I think how much you use your lanai depends on how private your lanai is, what the temperture is, and what sort of neighbors you have. We have friends whose lanai backed up to someone else's lanai, and those people lived on the lanai. Our friends couldn't use their lanai, without listening to their neighbors all the time. We have the same setup with our lanai. Our neighbors were so noisy, yapping dogs, loud television, parties etc., we haven't been able to use ours as much as we like. They are supposed to be moving, so I hope the situation gets better. Some people back up to lanai's that are glassed in. I think that is a better situation, because you're less likely to hear noise. Or you may get lucky and have snowbirds behind you that are only there a few months/year. Or You may get lucky and have someone like ijustluvit who prefers to stay inside in the ac. I think for most people, the layout works out, but there are some exceptions. If you're wary of it, I'd buy something where the lanai is facing the side of someone's house, instead of directly facing their lanai. I have heard (don't know because we dont' live behind a villa wall) that sound can bounce back and forth against a villa wall and you end up hearing a lot, such as barking dogs. Friends have a house against a villa wall, and the next door neighbor smokes (cigarettes) and they smell the smoke all the time. Obviously, having no neighbors behind is the best, but very expensive. The patio villas, with the lanai on the front are nice for privacy, once you get some landscaping in front.