Independent Living Community in Hernando, Florida

Mark

The area that comprises The Villages of Citrus Hills is a quiet, peaceful area with about 19 different villages. Three of which are gated. The country club has many nice facilities for use by its members. Having lived here for 2 decades, the biggest drawbacks in my opinion are: 1) It is a For Profit country club where members have no say in what their dues are used for. You will never get to see how your dues are used as the owner will not open their financial books to anyone. 2)The owners have told control of what the rates should be. In 2022 they raised their dues by about 17% while closing facilities for members because of Covid. In 2023 they again raised their rates by another 8%. 3)The club is mismanaged. The owner, who is the developer, is focused building houses for new clients and does not care about the needs or wants of the members. Requests/complaints/concerns fall on deaf ears when presented to the club management. 4)Of the three golf courses, only one is properly maintained. The one that they show to potential buyers. 5)The restaurants are overpriced with questionable food quality. It's usually hit or miss as to how your meal will arrive. 6)Depending on which area you live in will determine your HOA fees. If you live within Terra Vista you can be subject to an HOA fee from Terra Vista, plus an HOA from the individual community you live in. These fees are on top of your country club dues. 7) The developer sells you Shangri-la but the reality is that you commit yourself to a lifetime of dues. That may be fine when you are first retired and still able to use the facilities, but as you age you use less but are still obligated to pay the club dues. 8)Several of the amenities (e.g. dog park, activity center, Skyview restaurant, pickle ball courts and Bella Vita gym) are located behind the gates in Terra Vista. There are three access points into the community. If you live outside the gates of Terra Vista, you can come in through the main gate with no additional fee to access this area. But if you want to use the gates on Essex or Ottawa the club makes you pay an annual fee for an RFD tag. In effect they charge you extra to get to your facilities even though you have a membership. As they say. “BUYER BEWARE!”