Our list when we came down to see the villages was as follows:
All 3 town squares (and Ednas/Sawgrass) both during the day and in the evening.
A few village recreation centers
A few regional recreation centers (open the doors and peek into the classes going on if the signage on the doors allows)
A few golf courses of differing types
A few country clubs (lunch or dinner)
Where the prison, cement plant and quarry were in relation to where we were looking
Listening for the turnpike in the areas we were looking at various times during the day and night
Checking out amenities that were important to us (running/biking trails, gym, dog parks, theaters, etc.)
Sitting at the neighborhood pool and chatting it up with the locals in the neighborhoods we were were considering
How far squares/stores were by golf cart in the areas we were looking and what impact future bridge will have on that distance
In addition to seeing homes, we went to the following places:
A few golf cart stores to get pricing/check out models
A few local insurance brokers (our insurance won’t write new Florida policies so ask yours now)
A representative from our bank at their local branch
Stopped into the villages health to check it out/inquire about doctors accepting new patients
The local grocery store, proximity of our preferred pharmacy, etc.
Most Villages reps will show you the latest neighborhood property releases (new construction) first. Stop them from doing so, and ask to see the model homes first - Review the floor plans online now so you have a better idea of what series/models you might be interested in. There are two or three different areas where you can see model homes, and each has a few different series/models available to see. The only way to get into these model homes is on appointment with a Villages Sales agent. This will help you to narrow down exactly what it is you think you want (home series and model), then you can go see what is actually available. Then, most importantly, don’t get discouraged when you don’t find what you want in what is actually available for sale!!! Just open your eyes and see all of the potential future inventory being built. Houses are released almost every day. Patience is the name of the game when buying new in the villages today. On the flip side, if you decide that you would rather be in an established area and want to buy a resale, you must be ready to act immediately. Houses go within hours of being listed and having a good MLS agent is key. In this case, you need all of your documents immediately ready to go (Mortgage pre-approval letter and/or proof of funds, and your local attorney’s contact information if you will be using one)
The most important aspect of your visit is just driving around and looking at everything going on around you. Get lost in the golf cart, hop in the car and head all the way north on Morse to the historic section, and then south by another route. Try to see as much as your energy will allow each day, and talk to everyone you come in contact with. Carry a small notebook (or use the notes feature on your phone) to jot things down or questions to ask because a ton of information is going to come at you. Get the newspaper every morning and look at the real estate listings and open houses for the day. There is much more available then any agent can possibly show you, so you need to direct the visit the way you want it to go as much as you can. Have fun and good luck!
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