Are some Villages locations better than others?

[Oldchief5654]

Newbie here and not yet a Villages owner. But, we're strongly considering a possible move here.
My question is, are some Villages better or considered more desirable than others? Also, is there much difference in the property tax rates in the counties wherein Villages neighborhoods are located? I'm particularly interested in Marion County Villages locations, as its a bit closer to our 2 of our 3 grown kids, who live in north FL and is also farther away from the Orlando metro area, which I'd like to avoid. I know noting about any of the various Villages developments but it just seems reasonable that some may be better and/or more desirable than others?
Will appreciate input from "seasoned" Villages residents. Thanks!

[REDCART]

You’ve asked a very provocative question and many will no doubt have opinions. SUMTER County has the lowest taxes of the three counties. That’s undisputed! Some villages are closer to shopping than others. Villages located at the fringes of TV, especially those next to undeveloped non-Villages properties, have a high risk of being neighbors with commercial use or some other objectionable development. Proximity to Orlando, even in the most southern of the new villages, is a non issue. You really need to spend time here and judge for yourself. Good luck with your search.

[Velvet]

I asked something similar once and when I got to The Villages, I found each area had its own unique advantages. You have to come and drive around and see what you like. I made a list of what was important to me, some other people may not consider at all, such as strength of EMF waves. We had cancer in the family previously.
I love the area I chose because it’s close to Barnes and Noble as reading is my weakness. Each to their own.

[mermaids]

We purchased in Spanish Springs area and we love the convenient location. We are close to Publix and WinnDixi plus Target, Bealls outlet, Belk, hospital, ect. Taxes seem better here in Sumter county too. We also have friends in Dunnellen and they like having a new house, so guess it depends on your preferences and budget
. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[tophcfa]

You’ve asked a very provocative question and many will no doubt have opinions. SUMTER County has the lowest taxes of the three counties. That’s undisputed! Some villages are closer to shopping than others. Villages located at the fringes of TV, especially those next to undeveloped non-Villages properties, have a high risk of being neighbors with commercial use or some other objectionable development. Proximity to Orlando, even in the most southern of the new villages, is a non issue. You really need to spend time here and judge for yourself. Good luck with your search.

Agree with the above post, although Sumter's taxes are no longer significantly lower than the other counties after the 25% increase. What areas are better than others is an individual choice, and what is good for some may be totally different for others. The only generalization I will make comparing different areas is that if Championship golf is important to you then avoid the new Villages area south of 44.

[jscottb]

Pick something south of 44 and you can't go wrong.

[Tom C]

It really depends... ( I hate that answer because it says nothing helpful...)

Depends upon what you value and how your ranking of different things. Some of these are: Do you Golf? What type of course do you like? Do you want to be close to a social area (one of the squares)? Do you want no yard maintenance? Do you mind traffic noise? Do you want total privacy? All of these are different in different areas of different villages.....

And of course, How much do you plan to spend?

Trying to be the most helpful I can be I would suggest that you do these things BEFORE looking here or anywhere (if you are seriously looking):

1) Determine your NEEDS (these are must haves)
2) Determine your WANTS (these are additions to your list from 1)
3) Determine your BUDGET (what is the TOP $ you are willing to spend ), and DON'T offer any higher when looking

Be COMPLETE with these lists

Give this info to your realtor and see what they can do. You will tell if you have a good representative if they DO NOT try to push you above your budget (if they do try to push you higher, find another realtor right away - don't waste your time).

P.S.- be sure to look for home in these 3 sources: MLS, VLS and FSBO.

[Oldchief5654]

Thanks to all who have replied so far. Keep your great comments and advice coming! ;>) Should have mentioned in my original post that I could care less about golf. I gave up on it well over 30 years ago, was never much good at it, altho I did once legitimately break 100 with a score of 99 on 18 holes. For me it was aggravating, I didn't find it enjoyable and have absolutely no desire to try it again. I'm more in to boating, fishing, RV'ing, travel and outdoor recreation. I also like old car restoration and woodworking. We have scheduled a 4 day stay in a villa there, around the end of October and hope to learn a lot from that. Thanks again!

[coffeebean]

Pick something south of 44 and you can't go wrong.

I do not agree with this advice. South is not close to big box stores and the shopping/restaurants corridor on 441/27. If shopping is not important to you, by all means, check out the areas south of 44.

[Bruce zapolski]

South of 44 is the future of The Villages nobody has what they have down there but it’s getting better and better and it’s in Sumter County .ck it out

[bandsdavis]

Pick something south of 44 and you can't go wrong.

South of 44 has no Savannah Center, no Sharon, no Studio Theater, and currently no Town Square. While there probably will be a Town Square at some point, I doubt if the most southern areas will get any kind of musical and dramatic venues that are at all comparable to the three I mention for many, many years. The "old" Villages, north of 44 in my opinion will be more "vibrant" for activities, and the areas south of Rt 44 may well be more beautiful places to live.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Thanks to all who have replied so far. Keep your great comments and advice coming! ;>) Should have mentioned in my original post that I could care less about golf. I gave up on it well over 30 years ago, was never much good at it, altho I did once legitimately break 100 with a score of 99 on 18 holes. For me it was aggravating, I didn't find it enjoyable and have absolutely no desire to try it again. I'm more in to boating, fishing, RV'ing, travel and outdoor recreation. I also like old car restoration and woodworking. We have scheduled a 4 day stay in a villa there, around the end of October and hope to learn a lot from that. Thanks again!

Due to your specific interests, I would personally suggest somewhere in the vicinity of Spanish Springs (points north, west, south) or the "historic" section, which is northeast and east of Spanish Springs.

Here's why: that is the closest to the Ocala Forest, which has RV, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Boating is limited to small outboard motors, jetskis, and similar. Canoeing seems to be the most popular boating type on the many streams through the forest.

I would say, even if you want newer construction, that you probably would want to look at homes located between Lake Sumter Landing town square and Spanish Springs town square, in the northeastern sections of The Villages.

The western edge of the forest is only 10-15 minutes' drive from Orange Blossom, which is part of the historic section of the Villages.

Proximity to Orlando is a non-issue as someone mentioned before. It's around an hour away (depending on where you start from and how fast you drive).

The older sections including the actual "historic" section and the other neighborhoods nearest Spanish Springs is closest to the 301 and 441 routes out of the Villages to the north, which you say you are also looking for, due to family living nearby.

You can find a variety of home types in the area, from some of the original tiny 780sf single-wide trailer homes in Silver Lake, to condo-style townhouses right in Spanish Springs (if there are any for sale, I don't see any listed on the Homefinder right now), a few newer construction homes, and a number of 1200+ sf, 2 bed, 2 bath, many with "bonus" rooms that are sometimes used as a third bedroom with no closet.

There are also a smattering of higher end designer homes with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2+ car garages, spas, granite countertops, fireplaces, etc. etc. etc.

Most of this area is older homes. By "old" I mean between 10 and 25 years old (so - barely out of diapers, if you're a New Englander :) )

[Carla B]

As an 11-year resident living between Hwy 466 and 466A, I find all areas attractive. I wouldn't mind living in any village. I could be happy in the historic section or Spanish Springs or Sumter Landing or Marion County or even maybe in the newer areas south of Hwy 44, except for the lack of conveniences near by. They are all good. It's a tribute to the fine planning of the Developers. This place is beautiful.

On the other hand, buying the wrong house in any neighborhood could be a deal breaker. Not knowing what might be built over the fence, busy street, bad neighbors, barking dogs, loud TVs, etc. For instance, I wouldn't choose to live in one of the neighborhoods that empties on to Morse Blvd. N of 466 without a traffic signal; you could wait all day to turn left onto Morse due to the traffic going to/from the hospital/doctors' offices.

So. my opinion is any area in The Villages is great, provided you choose the right property.

[Nucky]

I a way your budget will help you decide where may be best. A Ballpark Range would help people to help you better. Not being nosey at all. Before you put down any of your money be sure to speak with an Insurance agent so there is no surprise on the price for the coverage you desire. Please be aware that in Florida that the age of the roof is very important to many people. Even more so if you have a Mortgage. You also need a Villages agent for their homes and an MLS agent for their homes. Best of luck.

Listen to Carla B, this place is beautiful.

[justjim]

OP, so many variables go into choosing a permanent location. It is difficult to choose a permanent location in a short visit to TV. One idea is to rent for a while (at least three months) to get a “real feel” for the Villages. Think about it if renting prior to buying might be something that makes sense to you. By all means, enjoy your first visit to The Villages as you will find residents willing to share their stories and experiences with you and answer most any question you might have about this place we call The Villages.

[JimJohnson]

In that we have lived in so many different homes, our experiences have taught us to live in the middle. Like prey animals it better protects you from predators that frequent the edges of the heard. Also, we buy homes with an East facing patio so the in the afternoon the Florida sun does not drive you off of it. Look for a loop or a street that is not a main through route with lots of traffic and stop signs. That said, the benefits of The Villages compensates for any negative you can come up with.

[Aw Man]

Due to your specific interests, I would personally suggest somewhere in the vicinity of Spanish Springs (points north, west, south) or the "historic" section, which is northeast and east of Spanish Springs.

Here's why: that is the closest to the Ocala Forest, which has RV, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Boating is limited to small outboard motors, jetskis, and similar. Canoeing seems to be the most popular boating type on the many streams through the forest.

I would say, even if you want newer construction, that you probably would want to look at homes located between Lake Sumter Landing town square and Spanish Springs town square, in the northeastern sections of The Villages.

The western edge of the forest is only 10-15 minutes' drive from Orange Blossom, which is part of the historic section of the Villages.

Proximity to Orlando is a non-issue as someone mentioned before. It's around an hour away (depending on where you start from and how fast you drive).

The older sections including the actual "historic" section and the other neighborhoods nearest Spanish Springs is closest to the 301 and 441 routes out of the Villages to the north, which you say you are also looking for, due to family living nearby.

You can find a variety of home types in the area, from some of the original tiny 780sf single-wide trailer homes in Silver Lake, to condo-style townhouses right in Spanish Springs (if there are any for sale, I don't see any listed on the Homefinder right now), a few newer construction homes, and a number of 1200+ sf, 2 bed, 2 bath, many with "bonus" rooms that are sometimes used as a third bedroom with no closet.

There are also a smattering of higher end designer homes with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2+ car garages, spas, granite countertops, fireplaces, etc. etc. etc.

Most of this area is older homes. By "old" I mean between 10 and 25 years old (so - barely out of diapers, if you're a New Englander :) )

To Originl Poster,
Based on your 2 posts and your expressed interests, I strongly agree with the advice and suggestions in Jazuela's post, above.
But also, if you're truly interested in moving to a +55 retirement community I'd suggest that you also look at the separate communities of Del Webb Spruce Creek and Stonecrest. You can buy a nice home in either community for a lot less money than you would pay for a similar home in The Villages. Both communities are in Marion County and are along the vibrant Rt 441 corridor on the north edge of The Villages.
I live in The Villages and I love it but both my wife and I are avid golfers. If we didn't golf I can tell you we'd be living in Stonecrest right now.

[jebartle]

Developer did their homework, every village is great but from following newbies on TOTV if you are a:

Bowler, SS area has both bowling facilities
Hospital location is SS, also there is NO BOND in Lake County, (could save home owner bunches)
Box stores all locations now, 441 has h depot, lowes, walmart, target, sams
Grocery stores all locations, SS 2 publix, winn dixie, aldi
Traffic is better north, sumter landing busier
Entertainment SS Sharon Morse, Savannah, Tierra del sol
Gas stations a little light south, important if you own gas golf cart

Hope this helps, welcome to paradise.

My personal prejudice, Lazamora, smaller village, 90 residents. close to my favorite golf, hacienda lakes, Mira mesa, golf range close, woodworking shop close, pet park close and GREAT neighbors, and beautiful trees (4 some this is a negative but we love them), cook with gas, comcast, seco, teco
also close access to lawn bowling, air gun range, pickleball, tennis, beach volleyball, chula rec. Center, and family pool and adult pool, only 2 homes 4 sale, they sell quick here.

[Chatbrat]

make sure you fit age wise further north the communities have older residents south of 466a--the communities are younger--I live in Tamarind grove & use the Spanish Springs MVP, the Admiral uses the Brownwood MVP--big difference in the average age of their clientele-my trainer is @ MVP, SS-they have a dedicated train room--Brownwood does not

[l2ridehd]

Yes, my Village is best. And everyone thinks the same thing. Here are some things to at least consider.

Don't buy on the very outskirt edges of the Villages. Something bad could build next door.

Don't buy next to the power line. It does impact value.

Don't buy backing to a road that is bold printed on a Villages map. It will be a busy street.

Don't buy backing to a treatment plane. They will smell bad sometimes.

And this one is my personal favorite, don't buy on any water, you will have more bugs, snakes and bad things live in Florida waters.

[dewilson58]

Newbie here and not yet a Villages owner. But, we're strongly considering a possible move here.
My question is, are some Villages better or considered more desirable than others? Also, is there much difference in the property tax rates in the counties wherein Villages neighborhoods are located? I'm particularly interested in Marion County Villages locations, as its a bit closer to our 2 of our 3 grown kids, who live in north FL and is also farther away from the Orlando metro area, which I'd like to avoid. I know noting about any of the various Villages developments but it just seems reasonable that some may be better and/or more desirable than others?
Will appreciate input from "seasoned" Villages residents. Thanks!






No.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

make sure you fit age wise further north the communities have older residents south of 466a--the communities are younger--I live in Tamarind grove & use the Spanish Springs MVP, the Admiral uses the Brownwood MVP--big difference in the average age of their clientele-my trainer is @ MVP, SS-they have a dedicated train room--Brownwood does not

Eh - the age thing is subject to change on a regular basis. The oldest of the original owners of the old section were at least 55 when they moved in, in the early 1970's. I don't know if any of them still live there but if they do, that'd make them just slightly over 110 years old. I'm thinking they're gone and were likely replaced at least 20 years ago by the next batch of 55+'ers. Those folks would be in their 90's. Of them, I'm guessing a bunch of those are gone, and have been replaced by people who are now in their 60's.

Meanwhile, the batch that came after the original, were likely replaced by people, who were replaced by other people, who are now in their late 50's/early 60's.

And so on and so forth. Sure there are a lot of older folks still in the old section. But it's very attractive to the younger folks because it's much more affordable (you can get a smaller original double-wide for under $140k). It's a great "introduction" to the Villages lifestyle.

In my neighborhood I see a pretty wide variety of age groups. Mostly over 70, but with a generous peppering of late 50's up to mid-60's. And a couple of folks in their 40's helping out mom and dad.

[jojo]

We bought in The Villages, not for the golf, but for the extraordinary array of clubs, fitness, and sports activities that have more than quadrupled since we bought. The scale is what works for The Villages, providing an unprecedented number of options. My problem daily is pondering what I'm going to trade off when I make a decision of what to do. We did take up golf after we got here and enjoy it too.

[perrjojo]

Yes, some areas of The Villages are more desirable. Everyone I speak to agrees...it’s the area where they live.

[LuvtheVillages]

You also asked about property taxes, and I have not seen anyone address this issue:

Yes, even after the recent increase, Sumter County has the lowest county property taxes in the Villages.

However, there is something else to watch for if this is important to you. Parts of Sumter County are in the Village of Wildwood, or Lady Lake, or (?) other incorporated areas. You will pay property tax to Wildwood on top of your tax to Sumter. There are many areas that are in unincorporated Sumter County. No town tax. That can save you $800 -1200 annually.

[Rango]

Yes.

[billethkid]

Better and more desirable are relative terms, varying in meaning per different individuals.

All answers will be biased based on the individual answering and their measure of like/dislike.

Accept them all with an open mind!

There is not a bad location in TV. You will recognize that when you spend some time here.

[John_W]

Other than visiting your grown children 2 or 3 times a year, what are you going to do the rest of the time? Myself, I like being 3-1/2 miles from either Brownwood or Lake Sumter Landing Square (LSL). I think those are the best venues for bands and the movie theaters. So we live in Tamarind Grove, it was the newest village in 2011, and I've lived here since then, eight years.

If I had to do over, I would chose maybe Duval or Gilchrist, only because they are closer to Buena Vista and you can avoid driving your golf cart on the side of a road in a golf cart lane. Those villages you can almost go directly to the separate golf cart trail (MMP) alongside Buena Vista. Otherwise you're riding along maybe 3' from a car going 35 driven by a person about 70 years old. It's a scary thought, and we have to drive on the side of St. Charles Blvd for about two miles going north to LSL or 1/2 mile going south to Buena Vista. Regardless, I only drive my cart when I play championship golf, which is once or twice a week. Distance wise, Duval or Gilchrist are about the same distance from the two squares.

The squares are just a small part of living here, I have eight 27 hole championship golf courses I can reach in 15 to 25 minutes in my golf cart. I just played with some guys on Friday who live in Jacksonville and they thought it was great to be able to drive your cart to the course. I don't play on the executives, those are good for golfers just starting out, but you can find those just about anywhere in TV.

Shopping, we are 20 minutes from 466 which has Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Walmart, and many other stores. We are 30 minutes from 441/27 which has another Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Kohls, etc. However, if there is crime, usually shoplifting, it's along that area.

In our immediate area we have Colony Shopping Center 3 miles away which has Publix, Walmart Groceries & gas, and other stores and restaurants. Less than a mile away is the new Trailwinds development which has Lowes, Aldis, ABC Liquor, Jersey Mikes, Burger King, Circle K, Wendys opens tomorrow, Taco Bell under construction, 11 bed ER under constructon and a credit union and many more planned.

At Brownwood Square area I enjoy the MVP Health Spa, my wife and I have been going there since May 2014 and they have classes like Zumba, Spinning, Group Power, etc all with professional paid instructors. Since I turned 65 I signed on with United Health and have their Villages Medicare Advantage plan and there is no premiums and our MVP membership became free.

I guess I just like the area about 466A and Buena Vista the best. We also have two regional rec centers, Seabreeze and Lake Miona, both within 10 minutes away. Neighborhood rec center Sterling Heights and several neighborhood pools.

Since you've mentioned taxes, your thinking about price. The northern areas I believe resales will be cheaper, one reason those homes were built about 2000. Areas south of 466 started about 2005 and as you move south my village for example is 2011 and across 466A Gilchrist is 2013. One item you'll find in the newer homes is vaulted ceilings, in the north areas those are sometimes less, and when living in a smaller retirement style home a vaulted ceiling gives you a bigger feel.

Age is also a big difference, but that will change when some of us die. For example, when I moved here in 2011 my village didn't have a softball team, so I was put on Calumet Grove, one of the northern most villages. I was 61 and was the youngest on the team by many years. Now that I'm 69 that doesn't mean as much, but if your around 60 you might find northern areas have older residents. As I said, this will change because we all die sometime and new people will eventually take over, and who knows, those areas may become the youngest.

I would go to a lot of open houses when you are here. Go to each square and check out the crowd and the bands. Go to the restaurants and theaters, Savannah Center and the Sharon for live shows. Play some golf, if you have a salesman he can arrange free rounds with a cart. Enjoy exploring The Villages, Florida.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

John - in his second post, the OP states he doesn't play golf, but he does like boating, fishing, RVing, and other "outdoor" activities. The Ocala Forest is immediately to the east and northeast of the Villages, and it checks off every one of those boxes. So - if you want to be as close to that as possible, PLUS in reasonable proximity to "points north" - then the older areas of the Villages - not necessarily the historic section, but any points between Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs - would be optimum exclusively for location purposes.

[2BNTV]

Newbie here and not yet a Villages owner. But, we're strongly considering a possible move here.
My question is, are some Villages better or considered more desirable than others? Also, is there much difference in the property tax rates in the counties wherein Villages neighborhoods are located? I'm particularly interested in Marion County Villages locations, as its a bit closer to our 2 of our 3 grown kids, who live in north FL and is also farther away from the Orlando metro area, which I'd like to avoid. I know noting about any of the various Villages developments but it just seems reasonable that some may be better and/or more desirable than others?
Will appreciate input from "seasoned" Villages residents. Thanks!

The short answer is NO!!! I still say there will be areas that you might prefer due to your interests!

I would make a list of "must haves" as opposed to "would like to have", in possibly selecting an area or home you might want to buy.

After one has lived here for awhile, it's more important to be closer to doctors and shopping and one doesn't go the squares as much.

TV is vast so I would make sure I get a map when you visit so you can analyze where you might want to live. Renting for awhile is good to determine exactly where you might want to live.

Sumter county still has the lowest taxes even after an increase after 14 years.

The area south of 44 is beautiful but I think it's a little too rustic for me, (IMHO). It really comes down to personal preferences. Marion county is north of 466 and can be close to Rt 42. It's a little north of where I lived and people seem to love it. It seems to be more peaceful and traffic is less from what I heard.

Don't get too riled up over making a perfect decision as most people have three homes before they found the right home. That's not me as I don't like to move. I am a one and done type of person.

Whatever decision you make, it won't be a bad one as TV is a beautiful place to live.

[Topspinmo]

newbie here and not yet a villages owner. But, we're strongly considering a possible move here.
My question is, are some villages better or considered more desirable than others? Also, is there much difference in the property tax rates in the counties wherein villages neighborhoods are located? I'm particularly interested in marion county villages locations, as its a bit closer to our 2 of our 3 grown kids, who live in north fl and is also farther away from the orlando metro area, which i'd like to avoid. I know noting about any of the various villages developments but it just seems reasonable that some may be better and/or more desirable than others?
Will appreciate input from "seasoned" villages residents. Thanks!


yes!

[tophcfa]

If cost is a big issue also consider the bond that comes along with a home. The bond balance due is effectively part of the cost of the home. Northern homes have little to no remaining bond balance due, the middle of the Villages homes typically still have a few years left to pay off the balance, and as you go further south and get into new construction you will be responsible for the entire bond. On occasion you may be lucky enough to find a home further south were a prior owner opted to pay of the entire bond balance rather then paying it off in installments over time, but those are hit or miss. Good luck with your search.

[Topspinmo]

South of 44 is the future of The Villages nobody has what they have down there but it’s getting better and better and it’s in Sumter County .ck it out

As long as you’re not 75 plus, if so you may miss it all:popcorn:

[VApeople]

My question is, are some Villages better or considered more desirable than others? Thanks!

You have to decide for yourself which area would suit you best. Look at a map and use your brain.

For example, I hate to turn left onto a 4-lane street if there is no traffic light, so that ruled out many houses along Pinellas, Hillsborough, Odell, etc.

Since those streets have two car lanes and two golf cart lanes, they are 4-lane roads to me.

[vintageogauge]

Agree with the above post, although Sumter's taxes are no longer significantly lower than the other counties after the 25% increase. What areas are better than others is an individual choice, and what is good for some may be totally different for others. The only generalization I will make comparing different areas is that if Championship golf is important to you then avoid the new Villages area south of 44.

They are already working on a championship course south of 44 and it's a very short drive to courses north of 44.

[vintageogauge]

If cost is a big issue also consider the bond that comes along with a home. The bond balance due is effectively part of the cost of the home. Northern homes have little to no remaining bond balance due, the middle of the Villages homes typically still have a few years left to pay off the balance, and as you go further south and get into new construction you will be responsible for the entire bond. On occasion you may be lucky enough to find a home further south were a prior owner opted to pay of the entire bond balance rather then paying it off in installments over time, but those are hit or miss. Good luck with your search.

Also, the further north you go the older the homes are and replacing a roof and HVAC system can equal the cost of Bonds on some of the new units.

[coffeebean]

I live in The Villages and I love it but both my wife and I are avid golfers. If we didn't golf I can tell you we'd be living in Stonecrest right now.
Hubby and I do not golf but we much prefer The Villages lifestyle. The golf cart accessibility is the best in the world here in The Villages. Neighboring communities can not compare.

[jebartle]

There is the "elephant" in the room, as mentioned in another post (s),

South:

Noise from turnpike
Lack of golf accessible gas stations
Prison noise and lights
Critters

But

It's beautiful and many young folks

[valuemkt]

You'll see a great majority of posts talking about proximity to grocery, entertainment etc .. all in terms of "minutes" .. only 5 or 10 minutes from here or there.. And then there are people that don;t mind taking a golf cart ride to walmart or their favorite golf course that takes 45 minutes each way, when a via car it might take 15.. After living in Atlanta for 20 years, there aren;t enough cars here to make a good traffic jam, and anything located inside the bubble (that area considered inside the villages) is conveniently located. On the other hand, if you;re moving from small town America and think a ten minute car ride is a day trip, then pay attention to trip times already mentioned. So during your life style visit, explore as many areas as possible, take a couple of trolley tours, visit the squares and restaurants (and bars), and most of all .. talk to as many residents as possible .. Welcome

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Also, the further north you go the older the homes are and replacing a roof and HVAC system can equal the cost of Bonds on some of the new units.

Although with many of them, the roofs have already been replaced. The older homes in the north, that have shingle roofs, are already years older than the typical expected lifespan of a roof - which is only 15 years. Even a "30-year" roof is only expected to last around 20-25 years. The homes built in 1992 during the original expansion are now around 27 years old.

Most of the homes I've seen on the Homefinder site in that area specify updated HVAC systems, so it shouldn't be hard to find something up to date even in the older sections.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Hubby and I do not golf but we much prefer The Villages lifestyle. The golf cart accessibility is the best in the world here in The Villages. Neighboring communities can not compare.

Agree. I don't play golf, zero interest. Love being able to take a golf cart out to just about anywhere I need to go. Only thing I miss is walkability and public transportation. My northern home in Connecticut is only 3 blocks from the supermarket, and I lived 7 years in Boston and never had to drive a car the whole 7 years. I either walked or took the "T" (MBTA trolley/subway/bus system).

[billethkid]

Has anybody who comments on the lights and noise of the prison......ever heard or seen such?

[Love2Swim]

Also, the further north you go the older the homes are and replacing a roof and HVAC system can equal the cost of Bonds on some of the new units.

Of course it depends on the age of the home. Ours is about 13 years old, has had the HVAC system replaced, and a new roof courtesy shingle warranty. Bond is paid.

[John_W]

...I'm more in to boating, fishing, RV'ing, travel and outdoor recreation. I also like old car restoration and woodworking. We have scheduled a 4 day stay in a villa there, around the end of October and hope to learn a lot from that. Thanks again!

Most of the ponds and lakes in TV are off limits to fishing and boating for the most part except for Lake Miona. It's no more than a mile from LSL along Rainey's Trail, a road next to the Village of Bridgeport. They have a state park, very small (about 5 acres) but has a beach, a pier, a boat ramp, grills, picnic tables, restrooms and is within 100 yards of TV. There you can fish and boats are allowed, there's even a ski club here.

Life in The Villages (https://www.thevillages.com/life/try-a-cool-activity-with-the-lake-miona-waterski-club/)

https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/images/pages/N204/lake_miona_park1.jpg

Outside the TV there is Ocala Nat'l Forest, east of Ocala about 45 minutes away from TV via back roads. I've been to the free rifle range there and it's not regulated, kind of a free-for-all with nobody in charge. As far as camping at Ocala, you'll have to investigate yourself. They're bears there and large contingent of homeless people who live in that area, also the Navy has a bombing range there. The best area for visitors would be between the Ocala Forest and Ocala itself, it's Silver Springs State Park, they have the glass bottom boat rides. The Creature from the Black Lagoon was filmed there along with the Jimmy Weismuller Tarzan movies.

About Silver Springs State Park-Florida's First Attraction, World Famous Glass Bottom Boats (http://www.silversprings.com/about/)

http://www.silversprings.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/D80_0330-900x601.jpg

Nearer to the south side of TV and east of TV is Leesburg and they also have a very large lake with plenty of boating and fishing. That is Lake Griffin and they a state park that is over 600 acres.

Lake Griffin State Park | Florida State Parks (https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-griffin-state-park)

https://www.floridastateparks.org/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/media/image/canoe%20tour.jpg?itok=dmNbw-32

There is a woodshop in TV opened in 2002, it's 8000 square feet and is near Spanish Springs off Rolling Acres Rd and is golf cart accessible. A a second woodshop will be built soon in the south end near Brownwood next to the fire station on Buena Vista. The first woodshop has a woodworkers club, here's a link.

Our Shop (http://thevwc.org/Our-Shop)

http://thevwc.org/Portals/0/Images/VWCSiteLogo.jpg?ver=2016-01-02-190025-797

AS far as golf, a lot of people have the understanding that if they can hit a ball with a bat that golf should be easy. I started when I was 12 and I think I probably shot a 125. It will take time to get better, but with retirement you have the time and here we have the executives, about 33 of them. They are 9 hole layouts of mostly par 3's and are great for those learning the game. They're free if you walk or $4 a round if driving your cart or $150 a year to play as many times as you want. The average executive takes about 90 minutes and you normally can find one or more within 10 minutes of your home. Golfing is also a great way to meet new people.

Golf The Villages (https://golfthevillages.com/)

Outdoor activities might include archery. There is a Villages Archery Club and two ranges, one just east on 441 in the historic side near Spanish Springs. It very near the golf cart bridge that crosses 441/27. The other was recently opened in the new areas south of SR 44. At the 441/27 location they have an orientation class just about every Tue, Wed or Thursday morning. I took it a couple of years ago and it's fun and I bought my own bow. There is a nice archery shop in Ocala.

http://www.villagesarcheryclub.com/

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lbG59tlnvvA/hqdefault.jpg

[champion6]

Newbie here and not yet a Villages owner. But, we're strongly considering a possible move here.
My question is, are some Villages better or considered more desirable than others? Also, is there much difference in the property tax rates in the counties wherein Villages neighborhoods are located? I'm particularly interested in Marion County Villages locations, as its a bit closer to our 2 of our 3 grown kids, who live in north FL and is also farther away from the Orlando metro area, which I'd like to avoid. I know noting about any of the various Villages developments but it just seems reasonable that some may be better and/or more desirable than others?
Will appreciate input from "seasoned" Villages residents. Thanks!Here is a comparison of taxes for all areas of TV. In a few weeks, I will update it, but it probably won't be significantly different.

[600th Photo Sq]

Newbie here and not yet a Villages owner. But, we're strongly considering a possible move here.
My question is, are some Villages better or considered more desirable than others? Also, is there much difference in the property tax rates in the counties wherein Villages neighborhoods are located? I'm particularly interested in Marion County Villages locations, as its a bit closer to our 2 of our 3 grown kids, who live in north FL and is also farther away from the Orlando metro area, which I'd like to avoid. I know noting about any of the various Villages developments but it just seems reasonable that some may be better and/or more desirable than others?
Will appreciate input from "seasoned" Villages residents. Thanks!

My advice steer clear of Marion County.

[jscottb]

Exactly why I think south of 44 is best. I don't need to be able to go the the store everyday. Once a week is enough for me.

[Velvet]

Here is a comparison of taxes for all areas of TV. In a few weeks, I will update it, but it probably won't be significantly different.

And while you are comparing the 2018 tax rates, please note the 2019 Sumter taxes will be increased by 25%. I do consider it significant.

[richardc1947]

All areas of the Villages have some great things to offer and some not so great things.
Spanish Springs areas have the most convenient shopping but much older homes. So more maintenance but probably no bonds.
Areas north of 466 and west of the Spanish Springs area will have a bit newer homes. Things are quieter, but convenience to Rec Centers and associated amenities are less.
The Sumter Lake area used to be kind of central to everything but that is moving south as new areas are developed. Homes will be in the 10 - 15 year old range with many having no remaining bonds - Lots of amenities and a bit less convenience to shopping.
Area between 466A and 44 have newer homes - 3-7 years old, mostly with bonds amounts remaining. Lots of convenience to Rec Center amenities and somewhat less to shopping.
South of 44 - newest homes and highest bonds. No premiere homes if you want a high end home. Amenities are growing but still sparse. Its a long ways to the town centers and to shopping & restaurants, even by auto.
I recommend that you get copy of the Recreation News to see what activities are of interest to you. Then you can match your interests with the Rec Centers and see their locations. For example, if water volleyball is your interest, the Rec Centers between 466 and 44 offer that more frequently.
Good luck!

[Alana33]

Live outside the Villages.
Cheaper, no BS, close to everything.

[Two Bills]

Whatever you decide, hurry and buy, because our sales agent said to me "the buildout will soon be finished!!"

[rmd2]

I would rent here first and take a little time to see what areas you like best. At first I thought I would like to buy a new house but found there were other areas I liked better.

[ldovermiller]

South of 44, down with the Federal prison and quarry blasts! Remember, when buying new, you still have $30-$50k you can expect to spend on these over priced
area. You pay for the life style. Sumter County just got very expensive to live in. Take your time!

[Annie66]

I agree with putting together the wants and needs list. In our selection criteria several years ago, we gave our realtor 3 conditions: (1) we wanted to be in Sumter County; (2) we wanted to be in the SECO electricity cooperative area [lower electric bills for a very reliable delivery service]; and (3) we wanted to be in the TECO gas cooperative area [we wanted to cook with gas]. At the time, that pretty much limited us to the area between CRs 466 and 466A. That also got us relatively close to Lake Sumter Landing Town Center. For us, it was our plus. It gave us a wide range of homes to choose from.

Good luck in finding your dream home.

[rlcooper70]

If you are an intermediate golfer take a look at the area around the Village of St. Charles ... there are 11 Executive Courses with ten minutes.

Have you considered renting for a year before buying? That way you would get the lay of the land and perhaps make a different decision.

[lem001]

since you are into woodworking - be certain to checkout the woodworking shop. There will soon be two of them.

[fastboat]

Get North of 44 if at all possible, between 466 and 466A even better. You'll certainly be more centrally located and closer to about everything you could ever want or need.

In some areas you will pay double taxes, one set leveled by Lady Lake, Fruitland Park or Wildwood and also by the county those areas are located in. Sumter recently raised taxes quite a bit at the request of the developer, no doubt to get the expense of road building to his communties south of 44 put on the backs of the county residents rather than himself, but they are still lower than the other two counties.

[Mohawksin]

Newbie here and not yet a Villages owner. But, we're strongly considering a possible move here.
My question is, are some Villages better or considered more desirable than others? Also, is there much difference in the property tax rates in the counties wherein Villages neighborhoods are located? I'm particularly interested in Marion County Villages locations, as its a bit closer to our 2 of our 3 grown kids, who live in north FL and is also farther away from the Orlando metro area, which I'd like to avoid. I know noting about any of the various Villages developments but it just seems reasonable that some may be better and/or more desirable than others?
Will appreciate input from "seasoned" Villages residents. Thanks!
There are differences in the cable providers and the internet speeds. There are variances in the quality/taste of the drinking water. Some areas do not have gas for heating and cooking. The designs of the three movie houses vary from north to south. Some are within walking distance to public transportation. Experienced realtors know a lot of the answers to questions you have not thought of. Hire one which theoretically comes at no cost to you.

[B-flat]

Your choice is very subjective, coming here for the Lifestyle tour is the way to do it so you can get a taste of things here. In our case we weren’t sure about TV so we rented a home for 2 months in Chatham. We liked it in Chatham( north of 466 and almost to SR 42) but thought let’s look around and maybe next winter we’ll rent south of Sumter Landing. All it took was one drive for our taste it was too busy of an area. With that said we decided the north end was best for us we bought in Calumet Grove in 2018. We like the north end because we are close to some stores but more so it’s a quiet area and it’s only 20 miles to Ocala where we have longtime friends. Only you’ll be able to decide where you’d like to live.

[B-flat]

My advice steer clear of Marion County.

I’d be curious to hear why you wrote that?

[EnglishJW]

Newbie here and not yet a Villages owner. But, we're strongly considering a possible move here.
My question is, are some Villages better or considered more desirable than others? Also, is there much difference in the property tax rates in the counties wherein Villages neighborhoods are located? I'm particularly interested in Marion County Villages locations, as its a bit closer to our 2 of our 3 grown kids, who live in north FL and is also farther away from the Orlando metro area, which I'd like to avoid. I know noting about any of the various Villages developments but it just seems reasonable that some may be better and/or more desirable than others?
Will appreciate input from "seasoned" Villages residents. Thanks!

We asked the same questions. Fortunately we did get a consensus when we asked about the best Village. Every single person we asked replied: "MINE!" As you have no doubt heard many times, The Villages is all about the life style. No matter where you live within TV, you will find yourself traveling to and fro for the activities you decide to participate in. We do ballroom dancing - all over TV. Major dances are at La Hacienda and Eisenhower and every place in between. There will soon be something very special for dancers in the Fenny area too to make sure we have options from the furthest points north to the furthest points south. It is actually difficult NOT to love it here.

[Rzepecki]

The best advice you received was come and see for yourself. All areas of TV are different. The negatives some people see may be positives to others. Different Villages developed during different times have different features. We moved into Ashland in 2009 and it’s still the best, for us. Although the taxes in Sumter County are going up, they are still the lowest in the state. Just an FYI, the Marion County portion of TV has fewer pools than other sections, if that’s important to you. I suggest working with a knowledgeable Villages sales rep. I’m partial to the one we used twice and family and friends have also used, Darlene D’Andrea. She won’t nag you and is extremely knowledgeable.

[Odysseus]

The new homes (South of 44) have a very substantial bond on them which isn't reflected in the selling price. Many of the older homes have paid off the bond, and the homes in the Lady Lake section of The Villages (Lake County) have had no bonds.
If you have the option to rent (anywhere in TV) I would recommend doing that for a year. As many posts say, each neighborhood is different and the home price range is huge. Some Villagers move two or three times before finding their perfect home. Rent, spend the time looking around. Find out what Rec Centers host the activities you like best, and then make a choice.

[PennBF]

Anywhere near Southern Trace. Spent 2 years studying the question, spent 4 month renting (2 months each year). Have been here 13 years and never looked back. We are 3-5 minutes from a bank, a drug store, good restaurants, Lake Sumter Landing, MV Office, Sheriffs Office, Fire Station, Walmarts, Palmer Golf Course, etc, It is quiet It is worth it to not rush the move, but to pick an area (Tall Trees, Bonnybrook, etc) and just wait until a good home comes on the market. You will not second guess your decision later on. Good Luck..:ho:

[njholt]

If golf is not important to you, I would look outside the Villages area's and avoid the monthly maintence . There are addtional really great locations outside the Villages. Probably would be a very good idea to check them out...

[Ss6247]

Due to your specific interests, I would personally suggest somewhere in the vicinity of Spanish Springs (points north, west, south) or the "historic" section, which is northeast and east of Spanish Springs.

Here's why: that is the closest to the Ocala Forest, which has RV, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Boating is limited to small outboard motors, jetskis, and similar. Canoeing seems to be the most popular boating type on the many streams through the forest.

I would say, even if you want newer construction, that you probably would want to look at homes located between Lake Sumter Landing town square and Spanish Springs town square, in the northeastern sections of The Villages.

The western edge of the forest is only 10-15 minutes' drive from Orange Blossom, which is part of the historic section of the Villages.

Proximity to Orlando is a non-issue as someone mentioned before. It's around an hour away (depending on where you start from and how fast you drive).

The older sections including the actual "historic" section and the other neighborhoods nearest Spanish Springs is closest to the 301 and 441 routes out of the Villages to the north, which you say you are also looking for, due to family living nearby.

You can find a variety of home types in the area, from some of the original tiny 780sf single-wide trailer homes in Silver Lake, to condo-style townhouses right in Spanish Springs (if there are any for sale, I don't see any listed on the Homefinder right now), a few newer construction homes, and a number of 1200+ sf, 2 bed, 2 bath, many with "bonus" rooms that are sometimes used as a third bedroom with no closet.

There are also a smattering of higher end designer homes with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2+ car garages, spas, granite countertops, fireplaces, etc. etc. etc.

Most of this area is older homes. By "old" I mean between 10 and 25 years old (so - barely out of diapers, if you're a New Englander :) )

There are actually SEVERAL brand new homes, hundreds actually on the Historic side. The developers are yanking out the manufactured older homes and building site built homes at a rapid rate. In another 10-15 years, the Historic side will have mostly new homes. I LOVE this side of The Villages for several reasons that I won’t go into here, but the main reason is the friendliness of all my neighbors and how everyone looks out for each other. There are nice homes over here and you can also have one built on a lot that you choose. I have a three bedroom, three bath with two master bedrooms, 1830 SF.

[Jokomo]

One of the most interesting things I’ve found: almost everyone I’ve talked to thinks they live in the best area of The Villages.

[Velvet]

Did you notice? Each person is happy with their own area. How can you go wrong?

[rudyandkathy]

Generally, Newer Villages have younger residents. The developer is ruining the Villages by overbuilding. We are here 8 yrs and are just now getting crappy food restaurants on 466a. Also, medical care is hit and miss. My personal opinion is buy someplace else. This is not what it was, and not how it appears.

[New Englander]

Whatever you decide, hurry and buy, because our sales agent said to me "the buildout will soon be finished!!"

:1rotfl:

[Hifred]

It is a matter of what you personally like. I wanted to be close to shopping and restaurants so I chose a location accordingly. I like to swim so I live within 2 blocks of a pool. Think about what you enjoy and what passions you want to pursue during retirement and then visit and find out your best alternatives.

[rrb48310]

To Originl Poster,
Based on your 2 posts and your expressed interests, I strongly agree with the advice and suggestions in Jazuela's post, above.
But also, if you're truly interested in moving to a +55 retirement community I'd suggest that you also look at the separate communities of Del Webb Spruce Creek and Stonecrest. You can buy a nice home in either community for a lot less money than you would pay for a similar home in The Villages. Both communities are in Marion County and are along the vibrant Rt 441 corridor on the north edge of The Villages.
I live in The Villages and I love it but both my wife and I are avid golfers. If we didn't golf I can tell you we'd be living in Stonecrest right now.

:icon_wink:
We rented for two months, but my wife was sold after three days. We looked at over thirty five homes including Stonecrest and nearly bought a home that needed some updates but had a million dollar view with an in ground pool. After seeing that it took six months or more to sell we decided to choose something in TV, where homes sell quickly. You just never know, circumstances sometimes change fast. We rented in the Spanish Springs area and loved the close proximity of shopping and two Town Centers (we like to dance and listen to music). We looked everywhere, didn’t like the distance to anything and non-connectivity south of 44. We did like the new homes but not the feeling of smaller lots. We ended up buying the Spanish Springs area for the reasons stated. They say ask anyone what area they like best and they’ll tell you where they are, I’ve found that to be true. I like it all, I think if I was doing it now I would want between 466 & 466A, or newer homes near Brownwood or maybe near the pitch & putt, now that connectivity is close...Good Luck, it is also said Villagers move an average three times. :shocked:

[rjm1cc]

You can look up the taxes on a particular home at the county assessor web site.
Also pay attention to available utilities and the cost of the utilities.

[eweissenbach]

We rented in Summerhill, just north of 466 and very close to Southern Trace. We loved the area, proximity to amenities we favored and were convinced we wanted to buy there or near there. We rented in Hemingway, close to Havana and Colony. We loved the area, proximity to amenities we favored and were convinced we wanted to buy there or near there. We bought in Sanibel, very close to Pinellas Way and Morse. We love the area, proximity to amenities we favor and are happy to own our villa there. There are several other villages that we love, are proximate to amenities we favor and could happily own our seasonal home there.

[Byte1]

It really doesn't matter a whole lot because most likely you will end up moving at least once during your residency in The Villages. It seems to be the norm for most folks, not the exception.

[Jdavie1955]

Prob a personal preference, plus your wealth range. We are in Orange Blossom, or the historic side. I've actually heard snobbish people call it the PREhistoric side. ;/ We love it here, decent taxes, more leeway.

[Barborv]

Im very curious were you wound up buying. I am in the process if buying and I am staying away from the Morse Blvd. side because of the power lines. Is that what youre talking about? I own property already in the Villages which I rent long term, so I am very familiar with the areas. Curious where you suggust.
Thanks

[Dennys37Packard]

Spending four days here will help you get a lay of the land. Don’t spend too much time in your villa, get out, get a map of the villages and when we first moved here, it helped me when I realized the main roads sort of form a “rough” ladder with Morse and Buena Vista forming the sides and many other roads are the rungs of the ladder (like 466, Stillwater, Bonita Blvd, 466A, Pinellas Pl, 44, etc.).... A few things we learned after buying our first house was 1). how your lanai faced... ours faced south and was too hot to use most of the year, 2). Garage size... that’s up to your needs. Are you someone who likes to take care of their own yard or gardening? (All those tools take up precious space and of course you’re prob going to have a golf cart, so a 1 1/2 car garage will be tight if you have all those “toys” 3) do you like quiet? You might not enjoy a home on a major cut through road or your lanai backing up to a road or cart path ( but that can be somewhat tempered with shrubs. 4). Bond or no bond.... older homes are more likely to have bonds paid off, some have minimal bonds left, and new homes come with bonds which adds to your monthly expense for years. 5). Just soak it all in and see which area YOU feel works for you. The north is has more greenery and mature plants, the middle, is of course centrally located to everything, and the south will take a few years to fill in with plants and bigger trees, but is the up and coming area.... MOST OF ALL ENJOY

[jebartle]

since you are into woodworking - be certain to checkout the woodworking shop. There will soon be two of them.

3 villages near woodworking shop golf cart accessible , Valle Verde, Mira Mesa, La reynalda, LaZamora

[patbbb]

My advice steer clear of Marion County.
You should give reasons for your comment. We've been here in Marion since 2003 and are very happy. The county commissioners aren't controlled by the developer as in Sumter. We also don't have the ever present speed traps & harassment by the Sheriff's offices as in other parts of TV. Our roads are better maintained since their upkeep is included in our taxes to district 4. Yes, there's a sinkhole problem (now being addressed), but sinkholes are present in all of the Villages and the ones in the pond at Alhambra (district 3- Sumter) are an eyesore.
If I was buying a home, it would be in Marion.

[patbbb]

The new homes (South of 44) have a very substantial bond on them which isn't reflected in the selling price. Many of the older homes have paid off the bond, and the homes in the Lady Lake section of The Villages (Lake County) have had no bonds.
If you have the option to rent (anywhere in TV) I would recommend doing that for a year. As many posts say, each neighborhood is different and the home price range is huge. Some Villagers move two or three times before finding their perfect home. Rent, spend the time looking around. Find out what Rec Centers host the activities you like best, and then make a choice.

Good idea to rent first. We did that for 6 months and acquired a great education on all we needed to know about activities, houses, contractors, traffic, areas and streets to avoid, etc., etc., etc.! Be sure to attend some POA meetings and checkout their web site- Property Owners' Association of The Villages, Inc. (http://www.poa4us.org).

[riamd1954]

All the Villages are great the new areas are really nice you won’t make a bad choice!! Good luck

[mtdjed]

I agree with Tom C about making a list of needs, wants and budget.

As an example, do you want to keep two cars and have a golf cart? Make sure you get a garage large enough to have that without special movements to get access.

Note that storage is a problem for many as we are moving to smaller homes with no cellar, attic, outhouses, closets. Hobbies such as woodworking, auto restoration may require some compromise.

Do you want to move into older or younger neighborhoods? Neighborhoods change but not that fast.

If you are in a town/city (Wildwood , Fruitland Park etc) , you will pay county as well as city tax.

Quality of build varies in neighborhoods. It is noticeable.

Do you want to pay premium for same house for golf course, pond or nearness to some asset?

We determined house size first, style, general area and then let agent narrow that want to neighborhood and finally house

[Cranford61]

Cheapest taxes and best proximity to your needs would be to live in the Ocala National Forest.

[THUNDERCHIEF]

The brownwood area seems to be very popular. Close to main roads, and i-75 or florida t/pike. However everyones likes and dislikes are different. You need to make your own decision.

[THUNDERCHIEF]

Houses in the villages look alike- except for size.

[Kilmacowen]

If you want to be close to the woodworking shop, there is a three year wait list. They are building another across from Eisenhower rec center, so you might consider that area.

[Starfire]

There is a large Woodworkers Club in the villages with access to many industrial sized machines. Drop by while your visiting. Additionally, the new southern Woodshop will be built across from the Eisenhower Rec center. If that is a passion, you might consider looking around those 2 locations.

I'm more in to boating, fishing, RV'ing, travel and outdoor recreation.

Others will have to chime in on those activities as they generally do not interest me - excepting for golf, which is an outdoor recreation :)

[OhioBuckeye]

Newbie here and not yet a Villages owner. But, we're strongly considering a possible move here.
My question is, are some Villages better or considered more desirable than others? Also, is there much difference in the property tax rates in the counties wherein Villages neighborhoods are located? I'm particularly interested in Marion County Villages locations, as its a bit closer to our 2 of our 3 grown kids, who live in north FL and is also farther away from the Orlando metro area, which I'd like to avoid. I know noting about any of the various Villages developments but it just seems reasonable that some may be better and/or more desirable than others?
Will appreciate input from "seasoned" Villages residents. Thanks!
Unfortunately we moved from the Villages & only because we wanted to be nearer our children, grandchildren & great grandchildren. We first bought a Villa in a subdivision just off of St. Charles, then our 2nd home we bought in the Village of Charlotte. We loved both places, the people in both subdivisions were super. Personally I don't think you could go wrong moving anywhere in TV. The only thing I could say is, Ive heard from different people that some of the subdivisions, especially some of the older ones & I won't mention which ones because I've never spent much time at these subdivisions. Some people say the people have lived there so long that they have their own little clicks of people they hang with. But move where you want because I think you'll do just fine. There's no bad area's. I'm starting to feel like we might of made a mistake by moving. But our children made it worth while. Don't be afraid to ask questions, no matter how dumb you might think the question is. Hope this helps a little!

[Angela mccormack]

After you explore in October would you please post what you find, my husband and myself want to do the same thing but we have no idea where to look in the villages but he wants golf I want pool and exercise room , activities , low taxes and something reasonable for two people with two adult kids who may visit occasionally.

Thank you

[cdecco]

The houses seem closer together South of 44. They do not have a Square in their Area. They have to drive a ways to get to the grocery store. There is a State Federal Prison close to Fenney and also Rock Stamping Company that is close by. They do not have any Championship golf courses down there. Not as pretty as the rest of the Villages.

[PrudentLifer]

The houses seem closer together South of 44. They do not have a Square in their Area. They have to drive a ways to get to the grocery store. There is a State Federal Prison close to Fenney and also Rock Stamping Company that is close by. They do not have any Championship golf courses down there. Not as pretty as the rest of the Villages.



The houses seem closer because they are closer. As a result, few homes have a private pool. Not for me, yet they are selling.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[coffeebean]

If golf is not important to you, I would look outside the Villages area's and avoid the monthly maintence . There are addtional really great locations outside the Villages. Probably would be a very good idea to check them out...

We have lived in other master planned communities such as The Villages. The Villages, with all the amenities it offers and the very unique infrastructure for our golf cart life style, has very low POA fees.....the lowest fees we have experienced. One more reason for us purchasing in The Villages.

[Ljaprea]

I would seriously recommend you consider renting for a year and explore the villages from end to end. Ideally rent a furnished place and put your stuff in storage for a year or sell it all up there and buy new when you finally find a place you love! We moved down in December with the intention of renting for a year while we figured out where exactly we wanted to be. We bought in the southern end because it was so beautiful and so natural versus the northern crowded end. But again we do not have the shopping And the conveniences of the northern end. You really have to be here for more than a few days to make your life choice.

[coffeebean]

Im very curious were you wound up buying. I am in the process if buying and I am staying away from the Morse Blvd. side because of the power lines. Is that what youre talking about? I own property already in the Villages which I rent long term, so I am very familiar with the areas. Curious where you suggust.
Thanks

Not quite sure what you mean by this. I know there is some sort of tower with lights at the top that is visible in Caroline. Is that what you are referring to when you speak of the power lines? We live in Mallory which borders Morse Blvd. and I can not see any power lines from where we live in Mallory.

[PrudentLifer]

I can honestly say, with absolutely no bias, that the Village I live in, is unequivocally the best.



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[doorbell]

Everyone in the Villages thinks they live in the best village! I have lived in Chatham on Brookhaven Place in the Mulberry area for sixteen years and love where I live, it IS the best! Our kids also in north and we like being on the north side for the same reasons you mentioned. Mulberry is close for easy shopping, banking and eating out access. Easy to zip out "the back" door to 301 or 27/441 and avoid roundabouts. Ride our golf cart to Spanish Springs, Sumter Landing and Brownwood all the time, no big deal. We are retired, we enjoy the ride. You don't need to golf to have a golf cart. Do buy a gas one so you can go for rides and not worry about battery failure. You will love living here.

[Lottoguy]

South of 44 is the future of The Villages nobody has what they have down there but it’s getting better and better and it’s in Sumter County .ck it out

Main draw back south of 44 is there are no restaurants or major shopping to be found. Might take years for that to happen. I also thought the streets in that area to be narrow compared to those north of 466. We love our area in the northern part of The Villages. Easy access to everything and with the new First Responders recreation center going in we too will have a Putt & Play, beach entry pool, walking trail and so forth. Less crowded up here when the snowbirds are in town.

[John_W]

To follow up on the new area south of SR 44 being developed. When I moved here in 2011, the first homes to go on the market south of 466A had open house August 2011. I went to the open houses, they have 5 homes on Braddy Ct. in the Village of Sanibel.

From 2011 to 2015 they built and sold 5,000 homes between 466A and SR 44. Brownwood Square opened in 2013. I was there for the first big event. It was Florida Lottery and the doo-whop group The Flamingos performed, I have a video on youtube. They estimated the crowd at 7,000, which is still one of the largest I've seen. At the time, the only food available was City Fire.

It's now six years later and Brownwood Square is still growing and finally reaching a potential. I think the area south of SR 44 is going to be a work-in-progress for the next ten years before restaurants, championship golf courses, squares, daily music, and eveything else comes to life.

[Lottoguy]

Tall Trees and Polo Ridge are two great locations. The homes in this area go quickly. Near everything and less crowded when the birds are in town.

[PrudentLifer]

From 2011 to 2015 they built and sold 5,000 homes between 466A and SR 44. It's now six years later and Brownwood Square is still growing and finally reaching a potential. I think the area south of SR 44 is going to be a work-in-progress for the next ten years before restaurants, championship golf courses, squares, daily music, and eveything else comes to life.



Why wait 10 years when everything is available further north? At our age? 10 years? Nope.

[Altavia]

Not quite sure what you mean by this. I know there is some sort of tower with lights at the top that is visible in Caroline. Is that what you are referring to when you speak of the power lines? We live in Mallory which borders Morse Blvd. and I can not see any power lines from where we live in Mallory.

There are high voltage power transmission lines running parallel to Morse Blvd spaced about 1/4 mi apart that pass over Golf courses just west of Pine Villages area.

[coffeebean]

Why wait 10 years when everything is available further north? At our age? 10 years? Nope.

The southern locations are great for the younger retirees. They have the time to wait and enjoy what will be in the years to come.

[coffeebean]

There are high voltage power transmission lines running parallel to Morse Blvd spaced about 1/4 mi apart that pass over Golf courses just west of Pine Villages area.

Where is Pine Villages?

[Altavia]

Where is Pine Villages?

Southwest corner of Morse and 466a north of the the Sharon Rose Wiechens Preserve.

[John_W]

Why wait 10 years when everything is available further north? At our age? 10 years? Nope.

I don't think I gave the impression that I condone waiting ten years, quite the contrary, I was adding to the post just before mine by Lottoguy. He said all the things the new areas don't have. I was providing a timetable by using the area that was previously developed from 2011 to 2015. I guess I could of quoted his posted rather than write, "To Follow Up" on the new areas.

[John_W]

Southwest corner of Morse and 466a north of the the Sharon Rose Wiechens Preserve.

Southwest corner of Morse and 466A is Bonifay Golf Course. The Villages of Pine Ridge and Pine Hills are off Moyer Loop, east of Morse and south of 466a on the otherside of the powerlines. I think when you wrote Pine Villages, you may of confused someone not familiar.

[PrudentLifer]

A lot of pretty landscaping as I cruise around Moyer Loop, including a very tall waterfall. This is the Pine Ridge/Hills Villages main road.
And may I add more private pools in my observation than any other Village.

[Sabrina&Bill]

South of 44 is the future of The Villages nobody has what they have down there but it’s getting better and better and it’s in Sumter County .ck it out

I see a few posts encouraging folks to buy south of 44. My wife and I expect to buy something new in that area. We will be in a good position to buy in early spring. I know what is available today will not be available next spring. Does anyone know where the next ground breaking will occur (south of 44) will be? We don’t golf but love to play tennis and pickle ball. We would love to live some place away from noise (traffic, RRC’s, etc).
Greatly appreciate any input on this topic!

[Lottoguy]

Check out these three locations in the northern part of The Villages. Polo Ridge, Tall Trees and Piedmont. All three are in good locations and have easy access to main roads. My two cents...

[jebartle]

Lake County advantages, no bond, closet to big box stores, lowes, home depot, best buy, sams, main artery with 441/27. Closest to woodworking shop via golf cart, golf range, pet parks, hospital. I'm partial to Mira Mesa exec. Course which is close to LaZamora, but homes available rarely happen.
If your a bowler, only 2 and both facilities in Spanish Springs. Restaurants plentiful everywhere.

[champion6]

Lake County advantages, no bond, closet to big box stores, lowes, home depot, best buy, sams, main artery with 441/27. Closest to woodworking shop via golf cart, golf range, pet parks, hospital. I'm partial to Mira Mesa exec. Course which is close to LaZamora, but homes available rarely happen.
If your a bowler, only 2 and both facilities in Spanish Springs. Restaurants plentiful everywhere.This should begin with: Lady Lake advantages ... Reason being that Pine Hills and Pine Ridge are in Lake County and they have a bond.

[coffeebean]

I love the area I chose because it’s close to Barnes and Noble as reading is my weakness. Each to their own.

Great choice. The area is close to the 441 corridor of retail stores and restaurants. We are close also (just south of 466 and close to Morse Blvd) and are happy with our location.

[ckcapaul]

Everybody likes their area or they would not be living there. We live in Woodbury and like being here. Marion County, most bonds paid off, lots of roofs, hvac's and appliances have been replaced. Less traffic, nice cart ride to Spanish Springs or Lake Sumter. When not in a hurry a cart ride to Lowes, Aldi's, Walmart.

[JimJohnson]

Count in the wildwood city tax for homes that are south of Hyway 44 that is not paid for Sumter county north of 44. I would recommend north of 44 and a little south of the 466 corridor.

[Love2Swim]

Check out these three locations in the northern part of The Villages. Polo Ridge, Tall Trees and Piedmont. All three are in good locations and have easy access to main roads. My two cents...

And just down the road from Glenview, which has premier tennis facilities - clay courts if you like them.

[Love2Swim]

We like the area near Sumter Landing. The villages near the square have easy access to the nightly entertainment, the movie theater, grocery stores (Publix, WinnDixie, and neighborhood Walmart), and it is central to a large number of golf courses, both championship and executive. A 15 minute golf cart ride to Spanish Springs if you want to go to the Sharon, and 10 minute car drive to go to the woodworking shop. A 15 minute car drive to Brownwood for the amenities there. The central location of Sumter is a real plus. Most of the homes don't have much left on their bonds either.

[champion6]

Regarding taxes, make your own calculations bases on real numbers from county websites.

SUMMARY OF 2019 TAX BILLS

Sumter County

Unincorporated
Ad valorem: Millage rate 12.4001
Non Ad valorem: Fire district, maintenance and bond

In Wildwood
Ad valorem: Millage rate 15.7981
Non Ad valorem: Fire district, maintenance and bond

Lake County

In Fruitland Park
Ad valorem: Millage rate 17.9898
Non Ad valorem: Fire district, maintenance and bond

In Lady Lake
Ad valorem: Millage rate 17.4726
Non Ad valorem: Fire district and waste
No maintenance, no bond

Marion County

Unincorporated
Ad valorem: Millage rate 16.6754
Non Ad valorem: Fire district, maintenance, bond, waste and storm water

[Chi-Town]

Villages adjacent to Palmer Legends are conveniently located. So much is a short golf cart ride away.

[joldnol]

a matter of personal choice. North of 466 is lovely but has half the amenities as south of 466.

[NavyVet]

Lots of good points and ideas presented here! So many different preferences and so many different villages to choose from.
TV resident since 2003 and on third home. Here are a couple more observations for consideration.
If you are a Veteran and the VA Outpatient clinic is important to you, it is located on the Northern end of TV. The villages North of the Savannah Center would be closest. We live just South of 466A and it is nearly a 30 minute drive by car from home to VA.
I have always avoided Village of Belvedere because of the schools. Traffic is horrendous during the week.
Lower bonds up North and more likely to be paid off. Some areas are gas, some all electric.
If swimming is important to you (as in actual lap swimming), do not count on the sports pools. Very few lap lanes at odd hours, due to all the volleyball and classes. Get a home/villa with either a swim spa or a pool you can attach an endless pool system to or a lot with room to put one in. Plus you can't beat the convenience, privacy, and not having to wait on a lane or having someone cut in and steal your lane.
Morse Blvd and Buena Vista are the main North-South corridors. LOTS of roundabouts, which are scary. I often use 301 to go around rather than through. If real malls are important to you, there are 2 small ones. 1 is in Ocala, closer to the northern half of TV and 1 in Leesburg, closer to the southern half.
Again, all depends on personal preferences. Best of luck!

[jebartle]

Tall Trees and Polo Ridge are two great locations. The homes in this area go quickly. Near everything and less crowded when the birds are in town.

Just wondering how tall trees got its name?

[coffeebean]

South of 44 has no Savannah Center, no Sharon, no Studio Theater, and currently no Town Square. While there probably will be a Town Square at some point, I doubt if the most southern areas will get any kind of musical and dramatic venues that are at all comparable to the three I mention for many, many years. The "old" Villages, north of 44 in my opinion will be more "vibrant" for activities, and the areas south of Rt 44 may well be more beautiful places to live.
Speaking to a long time very experienced TV sales representative, I was told there will eventually be a town square south of 44. However, the town square will not be like the three town squares north of 44. What that means is up for interpretation. The sales rep didn't elaborate because it is an unknown.....just that the town square south of 44 will be "different".

[Bay Kid]

Being in the middle of golf and shopping is important to me.