What Is A Bond in The Villages Florida, and Why Am I Paying For It?
Below is a full, detailed, and structured adaptation of the video transcript into text format. This version captures all information from the original, making it ideal for anyone who wants to fully understand the content, without watching the video.
The Bond in The Villages, Florida: What It Is, What It Pays For, and How to Check the Balance
What’s the true cost to live in The Villages, Florida? You’re in luck, because this is exactly why I created my Money Map series. It’s designed to lay out what it costs to become a homeowner here, what you’ll pay upfront, and what you’ll pay over time.
This post is all about the bond, which is one of the most misunderstood costs in the community.
If you’re new here, I’m Robyn Cavallaro, a Florida Realtor®. I’ve helped hundreds of buyers and sellers make their move, and I love helping people understand how The Villages works before they make a big decision.
What the Money Map series covers
In the Money Map series, we break down the big cost categories that catch buyers off guard if they are not prepared:
The bond
The CDD
The amenity fee
Property taxes
Everyday expenses, like utilities and the real cost of living
A bonus episode on ARC, so you know where to find it and how it affects you
I also include a free “cheat sheet” worksheet with links to the websites mentioned in the series, so you can look everything up yourself.
What the bond is, in plain English
The easiest way to think about the bond is this: it’s a long-term financing method that helps pay for infrastructure and community-owned amenities, without adding all of that cost directly into the home’s purchase price.
In the transcript, I reference Florida’s Chapter 190 framework, which allows the developer to fund infrastructure through a municipal bond structure. In everyday terms, it functions like a construction loan that is repaid over time, with interest and administrative costs.
Important detail: this bond is tied to the property, not to you personally.
What the bond pays for, and what it does not
Bond dollars are meant for infrastructure and community-owned assets, the things that help turn land into a functioning, amenity-rich community.
In the transcript, examples include items like:
Roads and related infrastructure
Utility and sewer systems
Rec centers and pools
Mail stations
Executive golf courses and other community-owned facilities
The bond is not meant for every flashy thing you see, it’s tied to specific district infrastructure and community-owned assets.
Why the bond exists instead of baking it into the home price
A common question is, “Why not just include that cost in the price of the home and be done with it?”
Here’s the tradeoff: if the full infrastructure cost were embedded in the sale price, many homes would simply cost more upfront. With the bond, the cost is spread over time.
Another key point from the transcript: when you sell the home, the bond generally stays with the property and transfers to the next owner. That’s why many homeowners choose not to pay it off early, because paying it off typically does not mean you automatically get that money back at resale.
How you pay the bond
You pay the bond through your annual property tax bill as part of the non ad valorem assessments, meaning it is not based on your home’s value.
Robyn’s timeline in the transcript:
September: you’ll usually see a TRIM notice first, a preview of the proposed taxes
November: you receive the actual tax bill from the tax collector
The bond line item is typically listed in the non ad valorem section, alongside things like the CDD and fire district assessment.
Where to find the bond on a tax bill
On a typical tax bill, you’ll see:
Ad valorem taxes: value-based portion
Non ad valorem assessments: fixed assessments, this is where bond and CDD often appear
In Sumter County and other areas, the wording can vary. In some Lake County bills, for example, bond may appear as “debt,” while the CDD may appear as “maintenance.” The important thing is knowing that the bond is part of the non ad valorem section.
How to find your lot and unit number
To look up the bond amortization schedule for a specific home, you need the lot and unit number.
You can find these in a few places:
On the county property appraiser record or tax bill (often listed in the legal description)
On the MLS listing (specifically in the legal description section)
In the transcript, Robyn notes that you may not see the full legal description on sites like Zillow, but on the MLS listing you can typically locate the unit and lot numbers.
How to look up the bond balance on districtgov.org
Once you have the address, plus the lot and unit information, you can use districtgov.org to find details like:
Which district the home is in
The bond assessment schedule
Interest rate and remaining balance by year
Robyn’s basic flow in the transcript:
Use “Find My District” and search the property
Go to the district page and look under Finance for bond assessment info
Locate the unit (designer vs villa types matter here)
Match your unit and lot to view the amortization schedule details
If you ever get stuck, you can also call the district office to confirm whether there is a bond balance and what the payoff would be.
Should you pay off the bond
This is where I always recommend talking with a financial advisor, because it depends on your timeline, interest rate, and overall financial picture.
A key point from the transcript: paying off a bond does not automatically mean you will sell your home for more money later. It may be a selling feature for some buyers, but it is not a guarantee of a higher sale price.
Where to find low bond, medium bond, and higher bond areas
In the transcript, Robyn explains a general pattern you’ll see as you move through different eras of development:
Low to no bond: often in older areas, generally north of SR 466
Moderate bonds: often in areas between SR 466 and SR 466A, depending on home type and whether it was paid down or paid off
Higher bonds: more common in newer areas, especially as you move farther south, including newer builds and certain newer districts
The big takeaway: the bond is not automatically “bad,” it’s a tradeoff. Your job is to understand it clearly so you can make a confident decision based on your priorities.
Next up in the Money Map series
Next up, we’ll talk about the CDD, then we’ll keep moving through the full cost picture of living here.
If you want the free worksheet with all the links mentioned in the Money Map series, grab the cheat sheet below. It’s designed to help you look up what you need quickly, without bouncing around multiple sites.
And if you’re planning a home shopping trip, I’m always happy to help you run the numbers, explain the districts, and make sure you understand the bond, the CDD, and your estimated full cost of ownership before you buy.
Thinking About Buying or Selling Your Home?
I’m here to help. Feel free to text or email me anytime. I’m Robin Cavallaro, a licensed Realtor—and I am here to help you buy or sell a home in The Villages, Florida.
Thank you for joining this episode—until next time!
If you are looking for a home to rent here in The Villages, Florida Clara’s Cottage located in The Village of McClure is now accepting guest reservations.
