[Xavier]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

Your point is well taken, except for relying on Zillow for pricing.

And since you're concerned about the home values and like it that they're going up, I would caution again to look at the area thru the eyes of potential buyers, who will, in the end, decide what is true market value when they write a check for it at closing. Age 55 or 60 is looking younger and younger all the time as people are living longer. The appeal when we came a few years ago was that The Villages did NOT look like a sleepy "retirement" community deserving the name Geriatric Estates.

The nightly music, dancing, retail and bar-restaurants open etc. at the town squares is a big draw for potential buyers who are about to retire and finally are gaining the freedom to go out and have fun, not go to bed at 8:30pm because they have to get up at 5 to commute to work and get home after dark--too tired to go out and too little time before bedtime anyway.

I think The Villages has been extremely wise in marketing to the 55-60 age group (even the music on 640 am radio show this). They've been wise in knowing buyers are looking for activity and vitality, NOT "heaven's waiting room" as some characterize TV without ever having been here. Homeowners hoping for rising home values would be wise follow The Villages' lead and think about what buyers are looking for as they retire.

P.S. Skip2MySue just put the perfect example of what buyers are NOT looking for, at this thread, "Another Retirement Option":
Another retirement option

We do our share of activities in and around The Villages. As someone mentioned previously, all of the Town Squares are with just a few minutes of us by car and SS and LSL are within easy Golf Cart access. Hanging out at bars is no longer that important to us, but we know that others may enjoy just that. The beauty of our area and it's lack of day-in and day-out hubbub provides the perfect balance. All amenities and material needs are close by. We are still young - I retired at 52 years old. I can believe that many of the potential buyers are looking for the availability of activities. I cannot believe that all of them want to live in the middle of it all day and night. One day last week we took the cart on a 15 mile trek to the Library located on 466A. We just couldn't believe how busy each intersection was on the way down and the way back. South of 466 every intersection had golf carts and automobiles backed up. We'll have none of that up in God's country! We believe we made a wise choice.

Xavier