I have a few bits of humble advice: you have time to decide so don’t rush; I was buying in the summer of 2021 when it was absolutely nuts down here. I wanted a courtyard villa because I was attracted to the wonderful back yard privacy it affords and I also have a dog. However, it was impossible to get one - even the old, broken ones were impossible to get. Now is much better for everything everywhere. But - many people said that I could “always buy now and move later, and that people often move 3 times within the villages” etc, etc. so I purchased a small villa that I didn’t really want, just to get here. I would not suggest anyone do that, although I pretty much had to, and I am truly happy to be here. I love my neighborhood and my neighbors, so I have decided to stay in this house and make it work. But sometimes I’m sad that I couldn’t get what I wanted to begin with. So take your time deciding on the type of house you want. As far as where you buy, I don’t think the location is as important as the style.
Another thing to consider is new vs established neighborhoods. My experience has been in a brand new neighborhood and it was a lot of fun - everyone was moving in and getting settled at the same time which made most everyone super helpful and friendly with each other - it was amazing. Folks I know who moved into established neighborhoods didn’t meet as many people - not that the neighbors are unfriendly - they just have already established all their friends and routines, etc, and probably won’t go out of their way to get to know new neighbors. But also - having a dog helps because you will see people and they will see you when you’re walking the dog. There are alot of dog owners here so those will likely be your first acquaintances in your neighborhood.
Lastly, I would be sure to check noise from rec centers if you find a home adjacent to one; pickleball is wonderful fun but living within earshot of a court might drive you crazy, you hear the noise all day long.
Good luck to you in your search. You will be very happy to live here I am sure. I’m also 67, retired Navy, retired DoD, and I am sure there are hundreds of others with roughly the same resume. This is a wonderful place for Veterans. If you use the VA for health services you will find the VA clinic here is outstanding, I have had excellent care there. Sometimes have to go to Gainesville for services they can’t handle here which is about an hour and half away. But the service and care up there is just as good. Best wishes to you!
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