Top of the World

[patfla06]

Did any of you look at Top of the World in Ocala?
I was just curious.

[golfnut]

no

[Whalen]

It seemed so old, so very old...

[Mikitv]

We looked at it back in 2005 while checking out other areas of Florida. I was not that impressed. At that time it seemed typical of most retirement complexes that it had a golf course and the basic amenities. We were told by the Realtor showing us around that in the older section you didn't really own the property but you did own the house. Don't know if that has changed since then. It is hard to find any other place that compares to TV.

[JohnN]

We looked, didn't like Ocala. That stretch of the main highway is a killer, and you have to use it anytime you want to go anywhere outside of the neighborhood. There's golf and a pool/courts, but not that much else.

We also checked out Del Webb, nice quality homes for sure!
When we asked the sales guy who the main competitor who his main competition was, he said "The Villages, and people either love them or hate them" We visited and loved TV, so that's where we bought.

[nkrifats]

i did not like the main highway or the idea that if I was buying in the older section I was on leased land. Villages won hands down for us.

[Mallory]

Boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dadspet]

We were real interested in it and checked it out twice. We found you couldn't take your golf cart anywhere within TofTW, not much obvious activity, pools not heated, There seemed to be some restrictions on which areas could use the club or you had to play extra in some areas that were newer.
In some areas you now owned the land. It clearly wasn't as pretty as The Villages.

[zcaveman]

Plus you have to take your garbage down to the designated dumpsters and separate the recyclables from the garbage. NO roadside pickup.

[rwcw]

I have some friends who bought in Stone Creek after looking at the Villages and are very happy. They like the peace and serenity and privacy that they have and say they can use the Top of the World amenities and like being close to Ocala's Malls, stores, entertainment, medical, etc. Plus, they feel they got a lot more for the money in the purchase of their home. Lots of golf variety nearby and very reasonable. Always able to get tee times.
This is not a knock on the Villages. We expect to move into the Villages in early 2010.

[BobKat1]

I have some friends who bought in Stone Creek after looking at the Villages and are very happy. They like the peace and serenity and privacy that they have and say they can use the Top of the World amenities and like being close to Ocala's Malls, stores, entertainment, medical, etc. Plus, they feel they got a lot more for the money in the purchase of their home. Lots of golf variety nearby and very reasonable. Always able to get tee times.
This is not a knock on the Villages. We expect to move into the Villages in early 2010.

Interesting perspective. We're planning a stay at both TV and SC in the near future. We're quite familiar with TV, but want to check out SC on the same trip to compare the two.

[Fourpar]

Yes, we looked. Then saw The Villages, and are now FROGS. ;-)

[BobKat1]

How far is it from Stone Creek to The Viilages (either LSL or SS)? I did a basic Map Quest search and it came up as 30 miles??? I don't recall it being that far. Thanks..

[spk7951]

How far is it from Stone Creek to The Viilages (either LSL or SS)? I did a basic Map Quest search and it came up as 30 miles??? I don't recall it being that far. Thanks..

Using Stone Creeks address from their web site going to LSL I got 38 miles one way via Mapquest. I think that might be slightly on the high side. I have driven to that area but to the opposite side of I-75 and I do remember the distance being something like 35 miles from my house, which is some 4 miles south of LSL.

[chuckinca]

We drove out to Stone Creek last winter, circled in the entrance and immediately left. Didn't like the location at all - out in a field about three miles from the main highway. Long drive to get a loaf of bread and a half gallon of milk.

Probably has super houses . . .


.

[BobKat1]

Thanks for the information. I thought we'd passed the entrance to a Del Webb community not too far (just a couple of miles or so) from TV. Maybe it wasn't Stone Creek??

Edit: I just had a flashback. Am I thinking of Spruce Creek?

[Barefoot]

We looked at Top of the World iin Ocala. We didn't care for it at all.
Then we came to The Villages and fell in love.

[chuckinca]

Thanks for the information. I thought we'd passed the entrance to a Del Webb community not too far (just a couple of miles or so) from TV. Maybe it wasn't Stone Creek??

Edit: I just had a flashback. Am I thinking of Spruce Creek?


Yep that is Spruce Creek a few miles north of TV on the east side of 441.

Not to be confused with older Spuce Creek South that is just past Wal-Mart on 441 but on the west side of 441.

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[BobKat1]

We drove out to Stone Creek last winter, circled in the entrance and immediately left. Didn't like the location at all - out in a field about three miles from the main highway. Long drive to get a loaf of bread and a half gallon of milk.

Probably has super houses . . .


.

It sounds like there isn't much around Stone Creek. Are there open areas that might be built up in the future? It would be a pain to have a long drive for last minute supplies.

[chuckinca]

The area is sorta like what Frankfort, IL was 40 years ago - a farm town out in the corn fields but without the corn.

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[BobKat1]

The area is sorta like what Frankfort, IL was 40 years ago - a farm town out in the corn fields but without the corn.

.

We don't have 40 years to wait for the area to develop...

[champion6]

We don't have 40 years to wait for the area to develop...LOL :a20:

[patfla06]

Just got back from our Lifestyle visit to TV.
We went up to Ocala and HATED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Didn't even bother looking at any communities.

[graciegirl]

We are up here in Ohio now and I tried this morning to explain The Villages to the dental receptionist I have known for 40 years. People look at you like you've been drinking.

It is so wonderful, words just can't do it.

[BobKat1]

Lets clear up a couple of things: Stone Creek is no more than 25 miles from TV. Not sure what detours some of you take to make it so much farther?

Surprised that no one has mentioned the Golf Course "Candler Hills" which is a pretty good layout and usually in better condition than most Villages courses. The Restaurant at the Golf Course is also pretty good.

No! I wouldn't live there either!

In your opinion, how are the homes? Choices, value, lot sizes? Thanks...

[BobKat1]

Lets clear up a couple of things: Stone Creek is no more than 25 miles from TV. Not sure what detours some of you take to make it so much farther?

Surprised that no one has mentioned the Golf Course "Candler Hills" which is a pretty good layout and usually in better condition than most Villages courses. The Restaurant at the Golf Course is also pretty good.

No! I wouldn't live there either!

I just entered the addresses of the Stone Creek office and a home that we rented in The Village of Caroline into Map Quest, and it says 38.39 miles. Might be more or less depending on locations in TV, but seems like it's 30 miles + or -.

[jazzy48]

We looked at TOTW and also Oak something, both in Ocala. Didn't like either. Once you've been in TV, nothing else compares.

I never heard of Stone Creek, so don't know where that is. I've heard of Stonecrest and Spruce Creek, both of which are north of Walmart on 441. Stone Creek must be in Ocala?

I will share one encounter I had just yesterday morning with a resident of Stonecrest...he was telling me how badly they wanted to sell their home, but the home they paid $160,000 for in 2004 is now valued at less than $90,000. I don't know about other areas in TV, but in my village (south of 466), several homes have sold recently without a loss of value.