We always considered 'central' to be less important than 'location, location, location.' For our needs, 'central' in a development as big as TV would in a sense put us, well, central—but central in relation to what of our needs? More important to us was picking a location that provided the amenities that are important to us relatively nearby, rather than 'near everything.'
Our area is known as the 'Lynnhaven Corridor' which consists of five villages (Ashland, Belvedere, Bonnybrook, Lynnhaven, and Tall Trees (and BTW Winifred is directly across the traffic circle on Buena Vista from the Lynnhaven Corridor). Close by to library, supermarkets, department stores, restaurants, service businesses, extensive medical offices by Laurel Manor, two family pools plus the sports pool at Laurel Manor plus the neighborhood pools, roughly midway between Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing (a bit closer to the latter), access to US-301 that goes north to Ocala via the main commercial road (CR-466) and by the 'back road' (CR-472 Rainey Trail) or south to the Turnpike or a little west to the Interstate.
Again personal taste, but we never wanted new construction, preferring instead a home and neighborhood that were more established. Of course, it's also a matter of finding one in which we did not have to undo someone else's taste in order to create our vision—and fortunately we did. Whatever else is going on 'out there,' all is well in our little universe 'in here.'
And property taxes?! Holy cow.... About a quarter of what we paid up north on a comparably sized home, even with the 'big' tax increase of 8% that we had after years of no increases to speak of. No more spending thousands on heating bills! Our home was about seven years old when we bought it—and we promptly paid off the bond balance (a tad over $5,000).
And you guys in your 50s ... all I can say is 'wow!' I own clothing older than you!... Well, just kidding about clothing, but we do have children your age and older! All things considered, it's a pretty good life in which one can get as involved—or not—or not at all— as one wishes. And one of the biggest pluses to us from the Northeast is 'lifetime free snow shoveling and plowing.' We don't miss it in the least! All the best to you newcomers!!!
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