Can I see enough in one day?

[gerryann]

I am still working, but am hoping to quit very soon and am interested in visiting TV. I can only be away from work for a Saturday, Saturday night and head back home Sunday afternoon. Will this give me enough oportunity to see (at least a little bit) of what TV has to offer?

[nkrifats]

That will give you a taste of the life. In our case after 3 one day trips we was hooked and bought our place even tho we have 20 months until I retire. We get back to the villages for a week about every 2 or 3 months. We feel it has been worth it.

[golfnut]

Absolutely, treat yourself and stay at the Waterfront Inn at Lake Sumter Landing......GN

[l2ridehd]

Maybe to know if you want to see more only, but I would never make such a life changing decision without a lot more study, knowledge, time, and just making sure this place was for me.

[gerryann]

Hi, Thanks for the responses. I most certainly wouldn't make a decision after one day's visit. I just want to put it in my posibility pool and check it out. I called and found out that in order to stay in TV and take advantage of the ammenities, I have to stay a 4 night minimum...so, the poster who suggested Waterfront Inn at Lake Sumter Landing; I think that's what I will do. Does anyone else have other recommendations regarding a hotel/motel?

[Barefoot]

After a few hours in TV, we knew it was for us. It took us a bit longer than that to locate the perfect resale CYV for our lifestyle.

We looked at six other retirement communities in Florida, most of which were lovely. But when we came to TV, we absolutely knew we would be happy here.

[Julie]

Make sure you take a free trolly ride. That will give you a basic overall view of The Villages.

[ijusluvit]

The Waterfront Inn and the trolley ride are great ideas for a one-day trip. But I would save 5-7 pm for visiting either the Spanish Springs or Sumter Landing town square. Just relax and strike up a conversation with as many folks as possible. One question is enough: 1) Hi, I'm just visiting. What do you think of the place?
TV is very beautiful but it's really about the great people and their attitude. If you talk to a bunch of people I'd be shocked if you leave without a irresistible desire to come back. Have fun!

[Barefoot]

The Waterfront Inn and the trolley ride are great ideas for a one-day trip. But I would save 5-7 pm for visiting either the Spanish Springs or Sumter Landing town square. Just relax and strike up a conversation with as many folks as possible. One question is enough: 1) Hi, I'm just visiting. What do you think of the place?
TV is very beautiful but it's really about the great people and their attitude. If you talk to a bunch of people I'd be shocked if you leave without a irresistible desire to come back. Have fun!

Great idea Luvit.

That is what sold us on The Villages ... talking to as many people as possible. We were blown away by how positive and happy everyone was about the lifestyle. We didn't hear one negative during our three-day preview visit.

[Russ_Boston]

Even though we haven't bought yet - the one day visit is exactly how we started. We were staying in Disney and took a ride up. All we did was take the trolley tour and we knew we needed to see more. Since then we've been up for a week then two weeks the next year and then three.

We are just waiting until I can retire before we come down full time.

Beside the trolley tour and a visit to both squares for evening entertainment (try both since the flavor at each is unique) - I would suggest that you contact a TV sales agent for a quick whirl through the new designer model center. He/she can also show some villas.

I'm sure some TOTV folk could arrange a meet and greet at the square on the Saturday night.

PM if you'd like the name/e-mail of a good TV sales agent.

[Freeda]

We had seen some of the DVDs and looked at the Villages website before coming here the first time; but it took only a 3 hour visit to clinch our decision to move here; we visited the squares, took the trolley ride, talked to a few people, and that was it.

[gerryann]

Thanks for all of your responses. I am gonna be there this weekend. Does anyone know if they run the trolly ride on Sundays, and where I go to set it up? I'm staying Saturday night at the Waterfront Inn. Gonna check out the night life and hope to see TV during daylight on Sunday. (11/15).

[ijusluvit]

Go to the big, fancy Sales Center in the Sumter Landing Square and direct all these questions to the first person you see with a nametag, a big smile and a cheery hello.

[golfnut]

trolley rides are 7 days a week, let us know what you think after your visit...good luck...GN

[Katgirl]

We heard about TV from a client who has a brother that purchased 2 years ago....after a little research and discussion, discovered a number of people we knew had already made the great decision to move. We thought TV sounded too good to be true, but after 1 night and day visiting, we realized that it was the active lifestyle that we wanted to be in retirement. Bought a new home on day 2 of our visit. Was only here 3 days....but knew it was the right place. Won't be a full-time villager for 18 months. It's definitely worth looking into for a short visit if you've researched all there is available and it sounds like the type of active lifestyle you prefer. BTW....we live in Virginia so the trip for 3 days was still worth it.

[garsha]

Sure, a couple of days will keep your head turning. There is so much to see, but you would see if you will want to come back a couple more times. Be sure to rent a golf cart so you can cruise on all the cart trails. Take in a movie, go bowling, golf. Get up early and head out. Walk the town squares to shop. You'll be ready for bed by 10:00 to start the next day early. Be sure to get the Daily Sun. I am not sure if you stay in the hotel, can you get a guest pass? I would think so. If you do, be sure to eat lunch or dinner at Katie Belles.

I've lived here since January this year and have yet found everything. It is an amazing place.

Have a blast.

[The Great Fumar]

I am still working, but am hoping to quit very soon and am interested in visiting TV. I can only be away from work for a Saturday, Saturday night and head back home Sunday afternoon. Will this give me enough oportunity to see (at least a little bit) of what TV has to offer?

Gerryann
You'll see enough in ten minutes.........
You won't believe it.....

fumar

[gerryann]

We walked the town square, did a little shopping, ate at 3 different resturants and took the trolly ride. We stayed at the Waterfront Inn.

I have one important question. In a handout newspaper that I picked up at the sales center it says "Homeowners' association fees, utilities and community development district assessments run about $12,000 a year".

I was unable to get much of this basic type info since the sales people wanted to take me on a tour of available homes to answer my questions and I didn't have time for that. I guess I'm just looking to see if this will be affordable and what some of these "extra" charges are. I know about the possible bond, HOA fee, and of course property tax, water/sewer, gas, electric, cable, lawn maint., pest control.....but what of these charges are included in this above mentioned $12,000?

[coach]

If you picked it up at the sales center it probably referred to the average cost of expenses on your home per year. I think the last one I saw was about $950 per month. That is water, trash service, phone, cable, utilities, taxes, CDD bond payment, CDD assessment, insurance and all the things that make up having a home in The Villages. It does not include a mortgage, food, medical,
etc.

Hope this helps.

[tpop1]

We walked the town square, did a little shopping, ate at 3 different resturants and took the trolly ride. We stayed at the Waterfront Inn.

I have one important question. In a handout newspaper that I picked up at the sales center it says "Homeowners' association fees, utilities and community development district assessments run about $12,000 a year".

I guess I'm just looking to see if this will be affordable and what some of these "extra" charges are. I know about the possible bond, HOA fee, and of course property tax, water/sewer, gas, electric, cable, lawn maint., pest control.....but what of these charges are included in this above mentioned $12,000?

At the bottom of the first page of TOTV, there is a thread labled " Nuts and Bolts of the Villages" which contains a wealth of good info.

The message at the top of this thread, "Moving to the Villages- Part 1" has a very granular breakdown of the monthly costs you could expect...It is a great guide to The Villages finances...take a look...a lot of good stuff here helps make the decision making processing much smoother!

[l2ridehd]

I believe it is all of those. It costs about $1000 a month for everything above your morgage payment. That includes water, sewer, taxes, insurance, amenties fee, cable, telephone, electric, gas, lawn, everything but food and entertainment. Mine for two designer homes runs a little less then this amount for each home at around $900. I guess a larger home might be a bit more and a smaller home a bit less. But if you plan on that amount you will be fine.