I think that being on a cul de sac makes for more friendly neighbors. The only thing that we do not have in our home that I would have liked is a golf cart garage. Storage here, without a basement , is at a premium.
If you buy on a golf course make sure you are NOT in the ball flight path, which usually means being just behind the tee boxes.
For some reason the villages seems to charge a premium for lots that back up to a road (even a busy road). I would rather have neighbors behind me than constant traffic, especially as most master bedrooms are in the back of the home.
Many people swear by preowned. We just finished (last month) house shopping for the in-laws. We found MUCH better deals in the new homes, even with the 20k bond. If you do shop preowned, I would try putting in a low offer (no dickering on new home prices).
Check out
www.sallylovesells.com for her 20 most recent price drops in TV if you look for preowned. If you shop preowned I would shop with a villages agent. It seems to me that homes listed with TV are lower priced than those listed with outside agents. The reason for this is that TV agents can show you both new and preowned. Outside agents can only show you those homes listed with outside agents, no new homes.
I would never buy a home with a pool. The neighborhood pools here are almost never crowded. I would look for a home with a large birdcage or at least room to add one. We spend a lot of time on our expanded birdcage.
jeffy