Advice in choosing a home

[ecory]

We are planning on purchasing a home in TV within the next 3 years. We did a LifeStyle visit already. Would appreciate any advice in choosing what area to purchase. The more research we do the more we realize our ideal house is not as important as the neighborhood we choose. What was your experience?

[Villager Joyce]

I believe location is crucial. How close by golf cart are you to the grocery store, squares, exercise facility and other activities you plan to participate in. We live in the south end of town. It is approx 20-25 minutes from Walmart and approx 30 minutes to go to sam's by car, but those are monthly trips. We are less than 10 minutes by cart to the bank, Publix, the restaurants and the town square we frequent the most. We go to at least one of these every day. At this time I personally think the newest areas being built are too far from commercial and "fun" that exists today. I'm sure tomorrow will bring a thousand reasons why those areas are THE place to live. Hillsborough and Pinellas seemed pretty remote a couple years ago. Long story short, being in the Villages is being in the Villages.

[rjm1cc]

See if you can rent for a few months before you buy.

[graciegirl]

I had notebooks, and lists. and I looked at The Villages site everyday back then, and printed out floor plan after floor plan. After a lot of study and thought we decided which model and where... and came here and bought something entirely different. The second time, I deleted the lists and the notebooks and the floor plans and we decided on a model and ended up with a different model AND village. The first home was in Hadley, The second where we live now and they were both just a wonderful choice.

Not much you can do wrong choosing any model or any village here.

Signed,

Very satisfied Gracie, aka Pollyanna who does NOT work for the developer. In fact I don't work.

[ecory]

Thank you for your advice. We have heard the most move 2-3 times in the villages. What are reasons people move so often?

[OBXNana]

In our case we purchased planning to be snow birds. As retirement gets closer and it's the end of April and going down to 28 degrees tonight, we may change our plans. If that is the case, we would need/want a larger place. We love being on the golf course, would like a golf cart garage, and we love being less than a mile from Brownwood and half a mile from the pool. If we were to move, some things we would change and other things we'd like to remain the same.

For us, if we were to sell and move, it would be due to a change of circumstances.

[hulahips]

Centrally located near or around Sumter is ideal for many reasons. Don't forget very important is sun direction. If you like sitting outdoors on your lanai north facing is perfect for shade take your time and try to prioritize what is important to you

[asianthree]

First house was patio villa as vaca home. Second home was cottage with 2 car garage and kissing lanai. Third house corner lot golf cart garage, and a view. Yep it's about location

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I'd say look at a bunch of homes in your price range and choose the one that you like.

[lanabanana73]

When we first rented in TV in 2012, it was in Springdale, the very NW section of TV. I had trouble finding my way south in the golf cart, but there was less traffic up there and lots of mature landscaping. It just seemed far from things, though.

Last year, we rented in Bonita and found it amazing. So close to so many executive courses and LSL. Very easy to find our way around in the cart and car. When we began looking in earnest, we ended up in Tamarind Grove.....just a bit SW of Bonita. Halfway between LSL and Brownwood and within a 5 min cart ride to seven executive courses. Easy jump on 466A to go to the east or the west. We love it!

You will find just the right place for you, but make sure you give yourself some time to experiment before you buy. Different strokes for different folks. Good luck!

[Fraugoofy]

We wanted to be close to everything but have access to several neighborhood pools. We are in a Lynnhaven patio villa, corner lot with vaulted ceilings. 6 minutes to LSL. 15 minutes to Spanish Springs. 6 minutes to Walmart. We have 2 family pools within 3 minutes and 5 pools within 5 minutes. We have it all! And I bet every Villager loves her neighborhood as much as I love mine!

[kcrazorbackfan]

We came down in August of last year. All the way down in that 1,220 mile drive we kept saying "let's keep an open mind". It was about 20 minutes after turning onto 466 that we had made our mind up that this was where we wanted to be.

We looked and looked and looked at both new and pre-owned. We knew we wanted to be at about the middle of TV and we wanted to downsize from about 2,800 sq. ft. so we could play golf more. We happened to look at a Seabreeze cottage and the wife really liked the openness of it. She searched for homes every night and around the middle of October, she found a Seabreeze and the rest is history.

We closed the week of Thanksgiving, the wife retired 2/28 and moved the same day to TV, our home in KC sold last Saturday and I'll be there FT the last of May. Life is good. TV is an incredible place and the wife and I are a firm believer that the stars started aligning years ago to guide us to this place.

Good luck in your search.

[Happinow]

Thank you for your advice. We have heard the most move 2-3 times in the villages. What are reasons people move so often?

One of the reasons is back to back lanais. Being so close, sound travels and people and/or pets can be noisy. I know of three people who moved within a half mile of where I live because of problems with their neighbors behind them. Another reason may be home too big or too small.

[pbkmaine]

We bought in Santiago, right behind Savannah Center. We wanted a preowned block house with a pool, no bond, minimum work to be done. We are within easy distance of the hospital, Spanish Springs, and shopping on both 441 and 466. We don't seem to have the traffic and congestion problems up here that others mention. It's a great location. We also have terrific neighbors and a mix of ages from mid fifties to nineties. We could not be happier.

[tomwed]

It depends.
How on much do you want to spend?
Why get an opinion on what 220k will buy when your budget might be 440k? or 150k?

[dotti105]

I agree that location is very important.

We have driven through some beautiful neighborhoods that are several blocks (and turns) away from a main artery. I think that would be a deal breaker for me. We did not realize when we built, just off of Pinellas and Buena Vista, that the location would be so wonderful.

We enjoy using our golf carts and we are close to LSL, even closer to Brownwood and equal distance to Colony Publix and Powell Rd. Publix, and very close to both Championship and Executive golf courses, and lots of rec centers.

While we were buying we were focused on our home and the view. But the convenience of the location didn't really concern us. As we drive around I am very grateful that we can access the main multi-modal paths quickly for cart travel and the main NS-EW roads for car travel.

Regarding the "3 move" urban legend. It seems to be pretty true, as others have mentioned, kissing lanais can be a problem. People find they are a bit too close to some of their neighbors. Also, because a large number of people who move here as snowbirds and decide to become full time residents, they realize they want a bigger garage, larger lanai etc. Others just decide their floor plan doesn't work for them.

As for us, we plan to never change our address. Downsizing and moving was hard work, we will bloom where we are planted!!

Everyone seems to think their Village is the best. Probably because, for the most part, you will find very friendly, wonderful people here. Although if you spend much time on the forums, you may get the opposite impression. Don't let the whiners or bullies influence you. They have nothing better to do and would probably be miserable anywhere. We think The Villages is just about as close to heaven as you can get, while still having a pulse.

[Villageswimmer]

Be sure to find out the amount of the bond, if there is one. Ask for the amortization schedule to see what you'll be paying each year. In our case, the bond is 6.125%...quite high. In reality, the bond is part of the cost. It shouldn't be overlooked.

[Villageswimmer]

I should have said the bond INTEREST is 6.125. My mistake.

[Blessed2BNTV]

Thank you for your advice. We have heard the most move 2-3 times in the villages. What are reasons people move so often?

We bought an Amarillo (ranch) in 2012 while we were both working. Retired in 2014, sold our home up north, and purchased a designer.

We knew we preferred a corner lot. We got the bonus of our lot being situated that we do not have a kissing lanai. We have a beautiful view of homes that are on the golf course.

Location is important. Both of our homes are south of 466 and north of 466a.

Good luck in your search! The Villages is an amazing place to live!

[2BNTV]

Make a "must have list" and a "would like to have list" with some items not being a deal breaker. When you see a home that meets all of your "must haves", you have found the home you want to live in.

It all comes down to, "what's really important to you".

Location is the hardest thing to decide but most people would rather be closer to shopping, doctors, etc. Most people stop going to the squares after being here for several months.

Some people have wanted to live near Brownwood as they prefer to have people around them to be a similar age. Some people have found they will be friendly to the people they meet that have similar likes and views.

Their is no bad village. It is just a matter of preference.

[Steve & Deanna]

When we first started coming to TV, we rented in Bonnybrook, Amelia, Amelia and Palo Alto. Now, we spend our time in our home in Lynnhaven and it really suites us for the locations we want to be near. That said, take your time and check out where you want to be. My wife says that if we become permanent, she wants a water view AND a golf course view. Happy wife, happy life. The boss has spoken.

[mtdjed]

Well , the middle is Lake Sumter Landing area, but nothing new there . If you want new, you will be south of 466A. Traffic is heavier in the older places but not a real problem. I live in the Village of Caroline within easy walk to Lake Sumter Landing . That was a priority for us to be close to a town center. Others will have their preference. It is all a personal preference. But for the most part , think of it as city living, not country. You will see your neighbors.

[Suzi]

I recommend to interested visitors to make a priority list. Our top priority was "direction". I shopped with a compass - no kidding! Also, seeing it all written-down helps to solidify your thoughts. I went on TOTV everyday for months, made spread sheets, ask for help from TOTVers, did searches and alot of soul-searching. It consumed my life for slightly over a year. We moved to a "new" village and we are very happy with our choice. We are pretty "social" people and we have had an easy time making friends in our neighborhood because we all are about the same age. Although only you can decide the type of people you are (social vs. quiet), this is the type of thing you need to consider when you are making decisions to move here.
Good luck with your deliberations. Ask for help from this site if you can't find answers - we are always here.

[john2]

You could also build your own house, with your own design and builder on the historic side.

[rjm1cc]

Location is key but consider what your life style will be. It might be having more social activities at your home so larger maybe better than smaller. The amount of lawn and flower beds maybe be a factor. Storage space is always short. Consider stretching rooms if you can. Be sure your cars will fit easily in the garage and the driveway is wide enough.

[rjm1cc]

Consider glass blocks for rooms that do not have windows. For example walk in shower, bathroom, Landry etc. This could be one or two rows close to the ceiling. You want as much light as possible. Also consider the window treatments you will be adding.

[patfla06]

We wanted a certain model with no kissing lanai.
Ended up with the model we wanted with a water view.
Privacy, quiet and just what we wanted.

Just off 466A and Pinellas.

Brownwood will eventually be built up and convenient
like LSL.

Now please open a Starbucks in Brownwood and make
me a happy woman! :pray:

[gap2415]

This is our third house, first and second while part time and now in the new section s of 466a but not by much. We are ten min LSL and 12 to Brownwood, a few blocks from the pool, close to golf, 5 min to shopping, golf cart trails all around without traveling on the road...also a private decorative wall in the back....we love it!