[lindaelane]

I bought through a Village Agent (Pete Laufersky). He helped me greatly when The Villages refused to trim a tree behind my home on Village land, which obscured the view of the lake behind my home - I bought, rented out for a year while finishing my job up north, then moved here and the tree overgrew. The view would not be there without Pete and his talking to people he know in village administration since they normally have a policy against trimming. (They let it through as long as I paid for it - I had offered to pay but they did not accept until Pete stepped in to negotiate on my behalf.)

So I found that buying from a Village Agent helped me because my relationship with the agent continued and he helps me at times when I need it in ways an MLS agent could not. He has also become a friend and advisor, though I do not contact him often so as to not take advantage.