Decision time?

[gcrisp]

We will be in the Villages in Oct. Time to make a decision between Cottage and CYV. We have two dogs to consider. Has anyone owned a home w/out the fence that has pets that later regretted that type of home?

Thanks,
Gary

[ladydoc]

We will be in the Villages in Oct. Time to make a decision between Cottage and CYV. We have two dogs to consider. Has anyone owned a home w/out the fence that has pets that later regretted that type of home?

Thanks,
Gary

Hi Gary- I can only share our experience, which is simple: THE DOGS RULE OUR LIVES, so we got a CYV. We never considered anything else. The dogs are happy in their yard, they are safe and we like the privacy. Also to consider...most people with CYV have doggies and may be more tolerant of a little barking now and then. PS...the BARK OFF works great for barking.

[zummy]

We have a 2008 Stucco courtyard villa for sale by owner. Installed dog door. Over 12000 in addl extras added . We are having our closing on our new home on 10/4. Best value you will find. Worth a look when your in town. Call Tom or Teresa at 352-633-1279 for an appointment. You won't be disappointed. I can send addl photos if you send me your e-mail address.

http://www.bainbridge-villas.info/PDF/ZumbrookVilla.pdf Try this link to see the photos and details.

[ilovetv]

We have met several couples who said they wish they had bought a CYV instead of a designer or cottage, because of the dog, and because of the ease in meeting neighbors and making bunches of friends fast.

The dogs are something dear you have in common with the other neighbors, and people are eager to talk about them and meet other pets and owners. Our neighbors dog-sit each others' dogs while on vacation and we don't know of anyone in the villa neighborhood using a kennel while gone. CYV's are really nice and the privacy in back is great.

[Barefoot]

Our lives revolve around our dogs. I know, I know, sad, but true (see my avatar for a picture of our rescue dog "Lolli Pop"). That is the way things are for us! I honestly thought our only option was a Courtyard Villa. We started off in 2007 with a CYV, which we loved for three years. Now we have a "real" house with Invisible Fencing. We loved our CYV, but the garage and driveway were way too small. Fireboy has a lot of toys and wasn't happy. Both houses backed on a golf course.

We love our new house, and our Invisible Fencing. We also take our dogs to Doggie Doo Run Run every day for a great unleashed workout.

[gcrisp]

Our lives revolve around our dogs. I know, I know, sad, but true (see my avatar for a picture of our rescue dog "Lolli Pop"). That is the way things are for us! I honestly thought our only option was a Courtyard Villa. We started off in 2007 with a CYV, which we loved for three years. Now we have a "real" house with Invisible Fencing. We loved our CYV, but the garage and driveway were way too small. Fireboy has a lot of toys and wasn't happy. Both houses backed on a golf course.

We love our new house, and our Invisible Fencing. We also take our dogs to Doggie Doo Run Run every day for a great unleashed workout.

Thanks Barefoot. The CYV seems to be more of an "apartment" feel. You get more square footage and garage storage in a cottage. Our "girls" like the freedom of going out on there own but they will adapt. We are leaning towards building a cottage (we have a lot in St. James) due to the fact you can select what you want in it--cabinets, flooring, outside color, etc. We will hopefully be in the house longer than our dogs.

Gary

[ssmith]

...that is the first time I have ever heard someone say "and because of the ease in meeting neighbors and making bunches of friends fast." Do you feel that CYV are easier to make fast friends? and easier to meet neighbors? I was afraid that since there are no windows to the street and the back yards are secluded that it would be harder to "catch" neighbors for a chit chat ...also do you think there are more neighbor activities in CYV neighbor hoods.

Here is an unrelated question...since CYV own their own streets ...are they maintained well? So many questions....but I have lots of time for now to think these things through.

[tainsley]

We just bought a CYV. We bought a corner CYV because we wanted the extra space as we enjoy being outside in the evenings and plan to make an outdoor living area (maybe a pool in the future). We also like the privacy of a CYV Villa...and may decide to get a dog in the future. As far as meeting neighbors, we drove around our neighborhood and met quite a few terrific people before we returned to VA. It's all about what makes you happy! There are plenty of houses out there...you will know it when you walk in. When we walked into ours back in July, hubby and I looked at each other and said, "This is it!". :):):) We've been smiling ever since!

[ladydoc]

Thanks Barefoot. The CYV seems to be more of an "apartment" feel. You get more square footage and garage storage in a cottage. Our "girls" like the freedom of going out on there own but they will adapt. We are leaning towards building a cottage (we have a lot in St. James) due to the fact you can select what you want in it--cabinets, flooring, outside color, etc. We will hopefully be in the house longer than our dogs.

Gary

Apartment feel? Really? I have been in many CYVs and never had that reaction and we moved from a 3000 sq ft house to a 1600 sq ft. Just curious..what made you feel that way? Whatever you pick will be right for you. We knew this Anna Maria was for us the second we saw it!

[Funinthesun]

For those in a CYV, do you ever have a need to see over the wall? Do you feel boxed in because you can not see a long way? Perhaps the opposite is true, the secure feeling of the wall is important. Thanks, Fun

[tainsley]

I have plenty of space (corner lot) out back. When I am sitting on my lanai I see an expanse of blue skies with puffy white clouds...don't feel blocked in at all!

[Barefoot]

For those in a CYV, do you ever have a need to see over the wall? Do you feel boxed in because you can not see a long way? Perhaps the opposite is true, the secure feeling of the wall is important. Thanks, Fun

We chose a CYV on a view lot with a back fence that was a three-foot picket fence. It had a lovely golf course view. Of course view lots cost more, but if the walls make you feel claustrophobic, I think it is worth the extra charge.

[Ohiogirl]

We love our courtyard wall - in our villa neighborhood, they are still what are considered "high walls." Pretty much complete privacy, and we love it. Probably have a little more room in back than some of the designers with "kissing lanais." We spend a LOT of time on our lanai, and I'm a gardener so lots of time in the backyard as well. I also like that you can see the results of all that hard work from the lanai or side patio.

What I like about CYV neighborhoods is that you can mingle as much or as little as you want. There are a couple of villas in our neighborhood where you rarely see the residents - maybe that's why they bought a CYV, who knows? But if you want to meet neighbors, the previous poster is correct - many have dogs and even though we have fenced yards, most of us still walk our dogs daily and it's easy to meet and have something in common (dogs). If there is a neighbor you might prefer to avoid, also easy just to wave in passing and be able to be on your lanai or backyard without extended conversation.

Also, and this would be true in all neighborhoods, whenever you are in the front or doing something in your driveway or garage, it's easy to talk to neighbors coming and going in their golf carts, or again walking their dogs.

Seems like we have impromptu get-togethers frequently, one neighbor stopping to chat, then another passing by stops, etc. Pretty soon someone says, how about a driveway party Sunday night?

[Ohiogirl]

Forgot to say that I hated the blank bare walls and fences until I added vines and shrubs and flowers and a palm tree, plus our builder-planted oak tree is now adding significant shade on our lanai. We get a lot of birds at the feeders and enjoy that also.

[ladydoc]

For those in a CYV, do you ever have a need to see over the wall? Do you feel boxed in because you can not see a long way? Perhaps the opposite is true, the secure feeling of the wall is important. Thanks, Fun

I don't feel boxed in, but I really like the privacy of being able to sit on my lanai and have coffee in the morning BEFORE I get dressed and try to look human. Hubby attire is usually even worse then mine. LOL I can hear my neighbors if they come out into the yard and we either talk over the wall or go to one another's yard. Our dogs communicate too, never heard such cute little sounds. I guess I am used to not seeing people from the house...we moved from the mountains of NM and our closest neighbor was 1/2 mile away. I look up to the sky...never have a need to see over the wall. But that is just me.