Other than using The Villages Lifestyle Preview program, you have much more selection and felxibility by going through a private party (property managment company or direct to owner) than through The Villages. My understanding is The Villages will not give you a choice of properties, other than the style (villa, designer, etc.) and you will not know what property you are assigned until your arrival. They apparently try to spread the rentals among the various owners that are listed with them (sort of like spread the wealth). It doesn't work well for owners or renters, as well as for other things. The Villages Property Management also has limitations on the time frame when they take rental reservations (they don't take reservations very far in advance). Properties listed with The Villages Property Management are restricted as to the amenities they can offer. For example, they will not, unless their policy has recently changed, allow owners to keep a golf cart, barbecue grill or a bicycle on premises for use by a tenant. They even discourage owners from even providing internet service, although I'm not sure why. With properties offered directly by the owner or through private property managers, many of these amenities are often included with the home. Also, you get to thoroughly view the specific home and location you are interested in before deciding. I am familiar with this because we used to have our home listed for rent through The Villages Property Management, but we recently moved to a private property management firm for the reasons listed.