Villa Running Costs

cismwynn · 9 Nov 18, 03:27 AM

We are considering buying a 3/4 bedroom villa with a pool. We would not rent out the villa and we would hope to spend nearly 6 months a year there post retirement.

I have had a go at estimating running costs for a Ł250K property and have come up with the following list:

Real Estate Tax - $3,000
Home Owners Fees - $2,000
Electricity (Inc. A/C & Pool Heat) - $5,000
Gas - $0
TV / Internet - $1,500
Fire & House Alarm - $1,200
Water - $1,200
Pool Cleaner - $1,200
Gardener - $1,200
Pest Control - $600
A/C Maintenance Plan - $600
Property Manager - $1,200
Building Insurance - $1,000
Total - $19,700

I would appreciate feedback from anyone who owns a villa close to the magic. Do these running costs look realistic?

Thanks.

Gryff · 9 Nov 18, 03:34 AM

Costs look about average but you need to be careful about the length of time you spend at the villa due to tax implications it's way less than 6 months it's 110days so it may not be worth it
If you don't own it's the 180 days on a B2Visa

Frontal · 9 Nov 18, 08:34 AM

I have added a few comments in red:

Real Estate Tax - $3,000
Home Owners Fees - $2,000
Electricity (Inc. A/C & Pool Heat) - $5,000
Seems quite high, if you use smart technology in the house for AC control etc, then you should be seeing a max of $250 a month in the summer and circa $200 in the winter. With the house being unocupied for blocks at a time this price will reduce.

Gas - $0
TV / Internet - $1,500
Circa $150 a month for basic TV, internet and phone service, can be put on hold when you are not occupying the property.

Fire & House Alarm - $1,200
Circa $30 - $45 per month
Water - $1,200
About right
Pool Cleaner - $1,200
Don't forget to factor in pool equipment replacements
Gardener - $1,200
$120 is for basic "cut and blow" if you want more landscaping then it will be circa $140 add on lawn treatment as well $30 p/m

Pest Control - $600
A/C Maintenance Plan - $600
Property Manager - $1,200
Building Insurance - $1,000

claireyfairy8 · 9 Nov 18, 09:06 AM

Your property manager fee looks low. I appreciate it won't be an all singing and dancing MC as you aren't renting out.
Have you found a company or is that just a guestimate?

Remember your property tax can fluctuate year to year.

Most costs are pretty spot on.
Each of my villas cost around $20k pa. Assuming nothing major goes wrong.

Pool equipment to replace is $4k+
AC replacement is $6k+

It's worth looking at the ages of those two particular pieces of equipment on the properties you look at as they are the most costly imo to replace.

Gas forecast around $50-100 pm, depends on the property and what it uses gas for though. (just as no one else mentioned it)

cismwynn · 9 Nov 18, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Gryff

Costs look about average but you need to be careful about the length of time you spend at the villa due to tax implications it's way less than 6 months it's 110days so it may not be worth it
If you don't own it's the 180 days on a B2Visa

It is our intention to get B2 Visas. I thought they would allow 180 day stays in a 12 month period?

What is the 110 day limit and tax implications?

Thanks.

cismwynn · 9 Nov 18, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by claireyfairy8

Your property manager fee looks low. I appreciate it won't be an all singing and dancing MC as you aren't renting out.
Have you found a company or is that just a guestimate?

My figure is a guestimate.

I thought we would just need someone local to check the place out when we are not there. I also assumed that if something needed attention they would then make the arrangements t get whatever it was sorted out.

cismwynn · 9 Nov 18, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Magnificent

Much too low I think - although being empty 6 months will help.

I will post my standard 'thinking of buying in Florida?' reply in case anything in that is useful.

Thank you for your comprehensive reply

I don't think our costs are too far away from yours with the exception of a management company. Because we are not intending to rent out, we would not need cleaning etc. so I was hoping for someone who would just pop in once every couple of weeks and check it looked ok.

holidayrep · 9 Nov 18, 05:49 PM

My brother doesn't rent out so bought a house on lake sheen.

It's a really nice area, very close to Disney and 535 but without tourists it has a very different feel.

cismwynn · 9 Nov 18, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by holidayrep

without tourists it has a very different feel.

Are you able to describe in what way?

**bella9** · 15 Feb 19, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by cismwynn

Are you able to describe in what way?

Bumping, would be interested to know this too.

9 Nov 18, 09:06 AM	#4
	9 Nov 18, 09:06 AM claireyfairy8 Apprentice Imagineer
claireyfairy8 Apprentice Imagineer Join Date: May 18 Location: Scotland claireyfairy8's Reviews Restaurant Reviews: 6 theDIBB Guidebook Pages Created: 1	Your property manager fee looks low. I appreciate it won't be an all singing and dancing MC as you aren't renting out. Have you found a company or is that just a guestimate? Remember your property tax can fluctuate year to year. Most costs are pretty spot on. Each of my villas cost around $20k pa. Assuming nothing major goes wrong. Pool equipment to replace is $4k+ AC replacement is $6k+ It's worth looking at the ages of those two particular pieces of equipment on the properties you look at as they are the most costly imo to replace. Gas forecast around $50-100 pm, depends on the property and what it uses gas for though. (just as no one else mentioned it)