Did you look at other places before picking TV?

[ladydoc]

Did any of you look at On Top of the World in Ocala? Do you have any opinions, good or bad about that place or any other retirement community near TV? We would appreciate any feedback that you could share. Thanks so much!!

[graciegirl]

Hi there Ladydoc.

We didn't look at any other places because I (me the mama, as in if mama ain't happy...) don't like Florida.

I don't like the pretty house here with the next one with cars up on blocks. I don't like the touristy, kinda used looking places that have been visited so many times that they look kinda worn out. I don't like that it goes from trash to treasure and sometimes all in the same block.

I don't like the brilliant PINK house next to a vibrant ORANGE house. I don't like the architecture except in those big ole houses in West Palm that I certainly can't afford....unless I sell one of my grandchildren.

I don't like hurricanes and palmetto bugs and young beautiful girls in thong bikinis plopping down next to me in a beach chair.

I HATE Florida, but I dearly, completely, satisfyingly, totally, love THE VILLAGES.

[nkrifats]

Did not like idea that I did not own the land in section of On Top Of The World we was looking at. Oak Run Ocala did not have the life style The Villages have. Also wanted to be able to use Golf Cart to go most places.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

We looked at On Top of the World back in '09. Met with a realtor/representative for several hours - toured the models, got info, etc. Strangest thing was that she didn't want to take us on a ride through the existing areas where homes already existed. It made us feel as though there was something(s) she didn't want us to see. Overall, the place didn't interest us.

We also took serious looks at Summer Glen and Stone Creek, which are both in the Ocala area as well. Summer Glen - a LOT of home for the money. Stone Creek - VERY nice/attractive development. We also looked at Lake Ashton which is further south (Lake Wales area) but the verifiable Chinese drywall issue in the development was enough of a stigma to keep us from being interested. In addition to Stone Creek, we nosed around at a couple of the other Del Webb developments as well. Also, we looked at a large number of mobile home communities in the central FL area.

At the end of the day, it should all depend on what type of a living/community environment meets your requirements. If you want a nice home in a small 55+ community with a few amenities and a few clubs and zero other infrastructure close by (stores, restaurants, etc.), then any of those communities could probably meet your needs. We worked backwards - we liked everything offered by being in TV.............and couldn't find anything else that even came remotely close in comparison, taking all the positives and negatives into account. So buying in TV is what made the most sense for us!

Bill

[Uptown Girl]

Hi there Ladydoc.

We didn't look at any other places because I (me the mama, as in if mama ain't happy...) don't like Florida.

I don't like the pretty house here with the next one with cars up on blocks. I don't like the touristy, kinda used looking places that have been visited so many times that they look kinda worn out. I don't like that it goes from trash to treasure and sometimes all in the same block.

I don't like the brilliant PINK house next to a vibrant ORANGE house. I don't like the architecture except in those big ole houses in West Palm that I certainly can't afford....unless I sell one of my grandchildren.

I don't like hurricanes and palmetto bugs and young beautiful girls in thong bikinis plopping down next to me in a beach chair.

I HATE Florida, but I dearly, completely, satisfyingly, totally, love THE VILLAGES.

Miz Gracie Girl, I do believe you've read my mind... Although I'm born and raised in Chicago, I've had numerous relatives living here and there in Florida since I was small, so I've been down there for visits occasionally over many years. My own Mother retired there as well and tried like heck to get me to relocate. I was certain I'd NEVER do it for all the same reasons... seemed like a no brainer to me. I never took to Florida at all.
Then a good friend mentioned she'd done a lifestyle visit and said TV was pretty special. My friend is typically not impressed easily.... so that peaked my curiosity.
We'd already scouted a few areas of the country for possible retirement .... New Mexico, The Smokeys and other places, but just for the heck of it, I sent away for info on TV.
All it took was one 4 day lifestyle visit! I spent the first day in disbelief, spent the second truly looking for the 'man behind the curtain' (like in Wizard of OZ) the third day (8 hours, bless my realtor's heart!) looking at homes, and the 4th day choked up at the thought of having to leave!
We came home to organize and plan our future in TV with out a bit of doubt or hesitation!
I LOVE my house here and will remember it fondly. It goes up for sale next month, and TV will be where we choose to live, happily ever after!

[ducati1974]

We looked at Top Of The World in Ocala and something just didn't seem right- it wasn't pretty- then I figured out why- there were no water features at all. No water on the golf course or around the houses. It really affected the overall look. We also saw the Del Webb in Ocala. The houses were nice at both places but they each had only one golf course. My wife didn't like the idea of having to play a championship course and I didn't care for the idea of having to play the same course all the time. I believe the golf was pricey too. As others have said, the lack of activities that TV offers was the main problem.

[l2ridehd]

I researched about 100 retirement communities. Mostly internet research. got information sent to me from about 40 of those that looked to meet my needs. From that I narrowed it down to about 10. I visited 6 of those I thought were the best match. Even checked out a couple college towns that looked like good places to live but were not retirement communities per say. Nothing came close to The Villages. It was the most active, the most diverse, most golf, and golf cart accessible community I found.

I have seen several people retire and do nothing. Seems they sit around and wait to die. I wanted an active retirement and TV seemed the best match for that.

[Army Guy]

Yes, we had been looking at different place from Williamsburg, VA all the way down the coastline over a five year period. Found several that were nice, but nothing offered the lifestyle or value of TV.

Army Guy

[taylor111947]

I looked at Top of the World, Terra Vista, Stone Creek and a couple of others. They were all beautiful, prices were better and they were more accommodating about making modifications to the models.

Here were the downsides. All were still in the process of development without a large infrastructure to support the community - not a lot of stores and restaurants. Also, in most, I'd have to pay an upfront fee for golf privileges. I want to play golf, but it isn't going to be the focus of my life. In addition, none of them offered the wide variety of clubs and activities that I feel will help me meet people and become a part of the Villages community quickly. In short, none of them offered the lifestyle that I think will make me happy.

Good luck on your search. The Villages isn't perfect and it's not for everyone, but you'll find a lot about the community by reading this forum.

[In awe of TV]

Has anyone looked at Solivita and what are your thoughts? A lot of house for your money there as well. I've been looking online, there are pre-owned homes for sale at great prices, plus new homes greatly reduced.

[Tbugs]

I went to some of the "Live South" realty shows to see what might be offered.

There were some very nice places in Tennessee on beautiful grounds but too far in the sticks for us. We looked at some of the Ginn communities but glad we passed since they have gone belly-up. We looked at Celebration but the entire area was too congested. We looked at Winding River Plantation in North Carolina but the highway by it was bumper-to-bumper traffic all year.

A large part of not selecting the above places was the fear of them going bankrupt - as Ginn did. The VIllages had a great reputation and was fiscally sound.

My sister in Windemere told us of The Villages and we did the LifeStyle preview, went home for 2 years, came back to Florida in 2009 to buy or decide to stay in Maryland. We bought in The Villages, moved here Oct 1 of 2009, and just love being here.

An evil smile came over my face today when I looked at the weather map in the Daily Sun (Happy Times Gazette). It is the same smile I do when I look at the traffic cameras on-line for the Washington DC area where I used to commute.

[LI SNOWBIRD]

Has anyone looked at Solivita and what are your thoughts? A lot of house for your money there as well. I've been looking online, there are pre-owned homes for sale at great prices, plus new homes greatly reduced.

When we began our search for paradise we looked in the Orlando area because the in-laws had a winter home in the area and its close to Disney and the other attractions ( for anticipated future grandchildren). We visited Solivita and were disappointed in the construction/floor plans of the few models they had. we also got the feeling of snobbishness. It also seemed small and didn't have many amenities.. That was 5 years ago.
Though we don't play golf we love the Villages lifestyle an above all the people.
:pepper2:

[pooh]

Did any of you look at On Top of the World in Ocala? Do you have any opinions, good or bad about that place or any other retirement community near TV? We would appreciate any feedback that you could share. Thanks so much!!
We didn't really have any intentions of leaving southern CA when we retired. Visited TV when we were in Florida visiting our son and his family. Two visits to TV in less than a week convinced me I wanted to be here...hubby, also. The sales agent was told to find us a house on our second visit....and here we are.... :clap2:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Has anyone looked at Solivita and what are your thoughts? A lot of house for your money there as well. I've been looking online, there are pre-owned homes for sale at great prices, plus new homes greatly reduced.

Take a drive over there sometime and check out the surrounding area......and draw your own conclusions.

Bill

[judynsc]

Hi Uptown Girl,

This is my 1st time to reply to a post here although I am reading the posts most everyday. I have been to TV about 5 times to visit and can't wait to move there.

We also live in the Chicagoland area (Huntley) in a Del Webb Sun City community which we love but just can't take the winters here anymore. Our house has been up for sale for 23 months and not one offer as yet. It is so discourageing and I do get invious of everyone having so much fun in TV and we are still waiting to join in on all the fun.

:o) Judy

[MSNPA]

We looked at The Legacy and Lakes of Mount Dora. The homes were beautiful, but living there you would be out in the middle of no where. The Villages has so much to offer and being golf cart community was major factor in our decision.

[birdawg]

Does anyone know what type of sheetrock is used in TV. Thanks

[kofficer]

and we live in Florida, and have looked at just about everything here in the last two years. Some have houses I like better for the price, but none of them have the things that we are looking for: We have work odd schedules for years, working weekends and off during the week, and really haven't had much of a social life, and want to fix that. I don't want to drive 30-45 minutes to a hospital when I'm have a heart problem, we cruise, so this location is good, we bowl 2-3 nights a week now, so can't wait to be
getting into that. We ballroom dance, and don't find anything but line dancing offered at most places. We both need to exercise a couple days a week, and so we will go to the newly bought wellness center. We can't find all this anywhere else. We're in, just going to take time to sell here in Tampa and go. Will see you all in 2013!!

Richard and Lee in Tampa.

[JUREK]

Take a drive over there sometime and check out the surrounding area......and draw your own conclusions.

Bill

We checked on Solvita also. Like you said one trip through the surrounding area was enough to make up our minds to buy in TV.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Does anyone know what type of sheetrock is used in TV. Thanks

Hi birdawg - welcome to TOTV!!! :welcome:

I can't tell you a specific brand name/type/manufacturer - we're not in TV at the moment or I could go into our attic and see what's on the backside of the ceiling drywall. But if your question relates to the potential for encountering Chinese drywall in TV homes, I don't think you'll find any substantiated cases of it. I researched the heck out of it before we bought and found nothing substantiating it being used/found in any TV homes.

Bill

[Uptown Girl]

Hi Uptown Girl,

This is my 1st time to reply to a post here although I am reading the posts most everyday. I have been to TV about 5 times to visit and can't wait to move there.

We also live in the Chicagoland area (Huntley) in a Del Webb Sun City community which we love but just can't take the winters here anymore. Our house has been up for sale for 23 months and not one offer as yet. It is so discourageing and I do get invious of everyone having so much fun in TV and we are still waiting to join in on all the fun.

:o) Judy

Hi Judy! I will welcome you as others have welcomed me! (You'll get MORE of these!) Keep the faith and daydream of how happy you will be in TV.... it'll happen for you and me both!

[Minnesotalyn]

We looked in southern Texas first because we were down there 20 years ago to visit my in-laws who retired down there. We really like it then, but boy it's not the same now. Then we did the lifestyle visit and spent 5 days in the Villages. After 2 days we decided to look at some other places around there, one being Summerglen. The minute we drove in I couldn't believe how quiet and dead the place seemed after the Villages. So we still talked to a Rep but than got out of there and didn't go to On Top of The World. We just went back to TV and quit looking. That was it. House is up for sale March 1.:icon_wink:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

judynsc - Hi and welcome to posting on TOTV!! :wave:

FWIW - - - If you're able to at all, consider lowering the price on your house as much as you can stand. That's what we ended up deciding we needed to do a couple of years back when we sold our previous home in OH (though we built a new home right around the corner from the previous place!!). We had it on the market for nearly a year, trying to get the best money we could out of it. Finally got tired of it all, switched realtors, lowered the price to a level that we KNEW would get it sold......and had a 'no contingencies' contract within 2 weeks! It's a tough and bitter pill to swallow to take less than you feel something should bring, but that appears to be today's reality in the real estate world!!! Fortunately, prices in TV don't seem to be getting hit nearly as hard as what's being experienced in other areas.

In the meantime, keep coming on back to TV and enjoy whatever time you're able to spend there!!

Bill :)

[BobKat1]

Hi Uptown Girl,

This is my 1st time to reply to a post here although I am reading the posts most everyday. I have been to TV about 5 times to visit and can't wait to move there.

We also live in the Chicagoland area (Huntley) in a Del Webb Sun City community which we love but just can't take the winters here anymore. Our house has been up for sale for 23 months and not one offer as yet. It is so discourageing and I do get invious of everyone having so much fun in TV and we are still waiting to join in on all the fun.

:o) Judy

Hi Judy. We looked at Sun City in Huntley when it first opened and once again a couple of years later. Very nice community but we weren't ready to downsize/retire either time. We have friends up there in the same boat as you. Hang in there you will sell eventually.

[ladydoc]

Thank you all so much. I appreciate the feedback. You all have said what I was thinking...nothing offered the diversity of TV. As one poster said..I want to get everywhere I need to go in a golf cart! My only hesitancy is that neither of us play golf or have any interest in it and I wanted to know if the other amenities make up for what we would be paying for and not using. We are arriving on the 23rd for 6 days and hope to find our dream house! Our realtor is coming today to tell us what she thinks this place is worth (we have no idea). I hope to meet some of you around and about. I know we will hanging around the dog parks awhile. Thanks again!

[2BNTV]

Hi Uptown Girl,

This is my 1st time to reply to a post here although I am reading the posts most everyday. I have been to TV about 5 times to visit and can't wait to move there.

We also live in the Chicagoland area (Huntley) in a Del Webb Sun City community which we love but just can't take the winters here anymore. Our house has been up for sale for 23 months and not one offer as yet. It is so discourageing and I do get invious of everyone having so much fun in TV and we are still waiting to join in on all the fun.

:o) Judy

Hi Judy. :welcome: to TOTV.

I've been on this site long enough to know that many people have researched other retirement communities and found nothing compares to the lifestyle of TV.

Wow 23 months and I was discouraged after a year of no offers in trying to sell my condo. I wanted to be in TV before this horrible winter hit. I hope you, Uptown Girl and myself make 2011 the year we move to TV!!!!

Best wishes for selling your home.

[PatandBob]

We checked on Solvita also. Like you said one trip through the surrounding area was enough to make up our minds to buy in TV.

Okay ... save us the drive - what was the surrounding area like?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

PatandBob - Do a Google search on "solvita orlando" and browse through the results. Like any place, you'll find pros and cons regarding it. But look through the results of the Google search and see what you think.

Bill

[franjoe]

Visited there after LSV here sorry but no comparison to The Villages. Pretty houses but not many recreation centers and amenities. Also did a LSV at the Top Of The World same there. Plus I felt that the Villages has a younger vibe than the other two places. We rented a Patio Villa for 6 weeks and then bought a Ranch and are here just 4 months. Still getting settled but intend to take advantage of all that they offer here. We love it here and so glad not to be back in Pa. with all that snow and ice.

[graciegirl]

Welcome to you Franjo...

Is there anyone else here new, that hasn't met some of the other villagers that post on this site?

I could get some of us together.....

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Welcome to you Franjo...

Is there anyone else here new, that hasn't met some of the other villagers that post on this site?

I could get some of us together.....

A totally "self-serving" suggestion: Wait for us! We'll be rolling in this Sat. afternoon! :)

Bill

[PatandBob]

Welcome to you Franjo...

Is there anyone else here new, that hasn't met some of the other villagers that post on this site?

I could get some of us together.....

Coming for a Lifestyle Preview February 19. Would love to meet up with others.

[Cynbod]

A totally "self-serving" suggestion: Wait for us! We'll be rolling in this Sat. afternoon! :)

Bill

We have DVC points and have visited central Florida for many years. We kept hearing about the Villages. We visited on a Lifestyle visit in early October and closed on a new house in Buttonwood on December 14. We will beat you down (coming in on Friday from Brooklyn, NY: I hope). :a040::a040:

[Schaumburger]

Hello Uptown Girl and Judy,
It has been the mother of all winters in the Chicago area hasn't it? First 20+ inches of snow last week then -5 degrees below for the next two nights. I would move to TV tomorrow if I could retire... J udy, Del Webb in Huntley seems very nice from the couple of times I've been there, but it is still in the snow zone. Best of luck to you in selling your house. Hope to spend a couple of weeks in TV later on this year.
Laura from Schaumburg.

[Pturner]

We looked in the Orlando area, in Arizona and at Del Web communities in Florida and Georgia. However, after visiting TV, no other place interested us. No other community had a comparable lifestyle. For us, that was more important in retirement than another big ole house to clean. So...

See you on one of the golf courses. Or at one of the pools. Or in one of the clubs. Or at the Lifelong Learning Center. Or on one of the squares. Or at one of the restaurants. Or at one of the dog parks. Or on the fitness trail. Or at Savannah or Church on the Square. Or at one of the local theaters. Or driving along the cart paths...

:welcome: Judy and Franjoe

[Jack&Pam]

Hi All,

We were extremely lucky on our journey to be "Frogs" in the villages.
We moved to Cambridge of Carrilon (adult community) in Plainfield, Il in 2010.
I was working and unable to take advantage of many of the amenities, my wife got involved in many activities and loved it. While there we heard about the villages from our new friends. I could not think about moving there since my job was demanding and I was 9 years away from retirement. The villages got put on a back burner.

We decided to size down and sold our house in 2004. We built a new house in a multi-age community. It was OK but even I missed the amenities of Carrilon. We started talking about buying in to another adult communinty.

Then 2007 came and everything got put on hold. My wife continually asked me about visiting the villages and I told her not until and when our present home got sold.

She finally convinced me in Aug of last year to come down for the life-style visit. I came down to look and did not know she was coming to buy. Sure enough we bought a a spec house after four days. It was had exactly what we wanted.

We put our house on the market Sept 1 and used the gimmic of selling all our furniture with it. We took a hit on the listing price but got a contract on 10/01. We thought we'd be in Pennecamp by Nov 15th. Then the appraisal came in 30,000 below the contracted price. We hemmed and hawed for another month and were able to counter with only a 20,000 loss.
We had many sleepless nights and arguements during this process and it tried our 40 year marriage but we endured.

On 12/27/10 we arrived at our new home with an aero bed and some personal items. A day later a pod came with our clothes etc.

Today we have about completed the furnishing of our house and could not be happier.

Please excuse my long winded note. After reading the thread I wanted to relay a real time experience to encourage you to make it happen in your own life,

This was the fastest we ever moved on major decisions in our lives and we
have no regrets. You will love being here.

[jblum8156]

Wow! Great story, Jack & Pam. I'm sorry about the friction in your marriage, but living in TV will fix that. Congratulations!

[EdV]

Has anyone looked at Solivita and what are your thoughts? A lot of house for your money there as well. I've been looking online, there are pre-owned homes for sale at great prices, plus new homes greatly reduced.

I used to rent a pool home each spring in the Poinciana area next to Solivita and watched the surrounding area steadily deteriorate due to gang and drug related crime.

A friend of mine rented a home there last year and for entertainment, he and the wife used to sit on the patio at night watching the sheriff’s helicopter hovering over the neighborhoods shining their spotlights on the ground looking for drug deals in progress.

[BobKat1]

I hope this isn't too far off topic, but has anyone visited a Robson community in AZ (Phoenix or Tucson)? We have friends, who've never been to TV, who were impressed with Pebble Creek in Phoenix. We plan to visit Saddlebrook in Tucson in a couple of weeks while out there.

They don't have near the amenitites of TV, but the setting and homes look good. At least in the brochures.:)

[batman911]

Wife and I have been visiting various Florida retirement communities for the last 3 years. We have been as far South as Naples and Palm Beach. We saw a lot of nice homes and ammenities. One of the things we noticed was that the models usually include well over $100K in upgrades (including the view lots). I believe the models in TV are closer to the actual base product. We were not impressed by the model homes we viewed during our first TV visit. They appreared to be plain and simple construction compared to other communities we had visited. We loved TV and all the activities and ititially thought that we would purchase a Premier to get the quality and size we wanted. After more thought and reasoning, we have come to realize that we really do not want a large house to maintain and clean. We only really use a few rooms in the home we have now. What we really want is to enjoy our retirement and have a lot of good friends to enjoy it with. We did not see that in any of the other communities we visited. You know TV is special to get us out of Hawaii after 45 years.

[2BNTV]

Uptown Girl:

Then a good friend mentioned she'd done a lifestyle visit and said TV was pretty special. My friend is typically not impressed easily.... so that peaked my curiosity.
We'd already scouted a few areas of the country for possible retirement .... New Mexico, The Smokeys and other places, but just for the heck of it, I sent away for info on TV.
All it took was one 4 day lifestyle visit! I spent the first day in disbelief, spent the second truly looking for the 'man behind the curtain' (like in Wizard of OZ) the third day (8 hours, bless my realtor's heart!) looking at homes, and the 4th day choked up at the thought of having to leave!
We came home to organize and plan our future in TV with out a bit of doubt or hesitation!
I LOVE my house here and will remember it fondly. It goes up for sale next month, and TV will be where we choose to live, happily ever after!

batman911:

You know TV is special to get us out of Hawaii after 45 years.


Two of the best posts advocating moving to TV. :BigApplause:

[2BNTV]

Franjoe:

:welcome: to TOTV.

Best Wishes to enjoy your life in paradise.

[2BNTV]

Coming for a Lifestyle Preview February 19. Would love to meet up with others.

:welcome: to TOTV;

It is too bad that you just missed the "Crispers" luncheon at 3 PM with TOTV members on every third Friday of the month. I believe it is located in the Southern Trace Shopping mall. Something to keep in mind when you move to TV.

I hope you enjoy your lifestyle visit.

[katezbox]

Thank you all so much. I appreciate the feedback. You all have said what I was thinking...nothing offered the diversity of TV. As one poster said..I want to get everywhere I need to go in a golf cart! My only hesitancy is that neither of us play golf or have any interest in it and I wanted to know if the other amenities make up for what we would be paying for and not using. We are arriving on the 23rd for 6 days and hope to find our dream house! Our realtor is coming today to tell us what she thinks this place is worth (we have no idea). I hope to meet some of you around and about. I know we will hanging around the dog parks awhile. Thanks again!

Happy to meet you and show you some of the fun. We are often on the small dog side (Finley is a very cute Maltipoo) at DDRR..

[pzjay]

Hi there Ladydoc.

We didn't look at any other places because I (me the mama, as in if mama ain't happy...) don't like Florida.

I don't like the pretty house here with the next one with cars up on blocks. I don't like the touristy, kinda used looking places that have been visited so many times that they look kinda worn out. I don't like that it goes from trash to treasure and sometimes all in the same block.

I don't like the brilliant PINK house next to a vibrant ORANGE house. I don't like the architecture except in those big ole houses in West Palm that I certainly can't afford....unless I sell one of my grandchildren.

I don't like hurricanes and palmetto bugs and young beautiful girls in thong bikinis plopping down next to me in a beach chair.

I HATE Florida, but I dearly, completely, satisfyingly, totally, love THE VILLAGES.
:agree: 100%! Florida is not beautitful unless you can afford to live overlooking the Atlantic or Gulf! Whereas The Villages is beautiful wherever
We can't wait to arrive for our month's visit on 3/1! The hard part will be leaving.
Peg & Bob

[HawkeyeBarb]

When our oldest daughter and husband moved to Orlando in 2002, I was ready to HATE FL for taking her away! :o) However, their move gave me lots of opportunities for visits and as they got to know the area...lots of fun and interesting trips exploring the central part of the state. Hubby, Boilermaker Dave, and I visited a number of 55+ retirement communities during the 5 years our kids lived there using their home as "base". It was a great educational experience for us and one that we wouldn't have been able to have if kids hadn't been there already.
We have looked at Solivita, Kings Ridge (Clermont), both Del Webb's Spruce and Stone Creek, The Plantation at Leesburg, Oak Run, OTOW, Summer Glen, Ocala Palms, Stone Crest, a Pringle communtiy that I can't remember the name of, Pennbrook Fairway, Rainbow Springs and then we did a Lifestyle visit in TV last May as a celebratory trip for my retirement from Purdue. We had visited TV a few times previously with our daughter and I really liked it...but Boiler Dave was leary. The Lifesyle preview visit was what put TV on the top of his list and that is now where we will move to when we retire, hopefully, within a couple of years or sooner depending on the economy. To be honest, I had some doubts and thought all along we would end up in Spruce Creek...but after we had lunch at Katie Belle's on the day we left TV and then drove immediately over to Spruce Creek...the difference between the 2 communities jumped in our faces!!! It was quiet as a tomb over there and NO ONE was out and about except one guy shooting free throws at a basketball half court! We stopped and talked to him and he said most of the time he is by himself at the court. The contrast between the 2 communities was obvious. That cemented TV for us!
I know that everyone is different and that is what makes the world go round...but with the friendliness of the people we met, the variety of activities, the beautiful surroundings and the "feeling" we got during our stay...it made our choice easy! I would highly recommend the Lifestyle preview to anyone who is considering their options.
JMHO! (Always wanted to write that!!!!:o)

[graciegirl]

Hi there Ladydoc.

We didn't look at any other places because I (me the mama, as in if mama ain't happy...) don't like Florida.

I don't like the pretty house here with the next one with cars up on blocks. I don't like the touristy, kinda used looking places that have been visited so many times that they look kinda worn out. I don't like that it goes from trash to treasure and sometimes all in the same block.

I don't like the brilliant PINK house next to a vibrant ORANGE house. I don't like the architecture except in those big ole houses in West Palm that I certainly can't afford....unless I sell one of my grandchildren.

I don't like hurricanes and palmetto bugs and young beautiful girls in thong bikinis plopping down next to me in a beach chair.

I HATE Florida, but I dearly, completely, satisfyingly, totally, love THE VILLAGES.

I do sound like they pay me, don't I?

[marybb]

My husband told me about a place in Fl called the villages,said he heard wonderful things about it and we should check it out. I never had any desire to move to Fl, don't know why just didn't. Well let me tell you, as soon as we arrived, I fell in love with the place. Love the people, neighborhoods, love how everyone takes care of their homes and yards. I don't have to look out my window and see someones untidy lawn etc. I can't think of myself living anywhere else ever. I can't wait until laryb and I move down full time in may.

[graciegirl]

I love your avatar Marybb

Laryb is such a nice person.

Welcome to the forum, Mary!!

[marybb]

Graciegirl, Thank you very much,it's taken me awhile to post, Lary kept telling me to join in, he also speaks very highly of you pooh and PHylis. I hope we can all get together over drinks I know we would have a good time. Thank you for welcoming me to the forum.

[Pturner]

Graciegirl, Thank you very much,it's taken me awhile to post, Lary kept telling me to join in, he also speaks very highly of you pooh and PHylis. I hope we can all get together over drinks I know we would have a good time. Thank you for welcoming me to the forum.

Marybb,
I can't wait to meet you! I'm excited for you that y'all are moving down full-time in May. We'll just all have to get together and have a great time!

Welcome and hugs!

[eyegirl]

I hope this isn't too far off topic, but has anyone visited a Robson community in AZ (Phoenix or Tucson)? We have friends, who've never been to TV, who were impressed with Pebble Creek in Phoenix. We plan to visit Saddlebrook in Tucson in a couple of weeks while out there.

They don't have near the amenitites of TV, but the setting and homes look good. At least in the brochures.:)

I have been to both Pebble Creek and Saddlebrook in Az! ( I live in Sun City Grand, a Del Webb community in Surprise, Az). All of the communities you mentioned are smaller than TV but large enough to have wonderful amenities. There are less golf courses although they are terrific and ALWAYS in great shape. (and we overseed the whole course in the winter)!
We find the cost of living significantly less in Az, less bugs, less humid.

Feel free to private message me if any questions.

[Ohiogirl]

I have been to both Pebble Creek and Saddlebrook in Az! ( I live in Sun City Grand, a Del Webb community in Surprise, Az). All of the communities you mentioned are smaller than TV but large enough to have wonderful amenities. There are less golf courses although they are terrific and ALWAYS in great shape. (and we overseed the whole course in the winter)!
We find the cost of living significantly less in Az, less bugs, less humid.

Feel free to private message me if any questions.

to make it clear - do you mean cost of living less than TV or less than wherever you retired from?

For us, since we have adult children and so far, 2 grandchildren who are in Ohio, NC and Orlando, Florida was pretty much the only place we considered - too expensive for them to fly in and out to Arizona and too far to consider driving. Also easier for use to drive back and forth, fly back and forth, etc.

If we had chosen Arizona wouldn't see our kids nearly as often. I also can't deal with the climate (gardening is my passion here), can't see myself doing the desert thing.

[scrapple]

Did any of you look at On Top of the World in Ocala? Do you have any opinions, good or bad about that place or any other retirement community near TV? We would appreciate any feedback that you could share. Thanks so much!!

We did a "lifestyle visit" at OTOTW prior to a lifestyle visit here at TV. It was completely "night and day". We arrived at 6pm on a Friday at OTOTW and everything was closed. The security guard gave us a bag to get into our place, we had to wait until the next day when we met with a rep to get the keys to the golf cart, the layout of the land and a tour. It felt like a waste of time. You can get more home and space around you for the buck and people were friendly but it lacked activity. Doing the TV lifestyle visit was a very positive change from accommodations in OTOTW. We also looked at the other local places (Spruce Creek and another whose name escapes me at the moment). TV has everything to offer that we would want. We went back to CO, thought about it, oh, for a few seconds, then sold the home, packed it all up and moved becoming FT residences in Oct. And seem to be living happily ever after!

[Sally Jo]

We have friends in Sun City Grand and Saddlebrook. We have also been to Pebble Creek. All are very nice, but our families are all in Indiana. Arizona is too far away. Also, we don't like the dry heat. We looked at many places in this area, too. Again all were nice, but none come even close to The Villages. The Villages won, hands down.

[rubicon]

We visited a number of places. Saint James Plantation in Southport, NC around 2000. It has tree lots, golf lots and lots where a canal takes you out to the Gulf. It was absolutely beautiful with one exception. At that time the look of route 17 was not appealing and we also learned that flooding is a problem along this route. We visited TN, MS AL and also found some attractive places. But the area that I fell in love the most was Charleston SC which doesn't explain why I moved here. Like a number of people have posted here my wife would have never have moved to Florida because she does not like the way some of the areas developed. However TV is large enough to escape that "bad area" experience. And with Wildwood under development that too shall be a thing of the past. So for that reason and the fact that I had family living here made our decision. Candidly I still wish we had given Charleston more consideration because I just love the "colonial look" of that area of the country

[marybb]

Marybb,
I can't wait to meet you! I'm excited for you that y'all are moving down full-time in May. We'll just all have to get together and have a great time!

Welcome and hugs!. It's a date!:thumbup:

[Jeannie]

We looked at The Legacy and Lakes of Mount Dora. The homes were beautiful, but living there you would be out in the middle of no where. The Villages has so much to offer and being golf cart community was major factor in our decision.

But......what did you think of the amenities? How far is shopping from The Legacy? Which showed better Mt. Dora or the Legacy? Which had bette amenties? How big were the communities? How many homes in each? We are coming down in June and were going to visit The Legacy, Mt. Dora and Stone Creek and Spruce Crees Golf & COuntry Club? Do you know anything about these communities? Thanks, Jeannie

[BobKat1]

I have been to both Pebble Creek and Saddlebrook in Az! ( I live in Sun City Grand, a Del Webb community in Surprise, Az). All of the communities you mentioned are smaller than TV but large enough to have wonderful amenities. There are less golf courses although they are terrific and ALWAYS in great shape. (and we overseed the whole course in the winter)!
We find the cost of living significantly less in Az, less bugs, less humid.

Feel free to private message me if any questions.

We visited Sun City Grand a few years ago when they were still building homes, and thought it was a very nice community. We enjoyed our stay. We were also impressed with our recent visit to Saddlebrook in Tucson.

[laryb]

But......what did you think of the amenities? How far is shopping from The Legacy? Which showed better Mt. Dora or the Legacy? Which had bette amenties? How big were the communities? How many homes in each? We are coming down in June and were going to visit The Legacy, Mt. Dora and Stone Creek and Spruce Crees Golf & COuntry Club? Do you know anything about these communities? Thanks, Jeannie

We looked at The Legacy and Lakes of Mount Dora. The homes were beautiful, but living there you would be out in the middle of no where. The Villages has so much to offer and being golf cart community was major factor in our decision.

I have to agree with MSNPA about The Lakes of Mount Dora. We found it to be quite away off what I think is Rt 441. We found the homes looked to be well built and very nice looking. At the time we were there, we didn't see anybody around. The main building was impressive, but that was it. I like some privacy, but not to the extent of not seeing anybody. I don't want to knock it because it does look like a very nice community, but it isn't anything like TV.