Location Pros and Cons

[jack_pine]

So, in our upcoming visit we are interested in folks opinions on what areas of the Villages people like and why. This, also from the perspective that we will want to rent some for the first few years. So what do renters like as well...........

Oh, and before we get started.......I know, anywhere in the Villages is great.

Is it important to be near a town square?

Do some folks like some areas more?

Like to be on golf course?

Any area offer more privacy than others (this will be biggest adjustment for us)?

Any other thoughts?

[brostholder]

So, in our upcoming visit we are interested in folks opinions on what areas of the Villages people like and why. This, also from the perspective that we will want to rent some for the first few years. So what do renters like as well...........

Oh, and before we get started.......I know, anywhere in the Villages is great.

Is it important to be near a town square?

Do some folks like some areas more?

Like to be on golf course?

Any area offer more privacy than others (this will be biggest adjustment for us)?

Any other thoughts?
This is such a personal decision. Some folks love living near the squares and others enjoy the quiet and reduced traffic farther from the squares. For my wife and I, we love our Pennecamp Village. It is a lovely 15 minute golf cart ride to LSL. If we were richer, we would probably buy a large designer home with a lovely golf course view, but our Courtyard Villa and great neighbors suit us just fine. We have found that with all the activities, we are seldom home. We like the idea of having a choice to be just as busy or not busy as we choose! Living in a CYV has been a small adjustment for us. We were used to more privacy than the villas allow, but it has also helped us become friends with our neighbors. No matter what you decide, you can't go wrong.

[Schaumburger]

As a two time renter, I preferred to be closer to one of the squares. Now if I was actually ready to buy, I would be more flexible to be further from a square as I may go to the squares less often after living in TV for a while. Just my 2 cents.

[LvmyPug2]

We found being close to rec centers, pools and grocery stores was more important then town centers. We were told by many people the longer you live here, the less time you spend down there. After 3 months in our new home, we are finding this to be true. It is no big deal to drive 15 min in your cart to get to the square, in fact we enjoy the ride

We chose a lot on a cul de sac because they give you more room/privacy in the back and you have very little traffic. One thing to also be mindful of is where the house is situated in regards to traffic patterns. A new friend was complaining that their new home was on a curve and the headlights of every car that drives by at night shines in their house.

[VillagesFlorida]

This is such a personal decision. Some folks love living near the squares and others enjoy the quiet and reduced traffic farther from the squares. For my wife and I, we love our Pennecamp Village. It is a lovely 15 minute golf cart ride to LSL. If we were richer, we would probably buy a large designer home with a lovely golf course view, but our Courtyard Villa and great neighbors suit us just fine. We have found that with all the activities, we are seldom home. We like the idea of having a choice to be just as busy or not busy as we choose! Living in a CYV has been a small adjustment for us. We were used to more privacy than the villas allow, but it has also helped us become friends with our neighbors. No matter what you decide, you can't go wrong.

I agree that the courtyard villas offer the most privacy of any home style offered by The Villages. This is exactly why we chose this home and not a designer. Our homes up north were on mostly private lots, one of them being on a beautiful 10-acre piece of wooded land. We could barely see our closest neighbor. Our lot here backs to a golf course so we have the traditional white fence in the rear. We worried for about 10 minutes whether or not we would have enough privacy in this home! We have thoroughly enjoyed the villa. We love our little spot, where we have a nice vantage point of activity, yet the privacy we appreciate so much. There are lots of choices here in home styles and each of us has to decide what it is that we want.

[784caroline]

When we bought we had no idea of what a good location was ...all we knew was golf course or no golf course. Ended up buying new with less than a 5 minute ride or 10 walk of LSL square and let me tell you it is the best thing we could have ever done. After dinner take a quick walk or golf cart ride to the square, listen to the music and then back in 5 minutes. Very easy and fast to get a quick carry out from paneros red sauce or TooJays and back home. Absolutely no hassle or second thought about it. WE use Sweetbay as our 7-11 it is so close and convienet.

As someone else stated, location is a very personal decision but from the things you listed our priority would be

1) Privacy...and this does not necesssarily mean golf course lot,
2) Lot location in realtionship to the setting sun....a lanai facing due west will be extremely hot in the sumer. For some this is no problem but for most especially if you plan to live here year round...and you may have to enclose and add heat/AC.
3) near a square or Town center, (For you it may be near golf courses, the Learning College, Rec Centers, shopping or Dr offices..here is where it gets personal)
4) ability to have flexibility...ie maybe their is something I may want in the future that I did not think about now.adding a GC garage or adding a pool, expand the lanai,, what ever it may be. This is all dependent on the lot size and its characterics


A word on golf course lots...they are much more expensive and some ...I say some..... lots are in fact worth it. But if you buy the wrong GC lot, you will be forever sorry with golf balls hitting your house or landing in your yard or having people walk/trample in your back yard. This is especially true for Executive golf course courses.

[VillagesFlorida]

[QUO1)
A word on golf course lots...they are much more expensive and some ...I say some..... lots are in fact worth it. But if you buy the wrong GC lot, you will be forever sorry with golf balls hitting your house or landing in your yard or having people walk/trample in your back yard. This is especially true for Executive golf course courses.[/QUOTE]

I agree!! My villa sits overlooking a tee box and we rarely see golf balls in our yard. There are trees that block errant shots from the back tees, also. This might not be something that you would consider if you are not a golfer when you move here. Our little lot has been worth every extra penny we spent on it! We are never bored watching all of the activity!

[golfgirl1031]

We bought on an executive golf course - million $$ view. Always a show going on outside of our lanai. We pushed the house out, bought extras - and are 15 min. by golf cart from LSL. We just LOVE being here - make sure you get a golf cart garage or a 3 car garage....

[swrinfla]

I've just spent a couple/three days showing off my community to my lady friend, who has decided that maybe, just maybe, she might be happier not coping with the Jan-Feb-Mar weather in her Nashville, TN, suburban neighborhood.

We looked at several new properties and a couple of pre-owned ones, too. Because she is only just beginning to see the advantages of The Villages, I strongly hoped that she'd be persuaded! And, I believe that she will investigate the possibilities of selling her Tennessee home, and will then join us all here in "Paradise."

We will see. The point is: there's room here for everyone, and one's previous residence may well provide clues!

SWR
:beer3:

[jack_pine]

This is such a personal decision. Some folks love living near the squares and others enjoy the quiet and reduced traffic farther from the squares. For my wife and I, we love our Pennecamp Village. It is a lovely 15 minute golf cart ride to LSL. If we were richer, we would probably buy a large designer home with a lovely golf course view, but our Courtyard Villa and great neighbors suit us just fine. We have found that with all the activities, we are seldom home. We like the idea of having a choice to be just as busy or not busy as we choose! Living in a CYV has been a small adjustment for us. We were used to more privacy than the villas allow, but it has also helped us become friends with our neighbors. No matter what you decide, you can't go wrong.

We agree, very personal choice. You bring up great points.

Our first thought is golf course is nice (view) unless you are on a fairway. I play (badly) and think you need to be by a tee box, to be safe.

We are not sure the extra cost is worth it. The open view would be good and the entertainment...................

[jgbama]

On our first two visits, we were placed in villas in Calumet Grove. We didn't rent a golf cart the first visit, due to the long cart ride to Spanish Springs. After visiting six times now, and since I play golf, I prefer any area off Morse Blvd. You have access to more championship courses right on Morse or just off. (Hacienda Hill, Tierra Del Sol, Mallory and Havana are my favorite courses, which is why I prefer Morse Blvd.)

I loved playing Lopez, but would just drive my car there and rent a cart at the course.)

We have stayed in Bonnybrook and Sunset Pointe, and although nice homes it is a long cart ride to anything other than Palmer and Cane Garden.

Another good location is anything along Canal St. Morse is close as well as Cane Garden. (You may can guess that I don't plan on playing Palmer again.)

As previously stated, it really is a personal preference and location depends on what you plan to do most after moving there. If you aren't a golfer and don't plan to be after moving down, then maybe being close to a rec center or regional rec center would be more to your liking. Lots of non-golfing activities at those.

After saying all that, we were looking at homes online today. I looked at a home and she reminded me it was in Winifred (meaning not off Morse). I told her, "You know, if the worst thing we have to do is a long cart, along beautiful tree lined roadways and beautiful flowers is that a bad thing? I think not!"

I agree with the previous post about being close to a town square and being able to hop up for a quick take out sandwich or dinner. Or a short cart ride home after a night of dancing (which we love doing)!!


Best of luck. I've told my DW, since our love affair with TV started in 2005 I don't care where we live (once we move). Just get me down there! The clock is a ticking!!! :1rotfl:

[rubicon]

Given that I hear about many residents who move two or three times within The Villages (TV) I would give careful thought and envision what your lifestyle will be like here based on your lifestyle now.

To my knowledge there are not very many homes in isolated areas, nor away from a street or main highway because TV is pretty much consolidated. Clearly the intent is to build on every square inch of land permissible, and then some.

What activities interest you? What mode of transport do you prefer? Car, cart, bike walking??? For instance I only use my golf cat when I play golf Are you and your spouse socially active or prefer the comforts of home. I have met some folks who are taken aback by what they term too friendly neighbors because they simply are not joiners.

Some folks prefer small vis a vis large homes because they don't want to be tied down to more space than they care to maintain. Some like privacy and buy courtryard villa with a wall in the back to provide some privacy. Others like a view, mash lands or a golf course view

There is not right or wrong only your preferred choice. Most of these questions will answer themselves as you tour TV. good luck and good hunting

[Pturner]

Hi Jack Pine,
For us, being close to pools, rec. centers and shopping is more important than being close to the squares. We prefer the north side for the beautiful mature landscaping and because the homes are further apart and tend to offer more privacy. Since houses aren't built as close together, the neighborhood streets are not as busy. Also, our favorite golf courses (Tierre de Sol, Lopez, Glenview, Hacienda) are on the north side.

However, the rec. centers and country clubs are newer on the south side, which is nice. If one prefers a new home to a resale, the north is not an option. As others have said, everyone's priorities and preferences are different. It's still a good question. Knowing what different people like about different areas, and matching those likes and priorities with your own, can help you consider what might work best for you.

Since you plan to rent for the first few years, it would be ideal to rent in different areas of TV and get your own feel for what's right for you. You might even find, as jgbama suggested, that finding just the right house for you is more important to you than where in TV it is located.

[Schaumburger]

Hi Jack Pine,
For us, being close to pools, rec. centers and shopping is more important than being close to the squares. We prefer the north side for the beautiful mature landscaping and because the homes are further apart and tend to offer more privacy. Since houses aren't built as close together, the neighborhood streets are not as busy. Also, our favorite golf courses (Tierre de Sol, Lopez, Glenview, Hacienda) are on the north side.

However, the rec. centers and country clubs are newer on the south side, which is nice. If one prefers a new home to a resale, the north is not an option. As others have said, everyone's priorities and preferences are different. It's still a good question. Knowing what different people like about different areas, and matching those likes and priorities with your own, can help you consider what might work best for you.

Since you plan to rent for the first few years, it would be ideal to rent in different areas of TV and get your own feel for what's right for you. You might even find, as jgbama suggested, that finding just the right house for you is more important to you than where in TV it is located.

So many excellent posts in this thread. PTurner is so right -- if you can rent in different areas for a few years, I think that would be very helpful. That is what I have done so far -- I've rented in Chatham near Nancy Lopez on the north end of TV, and Sabal Chase, about 1 mile south of Lake Sumter Landing. Don't know where I will rent next, but I will start working on that in a few weeks...I have a few locations I'm pondering...

[784caroline]

Another thing to consider (especially this frosty morning ) is if you are big into landscaping, it can be 2-4 degrees COLDER in the northern most areas of the Villages compared to areas south of 466 or even moreso south of
466A .

[The Village Girl]

Another thing to consider (especially this frosty morning ) is if you are big into landscaping, it can be 2-4 degrees COLDER in the northern most areas of the Villages compared to areas south of 466 or even moreso south of
466A .


You're joking, right?

[jack_pine]

Appreciate all your input. I must say this thread has some of the most thoughtful posts I have read in some time. Thank you so much.

[784caroline]

No not joking...if someone is expecting lush southern floral shrubs...ie heavy into gardening........they should be aware of the temperature differences with in the Villages North and south. It may be trivial (2-4 degrees colder in winter) to you and me but for a serious garderner it would be important.

[The Village Girl]

No not joking...if someone is expecting lush southern floral shrubs...ie heavy into gardening........they should be aware of the temperature differences with in the Villages North and south. It may be trivial (2-4 degrees colder in winter) to you and me but for a serious garderner it would be important.

I wasn't aware of that. Thanks! :)

[Barefoot]

A word on golf course lots...they are much more expensive and some ...I say some..... lots are in fact worth it. But if you buy the wrong GC lot, you will be forever sorry with golf balls hitting your house or landing in your yard or having people walk/trample in your back yard. This is especially true for Executive golf course courses.
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We are big fans of golf course lots for privacy as well as views. You may spend less time at the Town Squares as time passes, and more time relaxing in a lanai or birdcage. If you pick a lot carefully, you won't have to worry about flying golf balls.