[villages07]

Ahhh, so many questions. I'll give you my opinions on your topics and I'm sure others will chime in with their thoughts. The best thing to remember is that there is no one right answer....you've got to find what is right for you. All the discussion about villas, ranch, designer, premiers are just labels the Villages applies to different types of homes. You have to find the model that works best for you.... in terms of size, location, and your own financial requirements. There are no bad neighborhoods...everywhere you go, new or resale, will be populated with predominantly friendly, happy people.

Your dog can spend lots of time outside in your enclosed lanai.

Ranch vs designer.... Ranches are all vinyl siding - no block/stucco; generally range from about 1100 sq ft to about 1600 sq ft; designers range from about 1300 to 2100 sq ft of living space (space under heat and air....doesn't include lanai, garage); lots sizes are probably relatively comparable, but, in either type neighborhood will be different size lots with different cost premiums.... based on privacy, lot size, view, etc. As others have stated, the side to side closeness of neighbors is not an issue...mostly the back to back looking out the lanai is where it can get too close.

New homes with fixed features...the good thing is you know exactly what you are getting, what it costs, and what it looks like. When you design everything yourself on an unseen lot, it might not turn out as you expected. This methodology is also an advantage in today's real estate market....people are wisely waiting til they sell 'back home' before they buy here. In this case, the short 30-60 day span between contracting old house and buying/moving in here to a new house is very doable. If you do your own design from the ground up, it's a 4-6 month (or more) construction period. Plus, they generally do a nice job outfitting the houses with colors, features, etc. Do some homework before you get here, but, come looking with an open mind; We thought we wanted one model (based on paper floor plans) and ended up with another we liked better in person.

Parking...plenty of car parking lots in the squares (behind the buildings) and at the rec centers. It's just easier and more fun to buzz around in the golf cart (and parking is a snap). Just wait, you'll love the golf cart and will take it out over the car more often than not.

That's enough for now...good luck!!!