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Hello Judy! Thanks so much! Glad you are enjoying our videos. Great to hear from you in the Land Down Under. We would ❤️ to visit Sydney someday! Cheers!
I can’t live in an area that has so much population density for so many reasons. I appreciate those that can. Good info for those making this type of living choice.
$1065 a month on top of a mortgage. So that is money you can't gain equity on. Yowza! Not for me. Id rather take that extra $1K a month and invest it in a larger property (probably not in Florida) and not have to deal with hurricanes.
With all due respect, this includes golf, activities etc. you pay for those wherever you live and I would wager it costs more than that to live on your own, away from a “community “ of lovely people and around the clock fun, everywhere you turn. This is living in an adult Disneyland versus living in a suburb where every outing is ala Carte. Golf would save me over $1,500 a month from SoCal/Orange County. You do you. It’s all priorities.😊
@@TonyV_in_the_OC It is not just priorities but also cost of living in different locations. I lived in Coronado CA until employment took us elsewhere. Golf is expensive in S. Ca. but again depends on where/how much you golf.
Thank you for sharing these numbers. Based on this, the Veranda that we like so much would be nearly $2000/month for just those items listed on the sheet, assuming we tack 40% onto The Villages estimate. That is good to know. these are important considerations.
So helpful, thank you. I live in San Diego and it cost a wee bit, well, really a lot more to live here. We visited the villages in June and I have to say it looked like a Disneyland for retiree's. What a fun place to live. If you can afford this, you get quite a bit of fun for your money. Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing all of that important information. I live in Alaska and getting tired of the 7 month winters. My wife and I are considering the Villages in a few years after I retire. Will keep checking back to see how things are going. Thanks again.
Our home costs us $2,250 average a year. Mortgage free. Well, septic. All electric, generator back up. 1735 sq ft, on 5 acres in a firr forest. We would never live in a community. I hate crowds. I can run my chain saw or tractor at 4:00AM. I have a 300' target range. Why would you give up freedoms. I never will.
@@OLDGUY7301 just a thought about that.. As you get older and maintenance becomes too much and you start thinking of being all alone in a medical emergency... sometimes it's nice to have neighbors that can check on you
Always an eye opener for us as we live here all year long in Sumter County in a small designer home!! We too live in a budget (hello retirement) and do a lot of cooking at home to save money going out to eat😄😉But we definitely love it here & find it is worth every dime we spend here for the value we receive💯Thanks for keeping it real Tiffany & Michael 👏👏👏
Thanks for sharing!! Glad to hear we are not the only ones who cooks and eats the majority of our meals at home. Please say hello and introduce yourself if you see us out and about here at TV! Have an awesome weekend!
Penny we don’t live in TV but rented last October. Coming from Delaware we thought store prices were the same but we couldn’t afford to eat out all the time. Thought long and hard, budget etc. about a permanent move but are now staying in Delaware and rent in TV again.
We're going to try to have 2 restaurant meals per week worked into our retirement budget. We ate out a lot when we visited TV a few months back and we really enjoyed the variety of restaurants there. Of course, we won't be able to eat out every day like we did on our vacation. We were really impressed by how much there is to do in TV and I can totally see why you love living there!
Stumbled on your new channel today, I watched your RVing channel and wondered what happened to you. As a Floridian it’s nice to hear about your experience in the Villages
Michael and Tiffany, keep posting your You Tube, I like to see your actual costs for your two bed two bath villa in the TV! That would be enough for me and my wife in our 70's!
Thank you for your transparency and willingness to share. I built out our budget so we know what to expect when we get down there, and now I know a few tweaks to make - fortunately in our favor!
Excellent job getting real with the numbers. It's good to know where we stand with money when we hopefully move there in a couple of years. I would love to see a quarterly update, too. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much! Glad it was helpful. Will do a quarterly update going forward and an annual update at the end of each year. 👍 Hope you have an awesome weekend!
That amenity fee is a bargain. It's definitely a huge part of the attraction of The Villages for us and, I know, many others. I just can't get over the variety of things there are to do there. I can't wait to retire there!
Very useful information, especially for those who want to purchase new construction. $30K for a bond on a new patio villa near Eastport...yikes. If I do buy in The Villages next year, it would probably be preowned north of Lake Sumter Landing. No bond or low bond balance.
We bought a NO BOND Villages 3/2 in the Alhambra Villages...near The Savannah Recreation center. We are ON A 1/3 OF AN ACRE!! BUNNIES owls...Red Cardinals...deer. our gas bill is 40 month Electric bill is 140. Mon NO BONDS HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS 850. YEAR. NO INCOME TAXES OR TAXES ON YOUR SS OR RETIREMENT IN FLORIDA. 36% SAVINGS FROM OUR PREVIOUS RESIDENCE OREGON
I am single and am seriously considering moving to TV but am really having a hard time trying to figure out if I can afford it. Your comment is very encouraging to me. May I ask what you pay for your mortgage and how ling you have lived there? Thank you!!
Not too far away in Tavares. Water is pricey irrigation and regular total average $310/month. Lawn service $180/month. Electric for 5/4 3400 $325/month Pest control amd lawn fertilizer are also another expenses. Best wishes!! I absolutely love the Fiesta restaurant in your area!
Excellent video as always… Thanks for sharing the real cost of living at the Villages. Will be arriving on Thursday for our 7-day Lifestyle visit, hope to see you and your wife.
We want to be as informed as possible going into our Lifestyle Visit, and this video gave us a realistic idea of what we might be spending when we move. Especially with us coming down from Charlotte, it was a helpful comparison. Thank you!
Do they give you a bill that actual shows how many gallions of Potable water you ca drink? Do you have a seperate meter on your exterior sprinklers for the lawn that show ho many gallions per reading you used? Do they charge you a mandatory service charge for water/ sewer/ sprinkler water wether you use them or not?
A couple things I wanted to note. I noticed on the new price comparison sheet, the cottage villas and courtyard villas have switched places. They based that order on price and size. My sheet notes that the size is climate controlled square footage where the new sheet not only doesn't say that but the listed sizes clearly include the garage. The tax rates have a note that is based on the average sales price WITH homestead exemption. You can only get that if this is your primary home. We have a pre-owned 1206 sq ft courtyard villa with a 1.5 car garage in Sumter Co. Our trash bill is $22.54. Sumter fire is $125 a year currently. They're talking about more than doubling it but cutting the tax rate to compensate. This is being sold as ending TV subsidizing the rest of the county in fire. We have only had our home for 3 months, and we're part time, so it'll be interesting to see what our costs are over the rest of the year.
I’m really considering moving to the villages in 3 years when my husband and I are debt free. Thank you for the very detailed information I’m analytical and this helps to ease my mind.
Good job on video. We have a designer home in the northern section of TV and it is located in Marion County. Our amenity fee is $205 now, we bought in March 2023. Our water bill for June was $45, sewer $46. I ran my water a lot in May/June because we had no rain. Our electric bill is based on a cold house, a pool, pool heater, electric car and electric golf cart and the bill has been no more than $185 per month. Our gas bill has average about $42 per month. Our insurance went up to $2,500 per year. I’ve had a home in Florida for the past 35 years and found that living in TV is about the same or even a little less than other places I’ve lived in Florida. Personally I think it’s a great deal to live in TV.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks also for sharing your monthly costs with us and everyone. Very helpful! Who is your electric company in Marion County (we use Duke Energy)? What is your average kWh per month and cost per kWh? Have an awesome weekend!
Thanks to you both for the transparency and sharing your numbers...very helpful as we contemplate the affordability there. We came down last October on a lifestyle visit and loved it. One question came to mind regarding the annual tax bill. I am use to the mortgage company holding an escrow account to pay both the property tax and homeowners insurance. I assume that is the case in Florida? Leaving only the non-ad valorem taxes to budget outside of the mortgage payment? You mentioned paying annually...so perhaps you dont have a mortgage?...and congrats if thats the case.
Enjoy your channel & appreciate your insights. Fingers crossed I may be moving to The Villages summer of next year. Regarding the nightly entertainment at the Town Squares, I don't believe The Villages' monthly amenity fees cover that. The stores, restaurants & a tourism grant from Sumter County pay for the nightly entertainment. Access to the Town Squares' stores, restaurants & entertainment is available to both Village residents & non-residents.
Hi and happy weekend! This video is super helpful...thank you!!! I signed up for the website and link to your spreadsheet but have not received it yet. Can you please let me know how to access again. Have a great day!
I live in Central Florida. I keep my thermostat at 77-78 during the day and 76 at night. As you acclimate, you will be able to tolorate a warmer temperature in your home. You can expect your most expensive electric bills will be August and September.
We live in NW FL and we keep our thermostat at a steady 74 degrees day and night. I agree that August and Sept are the most expensive. June and July aren't cheap, either. But once we get more into the fall there are stretches where we don't run the AC or heat at all.
Taxes are different in all counties Lake Cty includes Fruitland Park or Leesburg Sumter Cty depending where you live we only pay Sumter not Wildwood etc Also Leesburg and Duke Electric are so much higher than SECO. Some neighborhoods pay both SECO plus additional taxes on it from Wildwood. So very difficult to put all of us in one bucket.
Good information. Just FYI, when you have been here for one year, you can ask the utility company to change to budget billing. The price is averaged so each month is the same. That way it is easier to budget.
Doing my lifestyle visit in July. Thanks for doing this video. It is very informative information before I decide to buy. Really looking forward to it.
Wondering how it’s working out to be in a patio villa with both of you working from home? Think you mentioned you have your 2nd bedroom as a hybrid office/guest. We’re in the trying to figure out how much space we need in this still working phase. Thanks for your insights!
Why would the sewer bill fluctuate each month? Wouldn't that be the same every month? What causes the increase? What is the name of your home insurance company?
The sewer bill is a direct correlation to the water bill. The more water we use the higher the sewer bill and vice versa. We just used the TV insurance company for our first year. Will be shopping that around to see if we can get a better rate or policy when it’s time to renew. Thanks!
Congrats on your Subscribers , Michael and Tiffany !!! It would be nice if you could Link the papers on UA-cam for those to see it. Our HOA fee $110.00 per year !!! Our subdivision it's NOT big like The Villages. I conserve as much as possible , where I don't plug in everything into the socket ( exclude appliances in the house ) Our thermostat says at 74 degrees. I don't use dishwash alot , I'll wash it by hand. I keep the lights off and open up the drapes. If I can save $$$$ , I'll do it .
Thanks so much!! There are a lot of links in the description including the TV estimated costs sheet (towards the bottom). Will be sharing a lot more info and useful links when we launch our New website next week. Stay tuned!
Thank you for your videos! We have been watching since you started as we had just started looking at TV. We headed there for a life style visit late June to consider TV next year. But as best laid plans go ours went out the window! So we did a thing and my husband took a big gulp of the kool-aid and now we will be back late July to meet with the designers on our plans for a home in Shady Brook! Excited but I’m a bit panicked - moving to a new place with no friends/family is a huge thing for me so I really appreciate all the info you are sharing. Plus with the change in the timeline there are many things that need to be to be addressed - like I don’t retire until next year and selling our home here! But we are obsessive so will be watching your updates as soon as you release them! Thanks for the tips and the help!
Absolutely! Our pleasure! Congratulations on your new home in Shady Brook! Good luck with the build and move to TV! Keep us updated on your progress. Thanks!
I am a 100% service connected, permanent and totally disabled veteran. Alabama waives my property taxes. Is that possible in the Villages or Florida. What about flood insurance? $1065 PLUS house payment and other fees? Do I need to be a millionaire to live there? Would a single woman who has a service dog, fit in? I live in Alabama. I do not have a house payment. Electric is $156/month, a/c at 68F all year. $28/month for gas. $49/month internet. $120/month lawn care. My HOA fee is $180/month for upkeep of common areas. This is a small gated community with zero amenities. Just homes. $150/month grooming for service dog, who needs a long walk each day. He will also need a fenced yard. Auto, home, umbrella, carrier and flood insurance is $2800/year. I have no need of a golf cart, since I navigate the world in a power chair. My adapted van will not fit in an 8 foot garage door, so driveway parking is a must. I also need ramps for doors and outdoor curbs. I am active, but I get the feeling the Villages is like a neighborhood cruise ship, and I’m not a cruise ship kind of woman. I’m the nerdy librarian type. I’m quite happy writing my books and reading scientific journals. I too am an empty nester. College all paid for. Now it is time for me to do the things my military career and motherhood didn’t allow. 🎉
@@jobellecollie7139 FL waives property tax for 100% veterans as well. The Villages is not near the coast, I wouldn’t think flood insurance would be required.
Thank you for our service.... In a perfect world, you shouldn't have to pay a cent for decent, enjoyable housing....you wrote hat blank check to Uncle Sam all those years ago, we should take care of our heroes!
Great video. You might want to consider installing a "smart" irrigation controller like the Rachio 3: 8 Zone Smart Sprinkler Controller. It will connect to the Internet and adjust the amount of sprinkler run time based on local weather/rain.
Hello TVE we are doing our lifestyle visit this September and have been watching your videos. Please keep them coming very informative! We are trying to get a budget together and your spreadsheet would really help out. Would you be willing to share it?
Great information. I didn't know about the irrigation not being included. I will definitely be on a budget when I move there so this is good to know. And I look forward to seeing the cost spreadsheet you are working on.
We are considering The Villages, and can’t wait to do our second lifestyle stay in February. This expense breakdown is so helpful, THANK YOU. You mentioned in the video towards the end that you would be willing to share your whole budget sheet with lawn care, grocery, etc cost. How do we get that spreadsheet?
That is a low temp setting on the HVAC......You would freeze us out!!!! We are in south Florida and we keep ours between 78-80 all day. The Tesla should add about $50.00 alone to your electric.
We pay $1,380/mo in HOA and “lifestyle” fees at The Villages in San Jose , not including our homeowners insurance. Plus we still have to pay $35/round for golf.
I'm in a designer home with a small yard - approx 10' all the way around and a bit more in front - but my irrigation runs me at least $50 monthly - I have no idea why they neglect to mention that - and if you have a big yard WOW! But boy you keep it cold, my gas& electric for the past year has not gone over $200 monthly (and I blame that because dh discovered baking).
Wow, we keep our home in the summer at 76 degrees and in the winter at 67 degrees…. Saves some money… You got a deal with the homeowner insurance for sure! HOA fees also!
You state property taxes are based on purchase price. Couldn’t this change annually when they do an assessed/market valuation on your home? Or is it always based on purchase price and never changes (until sold)?
If you are a Florida resident, then you apply for a Homestead Exemption which caps any increases at 3% per year regardless of market conditions. This is after your first year of assessment based on purchase price. Since the Villages are in 3 different counties (Sumter, Lake, Marion), they each have their own tax rate and if the property is located in a city (Wildwood, Leesburg, Fruitland Park), you will be assessed a City tax also. Sumter County is the cheapest millage rat
Thank you so much for this video and all the videos you and Tiffany have made. My husband and I hope to move there in a couple of years and your video gives us an insight of the financial aspect we will need to make an informed decision. So far it looks like it will be cheaper for us to move to TV. Currently we live in League City Texas.
Great info tks for sharing. Northeast here, summers get humid hot. Our electric bill soared due to a dehumidifier in basement. Also Would love to hear from Snowbirds what they do to mitigate humidity in house to keep mold free while away so many months.,
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Hi guys from Sydney Australia love all your videos. 🦘🐨
Yes, we made sure to file for our Homestead Exemption before the deadline this year. Thanks!
Hello Judy! Thanks so much! Glad you are enjoying our videos. Great to hear from you in the Land Down Under. We would ❤️ to visit Sydney someday! Cheers!
@@MichaelTiffanyTVE signed up for your newsletter!!
Hi off topic… will you be doing a video on the CDD increase? Thank you
I'm a land surveyor in Florida and it cracks me up to see how much people pay to live in the neighborhood that used to be wetlands.
@@DC-ev2jf used to be
So just in six months you had 31% increase. That is concerning. The more they build the more that is going to go up.
I can’t live in an area that has so much population density for so many reasons. I appreciate those that can. Good info for those making this type of living choice.
Taxes will never go down. Only up no matter where you live.
$1065 a month on top of a mortgage. So that is money you can't gain equity on. Yowza! Not for me. Id rather take that extra $1K a month and invest it in a larger property (probably not in Florida) and not have to deal with hurricanes.
With all due respect, this includes golf, activities etc. you pay for those wherever you live and I would wager it costs more than that to live on your own, away from a “community “ of lovely people and around the clock fun, everywhere you turn. This is living in an adult Disneyland versus living in a suburb where every outing is ala Carte. Golf would save me over $1,500 a month from SoCal/Orange County. You do you. It’s all priorities.😊
Btw
Ocala is 200 miles from the coast-no need to worry about hurricanes!
@@tubamansmom7012 a 2 bedroom apt in Seattle is $2800. It’s a deal there.
@@TonyV_in_the_OC It is not just priorities but also cost of living in different locations. I lived in Coronado CA until employment took us elsewhere. Golf is expensive in S. Ca. but again depends on where/how much you golf.
@@tubamansmom7012 that's a bargain!
Thank you for sharing these numbers. Based on this, the Veranda that we like so much would be nearly $2000/month for just those items listed on the sheet, assuming we tack 40% onto The Villages estimate. That is good to know. these are important considerations.
Use efficient, quiet fans throughout your home. Makes a huge difference in electricity costs even here in Ohio.
Fans help, but I've lived in Central Florida over 50 years. AC with good dehumidifier only way to go.
Thanks for sharing!! I do love Florida but worry about home owners insurance cost!
We are considering The Villages, and can’t wait to come visit. This expense breakdown is so helpful, THANK YOU.
So helpful, thank you. I live in San Diego and it cost a wee bit, well, really a lot more to live here. We visited the villages in June and I have to say it looked like a Disneyland for retiree's. What a fun place to live. If you can afford this, you get quite a bit of fun for your money. Enjoy!
It’s 8:17pm here in Okinawa, Japan ~ This was very informative, thank you!
Great video! My taxes went from 2200 when I bought it to 6100. It’s a small 1200 sf townhouse. So upsetting.
@@PianoMatronNeeNee what are of the country do you live in? Thats a huge increase, so sorry!
Where are you speaking of. That's horrible. So sorry 😢
Thanks for sharing all of that important information. I live in Alaska and getting tired of the 7 month winters. My wife and I are considering the Villages in a few years after I retire. Will keep checking back to see how things are going. Thanks again.
Fantastic show!! It was awesome!! Michael and Tiffany have brought a breath of fresh air to the villages.. the new blood!! Well done...
Thanks so much! We're glad you enjoyed the video!
Glad you got a dehumidifier! The part of Texas I'm in is hotter and more humid than TV and the dehumidifier helps so much!
Our home costs us $2,250 average a year. Mortgage free. Well, septic. All electric, generator back up.
1735 sq ft, on 5 acres in a firr forest.
We would never live in a community. I hate crowds.
I can run my chain saw or tractor at 4:00AM.
I have a 300' target range.
Why would you give up freedoms. I never will.
@@OLDGUY7301 just a thought about that..
As you get older and maintenance becomes too much and you start thinking of being all alone in a medical emergency... sometimes it's nice to have neighbors that can check on you
Thank you so much guys this really clarifies what you’re getting into. Keep up the good work you were helping a lot of people.
Thank you for all this information. It is very helpful.
Always an eye opener for us as we live here all year long in Sumter County in a small designer home!! We too live in a budget (hello retirement) and do a lot of cooking at home to save money going out to eat😄😉But we definitely love it here & find it is worth every dime we spend here for the value we receive💯Thanks for keeping it real Tiffany & Michael 👏👏👏
Thanks for sharing!! Glad to hear we are not the only ones who cooks and eats the majority of our meals at home. Please say hello and introduce yourself if you see us out and about here at TV! Have an awesome weekend!
Penny we don’t live in TV but rented last October. Coming from Delaware we thought store prices were the same but we couldn’t afford to eat out all the time. Thought long and hard, budget etc. about a permanent move but are now staying in Delaware and rent in TV again.
We're going to try to have 2 restaurant meals per week worked into our retirement budget. We ate out a lot when we visited TV a few months back and we really enjoyed the variety of restaurants there. Of course, we won't be able to eat out every day like we did on our vacation. We were really impressed by how much there is to do in TV and I can totally see why you love living there!
We are at about $8k annual taxes in NH just a 3 bdrm home on an acre. Your taxes look like heaven as well as electric bill!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for sharing your info.
Depends on what county you are in here. TV covers 3 counties. Marion County even with no bond can be 5,000 on a 25 yr old house
We are in NH as well.. our taxes are $13,000 annually and our electric bill on average is $350 a month. We can’t wait to move!
Im in Connecticut with a $12,000 tax bill! I have a log home on 4 acres on a lake and have an inground pool but still this is getting outrageous!
@@karenb324 ……live in a tourist town and you’ll experience low RE taxes!!
Stumbled on your new channel today, I watched your RVing channel and wondered what happened to you. As a Floridian it’s nice to hear about your experience in the Villages
Michael and Tiffany, keep posting your You Tube, I like to see your actual costs for your two bed two bath villa in the TV! That would be enough for me and my wife in our 70's!
Thank you for your transparency and willingness to share. I built out our budget so we know what to expect when we get down there, and now I know a few tweaks to make - fortunately in our favor!
You could add Solar Gain Film to your windows to help drop your AC electric cost. I have it on my windows and it really helps.
Excellent job getting real with the numbers. It's good to know where we stand with money when we hopefully move there in a couple of years. I would love to see a quarterly update, too. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much! Glad it was helpful. Will do a quarterly update going forward and an annual update at the end of each year. 👍 Hope you have an awesome weekend!
Can't wait to move there!! Plan on being there this spring!
Awesome! Good luck with your move.
Love your information and personality!! I’m in Palm Coast and know the villages are so huge!
That amenity fee is a bargain. It's definitely a huge part of the attraction of The Villages for us and, I know, many others. I just can't get over the variety of things there are to do there. I can't wait to retire there!
Great comparison. Easily understood and well presented. Thanks so much - really appreciate your time pulling this together. 👍👏🏼
Awesomeness! Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much!
Very useful information, especially for those who want to purchase new construction. $30K for a bond on a new patio villa near Eastport...yikes. If I do buy in The Villages next year, it would probably be preowned north of Lake Sumter Landing. No bond or low bond balance.
Our bond on patio villa is 18,000 in Hawkins. It goes up the further South you go. We are just barely S of 44.
We bought a NO BOND Villages 3/2 in the Alhambra Villages...near The Savannah Recreation center. We are ON A 1/3 OF AN ACRE!! BUNNIES owls...Red Cardinals...deer. our gas bill is 40 month
Electric bill is 140. Mon
NO BONDS
HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS 850. YEAR.
NO INCOME TAXES OR TAXES ON YOUR SS OR RETIREMENT IN FLORIDA. 36% SAVINGS FROM OUR PREVIOUS RESIDENCE
OREGON
May I ask who you use for homeowners ins?
What is a bond for?
I am single and am seriously considering moving to TV but am really having a hard time trying to figure out if I can afford it. Your comment is very encouraging to me. May I ask what you pay for your mortgage and how ling you have lived there? Thank you!!
Not too far away in Tavares. Water is pricey irrigation and regular total average $310/month. Lawn service $180/month. Electric for 5/4 3400 $325/month Pest control amd lawn fertilizer are also another expenses. Best wishes!! I absolutely love the Fiesta restaurant in your area!
Excellent video as always… Thanks for sharing the real cost of living at the Villages. Will be arriving on Thursday for our 7-day Lifestyle visit, hope to see you and your wife.
Thanks for ALL the great information you guys give all the Villages dreamers out there!
Absolutely! Our pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it and glad it was helpful! Have an awesome weekend!
We want to be as informed as possible going into our Lifestyle Visit, and this video gave us a realistic idea of what we might be spending when we move. Especially with us coming down from Charlotte, it was a helpful comparison. Thank you!
So glad it was helpful! Looking forward to having more folks from the Queen City join us here at TV. Keep us updated! Thanks!
terrific presentation by both of you!! keep 'em coming!! I subscribed also!! thank you!! Marina in Calif...boo!!!
Do they give you a bill that actual shows how many gallions of Potable water you ca drink? Do you have a seperate meter on your exterior sprinklers for the lawn that show ho many gallions per reading you used? Do they charge you a mandatory service charge for water/ sewer/ sprinkler water wether you use them or not?
A couple things I wanted to note. I noticed on the new price comparison sheet, the cottage villas and courtyard villas have switched places. They based that order on price and size. My sheet notes that the size is climate controlled square footage where the new sheet not only doesn't say that but the listed sizes clearly include the garage. The tax rates have a note that is based on the average sales price WITH homestead exemption. You can only get that if this is your primary home. We have a pre-owned 1206 sq ft courtyard villa with a 1.5 car garage in Sumter Co. Our trash bill is $22.54. Sumter fire is $125 a year currently. They're talking about more than doubling it but cutting the tax rate to compensate. This is being sold as ending TV subsidizing the rest of the county in fire. We have only had our home for 3 months, and we're part time, so it'll be interesting to see what our costs are over the rest of the year.
Great info! Thanks so much for sharing! Keep us updated on your long term costs and monthly averages. Have an awesome weekend!
I’m really considering moving to the villages in 3 years when my husband and I are debt free. Thank you for the very detailed information I’m analytical and this helps to ease my mind.
Awesome! Glad it was helpful! Thanks!
Good job on video. We have a designer home in the northern section of TV and it is located in Marion County. Our amenity fee is $205 now, we bought in March 2023. Our water bill for June was $45, sewer $46. I ran my water a lot in May/June because we had no rain. Our electric bill is based on a cold house, a pool, pool heater, electric car and electric golf cart and the bill has been no more than $185 per month. Our gas bill has average about $42 per month. Our insurance went up to $2,500 per year.
I’ve had a home in Florida for the past 35 years and found that living in TV is about the same or even a little less than other places I’ve lived in Florida. Personally I think it’s a great deal to live in TV.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks also for sharing your monthly costs with us and everyone. Very helpful! Who is your electric company in Marion County (we use Duke Energy)? What is your average kWh per month and cost per kWh? Have an awesome weekend!
SECO Energy. A not-for-profit electric cooperative. 0.1121 per kWh
Thank you for this info. It is helpful!
Where do you live? I don’t know what TV is or where it is. Thanks for the information.
Are there any Churches like Elevation nearby The Villages?
Thanks to you both for the transparency and sharing your numbers...very helpful as we contemplate the affordability there. We came down last October on a lifestyle visit and loved it. One question came to mind regarding the annual tax bill. I am use to the mortgage company holding an escrow account to pay both the property tax and homeowners insurance. I assume that is the case in Florida? Leaving only the non-ad valorem taxes to budget outside of the mortgage payment? You mentioned paying annually...so perhaps you dont have a mortgage?...and congrats if thats the case.
Enjoy your channel & appreciate your insights. Fingers crossed I may be moving to The Villages summer of next year. Regarding the nightly entertainment at the Town Squares, I don't believe The Villages' monthly amenity fees cover that. The stores, restaurants & a tourism grant from Sumter County pay for the nightly entertainment. Access to the Town Squares' stores, restaurants & entertainment is available to both Village residents & non-residents.
Great video guys. Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much! Will do! Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi and happy weekend! This video is super helpful...thank you!!! I signed up for the website and link to your spreadsheet but have not received it yet. Can you please let me know how to access again. Have a great day!
Extremely informative thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thanks!
I live in Central Florida. I keep my thermostat at 77-78 during the day and 76 at night. As you acclimate, you will be able to tolorate a warmer temperature in your home. You can expect your most expensive electric bills will be August and September.
We live in NW FL and we keep our thermostat at a steady 74 degrees day and night. I agree that August and Sept are the most expensive. June and July aren't cheap, either. But once we get more into the fall there are stretches where we don't run the AC or heat at all.
@@goofygirl1311I keep mine at 79/80, I'm comfortable and my electric bill is quite low.
Taxes are different in all counties
Lake Cty includes Fruitland Park or Leesburg
Sumter Cty depending where you live we only pay Sumter not Wildwood etc
Also Leesburg and Duke Electric are so much higher than SECO. Some neighborhoods pay both SECO plus additional taxes on it from Wildwood.
So very difficult to put all of us in one bucket.
Good information. Just FYI, when you have been here for one year, you can ask the utility company to change to budget billing. The price is averaged so each month is the same. That way it is easier to budget.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the information. Will check when we hit the one year mark.
Thanks for the great content! Enjoy watching and learning something new about TV. Looking forward to our move there. 🎉
Our pleasure! Glad you are enjoying our channel. Good luck with your move to TV! Keep us updated! Thanks!
Doing my lifestyle visit in July. Thanks for doing this video. It is very informative information before I decide to buy. Really looking forward to it.
Awesomeness! Have fun on your upcoming lifestyle visit! Glad the video was helpful! Keep us updated. Thanks!
Same here! Going there on the 16th
First time seeing your channel. Really enjoy you two. I hope things stay as affordable for you as they are now.
Virtually all homeowner's insurance is billed annually. If you have a mortgage, it's usually part of your mortgage payment.
Wondering how it’s working out to be in a patio villa with both of you working from home? Think you mentioned you have your 2nd bedroom as a hybrid office/guest. We’re in the trying to figure out how much space we need in this still working phase. Thanks for your insights!
Seems very reasonable for what residents get.
Why would the sewer bill fluctuate each month? Wouldn't that be the same every month? What causes the increase?
What is the name of your home insurance company?
The sewer bill is a direct correlation to the water bill. The more water we use the higher the sewer bill and vice versa. We just used the TV insurance company for our first year. Will be shopping that around to see if we can get a better rate or policy when it’s time to renew. Thanks!
Great video Thanks !
They probably need to update those costs for 2024 and allow for higher cost of living rates. Thanks for a great video
Absolutely agree! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Congrats on your Subscribers , Michael and Tiffany !!!
It would be nice if you could Link the papers on UA-cam for those to see it.
Our HOA fee $110.00 per year !!! Our subdivision it's NOT big like The Villages.
I conserve as much as possible , where I don't plug in everything into the socket ( exclude appliances in the house )
Our thermostat says at 74 degrees. I don't use dishwash alot , I'll wash it by hand. I keep the lights off and open up the drapes.
If I can save $$$$ , I'll do it .
Thanks so much!! There are a lot of links in the description including the TV estimated costs sheet (towards the bottom). Will be sharing a lot more info and useful links when we launch our New website next week. Stay tuned!
@@MichaelTiffanyTVE I'm your number one fan from the beginning .
Thank you for your videos! We have been watching since you started as we had just started looking at TV. We headed there for a life style visit late June to consider TV next year. But as best laid plans go ours went out the window! So we did a thing and my husband took a big gulp of the kool-aid and now we will be back late July to meet with the designers on our plans for a home in Shady Brook! Excited but I’m a bit panicked - moving to a new place with no friends/family is a huge thing for me so I really appreciate all the info you are sharing. Plus with the change in the timeline there are many things that need to be to be addressed - like I don’t retire until next year and selling our home here! But we are obsessive so will be watching your updates as soon as you release them! Thanks for the tips and the help!
Absolutely! Our pleasure! Congratulations on your new home in Shady Brook! Good luck with the build and move to TV! Keep us updated on your progress. Thanks!
I am a 100% service connected, permanent and totally disabled veteran. Alabama waives my property taxes. Is that possible in the Villages or Florida. What about flood insurance?
$1065 PLUS house payment and other fees? Do I need to be a millionaire to live there? Would a single woman who has a service dog, fit in?
I live in Alabama. I do not have a house payment. Electric is $156/month, a/c at 68F all year. $28/month for gas. $49/month internet. $120/month lawn care. My HOA fee is $180/month for upkeep of common areas. This is a small gated community with zero amenities. Just homes. $150/month grooming for service dog, who needs a long walk each day. He will also need a fenced yard. Auto, home, umbrella, carrier and flood insurance is $2800/year. I have no need of a golf cart, since I navigate the world in a power chair. My adapted van will not fit in an 8 foot garage door, so driveway parking is a must. I also need ramps for doors and outdoor curbs.
I am active, but I get the feeling the Villages is like a neighborhood cruise ship, and I’m not a cruise ship kind of woman. I’m the nerdy librarian type. I’m quite happy writing my books and reading scientific journals.
I too am an empty nester. College all paid for. Now it is time for me to do the things my military career and motherhood didn’t allow. 🎉
@@jobellecollie7139 FL waives property tax for 100% veterans as well. The Villages is not near the coast, I wouldn’t think flood insurance would be required.
Thank you for your service
Thank you for our service.... In a perfect world, you shouldn't have to pay a cent for decent, enjoyable housing....you wrote hat blank check to Uncle Sam all those years ago, we should take care of our heroes!
Thanks!
So glad to see Tiffany AND you too Michael❤
Awww… Thank you so much! Have an awesome weekend!
Thanks. Spent the past few days with our Villages realtor looking in Shady Brook. Hope to build and be there before the end of the year.
That’s awesome! Glad the video was helpful. Good luck with your build! Keep us updated! Thanks!
Great video. You might want to consider installing a "smart" irrigation controller like the Rachio 3: 8 Zone Smart Sprinkler Controller. It will connect to the Internet and adjust the amount of sprinkler run time based on local weather/rain.
Great idea! Thanks for the tip!
Hello TVE we are doing our lifestyle visit this September and have been watching your videos. Please keep them coming very informative! We are trying to get a budget together and your spreadsheet would really help out. Would you be willing to share it?
Thank you. Looking forward to moving there.. Hope to meet you guys in September when we come for lifestyle visit..
You are spot on about this.
Great video! Any thoughts on paying off your house and would that be beneficial overall?
Great information. I didn't know about the irrigation not being included. I will definitely be on a budget when I move there so this is good to know. And I look forward to seeing the cost spreadsheet you are working on.
Glad it was helpful! Will share that spreadsheet next week. Have an awesome weekend!
Congratulations on 1 million views! 🎉 You can tell you both put a lot of work and care into these videos. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much!!! 👍 Glad you are enjoying our videos! Have an awesome weekend!
We are considering The Villages, and can’t wait to do our second lifestyle stay in February. This expense breakdown is so helpful, THANK YOU. You mentioned in the video towards the end that you would be willing to share your whole budget sheet with lawn care, grocery, etc cost. How do we get that spreadsheet?
We love you guys !!! Your energy ❤️❤️
Awww… 😊☺️ Thank you so much! ❤️
`Awesome Video!! We were curious about their estimated costs so its nice to know actual. Fingers crossed we will be there next year.
How difficult is the HOA to deal with with regard to power wheelchairs and service dogs?
That is a low temp setting on the HVAC......You would freeze us out!!!! We are in south Florida and we keep ours between 78-80 all day. The Tesla should add about $50.00 alone to your electric.
Thanks for the info. On your next update, mention the weather……storms, floods, hurricanes etc.
And bugs 🐜🦟🕷️and gators 🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊
Great video. On the spreadsheet setup tab - what is the starting balance? Cash on hand? Budget Amount for year? Price of home? Bal of mortgage? Etc?
Thank you for sharing. This has been very helpful.
Absolutely! Glad it was helpful! Thanks!
Absolutely a wonderful show packed with needed information ❤from a Indiana girl living on the Virginia Tennessee line
Well done!! Thank you
Thank you so much for all the hard work and sharing your budgets
Absolutely! Our pleasure! Hope you have an awesome weekend! Thanks!
We pay $1,380/mo in HOA and “lifestyle” fees at The Villages in San Jose , not including our homeowners insurance. Plus we still have to pay $35/round for golf.
Thanks for sharing your info. Very helpful!
I'm in a designer home with a small yard - approx 10' all the way around and a bit more in front - but my irrigation runs me at least $50 monthly - I have no idea why they neglect to mention that - and if you have a big yard WOW! But boy you keep it cold, my gas& electric for the past year has not gone over $200 monthly (and I blame that because dh discovered baking).
Very informative vlog! Thanks for sharing 😀
Our pleasure! Glad it was helpful! Thanks!
Wow, we keep our home in the summer at 76 degrees and in the winter at 67 degrees…. Saves some money… You got a deal with the homeowner insurance for sure! HOA fees also!
Many thanks! Very helpful and looking forward to the 12 month financial review!!! :-)
Absolutely! Our pleasure! Glad it was helpful. Thanks!
What is the square footage of your home? Thx
Love the detail!
Love this video! Love your channel! One day hopefully we will meet!
Thanks so much! We hope so too! Say hello if you see us out and about. Thanks!
Hi Ty for the information, may i get a copy of your spreadsheet? Ty
Have you sold your motorhome?
We have been subscribers since your RV travels started.
Thanks for following along since our RV days! Will be sharing an update video on your question very soon (hopefully 🤞 next week).
good afternoon. nice to see that all worked out well for you. we initially talked after we made a purchase in montgomerey... best wishes
Hello! At Marlin Ingram? Wow! That was along time ago. Hope you are doing well. Thanks!
Thanks for a great video and for doing the figures and percentages! I
So it’s basically $1500 dollars added to your mortgage payment? How much is the flood insurance? That would eat up my retirement
@@maaste6557 my flood insurance is $120 a month.
I would like to see Tiffany's sheet from you two, and of course the Florida Insurance costs are crazy!
Like your energy! Great couple
You state property taxes are based on purchase price. Couldn’t this change annually when they do an assessed/market valuation on your home? Or is it always based on purchase price and never changes (until sold)?
If you are a Florida resident, then you apply for a Homestead Exemption which caps any increases at 3% per year regardless of market conditions. This is after your first year of assessment based on purchase price. Since the Villages are in 3 different counties (Sumter, Lake, Marion), they each have their own tax rate and if the property is located in a city (Wildwood, Leesburg, Fruitland Park), you will be assessed a City tax also. Sumter County is the cheapest millage rat
Thank you so much for this video and all the videos you and Tiffany have made. My husband and I hope to move there in a couple of years and your video gives us an insight of the financial aspect we will need to make an informed decision. So far it looks like it will be cheaper for us to move to TV. Currently we live in League City Texas.
We are so glad you are enjoying our videos! Hopefully we will see y’all here at TV someday! Thanks!
Great info tks for sharing. Northeast here, summers get humid hot. Our electric bill soared due to a dehumidifier in basement. Also Would love to hear from Snowbirds what they do to mitigate humidity in house to keep mold free while away so many months.,
@@auroranite We set ac at 78 degrees and humidity at 65% (?).