I am a retired Army Officer currently living in North FL. I bought my home before I retired but I always felt that it was not going to be my forever home city but I couldn't think of any other place that I would want to move to. My mortgage is paid off and my home is worth close to $350,000. I think a home in the villages might be my forever location because there are no kids or grandchildren that keep me tied to my current location. Thanks for the informative video.
I watched your January 2022 video a year ago as we were looking for a house here in The Villages. It was so helpful to give us an idea of what a budget might be to live here. We bought a house last April and the budget we set was fairly accurate. We are so glad to be here and I continue to watch your videos every week. We are so happy that we moved to The Villages! It's hard to believe it has been almost a year!
My husband and I were on a business trip in Orlando, went to see the Villages Sept of 2023. It gave us something to think about. We enjoyed it. We also like so many other places in the country… we are in our early 60s. Still working, planning, contemplating,
Very generous of you two to go through this much trouble. It is different for all. I have been here a year. I love it. It isn't cheap to live here, but you do get a lot of the money. I'm in the north and our water is more expensive. They don't use pond water for irrigation . I guess they started that later. The biggest expense I have seen is my sprinklers. I have massey, and my sprinklers are always breaking. Not their fault. Good review!
JUST LIVING PERIOD IS EXPENSIVE..NO WONDER THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN CARS N RV.N SOME LIVING IN STREETS...BOTH YOUNG N OLD..YOU TWO ARE BLESS YOUR NOT LIVING TO BAD..
Thank you Jerry and Linda for the great job adding up the costs AND explaining them. I believe that approx $61K is a good rule of thumb number to use that includes pretty much all living expenses for a nice home. I was surprised it was so high, but that is what you get to when you add in EVERYTHING. Might I add what a charming couple you make! If we ever move down there I hope to run into you guys! We checked it out for a week in July 2023, and loved many parts of the Villages lifestyle, just not quite ready to make the move yet. Thanks again!
Good morning, Jerry and Linda! Thank you for providing this update . You did an AWESOME job as you’ve done previously on this!! My husband and I truly appreciate your honesty and the time you took to gather this information together. It’s very helpful and important to folks like us who plan to retire in Florida at TV. God bless you both for all you do for your fans. 👍❤️🙋🏻♀️
First time subscriber :) I am gathering some info for my elderly parents. I love your videos. This one is very informative. Thanks for taking the time to tell us the true costs. Dan from Chicago
Actually Part B premium went down from 170-164 a month I have T- mobile which is 59 and change which is 55 and over plan. Metro PC is also owned by same corp as Tmobile as i said on your previous video on expenses living in the Villages i appreciate your transparency. Living there is above my budget. I'm comfortable in a rent control apartment in NYC. I lived in Florida in the 90's... for 7 yrs. From Apopka to west of Fort Lauderdale in Pembroke pines
As usual a great insight into Villages life. Cost of living is affecting us all no matter where we live. Main thing for me is that you guys are getting younger each year, so the life and climate has a lot to offer that money cannot buy.
Thank you Jerry and Linda. My husband and I are both retired military and our last son is headed off to college and we are looking for somewhere to start our Chapter 2. The villages was recommended by a friend and we are looking forward to our lifestyle visit this summer! Thank you so much for this very informative video. Look forward to seeing around the neighborhood.
Ah! 26 degrees and sunny here in northeastern Ohio. I wrote out my current monthly expenses will watching your video. Ah! I will be staying right here and enjoying your videos of retirement life in the Villages.
Thanks, Jerry & Linda. I think this is very helpful to people in making decisions on moving here. Costs have risen everywhere, and there are few places you can live at a lower cost anymore. Hugs to you both!
Hi Guys. Thank you for the detailed budget of expenses. That was a lot of work you both put in. Your Channel is an excellent source of information and enjoyment as exampled by today's video. I'm coming down the middle of September for a 7 day Village Tour and have already sold myself on moving to The Villages. I followed you budget and have found that I can afford to enjoy The Villages as my a new home which I was happy to see. Thanks again.
Thank you for this honest video. The cost of living and housing is going up everywhere. Florida is actually less expensive than where I currently live, even with the high housing cost. I’m at the place in my life where, even though I love living on the Pacific Northwest my family is on the east coast. I have a son who lives in and has a business in Ocala, and there’s a chance I could end up moving near family in the future. Your info is so great; I didn’t know about sink hole coverage on home insurance there, and the palm tree info is great to know! God Bless.
Thanks for sharing. We are working to move down within the next 2 years- as early semi-retirees. Overall it will cost us less which allows us to relax and enjoy more but nobody talks about the other costs of the Villages. Hope to see you around.
Hi Jerry and Linda. My wife, Rhonda and I really appreciate the work you put into your videos. The information has been very helpful in our decision making to come to The Villages. We just accepted an offer on our house in Minnesota. We will be living on our 54' Houseboat on the Mississippi, near Minneapolis, this summer and plan to be living in a new to us home in The Villages by December. We have a Lifestyle visit in October and plan to buy somewhere between Brownwood and Sumter Landing, unless the Lifestyle visit changes our mind. See you when we get there!
I have spectrum in two homes. Primary home in VA. Beach house at the OBX, NC. Roku TV’s at the beach house. Our cell phones are also spectrum. They have serviced us very well. To us all the channels are entertainment at our age. We do not eat out often as I love to cook. My electricity is very inexpensive but water is outrageous in my area of VA. So putting in a well for the in ground sprinkler. I have flood insurance at both homes. So there is a lot to think of when adding up the numbers. Smart to go over the numbers no matter where one plans to relocate. I do not plan to get a place in the Villages but I watch you still. You are entertaining and very informative. I like your style of being so down to earth. And yes, I do remember the days of washing only on Saturdays… one bathroom, 6 kids and parents. In an apartment over the family pizzeria. Till the next video, be well and keep smiling.
I had to purchase a new refrigerator about 2.5 years ago, and my old fridge was around 40 years old. The installers thought it was 45 or more. I’ll be lucky to get 10 years out of the new one. Of course it died on the 4th of July while I was out of town. I lost everything. Insurance just sent me a check for the maximum allowed under the policy of $250.00. You just don’t think of the little day to day expenses. You just pay them. I’ve purchased 2 new ovens as well and soon will buy the third. Junk from Sears. I’ll likely need a water heater soon as mine is 10.5 years old. It never stops.
My wife and I live on half that amount. No cable some streaming apps couple eat at home mostly take advantage of free stuff at Rec Centers pools library We go for dinner once every three months and get take-out once a week lunch outside once a month. Music squares or sitting in lanai have TH-cam Premium which is TH-cam videos and TH-cam music commercial-free is $24 month
A suggestion for if/when you do this yearly assessment video again next time. Please include a section where you show all of the final numbers on one page. It's really hard to try and write down the numbers mid-stream while trying to pay attention to the video, and it's difficult to go back and stop the feed on the exact part where you show numbers in the sections. Thanks for doing this!
Thank you for the update…still trying to get hubby to buy next year and keep a place in Wisconsin. He keeps running the numbers. Your Medicare advantage is much higher than ours with United Health Care but depends on what coverage you have. We have $7000 deductible for now and use Good Rx for meds. It was the best plan for us. Take care!
Its kinda depressing how everything has gone up! This is great information for sure. Linda, I am making the meatloaf sometimes once a week it is such a hit!
Linda, I am not certain in which video you tell 4:54 loved it - I so understand and the way you tell it is just delightful- you and Jerry make me think of Lucille Ball and Desi (just so much fun ) - I too realize it takes effort and energy to produce your show - just know there are people just like me who truly enjoy your positive message. Shadow
Linda, Your show is refreshing ! interestingly we met a young country singer and his wife in Wendell NC this evening . Interestingly, it came to my mind that in one of your videos I had heard you and Jerry say that you might be looking for a song to use; and, if anyone might want to submit something to you you would consider it. It came to me in talking with this young couple that by some far out chance you both are still looking for submissions and he has any interest in submitting something to you, I suggested he contact you. I don’t know if you are still accepting any submissions, nor do I have any idea if he is interested. However, I will be glad to let him know if you are open to considering something of his if he has any interest. He told us that he plays locally in our area in North Carolina. We have not heard him but do plan to do so. His name if I have it right is Christopher Lewis. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW HOW THE PUZZLE PIECES OF LIFE PLAY THEIR PART IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS UNTIL THE PUZZLE IS COMPLETE- however, if I have learned one thing in life, it is to do often what intuition tells me, because life is not always about me: but, it often is about others, and each of us are sometimes puzzle pieces in the full picture. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONSIDERING A POTENTIAL SUBMISSION, AND I WILL PASS IT ALONG TO HIM. I(He is familiar with The Villages and now is aware of your show.) blessings. Shadow
You both are so diligent in trying to keep us updated on "all things Villages". It's quite an undertaking and a labor of love for you to entertain, amuse and inform us each week. Thank you. Love to Gizmo.💓🐕
I enjoy your videos. I live in the Villages. I have 2 neighbors that recently have cut down their Palm trees. My neighbor next to me had a large one that had termites in it. The fella who cut it down said rats live in the tree. This morning my neighbors across the street had their 2 Palm trees cut down. I have Xfinity internet for $56 a month. I have heard mint mobile is very good for ones budget also good prices
Living currently in Indiana, the costs will not be that different. Having been there twice on life style visits and once renting, the benefits are what have convinced me to move there. I look forward to moving soon and enjoying all the activities and friendly people.
Wow... home prices start at 300,000. Hard to wrap my head around. The house I grew up in cost 20,000$ in 1971. Just a standard 1,400 square foot, 3 bedroom ranch. I acted as my own contractor when I built my 750 square foot house in 1995, and that cost about 40,000$. OF course, interest means you pay more than that actual amount in the end... both our homes were paid for in cash, so the price we paid was all there was.
I'm sure your information has been very helpful for folks considering relocating...it's these "kitchen table" approximates that people need to know to see what might work for them Thanks...great video!
Hi Jerry and Linda.. tip on your internet.. just like u we cut the Spectrum cable.. but kept the internet.. currently at $85 @mth👎... we finally made the decision to switch over to Frontier.. we have 500 speed ( 200 MORE than we had with Spectrum) have to pay a one time $49.99 install fee and $44.99 @mth with autopay.. and $54.99 if not autopay.. we've had it for 3 weeks and so far it's been great.. even when the grandkids come to visit .. plenty for everyone and no buffering... just wanted to throw that info your way... thank you again for another informative video.. and as always WE'LL SEE YOU WHEN WE GET THERE ❤️🤍💙
When I had my first apartment in the 80s we only had a landline and over the air TV, $13 per month. Lol. An entire industry developed with cell phones and internet, and people easily spend $200 ON TV, internet and cell phones at a min. I use TING for cell phones $30 monthly with 1 gig of data, $50 for 100 mbps on cox, and IPTV for $10 per month. So $90 for all, so you can do it relatively low.
"They make cars better than they used to." Correct. My last car got traded at 200k miles. Without problems during its life. It used to be that at about 85k miles, it got too expensive. Now my Hyundai Tucson has lane assist, a giant screen, blind spot warnings, heated seats and a whole host of other stuff. For $37k. It should outlive me.
The amenity fees in your area, that's not bad in prices. Your finances are higher than ours here at home. And I totally agree, everyone finances differs!! I keep up with your finances monthly. But our pay hike has went up on water, car insurances, recently , not a huge amount. After looking at your water bill, it's cheaper than ours. Our water company said, family of 2 , should only use 2200 sq cubic, which amount to $25.00 a month. *NO TV* *Only Internet $75.00* Our garbage and trash $57.00 a month, it's sort of high. I disconnect Cable*. By the time we are done here, it's going to make me realize, to lower my monthly bills , where it's cheaper per month.
Jerry and Linda, I did send a message to Kaitlin and Christopher to let them know you would consider Christopher’s submission and how to contact you via email. Hopefully, good will come of our meeting Chris and Kaitlin and my blessing of watching your show including Gizmo’s appearance and contribution. Blessings, Shadow
I’m in Sandiego California thinking that I to could take my wife and finally retire and enjoy life ! 🎉 well I’ve been watching different Videos on the Villages all cool & exciting wow what cool place. But just like everything gotta get to the details. Man did you two deliver ! Super grateful for your humble but real take & explanation of costs 👍🏻 I’m sure it’s a wake up call for many as I’ve read in the comments. Please share with me one thing my wife keeps pointing out ! No state tax on SS no tax on Pension? No state tax on 401 ? Yes I know we all pay federal taxes but some people may not be aware And could help them and myself afford to live in your charming Villages 🤷♂️ I know your not a CPA or a tax advisor but have you or anyone else shared these advantages 🤷♂️ Asking for a friend 😂LOL THANK YOU IN. ADVANCE
Very timely. I watched your previously cost of living video earlier this week. Thanks for updating! Does anyone in The Villages install an antenna in the attic instead of subscribing to cable tv. I live on the east coast of Florida. I use an antenna for my tv. I have 53 channels which includes all the major netowrks and PBS for free! I stream a movie once in a while.
Such great info! I am so glad I know about the palm trees, when I look in TV (in 15 years 😂) I hope to find neighbors with palm trees so I can enjoy the view and not do the work!
I have many palms that are the smaller ones and they don’t need any maintenance at all. I never fertilize or anything else. You might need help just when those large canoes are about to fall off.
Hi y'all! We have visited The Villages about 4 times I think over the last few years....and of course we love it! We have decided that we are buying one-for our vacations and then to retire to in the future. We are not interested in renting it out since we live in Chattanooga and are only 7 hours away-we see lots of 4-5 day weekend trips....girls golf trips...etc. All of that being said....y'all are really helping us learn so much! THANK YOU! I do have a question: so....we like Brownwood Paddock and Lake Sumter and we like Fenny....DeLuna....I don't think we want to go across over to Newell and that stuff. But....can you please explain the Sumter County tax thing and the Wildwood tax addition if we purchase down there? I'm not sure if y'all are more central or not. We have started following a few others....(I LOVE Angela Mason's channel!) but I'm hoping y'all can help us understand this stuff. We are coming down for a week in April and we are hoping that we find the right one....we have a realtor for The Villages as well as a realtor for MLS as has been suggested by y'all and others. Anyway....keep up the videos! We almost spit our coffee out when the "AF" comment came out! YOUR face and sweet Linda's face....omg....we will be laughing about that one for many years to come. And that dude must have no life...if he is watching y'all and takes the time to send that kind of email...then clearly no one is waiting for him to join them for drinks or anything else! LOL!!!! Sandi and Doug Wagner-Newcomers To Be!!!
Save your money on dishwasher, I bought mine brand new and never got dishes clean, as I asked friends and family I keep hearing the same thing, they don't work like they use to. Do your homework, don't be quick to replace it.
@Cherry BB LOL.. You beat me to it. My older (but not old) dishwasher was a Dog, so I got a Bosch. Best decision ever. It's like night & day. I'll never get anything but Bosch again. 😊
Great information Jerry and Linda. I just had my annual tug of war with Comcast for cable & internet charges. Since I work from home 2 days a week, I have to have reliable internet, and Comcast is the most reliable internet provider in suburban Chicago. Fortunately I am paying the same monthly charge for cable & internet that I paid in 2018. Your property taxes are quite reasonable. For a house of your size & value in suburban Chicago, your annual property tax bill would easily be $6,000, probably more. Homeowners insurance costs in Florida are concerning. As you said, most of your expenses are not unique to The Villages. You almost have to do a side by side comparison. How much will x cost if I stay in my present home and how much will it cost if I relocate to The Villages or Tampa or Sun City or wherever.
Car financing $45K for 8 years incl extended warranties, 600 mo. Insurance in Minnesota with the Blues, way more than yours. Rx coverages twice that of yours. Dental coverage is $42 mo, and it goes on and on. I eat out rarely. I only eat out when I have guests or go out with friends which is not often. I have pizza one a wee and prettier much make it myself from scratch. None of that frozen cardboard crap.
Ty so mch for such detailed info! Some of ur items r easy for people to forget and then u wind up wondering where the money went🤣 Great to show last year. U guys r the best! 😀😀❤
Just my opinion and not really my business but I noticed Linda’s hair is much lighter and more styled in this video than the one you did last year. Looks way younger .
I use consumer cellular for 1 Gb monthly. I only turn on cellular when I’m out and need to use my phone. At home, my phone works off internet and no bad cell,signals. I pay $20/mo for cell. I pay $55/internet with ATT, so both $75.24/mo. Cable is included in my HOA but I watch very little. If it was up to me, I’d cancel it. TV can be viewed my iPad .
This comment is not related to today's blog but I wanted to say I was watching Marine Coats where she shows virtual tours of famous houses from TV shows. She was sitting at a desk and behind her I noticed that same nice bird picture that is behind you both when you do Mailbag Monday! Thought that was neat!
Since you are being so honest I’m curious to know if one of you would pass away could the other afford to live in the village alone. Interesting how you broke it all down and I agree most of the costs, you would have it anywhere you love.
A lot of things have changed in the world since you did this the first time, so I am sure it will be helpful for others who are now planning a retirement to your area in Florida. I think it is interesting to see the similarities and differences in living expenses between yours in Florida and ours on Vancouver Island.
Love your videos! So informative and helpful with planning to move to The Villages. You are such a great couple for this type of video series. But hey, Jerry, that is not "her dishwasher"!! ;o) Reminds me of my dad telling the doctor my mother's shoulder pain was from her vacuuming and maybe he should buy her a new vacuum cleaner. The doctor responded with "why don't you vacuum instead?".. Just teasing you guys. Trying to post a laughing smiley face but no option on the keyboard.
For home purchase, The Villages is large with about 75,000 homes (Del Webb's Sun Cities ~5,000). Villages is spread out, I am focusing on the area north of Fl route 466A, that picks up the Sumter and Spanish Springs town squares. Typical home was built 1995-2005. Sq Footage 1,100 for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath. 2,000sf will be 3/2. Price ranges where I am looking are $300,000 to $500,000 works out to $275/sq ft for 1,100 to $250/sq ft for the larger sized homes. (1,500 for $400,000 is a decent rule of thumb) Ton of factors determine an individual home's price (location, condition, age) but these are rules of thumb I am working with as of March 2023.
Village home prices were flat line Dec 2019-May 2021 then proceeded to increase 47% to May 2022 and have been flat with a slight decline to current. (source: Altos Research monthly MLS listing data for zip code 32162) May 2021 mortgage rates were 3.10% (vaccines are being more widely available, Baby Boomers accelerate retirement plans?). May 2022 rates are 5.50%. Housing market elsewhere in country starts pulling back, ability to sell house elsewhere and move to Villages is impacted. The important thing is home appreciation is not a steady 3%, rather it is more like a stair step, flat for a long time and then change--it can go down. I use 3% as a rule of thumb but realize it is not steady. 3% appreciation on a $400,000 is $12k or $1,000 per month. This is not cash, rather equity build up. Something to consider when looking at monthly cost/benefit.
30 year mortgage rate 3.9.23 is 6.96%. For a 30 year $100,000 the monthly payment is $662 ($22/day) of which $83 goes to loan amortization (ie principal repayment). Home mortgage interest deduction tax bene est $174 leaving cost to borrow of $406 or $14/day. The difference between a $300k home vs $400k in the Villages is material. Yes it costs more but you also get more. If the 3% est appreciation applies to all home prices equally, a $100,000 increase in home price would pick up $3k a year in additional appreciation ($250/mo). Finally for folks 62+ check out a reverse mortgage on how to make $ in/out work for your needs.
Actually I am amazed at how low your utility costs, insurance and property taxes are. I live in Texas in a small house and our costs are all much higher. I may have to take another look at the Villages 😊
Living in Arizona my expenses are in half or more. You get what you pay for. You are paying for the area you live in. You live in a resort with all of the amenities. I believe home insurance went up for everyone in the states. Your car registration is low compared to Arizona. Your yard maintenance a month is low compared to AZ. Your water bill is outrageously low. I pay $75 a month. For one person I pay $900 a month for groceries one person. I go out to eat twice a week.
We’re two people living on the west coast of Mexico and we can’t buy a house so we rent top half of a house like a duplex. Rent around $550-60, groceries maybe 350 at the most per month! Eat out cheap bc so many little local restaurants, twice a week. During high season free rock bands playing in restaurants or patio places. We have a car, gas is expensive like USA but don’t drive a lot. 20 minutes to the beach, parking free or cheap underground. So many things to do here bc it’s a tourist area but it’s expensive so we had to move to a Mexican neighborhood. It’s been a challenge learning Spanish but we get by.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the median annual income for individuals ages 65 and older is $47,620, while the mean annual income is $75,254.
I am a retired Army Officer currently living in North FL. I bought my home before I retired but I always felt that it was not going to be my forever home city but I couldn't think of any other place that I would want to move to. My mortgage is paid off and my home is worth close to $350,000. I think a home in the villages might be my forever location because there are no kids or grandchildren that keep me tied to my current location. Thanks for the informative video.
I watched your January 2022 video a year ago as we were looking for a house here in The Villages. It was so helpful to give us an idea of what a budget might be to live here. We bought a house last April and the budget we set was fairly accurate. We are so glad to be here and I continue to watch your videos every week. We are so happy that we moved to The Villages! It's hard to believe it has been almost a year!
Congratulations, and welcome!
Thank you for doing this! It’s overwhelming until you realize the costs have gone up everywhere!
My husband and I were on a business trip in Orlando, went to see the Villages Sept of 2023. It gave us something to think about. We enjoyed it. We also like so many other places in the country… we are in our early 60s. Still working, planning, contemplating,
Thanks for sharing!!
Very generous of you two to go through this much trouble. It is different for all. I have been here a year. I love it. It isn't cheap to live here, but you do get a lot of the money. I'm in the north and our water is more expensive. They don't use pond water for irrigation . I guess they started that later. The biggest expense I have seen is my sprinklers. I have massey, and my sprinklers are always breaking. Not their fault. Good review!
Thanks, Kate!
Thank you guys for doing this again! Getting ready to move to the villages in the next couple of years, keeping my eyes 👀 on the price!
JUST LIVING PERIOD IS EXPENSIVE..NO WONDER THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN CARS N RV.N SOME LIVING IN STREETS...BOTH YOUNG N OLD..YOU TWO ARE BLESS YOUR NOT LIVING TO BAD..
Excellent review of the costs. I’ve lived in the villages 18 months and you are right on.
Thanks, Joseph!
Looks like I'll be stayin in my 1 bedroom trailer for a little while longer.
Thank you Jerry and Linda for the great job adding up the costs AND explaining them. I believe that approx $61K is a good rule of thumb number to use that includes pretty much all living expenses for a nice home. I was surprised it was so high, but that is what you get to when you add in EVERYTHING. Might I add what a charming couple you make! If we ever move down there I hope to run into you guys! We checked it out for a week in July 2023, and loved many parts of the Villages lifestyle, just not quite ready to make the move yet. Thanks again!
Thank you John! We appreciate your kind words.
Good morning, Jerry and Linda! Thank you for providing this update . You did an AWESOME job as you’ve done previously on this!! My husband and I truly appreciate your honesty and the time you took to gather this information together. It’s very helpful and important to folks like us who plan to retire in Florida at TV. God bless you both for all you do for your fans. 👍❤️🙋🏻♀️
Our pleasure!
Florida was only a dream but I know now that I will look at other states and continue to visit Florida on vacations. Great job, well presented.
Having lived in South Eastern FL for years..I personally agree with your choice.
First time subscriber :) I am gathering some info for my elderly parents. I love your videos. This one is very informative. Thanks for taking the time to tell us the true costs.
Dan from Chicago
Actually Part B premium went down from 170-164 a month I have T- mobile which is 59 and change which is 55 and over plan. Metro PC is also owned by same corp as Tmobile as i said on your previous video on expenses living in the Villages i appreciate your transparency. Living there is above my budget. I'm comfortable in a rent control apartment in NYC. I lived in Florida in the 90's... for 7 yrs. From Apopka to west of Fort Lauderdale in Pembroke pines
As usual a great insight into Villages life. Cost of living is affecting us all no matter where we live. Main thing for me is that you guys are getting younger each year, so the life and climate has a lot to offer that money cannot buy.
Thank you Jerry and Linda. My husband and I are both retired military and our last son is headed off to college and we are looking for somewhere to start our Chapter 2. The villages was recommended by a friend and we are looking forward to our lifestyle visit this summer! Thank you so much for this very informative video. Look forward to seeing around the neighborhood.
See you when you get here!
Love your videos! Thanks for the cost estimates. I am moving to the villages this November. This was very helpful!😁
Ah! 26 degrees and sunny here in northeastern Ohio. I wrote out my current monthly expenses will watching your video. Ah! I will be staying right here and enjoying your videos of retirement life in the Villages.
Thanks, Jerry & Linda. I think this is very helpful to people in making decisions on moving here. Costs have risen everywhere, and there are few places you can live at a lower cost anymore. Hugs to you both!
Especially since Brandon took over !
Thank you for your hard work and helping us realize what all the expenses to have a enjoyable retirement.
Our pleasure!
Hi Guys. Thank you for the detailed budget of expenses. That was a lot of work you both put in. Your Channel is an excellent source of information and enjoyment as exampled by today's video. I'm coming down the middle of September for a 7 day Village Tour and have already sold myself on moving to The Villages. I followed you budget and have found that I can afford to enjoy The Villages as my a new home which I was happy to see. Thanks again.
Thank you Drew, we are glad that you enjoyed the video. See you when you get here.
Thank you for this honest video. The cost of living and housing is going up everywhere. Florida is actually less expensive than where I currently live, even with the high housing cost. I’m at the place in my life where, even though I love living on the Pacific Northwest my family is on the east coast. I have a son who lives in and has a business in Ocala, and there’s a chance I could end up moving near family in the future. Your info is so great; I didn’t know about sink hole coverage on home insurance there, and the palm tree info is great to know! God Bless.
Thank you Shelley, we appreciate your kind words.
Thanks for sharing. We are working to move down within the next 2 years- as early semi-retirees. Overall it will cost us less which allows us to relax and enjoy more but nobody talks about the other costs of the Villages. Hope to see you around.
Thank y’all for sharing this!, You both look so refreshed and youthful…Florida agrees with you and we here in TN are aching to get there!!
See you when you get here!
Hi Jerry and Linda. My wife, Rhonda and I really appreciate the work you put into your videos. The information has been very helpful in our decision making to come to The Villages. We just accepted an offer on our house in Minnesota. We will be living on our 54' Houseboat on the Mississippi, near Minneapolis, this summer and plan to be living in a new to us home in The Villages by December. We have a Lifestyle visit in October and plan to buy somewhere between Brownwood and Sumter Landing, unless the Lifestyle visit changes our mind. See you when we get there!
I have spectrum in two homes. Primary home in VA. Beach house at the OBX, NC. Roku TV’s at the beach house. Our cell phones are also spectrum. They have serviced us very well. To us all the channels are entertainment at our age. We do not eat out often as I love to cook. My electricity is very inexpensive but water is outrageous in my area of VA. So putting in a well for the in ground sprinkler. I have flood insurance at both homes. So there is a lot to think of when adding up the numbers. Smart to go over the numbers no matter where one plans to relocate. I do not plan to get a place in the Villages but I watch you still. You are entertaining and very informative. I like your style of being so down to earth. And yes, I do remember the days of washing only on Saturdays… one bathroom, 6 kids and parents. In an apartment over the family pizzeria. Till the next video, be well and keep smiling.
I had to purchase a new refrigerator about 2.5 years ago, and my old fridge was around 40 years old. The installers thought it was 45 or more. I’ll be lucky to get 10 years out of the new one. Of course it died on the 4th of July while I was out of town. I lost everything. Insurance just sent me a check for the maximum allowed under the policy of $250.00. You just don’t think of the little day to day expenses. You just pay them. I’ve purchased 2 new ovens as well and soon will buy the third. Junk from Sears. I’ll likely need a water heater soon as mine is 10.5 years old. It never stops.
@@egwthe1 my stove has a short in one of the burner plugs. I’m afraid of shocks. I guess I just WANT a new stove that’s better than the one I have.
My wife and I live on half that amount. No cable some streaming apps couple eat at home mostly take advantage of free stuff at Rec Centers pools library We go for dinner once every three months and get take-out once a week lunch outside once a month. Music squares or sitting in lanai have TH-cam Premium which is TH-cam videos and TH-cam music commercial-free is $24 month
I am always willing to share personal information as well. This seems to be appreciated by many.
Thanks for the information, its very helpful in figuring out what everything will cost!!
A suggestion for if/when you do this yearly assessment video again next time. Please include a section where you show all of the final numbers on one page. It's really hard to try and write down the numbers mid-stream while trying to pay attention to the video, and it's difficult to go back and stop the feed on the exact part where you show numbers in the sections. Thanks for doing this!
This was one of our favorite shows. It gave us a roadmap to see if this was a possibility for us or not. See you in May.
Thanks, Jeff!
Jerry & Linda, your cost of living show got me hooked to your channel. I agree, it was your best video. C y when we get there.
Thanks so much!
Thank you for the update…still trying to get hubby to buy next year and keep a place in Wisconsin. He keeps running the numbers. Your Medicare advantage is much higher than ours with United Health Care but depends on what coverage you have. We have $7000 deductible for now and use Good Rx for meds. It was the best plan for us. Take care!
We have a supplement. Max annual out of pocket is $250. No copays.
Its kinda depressing how everything has gone up! This is great information for sure. Linda, I am making the meatloaf sometimes once a week it is such a hit!
It's a hit for me too! FYI, it freezes well!
Awesome Very Detailed video. Will be looking out for the next cost of living update next year Thanks
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You did a great update and really appreciate the effort you do for us all.
You are very welcome!
Linda, I am not certain in which video you tell 4:54 loved it - I so understand and the way you tell it is just delightful- you and Jerry make me think of Lucille Ball and Desi (just so much fun ) - I too realize it takes effort and energy to produce your show - just know there are people just like me who truly enjoy your positive message. Shadow
In my previous comment - I meant to say it was the story about “your losing your lipstick in the car” Shadow
You are so kind Shadow. We truly do appreciate your kind comments. Thank you.
Linda,
Your show is refreshing !
interestingly we met a young country singer and his wife in Wendell NC this evening . Interestingly, it came to my mind that in one of your videos I had heard you and Jerry say that you might be looking for a song to use; and, if anyone might want to submit something to you you would consider it. It came to me in talking with this young couple that by some far out chance you both are still looking for submissions and he has any interest in submitting something to you, I suggested he contact you. I don’t know if you are still accepting any submissions, nor do I have any idea if he is interested. However, I will be glad to let him know if you are open to considering something of his if he has any interest. He told us that he plays locally in our area in North Carolina. We have not heard him but do plan to do so. His name if I have it right is Christopher Lewis.
YOU JUST NEVER KNOW HOW THE PUZZLE PIECES OF LIFE PLAY THEIR PART IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS UNTIL THE PUZZLE IS COMPLETE- however, if I have learned one thing in life, it is to do often what intuition tells me, because life is not always about me: but, it often is about others, and each of us are sometimes puzzle pieces in the full picture. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN CONSIDERING A POTENTIAL SUBMISSION, AND I WILL PASS IT ALONG TO HIM. I(He is familiar with The Villages and now is aware of your show.) blessings. Shadow
Sure! We would listen!
Linda you and Jerry look great! Well rested and happy
Thanks so much Char!
Not retiring soon, don’t really like hot weather as I live in mountains but find this fascinating.
You both are so diligent in trying to keep us updated on "all things Villages". It's quite an undertaking and a labor of love for you to entertain, amuse and inform us each week. Thank you. Love to Gizmo.💓🐕
You guys did a great job thank you for putting that all together💕
Thank again folks...
I enjoy your videos. I live in the Villages. I have 2 neighbors that recently have cut down their Palm trees. My neighbor next to me had a large one that had termites in it. The fella who cut it down said rats live in the tree. This morning my neighbors across the street had their 2 Palm trees cut down.
I have Xfinity internet for $56 a month.
I have heard mint mobile is very good for ones budget also good prices
Thanks for sharing!
Living currently in Indiana, the costs will not be that different. Having been there twice on life style visits and once renting, the benefits are what have convinced me to move there. I look forward to moving soon and enjoying all the activities and friendly people.
I have a set of Maytag washer and dryer I bought in 1984 still going strong!
Great information now i know for sure i can live a lot cheaper than the villages thanks and enjoy your time there
Thanks for watching!
Thank you guys for doing this. I have been wondering how much the prices have changed since the last time you did the video. Great job!!!
Our pleasure!
Wow... home prices start at 300,000. Hard to wrap my head around. The house I grew up in cost 20,000$ in 1971. Just a standard 1,400 square foot, 3 bedroom ranch. I acted as my own contractor when I built my 750 square foot house in 1995, and that cost about 40,000$. OF course, interest means you pay more than that actual amount in the end... both our homes were paid for in cash, so the price we paid was all there was.
so cheap compared to southern CA
Very informative video. Thanks for sharing
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the update! A lot of great info, as always!
Thanks, Jerry & Linda, Love your channel
❤❤❤
Thank you so much. This is very helpful. We’re coming for our Lifestyle visit in May! See you when we get there!! 🎉❤️🌹😀
Yes, indeed!!!
I'm sure your information has been very helpful for folks considering relocating...it's these "kitchen table" approximates that people need to know to see what might work for them Thanks...great video!
Hi Jerry and Linda.. tip on your internet.. just like u we cut the Spectrum cable.. but kept the internet.. currently at
$85 @mth👎... we finally made the decision to switch over to Frontier.. we have 500 speed ( 200 MORE than we had with Spectrum) have to pay a one time $49.99 install fee and $44.99 @mth with autopay.. and $54.99 if not autopay.. we've had it for 3 weeks and so far it's been great.. even when the grandkids come to visit .. plenty for everyone and no buffering... just wanted to throw that info your way... thank you again for another informative video.. and as always WE'LL SEE YOU WHEN WE GET THERE ❤️🤍💙
Thank you!
@@JERRYANDLINDA you're welcome❤️
When I had my first apartment in the 80s we only had a landline and over the air TV, $13 per month. Lol. An entire industry developed with cell phones and internet, and people easily spend $200 ON TV, internet and cell phones at a min. I use TING for cell phones $30 monthly with 1 gig of data, $50 for 100 mbps on cox, and IPTV for $10 per month. So $90 for all, so you can do it relatively low.
We are limited to few options for internet in our neighborhood. Sounds like you have done a good job.
"They make cars better than they used to." Correct. My last car got traded at 200k miles. Without problems during its life. It used to be that at about 85k miles, it got too expensive. Now my Hyundai Tucson has lane assist, a giant screen, blind spot warnings, heated seats and a whole host of other stuff. For $37k. It should outlive me.
The amenity fees in your area, that's not bad in prices. Your finances are higher than ours here at home. And I totally agree, everyone finances differs!!
I keep up with your finances monthly. But our pay hike has went up on water, car insurances, recently , not a huge amount.
After looking at your water bill, it's cheaper than ours.
Our water company said, family of 2 , should only use 2200 sq cubic, which amount to $25.00 a month. *NO TV* *Only Internet $75.00*
Our garbage and trash $57.00 a month, it's sort of high. I disconnect Cable*.
By the time we are done here, it's going to make me realize, to lower my monthly bills , where it's cheaper per month.
Jerry and Linda,
I did send a message to Kaitlin and Christopher to let them know you would consider Christopher’s submission and how to contact you via email. Hopefully, good will come of our meeting Chris and Kaitlin and my blessing of watching your show including Gizmo’s appearance and contribution.
Blessings,
Shadow
I’m in Sandiego California thinking that I to could take my wife and finally retire and enjoy life ! 🎉 well I’ve been watching different Videos on the Villages all cool & exciting wow what cool place. But just like everything gotta get to the details. Man did you two deliver ! Super grateful for your humble but real take & explanation of costs 👍🏻
I’m sure it’s a wake up call for many as I’ve read in the comments. Please share with me one thing my wife keeps pointing out !
No state tax on SS no tax on Pension? No state tax on 401 ? Yes I know we all pay federal taxes but some people may not be aware
And could help them and myself afford to live in your charming Villages 🤷♂️
I know your not a CPA or a tax advisor but have you or anyone else shared these advantages 🤷♂️
Asking for a friend 😂LOL
THANK YOU IN. ADVANCE
We think you're correct regarding state tax.
So interesting about palm trees!
Thank you Jerry and Linda for an excellent update. We live in Hawkins and you guys have helped us immensely with our decision.🌴🌴🌴
Glad to help, Glenn!
Very timely. I watched your previously cost of living video earlier this week. Thanks for updating! Does anyone in The Villages install an antenna in the attic instead of subscribing to cable tv. I live on the east coast of Florida. I use an antenna for my tv. I have 53 channels which includes all the major netowrks and PBS for free! I stream a movie once in a while.
You are so welcome!
Good job updating. Two thoughts: good thing you're raking it in from TH-cam (😂) and y'all are cheap dates! (😉) Happy weekend everyone
Such great info! I am so glad I know about the palm trees, when I look in TV (in 15 years 😂) I hope to find neighbors with palm trees so I can enjoy the view and not do the work!
I have many palms that are the smaller ones and they don’t need any maintenance at all. I never fertilize or anything else. You might need help just when those large canoes are about to fall off.
Thanks for the update. Another great video.
Great job. Very detailed. Much appreciated!
Thanks Jerry and Linda, you’re wonderful couple! Now, I just need to convince my wife to move down there ! 😁
Thank you!🙂🙂🙂
Very informative video. Thanks for sharing your updated cost of living… similar to here in south FL. Thanks for all your do for us, see you next time😘
Thank you, Brenda!
Hi y'all! We have visited The Villages about 4 times I think over the last few years....and of course we love it! We have decided that we are buying one-for our vacations and then to retire to in the future. We are not interested in renting it out since we live in Chattanooga and are only 7 hours away-we see lots of 4-5 day weekend trips....girls golf trips...etc. All of that being said....y'all are really helping us learn so much! THANK YOU! I do have a question: so....we like Brownwood Paddock and Lake Sumter and we like Fenny....DeLuna....I don't think we want to go across over to Newell and that stuff. But....can you please explain the Sumter County tax thing and the Wildwood tax addition if we purchase down there? I'm not sure if y'all are more central or not. We have started following a few others....(I LOVE Angela Mason's channel!) but I'm hoping y'all can help us understand this stuff. We are coming down for a week in April and we are hoping that we find the right one....we have a realtor for The Villages as well as a realtor for MLS as has been suggested by y'all and others. Anyway....keep up the videos! We almost spit our coffee out when the "AF" comment came out! YOUR face and sweet Linda's face....omg....we will be laughing about that one for many years to come. And that dude must have no life...if he is watching y'all and takes the time to send that kind of email...then clearly no one is waiting for him to join them for drinks or anything else! LOL!!!! Sandi and Doug Wagner-Newcomers To Be!!!
Thank you so much for this video!! I am at the start of planning and this will be invaluable to me.
Save your money on dishwasher, I bought mine brand new and never got dishes clean, as I asked friends and family I keep hearing the same thing, they don't work like they use to. Do your homework, don't be quick to replace it.
Thanks for the tip!
Bosch is supposed to be a good brand of dishwasher. I have one and love it.
@Cherry BB LOL.. You beat me to it. My older (but not old) dishwasher was a Dog, so I got a Bosch. Best decision ever. It's like night & day. I'll never get anything but Bosch again. 😊
Great information Jerry and Linda. I just had my annual tug of war with Comcast for cable & internet charges. Since I work from home 2 days a week, I have to have reliable internet, and Comcast is the most reliable internet provider in suburban Chicago. Fortunately I am paying the same monthly charge for cable & internet that I paid in 2018. Your property taxes are quite reasonable. For a house of your size & value in suburban Chicago, your annual property tax bill would easily be $6,000, probably more. Homeowners insurance costs in Florida are concerning. As you said, most of your expenses are not unique to The Villages. You almost have to do a side by side comparison. How much will x cost if I stay in my present home and how much will it cost if I relocate to The Villages or Tampa or Sun City or wherever.
Car financing $45K for 8 years incl extended warranties, 600 mo. Insurance in Minnesota with the Blues, way more than yours. Rx coverages twice that of yours. Dental coverage is $42 mo, and it goes on and on. I eat out rarely. I only eat out when I have guests or go out with friends which is not often. I have pizza one a wee and prettier much make it myself from scratch. None of that frozen cardboard crap.
Such a wealth of information, Thank you both for the breakdown👍
Our pleasure!
Ty so mch for such detailed info! Some of ur items r easy for people to forget and then u wind up wondering where the money went🤣 Great to show last year. U guys r the best! 😀😀❤
You are so welcome!
Thanks for sharing, very helpful. Still hoping for a place like TV that has more affordable homes, I'll keep dreaming.
Thank you. I'm going to rewatch and take notes. This was very helpful. I know it was a lot of homework for you two to do so it's very appreciated.
Our pleasure!
Just my opinion and not really my business but I noticed Linda’s hair is much lighter and more styled in this video than the one you did last year. Looks way younger .
Thank you, Scott!
Thanks for the information
I use consumer cellular for 1 Gb monthly. I only turn on cellular when I’m out and need to use my phone. At home, my phone works off internet and no bad cell,signals. I pay $20/mo for cell. I pay $55/internet with ATT, so both $75.24/mo. Cable is included in my HOA but I watch very little. If it was up to me, I’d cancel it. TV can be viewed my iPad .
thanks for the update.
So very helpful, thank you for making this 😊
Glad it was helpful!
I might not be retiring soon but this video speaks of all the items you have to review before you do. Thanks. Great information
Wow houses are very expensive for a average neighborhood in the villages.
They sure are.
This comment is not related to today's blog but I wanted to say I was watching Marine Coats where she shows virtual tours of famous houses from TV shows. She was sitting at a desk and behind her I noticed that same nice bird picture that is behind you both when you do Mailbag Monday! Thought that was neat!
Since you are being so honest I’m curious to know if one of you would pass away could the other afford to live in the village alone. Interesting how you broke it all down and I agree most of the costs, you would have it anywhere you love.
Great question Donna. Probably a question that no one really knows the answer too until it happens. I would say at this time probably yes.
A lot of things have changed in the world since you did this the first time, so I am sure it will be helpful for others who are now planning a retirement to your area in Florida. I think it is interesting to see the similarities and differences in living expenses between yours in Florida and ours on Vancouver Island.
my cousin that lives at the Villages needs to shop around for homeowner insurance, she told me in January on a visit about the HUGE increase!
Love your videos! So informative and helpful with planning to move to The Villages. You are such a great couple for this type of video series. But hey, Jerry, that is not "her dishwasher"!! ;o) Reminds me of my dad telling the doctor my mother's shoulder pain was from her vacuuming and maybe he should buy her a new vacuum cleaner. The doctor responded with "why don't you vacuum instead?".. Just teasing you guys. Trying to post a laughing smiley face but no option on the keyboard.
😁😆😅🤣😂🤣😅😆😁
Very helpful. Not that much different than our home now. Thank you
Awesome job you guys.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I wonder how many People leave the villages and moved overseas countries that have cheaper cost of living. Are you seeing this happen? Great video.❤
Never seen it yet.
Great information and seems to be very accurate. Our Villages expenses average the same as Virginia homes based on sq. footage & lifestyle choices.
For home purchase, The Villages is large with about 75,000 homes (Del Webb's Sun Cities ~5,000).
Villages is spread out, I am focusing on the area north of Fl route 466A, that picks up the Sumter and Spanish Springs town squares. Typical home was built 1995-2005.
Sq Footage 1,100 for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath. 2,000sf will be 3/2.
Price ranges where I am looking are $300,000 to $500,000 works out to $275/sq ft for 1,100 to $250/sq ft for the larger sized homes. (1,500 for $400,000 is a decent rule of thumb)
Ton of factors determine an individual home's price (location, condition, age) but these are rules of thumb I am working with as of March 2023.
Village home prices were flat line Dec 2019-May 2021 then proceeded to increase 47% to May 2022 and have been flat with a slight decline to current. (source: Altos Research monthly MLS listing data for zip code 32162)
May 2021 mortgage rates were 3.10% (vaccines are being more widely available, Baby Boomers accelerate retirement plans?). May 2022 rates are 5.50%. Housing market elsewhere in country starts pulling back, ability to sell house elsewhere and move to Villages is impacted.
The important thing is home appreciation is not a steady 3%, rather it is more like a stair step, flat for a long time and then change--it can go down. I use 3% as a rule of thumb but realize it is not steady. 3% appreciation on a $400,000 is $12k or $1,000 per month. This is not cash, rather equity build up. Something to consider when looking at monthly cost/benefit.
30 year mortgage rate 3.9.23 is 6.96%. For a 30 year $100,000 the monthly payment is $662 ($22/day) of which $83 goes to loan amortization (ie principal repayment). Home mortgage interest deduction tax bene est $174 leaving cost to borrow of $406 or $14/day.
The difference between a $300k home vs $400k in the Villages is material. Yes it costs more but you also get more. If the 3% est appreciation applies to all home prices equally, a $100,000 increase in home price would pick up $3k a year in additional appreciation ($250/mo). Finally for folks 62+ check out a reverse mortgage on how to make $ in/out work for your needs.
I made your meatloaf! Hope it was the right recipe, I couldn’t find it in your videos. But it was a hit!!
Fantastic!
Actually I am amazed at how low your utility costs, insurance and property taxes are. I live in Texas in a small house and our costs are all much higher. I may have to take another look at the Villages 😊
Living in Arizona my expenses are in half or more. You get what you pay for. You are paying for the area you live in. You live in a resort with all of the amenities. I believe home insurance went up for everyone in the states. Your car registration is low compared to Arizona. Your yard maintenance a month is low compared to AZ. Your water bill is outrageously low. I pay $75 a month. For one person I pay $900 a month for groceries one person. I go out to eat twice a week.
We’re two people living on the west coast of Mexico and we can’t buy a house so we rent top half of a house like a duplex. Rent around $550-60, groceries maybe 350 at the most per month! Eat out cheap bc so many little local restaurants, twice a week. During high season free rock bands playing in restaurants or patio places. We have a car, gas is expensive like USA but don’t drive a lot. 20 minutes to the beach, parking free or cheap underground. So many things to do here bc it’s a tourist area but it’s expensive so we had to move to a Mexican neighborhood. It’s been a challenge learning Spanish but we get by.
Excited to visit
According to the United States Census Bureau, the median annual income for individuals ages 65 and older is $47,620, while the mean annual income is $75,254.