scale drawings of our two favorite floor plans, the Lantana and Gardenia, before we started looking, and made cutouts of our furniture that we expected to have so that we could experiment with different ideas about how we would use the space. We looked at a lot of other floor plans as well, but the exercise with the furniture cutouts helped us a lot in understanding how each home's layout would work for us.

[@tammirfowler1216]

@@saundby That information is very helpful ad informative. I like the idea of the furniture cut outs. Appreciate you taking the time to share. Thanks.

[@sukmarip.733]

Very informative 👏 thanks

[@brentpaulus4195]

Jerry & Linda, I love your videos, I'm just wondering if You have in the past ? Mentioned anything about having any retired military community within the villages? Just wondering what the closest military base is?

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Lots and lots of veterans, but no designated area.

[@carolapostolos8929]

No Gizmo you're not chopped liver. 😍🐕

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

😄😄😄😄

[@oceandreamer1958]

This video was very helpful! We plan to look at pre-owned homes. Do you recommend an outside real estate agent for MLS listings?

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Debbie, to each his own. We did not, we found a home ourselves on The Village's app, and had our Villages sales agent come and look at it for us while we were back in Indiana. The rest is history.😁

[@Jyeagley1]

What are the names of the newer villages?

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

There are so many… Hawkins, Bradford, Chitty Chatty, Saint Catherine, DeLuna, and lots more.

[@georgepedone8506]

Boy I love your vids. Question on power outages . Do they have backup power or are residence allowed to have generators ?

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Yes George, residents can have generators.

[@BobbiDoll]

On one of your videos you mentioned some of the names of models in the Villages. Which one do you have?

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Our home is the Aspen model.

[@BobbiDoll]

Thank you.

[@davidshkoler4126]

I would’ve left the refrigerator filter in, as an added system for clean water.

[@robcapel9825]

I enjoyed the video, but it was interrupted twice by ads. Are any of the homes available with a FROG (finished room over the garage)? Can you get smooth plaster walls instead of the orange peel texture?

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

We don't control the ads. They sure help us though. because we get a tiny bit every time someone watches an ad. It's not much. but it helps us pay for equipment, admissions. gas, etc. Thank you. As for finishing a room over the garage, we don't know of any, but there are a few two story homes here.

[@saundby]

We looked at two houses with finished rooms over the garage. We didn't buy either because they both backed up to major roads, but there are houses that have that. There are other second story designs as well. If you have you house built, you can choose the wall finish you like. Orange peel is just one option.

[@tinkertailor3115]

"First one on the toilet seat" -- ah, the little pleasures of life!!

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Divine, Tinker! 😆😆😆

[@tinkertailor3115]

@@JERRYANDLINDA :-) :-) :-)

[@TheGregWallace]

We are going to be moving down there in about 10yrs......If you are interested can we just buy your house in about 10 years?

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Maybe... ya never know.

[@lindaroche4012]

What section of the villages do you live?

[@davidruffing1306]

I never notice any minority’s in any post from the villages. Can you comment on the ratio of different minority’s within the villages?

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

All we can say is, we see people of color every day. In fact we hope to address that in an upcoming show.

[@davidruffing1306]

Thanks for the reply I look forward to seeing that post.

[@jws3925]

what is a bond? You paid over 400,000! I had no clue those homes were in that range

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

We will have a show very soon describing exactly what a bond is and what it covers and 400K is a very common price for homes in The Villages.

[@darlettarubin1665]

There are some least expensive hikes also. Whatever your budget is, there’s a home for you.

[@saundby]

A bond is a financed fee for the construction of the infrastructure for the home--street, sewers, electricity, etc. It is financed over 20 years, normally, but there's also an annual window where you can pay it off as a lump sum. We expected to buy a house in the $400-440K range when we came here. We ended up buying a $350K home that we're very happy with, with $8K or five years left on the bond (15 year old house.) We looked at houses down to $270K that could have worked, and looking lower let us really pick the features that were most important to us, and let us decide that we could be happy with a less expensive house. The big thing for us was that our rental let us discover that we could be happy on an interior lot. We moved here from country acreage, and were expecting to have to pay for a view lot or corner lot to be happy. Turns out, we're fine where we are on a much less expensive property. Not that I wouldn't like a view, but I'm not willing to pay another $100K for it and have another 5 years or more on my home loan to finance it.

[@maryjones8726]

At the moment, there are over 125 preowned Designer Homes for sale. Isn't that a lot?

[@JERRYANDLINDA]

Mary that sounds like a lot, but if you are like us you don't realize how big the Villages is... there are more than 65,000 homes. 125 for sale is really not that many. That is only one out of 520, and I'd bet a large number of those are trading up to new home.

[@maryjones8726]

@@JERRYANDLINDA I am just comparing that number to the Patio Villas for sale at only 40 preowned homes.