We sold our house in Illinois two years ago. We hardly took anything with us to The Villages. Didn't make sense to bring down old furniture and pay a huge cost to do so. You would be surprised how many people ship their stuff down here only to toss it out a year later. We rented furnished house for three months in the summer months. We took our time because we wanted to make the right decision the first time. You should concentrate first on the location. Then the house that you want. Keep in mind Lake County real estate taxes are higher then Sumter and Marion county. I've heard as much as $1,500 more for a comparable house. Ask lots of questions!! Link for you below for tips:
12 Buying Tips For THE VILLAGES in FLORIDA - YouTube