How did you choose your village?

[STLRAY]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

[Toymeister]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

First we chose the home/home model/view then we saw how it measured against our lifestyle. That is pretty vague but pretty much how it goes. Do you want to be near a square, shopping outside the bubble, perhaps you have friends in a certain area? How much are you willing to compromise one value over another?

[vintageogauge]

We looked south of 466A for used homes and then drove south of 44 to Fenney in it's infancy and just knew this was the place for us. Have been here over 3 years now and have absolutely no regrets, great people, great atmosphere. All of the villages are great, just depends on what you are looking for.

[Stu from NYC]

We were in a hurry as our house sold faster than we anticipated.

We knew we wanted to be in an established area not to far from shopping on 27/441 and kind of in the middle between two squares.

Last June rented for a month to get to know the area and lifestyle and had a pretty good idea as to what we wanted.

Wound up in Bonita which is more or less the middle of the Villages.

[graciegirl]

We wanted another new home and chose the area where they were building. At that point all view lots were gone. (In seven hours).

We loved Hadley and the people there and we like Bridgeport at Laurel Valley and the people here.

It is hard to make a mistake.

I think it is fun, when you are new, to have all new folks around you too. Did it twice here in The Villages.

We love where we live. Close to doctors, shopping, everything.

[SIRE1]

Your question as to what area to buy is impossible to answer objectively, since obviously ALL the areas of The Villages are obviously desirable. Otherwise there would be no houses being bought in that area and the last time I checked, homes were being bought in every village.

Where you choose to buy is predicated on a lot of personal factors. It may be proximity to shopping, proximity to entertainment, proximity to other friends who may already live in TV, proximity to recreation activities, the desire to be in the "middle of everything", or the desire to be away from the "middle of everything" and have a little peace & quiet, the desire for a particular house style, the desire to be on the cutting edge of the growth, or the desire to avoid all of that growth and mayhem at all cost. And the problem usually is that you don't really know what you REALLY want until you get a chance to experience The Villages first hand. So therefore, I always have recommended to consider renting for several months before making that buying decision. That way, you will get a chance to know what is important to you and it will improve your chances for getting that "dream" place you really want. By listening to all the other people here on TOTV, you will only find out what they felt was important to them. And I guarantee their answers are going to be all over the map (literally and figuratively).

[davem4616]

We decided to go new...we had totally remodeled our primary residence and our second home during the previous 3 years....we were not looking to go through that again. First thing that we did was to look at the floor plans that were available...and decided on the model that we wanted. The only square still building new near by at the time was Brownwood....we didn't think that it was that necessary to be close to a square, as they are all easy to get to by car for us. We were the 1st to move into our cul de sac....there's a lot to be said about everybody being new on the street and looking to connect with neighbors. One thing to avoid is backing up to a highly traveled street.

[tophcfa]

Our Village choose us. It had the Pre-owned home that fit our criteria list and was in our price range. We had a general location in mind (north of 466, or slightly south of 466), but did not target a specific Village. We are very happy with how things worked out.

[Stu from NYC]

And with all the investigating everyone does rumor has it people will move once or twice after they get here.

[Nucky]

We have found that living in The Village of Chatham Acres is beautiful but a bit of a trip to Spanish Springs.

When the horse that came with the house saw me coming towards her she galloped away at Triple Crown Contender Speed!

[Nucky]

We have found that living in The Village of Chatham Acres is beautiful but a bit of a trip to Spanish Springs.

When the horse that came with the house saw me coming towards her she galloped away at Tripple Crown Speed! :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[John41]

We preferred a new home and at that time the village of Sabal Chase just south of Lake Sumter Landing was being developed. While we like the new model CYV the area south of 44 it is too desolate for us in regard to shopping and all the construction and dirt is unsightly.

[EdFNJ]

We wanted to be 3 miles +- a couple tenths from Starbucks. Our agent thought we were kidding. We weren't. We ended up at 2.98 (or 2.99 if we include the front door) in Amelia. Close enough. :D

[tvbound]

We wanted to be 3 miles +- a couple tenths from Starbucks. Our agent thought we were kidding. We weren't. We ended up at 2.98 (or 2.99 if we include the front door) in Amelia. Close enough. :D

That sounds like us.

Although not necessarily because of Starbucks, we want to be south of 466 and within a few miles of Lake Sumter Landing.

[John_W]

We wanted a new masonry CYV, and at the time Tamarind Grove was the newest area, that was in 2011. As it turns out, we are 4 miles (20 minutes by cart) to Brownwood, 3-1/2 miles to LSL (15 minutes by cart) 3-1/2 miles to Colony Plaza (15 minutes) and 1-1/2 miles to Trainwinds Villages. I can reach in my golf cart with my clubs 8 different championship golf courses (all 27 hole layouts) in 25 minutes or less and 17 executive golf courses in 15 minutes or less. As a golfer, I couldn't ask for better.

Google Maps Satellite View Tamarind Grove & St. James (https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Villages,+FL/@28.8765481,-82.0088269,1776m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e7c1561da39a99:0x553b1 29a94b4af67!8m2!3d28.927019!4d-82.0037608)

[Northwoods]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

When we decided to look at The Villages, we only looked at new houses. Why? We didn't know anyone when we moved down here. We wanted a neighborhood where everyone was new, and hoping to create new friends. For us, it was the right thing to do. We have an amazing group of friends.

[Gulfcoast]

We are close to your age and haven't scheduled our Lifestyle Visit, yet, either. At this point, I'm thinking that it would be nice to live in a house that we could walk to a restaurant for dinner and drinks. I want to check out some of the neighborhoods that are within walking distance to the squares and we're also going to check out some of the newer construction, too. Close proximity to a rec center, pool and/or country club would be nice.

I think we'll have to see TV and get a feel for the area before we can really narrow it down to one specific village. We live within a fairly reasonable drive of TV (about 6 hours), so we'll probably spend a weekend there at one of the hotels first, do some preliminary exploring and then come back to do a longer Lifestyle Visit at a later date.

[Marc W.]

The best way - if you are able - is to rent a home for a month, drive all over, and attend lots of activities in the rec centers. This will help you to substantially make decisions - as it did for so many of us that decided to buy after and/or during said experience. There are so many things to consider that it is difficult to do from afar and never having been here.

[Chueyboy]

My husband and I are 60. Our #1 priority was a golf/water view plus a pool. We searched ALL areas of the villages for a designer or premiere home; we even looked at lots. In the end we chose Briar Meadow for these reasons: Mature trees and landscaping. Can walk to the Lopez restaurant or pool bar. Groceries, gas, Walgreens, dentist, bank, doctor, etc. are just a 3 minute golf cart trip away. There is less traffic in the snowbird months. Sumter and Spanish Springs are a 12-14 minute car trip but we only go there 2-3x month so it's not a big deal for us.
Make a list of your priorities and shop with that in mind.

[stadry]

i didn't choose it - tv broker & bride chose it OR rather, it chose us,,, can't even remember address & we close end of month - osceoola something,,, all i recall is undevelopable land behind us ( broker calls it a 'preserve' but its really a gulch filled w/brush & weed trees ),,, the kissing lanai's were just too voyeuristic for us

[Skunky1]

Close to a gas station, however they keep jacking up the prices for no reason. $.10 for the Memorial day weekend and $.10 for this weekend both of which probably will not go away

[jonathanb]

We’ve owned 4 homes here in the last 9 years. Always buy new. You will get the most appreciation on your money. Just don’t over improve if you will sell in 2-4 years. So that being said your village will be where new construction is. You will also be part of the beginning of social groups in your village.

[joeharing]

Lake Sumter Landing is the area.......golf ,shops, restaurants, medical, groceries and entertainment. All within a mile and a half. Make sure you get ready to buy new roof, A/C, hot water heater.

[GaryKoca]

We wanted a new house, and one that was already furnished - basically a "spec" home. We did not have a lot of time, so those were the criteria. So we bought in what was a new area at the time - Brownwood. Don't regret it at all.

[dewilson58]

We purchased new, South of 466a, just before TV quit building new homes.

[Professor]

When we bought our home there were only 3 in the neighborhood. We came back 6 months later and the neighborhood was completely finished. If you want to know what your neighborhood will look like, buy after most of it is completed. As for age, don't worry too much about it. We bought when I was 56 (10 years ago). We prefer the area south of Hwy 466 and North of Hwy 466A but there are mixed ages in most all the areas of The Villages. South of Hwy 44 is where all the new construction is going on. Just depends on whether you want established neighborhoods or not...and services are a little light until they catch up with grocery stores and so on.
One final note and this is a personal preference. Looking back, I wish we had purchased a home with a golf course or water view. You spend a lot of time in your house as you get older (or when a pandemic hits) and having a view would be a nice addition. We compensated by buying a little beach condo instead down south a ways...but a view lot is worth considering in my opinion.

[woderfulwendy1]

Rent for 6 months. If you play pickleball or another sport, go to different courts etc and check out the crowd. Check out the pools. Don't rush.

[gradnjw]

We chose Collier, near Brownwood Paddock Square, because the following things were important to us: accessibility to championship golf courses (hubby plays several times a week, and wanted golf cart access), proximity to shopping for groceries, bank, drugstore, etc (several options a golf cart ride away), and a newer home (at the time, homes in Collier were around 5-6 years old). We are very happy with our choice!

We also rented 2 years prior, and used that time to familiarize ourselves with the various locations, traffic patterns, amenities, etc. the area south of 44 is lovely, especially the walking/biking being separated from golf cart traffic. Maybe if you listed what’s important to you, we could mention areas in the Villages that best meet that criteria.

Good luck - and have fun looking!!

[RealJudy]

Most neighborhoods are friendly. Find a home you like, meet your potential neighbors, then make your decision.

[Colby]

We rented for a month to visit friends with no intention of moving but after a couple weeks guess what? We looked nowhere else other than Fenney as the surrounding nature was what spoke to us. 2 years in and still pinch ourselves we found this neighborhood. We were 58 when we moved and the newer areas are definitely a younger set. A plus with ant new village is that everyone else is new and extremely easy and quick to make friends as all in the same boat so to speak. They finish villages all at once so once completed construction where you live isn’t an issue so nothing to put you off south of 44 that way. So My advise is to rent a month south of 44 (10 villages and counting to choose from) and check it out before deciding one way or the other.

[DMoring]

We chose Fenney because of the beauty and nature. Love it but sometimes it would be nice to be closer to stores and restaurants. Eventually there will be amenities nearby. Do hope it's in our life time. LOL

[asianthree]

Rented for 3 years in different areas, before we bought first vaca home in 2010, new. Second house 2012, new wanted 2 car garage. Third house 2014, preowned needed a 2 car with golf cart garage. It’s about the house for us

[Joorn59]

I rented for a year and fell in love with Emmalee Villas. Centrally located really friendly with many singles men and women. Youngest male is in his forty’s.
You can also try renting for several month stays.
Enjoy your search!

[Leadbone1]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

I put the Sorting Hat on that they use at Hogwarts, and after some deliberation it told me Pollo Ridge. It was easy!

[Leadbone1]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

I put the Sorting Hat on that they use at Hogwarts, and after some deliberation it told me Pollo Ridge. It was easy!

[MandoMan]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

If you have been searching so long for information, you have probably read the two or three books available about The Villages online. If so, you know that they are all woefully inadequate and riddled with typing errors. (I wrote to the author of the biggest one and offered to proof-read his book FOR FREE, but he didn’t even reply!) I’d like to see a book about The Villages that has several pages about each village. It should have a full page map of that village, showing each lot and house (as seen when you search for houses on Zillow and increase the map magnification). It should break down the types of houses (for example, courtyard villas, stick frame or cinder block), give the date of construction. It should give the approximate distance to various amenities, such as stores, golf courses, pools, recreation centers. It should give the pros and cons of each village. It should show the distance to various busy streets. (I know that there is at least one village that has a large percentage of gay men. If I were gay and considering a move to The Villages, I’d like to know which village that is!) All this information is available, and the authors could put it in their books, but they haven’t. It would be so helpful!

I’d also like a listing of all the restaurants in The Villages area and how to get there. What are their specialties? How are they rated? How about all the grocery stores, and dry cleaners, and other stores, all marked on a map, or a bunch of maps? What about including a list of all of the clubs? (Granted, they are available on Talk of the Villages, but they should be in the book, too, which could be updated yearly.) How about chapters on various hobbies and the people who practice them and how? How about information about house direction and the size of garages? Don’t you wish you had that book?

I’d really like to have a good quality laminated map that shows every village and ideally every lot. Sure, GPS is nice, but so is a map. There are a couple maps online that have that information, and I’ve printed them out over several pages, but I’d like a bigger one.

There are a number of useful videos about The Villages on YouTube (I especially like the drone videos). However, a lot of them are very badly made. Some guy sits in his lanai and rambles on for twenty minutes. He has useful information, but why not make notes and use them and cut out all the rambling? Why not rehearse?

One thing to consider is that if you use your golf cart a lot, you may be using your car much less. If you only drive your car a thousand miles a year at The Villages, maybe you don’t need a new one. Save yourself hundreds of dollars a month! And do you really need a big SUV, or can you get by with a much smaller car that is easier to park in that tiny garage with a golf cart beside it. If you say you need it because it is safer, Bear in mind that an open golf cart offers much less protection than a small car. Plus, a small car may be $20,000 less than that SUV.

A large percentage of the homes in The Villages are only 1100 to 1200 square feet. If you are single, do you really need a king size bed, or is that just wishful thinking? Do you really need big chests of drawers, or could you keep all your clothes in your walk in closet on shelves? How much do you REALLY think you will be entertaining? If you aren’t entertaining, how many seats do you really need? For years I had only three comfy chairs in my living room. Now I have two chairs and one loveseat. (Why? I’ve only had one visitor to my house in the past year.) If you don’t have two or three seating areas and couches, 1200 square feet doesn’t seem nearly so small. And do you need a dinner table that sits six or eight plus another table in the breakfast area if there are only two of you? There’s more room! One table for four may be all you need. And why have various sets of china and other dinnerware and more than one set of flatware? You could probably get by with service for six. Twelve? Who are you kidding? It’s not very likely.

If you are buying, at present you can get 3% interest on your mortgage. That’s amazing! There are several useful YouTube videos that explain the costs of living here, and one of the books does, too. Here are some costs to consider. (These are off the top of my head and are probably inaccurate, but in the ballpark.) My bond is paid off. If you buy a new house, how much is the bond? $200 a month? How much is the Amenities fee we all pay? $168? There is trash pickup, whether or not you are here. Electricity will probably cost you at least $100 a month. There’s a water bill. I pay about $800 total per year for homeowners insurance and flood insurance and hurricane insurance, etc. Car insurance is very cheap in The Villages—especially if you don’t have an expensive car. Pool cleaning costs me $2,000 a year. Mowing my tiny lawn also costs about that. Then there is fertilizing and weed control and weed pulling and tree and shrub pruning. Roughly, for me, all of this is about $800 a month on top of the mortgage.

I hope this helps.

[Singerlady]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

Location (where do you want to be), new/pre-owned, etc...lots to consider. We wanted to be in the center of the villages between 466 and 466A and within 10 to 15 minutes by Golf Cart to grocery shopping. Also, I read an article about moving into an already established neighborhood. They said that sometimes the groups are already formed there and it is harder to fit in than it would be to move into a brand new area where everybody is in the same boat at the same time… New owner, not familiar with a lot of things, Just starting out issues, etc. We lucked out in our neighborhood. There still are groups that were formed before we moved here, but plenty of very nice people that welcomed us with open arms.

[HappyTXVillager]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

I found Jerry and Linda's Villages Newcomers VLOG super helpful. I just moved here after in April after two 7-14 day visits in late 2018 & 2019. I arrived April 24, was under contract within 24 hrs, closed May 29 and moved into my small Colony Patio Villa June 16. It's been the best decision of my life!

I compromised on a couple of things but stood VERY firm on not being squished between two other homes. I didn't want to be staring at the side of someone else's home. I have the most beautiful large lot and love it. I've already met so many nice people!!!

YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ6UhOOGU1M8hNezBwkM-yw)

[cemtennis]

I read all "we" replys. As a single, your realities may be different. Rent for awhile and explore the many different Village neighborhoods. But, be aware, that as you live here things change. The oak lined street you loved, can turn into stone yards with trees cut down. The convenient shopping to a favorite group of stores, restaurants expereince turn over when rents go up. Established neighbors may not be as welcoming to a single. The singles club may be 90% women. The big plus is, when things return to normal activity, there are so many activities to choose from. Their are organizations and churches to become a member of. A ton of activities to elect to be involved in. And,10 months of the year, the weather can be 'perfect.' Good luck to you.

[VApeople]

We tried to imagine what our day-to-day life would be living in one of the villages.

In my case, I truly hate having to turn left onto a 4-lane highway without having a stop light to control the traffic.

That rules out most of the villages because there are many 4-lane highways like Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Moyer (2 lanes for cars, 2 for golf carts) and we refused to live in the villages along those roads.

That is why we chose Osceola Hills. When we leave our neighborhood, we come out to a roundabout where it is easy to turn left. Every time we drive down another 4-lane road and see someone struggling to turn left, I am glad we live where we do.

[kimgarwel12@gmail.com]

We've lived here a little over a month now and looked at property in TV off and on for years. What we found in looking at homes in the established part of TV is that most of the homes, being older, needed updating and the owners obviously wanted their equity, so it made the cost of the home and any potential updating more. We ended up buying a brand new home in Monarch Grove near the Fenney area. While we don't yet have golf cart access across 44, the potential for new growth and activity is huge, and we can't wait to see how it plays out! It's true that the age group for those living in the newer areas seems to be younger, but overall, I don't think you can go wrong anywhere in TV. Right now, south of 44, you have to be okay with driving your car everywhere, which doesn't bother us. We think the wait will be well worth it!!

[OhioRaised]

We rented for the month of January 2020. We stayed in McClure which is south of Warm Springs Avenue near Fenney. Had no intention of buying a home. Fell in love with TV and started house hunting the second week. Decided we wanted new as we are in our 50’s. Did not find a home but left knowing which models we liked and that my heart really loved Marsh Bend. Figured we would have to build. Kept an eye on the TV app to see if anything came up. Low and behold a home next to a green space in Marsh Bend appeared in February. It was one of the models we liked. Bought it the next day.

[regas56]

Let my Brother in Law, (yeah you know who you are) talk me into a visit... kicking and screaming the entire way we pulled into Lake Sumter Landing where I first saw the golf carts and open front bars and said okie dokie where do I sign up.. We bought a newly released Spec home 2 weeks later sight unseen from 1000 miles away and 30 days later we flew back and walked through on our way to closing.. That was August of 2013 and it's already been 7 years of driving down several times a year for short stays but we now only have 1 more year before we're there full time..We've found we're both excited and nervous, happy but also sad, it's going to be an emotional roller coaster for the next year or two but we think we're ready..

[kendi]

In my opinion the age of my neighbors is not an issue since I enjoy all ages. We've stayed in Sumter, Brownwood and the Fenney area. Never wanted to move here until our stay in Fenney. Too crowded up North for my taste and I love all the trails that are for walking/biking only in Fenney. No golf carts to dodge on the trails. I've heard that if you move into an established neighborhood its harder to make friends because everyone has already established their circle of friends. I've talked to people who have moved out of the North for that reason. However, I suspect it just depends on the particular people in the area and not how established the neighborhood is. I wouldn't hesitate to move into an established area anywhere in TV if it was an area I liked. Bottom line it all depends on your personality. I prefer a quiet area with nice views and friendly neighbors and I don't have an issue getting in my car to get somewhere as opposed to taking the golf cart. But keep in mind that with all the land TV currently owns what is now considered to be the South will one day be more central and most of what we would need to go North for now will be closer to home.

[Gulfcoast]

Check out Robyn Cavallero's videos on Youtube. She's a 50 something year old single lady who has recently moved to the villages and has started to make videos about TV. Her latest video highlights some of the newer patio villas. She does a walk thru on some of the models.

Also highly recommend Jerry and Linda's channel.

[Laurawilcox]

Hello, I notice many move multiple times even within new homes, where in theory you had what you wanted built for you. What are your reasons?

[Vetter]

Hard to answer -- i looked for the garage, my wife to be at the yard and being a reasonable distance from the tennis club. We were lucky that we lived close already (Mt Dora and Tampa) so we looked every weekend and it was a scene form the Three Stooges! Decided to rent for 90 days and I scanned the computer and then drove to see some while she still worked full time. Then on Saturday we had a list to go actually visit with a realtor (never found a used home listed with The Villages so that split realtor issue never came up). Two months in we found the house we both liked and it was close to tennis so we bought. I suggest the rental if possible just to see what it is like actually living here and traveling by car and golf cart in the various areas. We are in Chatham so we cannot cart to the 441 businesses, but carts are too slow for me so I wouldn't do that anyway, otherwise we are happy where we live. Just one experience of thousands.

[Mustagotlost]

We rented north of 466 the first time and liked the convenience of shopping and eateries. We stumbled on a house to our liking and closed in a week. That was 4 years ago. Very happy with our decision. Now if only the virus would go away.

[Curtisbwp]

This is your decision to make. I have been in tv since 2003. I live in sable chase. Very close to sumter landing and i love it. Consider the bond. A preowned home may have no bond. The newer section has a heafty bond.and for the most part have many upgrades.


I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

[Skoego]

Location - Proximity to Lake Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs

[Jim1mack]

Not south of 44. A Publix May open by the end of the year and then slow infill of the retail. There will never a square like those north of 44. It’s not the villages lifestyle like you will find north of 44. We live near Brownwood and feel it’s a great location. Lots of golf cart accessible shopping, medical, dental, rec centers, golf.

[Villagesgal]

Find a model you like, then look to see where that is available new and resale. Take into consideration upgrade costs if buying resale. Golf front homes are much less north of 466, so consider that too. You might be able to afford a golf course or lake front resale home after all. If you take your time and buy what you really want the first time no need to ever move again. We did our homework, waited for a lot on a championship course with a lake view 19 years ago, made changes to the plans of the Designer home we wanted and are as happy 19 years later with the house and lot as we were when we bought it. You could be too. Take your time, you'll be happy you did. Neighbors come and go, but your home and view lot are a constant. All Villages have their pros and cons and their great and not so great people. Buy the house and the lot you want and you'll be happy. Welcome to the Villages, life is good here.

[Tom M]

We wanted to be between Sumter and Brownwood and reasonably close to shopping. But, it was also important (for us) to have natural gas. Ended up in the Village of Largo.

[jebartle]

The beautiful canopy of trees reminded us of North Carolina, our former home, for some that would be a negative, but we are tree huggers, lol. After looking at many homes, this one said, "You are home". My husband walked in to lanai before seeing the house and said "I'll take it!" And here we are.

[dewilson58]

Not south of 44. . There will never a square like those north of 44.




:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[CarrieOn]

Depends if u want a new home or older home is what it comes down too..the newer villages tend to have younger crowd as well..

[tedquick]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.

My wife and I visited 5 or 6 times before we bought. Each time we looked at homes and how we would live once here. We selected a plan that would accommodate family and friends and an area where we would be “living’. We do theater, movies, restaurants, health clubs, church and shopping. We wanted to be close to The Sharon and the Savannah Center so we ended up buying the plan we were after (it was an 18 year old home) and completely redid it. By golf cart we are 5 minutes from Spanish Springs and 10 minutes from Sumter Landing. We could not be happier. We’ve been there 6 years now and wouldn’t consider moving.

[bpascani]

I would suggest that you do the Lifestyle program once Covid19 is gone. Everything is pretty much closed now. Then, after that, when we were ready, we rented a house down here for 6mos 7days, with month to month extension if needed, giving our landlord at least 60 days notice. That gave us plenty of time to get to know the areas and find the house we wanted. We had our preferences of areas, but house wants were more important, except that we did not want south of hwy 44..that's the newer areas, but no access via golf cart to anything north of hwy44. by doing this, you can join several clubs, get to know people in different areas, etc.

[Burgy]

There appears to be a trend toward less golf in the area south of 44. There are I think 4 exec eg. par 3 courses but only 1 championship[ to be built it would appear. There are 12 championship courses north of 44 so I think that difference is quite significant

[pbedell]

Please write that book!!!

[eddie888]

I got here 12 years ago when I was 57. I am 69 now and I know what happened to the villages. As the older owners died, The kids took over. Not a good scene. If you’re going to buy anything stay on the north side of 44. You go across 44 are you going to be paying Wildwood taxes as well as Sumter County taxes. No big deal. But, remember by concrete or block house. I was here when the tornado hit. No one tells you that. It wiped out half of Mallory country club so many houses destroyed. I would take a gas in the villages 2000 house is destroyed. So, it’ll never happen again thank God. That was in 2007 February second. Be sure, To buy a block a concrete house. Please

[Shamp]

Rent a home for a month and really explore. Right now you can rent an entire house for about $600 a week. Live the lifestyle for more than a week at your leisure. Not promoting my rental home, but here is an example...lol [url]www.************.com/lsp Located in the New development of Monarch Grove, south of 44. Quiet at home and lots of activity away from the house. the stars are: our home 4 rent

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I did not choose a village, I chose a home. The village came with it.

[WelchNH]

I moved to TV n 2017: wanted to be close to RT 466, and wanted a car, 3 brm house. Although I initially bought a golf cart, I wound up selling it a year later [I do not golf and had a car and a motor scooter]. One counter-intuitive observation on the type of street- I live on Woodridge Drive, which is a fairly well traveled road: during the busy daytime or less busy night, I can't hear vehicle noise w the TV on in the living room (adjacent to the road).

[yankygrl]

I have been trying to schedule a LV for almost a year but a combination of elderly parents and adult children and COVID have derailed my plans. So I have been scouring the internet for everything I can learn about TV. One thing I remain curious about is how to determine where to live. Some say live in the established areas because there is so much more to do and some recommend the newer areas because there will be more people my age (I'm 57 and single). Any thoughts, suggestions or smart ass comments are welcome.
we came to visit friends in Mar 2009, hooked up with TV sales rep (most are not realtors and work for the developer). We lucked out, told her what we were looking for and she delivered. When we returned in Mar 2010 the section of Buttonwood we eventually purchased in had just opened up. We were near 3 ex. courses, Fishhawk rec. center. Not far from LSL and shopping and amenities galore. Everyone was moving in at the same time, most of us were mid 50’s to early 60’s and we bonded quickly. 4 yrs later move south of 466 A, got same model stretched with pool. Would never move south of 44. Demographics of age groups is changing in more north as those who have lived here 15+ years leave/pass away and others retire and move in. Come for lifestyle program, they are still doing it even with COVID restriction. The sales reps with try to get you to commit to south of 44. Go with your gut.

[Darlene Lansing]

After you decide which location fits your needs , then begin the search for the price of house you can afford , it will all fall in place once you get here and live the LIFEstyle.

[REDCART]

I got here 12 years ago when I was 57. I am 69 now and I know what happened to the villages. As the older owners died, The kids took over. Not a good scene. If you’re going to buy anything stay on the north side of 44. You go across 44 are you going to be paying Wildwood taxes as well as Sumter County taxes. No big deal. But, remember by concrete or block house. I was here when the tornado hit. No one tells you that. It wiped out half of Mallory country club so many houses destroyed. I would take a gas in the villages 2000 house is destroyed. So, it’ll never happen again thank God. That was in 2007 February second. Be sure, To buy a block a concrete house. Please

Also lived in Mallory in Feb 2007. The Alexa Villas, which are cement block CYV’s off of Timmonsville Way, had their roofs torn off and home contents sucked out. Coconut Cove a cement/block neighborhood rec center, was also destroyed. After seeing the tornado’s damage in person, I realized then that there’s not much you can do to withstand a tornado.

Also BTW, homes in LaBelle pay both Sumter County and Wildwood property taxes, and they’re North of 44. Not sure if all the homes bet 44 and 466A pay Wildwood taxes but I suspect those in Sumter County probably do.

[NavyVet]

Hello, I notice many move multiple times even within new homes, where in theory you had what you wanted built for you. What are your reasons?

That is a very good question and would be fun to hear the many different reasons.
Here is my journey: Moved to TV in 2003. Previous home hadn't sold yet so had a strict budget. Had a new Amarillo (ranch/cottage) home built. Never thought we'd move again. In 2009 after getting an inheritance, DH was tired of parking outside and decided he wanted a golf cart garage. I wanted a CBC (block/stucco) home. So we upgraded. New designer home that backed to a villa wall. 3rd house was a resale in 2017. Similar size home except with a pool. I had given up trying to get lap swimming lanes a couple years prior when TV got impossibly crowded and I missed having our own pool before the move to TV. So another upgrade. All 3 homes closed before the previous home sold. So 2 bridge loans and 1 fifteen yr mortgage. This is our last home in TV. Hubby says his next move is to an urn. LOL! However, if I should happen to outlive him, I will sell the house and move to a CCRC elsewhere in Florida. (NOT Freedom Pointe.):icon_wink:

[queasy27]

So fun to read everyone's stories! Thanks for the smiles.

[coffeebean]

That sounds like us.

Although not necessarily because of Starbucks, we want to be south of 466 and within a few miles of Lake Sumter Landing.

We are in Mallory Square. LOVE this location!

[Fredman]

Chose a house in the north rather than a village

[tvbound]

So fun to read everyone's stories! Thanks for the smiles.

Agreed!

[Knighterrant]

You have to determine your priorities. Then match those with your budget. We chose a new home in the area south of 44 in large part due to budget. New homes in TV are typically less expensive than used homes.

TV is doing a good job balancing existing nature (maintaining trees, preserves, etc.) with new development, so the new villages are very attractive. The average occupant age in the newer section is probably a little younger (we are 55) - although many of are neighbors are older and incredibly active. And the walking / biking path setup south of 44 is better compared to the northern villages. However, the commercial development south of 44 is in its infancy. This area won’t have cart accessible commercial until year end. And material commercial development, inclusive of a new town center and championship golf, will likely not be completed for a couple years. And connectivity via golf cart to the rest of the TV will likely not occur until early 2021.

Renting for a while is not a bad option if you can make that work financially and logistically - although renting for a month might not be long enough. We initially purchased a CYV thinking it would be a perfect solution. The house was a little on the small side, but it is only the two of us, and we thought adapting to the scale of the house would be no problem. However, we have family, guests and neighbors over all the time. We never imagined we would be entertaining this much. The sense of community in TV is unlike anything I have experienced. Neighbors get together all the time. And we are enjoying many new activities, and the stuff that goes with them - golf cart, bicycles, pickleball equipment, golf equipment, bows and arrows, etc.

Ultimately we sold the CYV and purchased a larger Veranda. Which stretched our budget a little. But we feel the financial sacrifice will be worth it. Like I wrote at the beginning, you have to identify your own priorities and budget. I’m sure there are people living in TV in a 1 bedroom patio home who are just as content as someone living in a premier home.

[Bay Kid]

I just got lucky when I found my home.

[STLRAY]

Thank you all for the great replies. So much valuable information in your responses. With any luck I will be visiting this fall and will probably follow the advice to rent for a few months before buying.

[Spikearoni]

Thank you all for the great replies. So much valuable information in your responses. With any luck I will be visiting this fall and will probably follow the advice to rent for a few months before buying.

Considering your relatively young age and marital status, I would opt for a courtyard villa in one of the new villages such as Chitty Chatty. My husband and I live at Heathrow Preserve in the Village of Lake Deaton in one of the larger homes. If I were single, I would opt for a somewhat smaller home because it's easier to maintain, easier to sell if you decide to cohabitate with someone, and usually are populated with more singles. I have found that quite often, the more southern you go in TV, the younger the population. However, there are certainly a plethora of ways to meet individuals here so you should be fine wherever you choose. Good luck!

[Tennisbum]

We also had remodeled the last two homes and decided on Marsh Bend. The new home needed nothing, the people are amazing. We have been here less then two months and I am already on a men's tennis singles league, men's tennis doubles, playing water volleyball and beach tennis with a group down here. The south area will be the go to spot before you know it. Spent a month renting and bought the next month!!!