An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

I have visited TV several times and think it's a nice place. Because of the growth many retailers have come into the area. But it's over crowed at times. Many people have trouble driving in a safe manner. There is a large bond you have to pay off and yearly assessments. The residents will never own the amenities. And yes there are 100'S of clubs and dozens of pools but how much can one person do in a day? I know I'm not being forced to move there but we are considering Stonecrest just 2 miles up the road. It's gated, about $95.00 a month in fees, no bond, private roads etc. It seems to me I can still use most of what TV has brought in, shops, restaurants, entertainment, etc. without the extra cost of living at TV. I welcome any input you might have on my thoughts.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

441/27 is pretty congested at times. That's the major road which is I believe that one Stonecrest is "2 miles up" from TV. This whole area seems to get a lot of traffic especially when the snowbirds are here. It is a lot better as far as traffic is concerned than many other areas of Florida though. One thing, TV is a lot easier to get lost in for newcomers.

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It is your decision based on the life style you want and of course what you can afford. The crowds in TV will be no different than in Stonecrest or other near by developments come Januray February and march. Traffic...again its not even close to where I came from. The biggest issue is learning how to navigate the round-a-bouts or traffic circles. I will say this while you may be considering living 2 miles away from TV and expect to drive to TV for shopping and entertainment, others want to live "within" 1 mile of a Town Square to be close to the activities. Too many communities we looked at simply had only one golf course and a club house with limited activities. Having the convience to select and partcipate in a variety of activities/clubs in The Villages that is golf cart ride away with little or no traffic, is what TV is all about. You either like it or not. There are many different price levels of homes available and in todays market there are many resales with the Bond paid which would not be an issue.
Good luck in your decision.... the choice is yours but I find it interesting that you even ask your question on "Talk of the Villages" a board dedicated to living in the Villages. I suspect you may get a more positive response from a board dedicated to Stonecrest...OH but they probably dont offer that .... so you are back to square one!

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

If you buy in Sumter County there will be a bond. It is county not Villages. Can you imagine the traffic you will need to go through to visit TV or do your shopping? You need to do what you feel is right for you.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

The bond is not a county thing. It is a village bond, you could buy anywhere else in sumter county and there is no bond. The bond works this way, the developer gets a bond to build the infrastructure and the each house in a given district is assesed a certain amount to pay off the bond. The developer does not have to put out any money to build roads, sewer, electric. cable tv, drainage. Bond amounts increase with each district because each year the cost to build roads and utilities go up.
drd

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

I believe Stonecrest is in Marion County, too, unless I am mistaken. A few days ago a woman at the Doggie Doo Run Run was from there and said it was near the Super Wal-Mart on 441/27.

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DRD - Every builder has a bond in some fashion. Either they include it in the sale price and THEY pay the county or it is a separate item and the home OWNER pays the county. So you need to add the current bond into the sale price of the home at TV. The bottom line is that you need to compare apples to apples in terms of total $ spent for the home you are purchasing in either TV or any other development.

Correct?

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

living near but not inside the villages means you'll need a car to shop, eat or play in tv. one hugh plus of actually living in tv is the option of a golf cart lifestyle with no need to go out into 441 traffic at all.
i drive all over tv choosing a combination of trails and less congested streets.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

So Annie, what state are you coming from? You sound like the Sales office for Stonecrest.
It's really quite simple...if you don't buy in The Villages, you'll always regret it. Although many of the outside communities are nice, they aren't The Villages....just pale imitations.
PS- I do not work for TV. I'm just a regular lucky Villager.

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I would think that non-Villagers cannot join the clubs. That would seem to be a major drawback to living outside TV to me (even though I have yet to find the nerve to even go to a club meeting rofl).

Given the problems that TV has had with NYE and some other events, I'm wondering if some events won't soon be closed to non-Villagers and their guests. That is, the parades, tree and Menorah lightings, etc. That would add an additional reason why TV would be more preferable.

Other reasons: Golf carts; more to do here; friendliness (I have a friend that lives in Del Webb -- she's been there for 2 years and has met one of her neighbors; took her 18 mos to be able to play with her Mah-Jong group). Basically, I've the community to be better overall here than other local retirement villages.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

that's correct non-villagers can't join rec center sponsored clubs or various sports leagues.
you have to live in tv to really join in the lifestyle.
outsiders can visit to shop and eat but tv is more than it's stores and restaurants. it's a community

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

OK, everybody,

Do you think annie is sincere, or is annie promoting Stonecrest?

Keep in mind that she registered at 8:22 a.m. today and posted by 8:27 a.m.

I'm just curious what everybody thinks. :)

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

I find it ironic that some don't want to live here and share the costs,but can't wait to enjoy what the villages has to offer,in the squares and entertainment,etc. :dontknow:

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I think Annie is working on commission for Stonecrest. I'd bet her e-mail address is a phony to.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Frankly, I'm with Rhett -- I don't give a damn. She wants to promote Stonecrest, let her. We know the good that is here and why we are here or want to be here. If we wanted Stonecrest, we would be there or getting info about it. So, this gives us a chance to think about why TV is better than living in surrounding communities and thinking is good for the soul. It's all good.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

I think Annie is for real. We certainly investigated Stonecrest before we bought. And on TOTV I can't imagine that anyone could do a very good job of promoting Stonecrest. If we had anything positive to say, we'd be there and not here. So, annie, ask away. I've looked at both and there was no question in my mind.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

She seems real to me too. But, who can really tell on TOTV especially with a handle from someone who has only posted once??

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

If Annie was from Stonecrest she would know that the monthly fee hasn't been $95 since 2006.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

As an outsider I appreciate any and all information. Who cares if it is a plant. If so it doesn't appear to have been very effective.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Russ
correct, you either pay the bond seperate or it is included in the price of house but it is not a county bond. You could buy a peice of land in sumter county and have a house built or build it yourself and there would be no bond.
drd

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Annie is for real...but she is confused like most of us were when we decided if TV was the place for us. I know it took a close relative of mine 3 years to decide to move to the Villages and they are the ones that introduced us to this life style (thank you)....so the decision is not easy for everyone.
It all comes down to "wants, desire and afford" and all I can say in todays market the afford aspect is really negotiable on many different levels. Annie obviously wants and desires TV (or else she would not keep comming back and looking at this site) so its down to afford. Even that some people can afford but simpy do not want to spend what they think is a large chuck of cash every month or simply for the house itself. I my younger days I compaed it to "YODDLES" and if I got alot of YOUDDLES from buying somethign it was good for me....not necessarily for you.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

If I move to TV, it will be for the following reasons, most of which, in combination, are exclusive to TV:

- The "sense of community" and enthusiam for TV shared by its' residents
- The wide array of clubs, activities, and common interests. Granted, no will join all upteen hundred clubs or activities. The point is that the "critical mass" of folks with shared interests is here. There will be many diverse interests shared by many people in TV that might only be shared by a lone wolf in most other communities.
- The "instant assimilation" that I expect to experience in TV
- It's not a bad "bang for the buck", house-wise and community-wise
- I have been a "City Planner" for 35 years and appreciate the multi-modal transportation network and planning of the mix of land uses in TV. Kudo's!

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

I had only fleeting thoughts about adult communities. Most of the ones I read about and visited were much too expensive and exclusive for my taste and had far fewer amenities. TV has affordable housing, lots of Golf courses, pools, etc. But then again we all know that lol.

Originally I had thought I'd be living in an adult community in Walnut Creek, CA called Rossmore in the San Francisco Bay area. My family already owns a condo there but there are only 3 Golf courses, one movie theater and not nearly the number of amenities and clubs in which a person can participate. I never saw a single adult community with as developed a town square let alone the evening entertainment and vendor concept. I know there are other Golf Cart accessible communities but how many have cart paths that get you to as many retail shops?

TV is definitely the place for me!! 040

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I think Annie is for real, but has not weighed the options. I looked at several communities while trying to make up my mind. Yes the other communities are nice, the homes maybe even give more bang for the buck, but it comes back to ammenities. The cost of golf at one of these communities woukld pay the bond at TV. I am also thinking long term. I really don't plan to move again, and want a place with shopping, medical, banking, church, etc. that I may not be able to drive to in 20 years. Boy am I thinking long term or what? Good Luck Annie, I am sure you will figure it out and find the best fit for you.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

ANNIE IS RIGHT, AND MOST OF YOU CANT HANDLE THE FACT THAT YOU DO NOT LIVE IN A GATED COMMUNITY, THEY CAN NEVER CLOSE OFF THE ROADS IN TV, THEY ARE ALL PUBLIC, IM MOVING TO STONECREST ,I CAN ENJOY ANYTHING I WANT TO IN THE VILLAGES WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY, I SIT NEXT TO PEOPLE IN POOLS ,GOLF WITH GOLFERS WHO DONT OWN IN TV. I DONT HAVE TO DRIVE ON 441 AT ALL TO GET TO TV.. NICE BRIDGE JUST FOR CARTS.
NOW MY REASON FOR LEAVING THE VILLAGES,, I PAID OVER 150.000 DOLLARS FOR MY VILLA WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, I HAVING A 3 BD RM,2BH,2CAR WITHGOLF CART DOOR,BLOCK STOCCO.I WAS ABLE TO CHOOSE EVERYTHING.CHANGE BLUEPRINTS, THE COSTS WITH ALL THE CHANGES,,199.000 AND THE AMMENTIES ARE 96 DOLLARS,THEY ARE CONVERTING THE OLD CLUB HOUSE TO A WORK OUT CENTER,, INCLUDED IN THE 96 DOLLARS. THERE ISNT ANY BOND OR IMPACT FEES EITHER, THE SALES PEOPLE ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND NOT AFFAIRED TO HELP YOU BUILD YOUR HOME LIKE YOU WANT IT.
I LOVE THE VILLAGES, BUT I CANT AMAGINE ANOTHER 30.000 HOMES HERE, THE TURN AROUNDS NEED TO BE TAKEN OUT,.IVE BEEN IN AN OUT OF STONECREST FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, AND ONLY TRAFFIC I SEE IS RESIDENTS, AND LAWN PEOPLE..THE ROADS ARE PRIVATE, AND THEY DONT HAVE A SQUARE THATS TRUE, BUT IF I WANT TO SEE A DOG SHOW, ILL COME TO TV SQUARES...DONT BE TOO HARD ON ME, IM JUST GETTING IN ON THE FUN,, ONE NOTE, THE TOTAL COST OF THE HOUSE IS 199.OOO.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

I would just like to add, how much will your home in STONECREST be worth in say 5 years compared to my home in The Villages. I also get a residents discount at the movie theatres that you don't get. Ha Ha

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Its been said before, you can buy a nicer house for quite a bit cheaper outside The Villages. Our friends got a large villa on a golf course for $125K. (in the Villages, a comparable villa would cost $250+). Their amenities fee includes their lawn care and pest control, and also their workout center. But, they have to drive all the way over here thru the traffic on 27 to go to the Square for entertainment. They can't zip down to SweetBay in their golf cart. I think the golf cart lifestyle is an incredible feature about TV. I can't imagine navigating the traffic on highways when I'm 80, but a golf cart on cart paths I could deal with. Also, they only have one golf course to play, not the huge variety we have, they don't have the free/low cost executive courses, etc. They don't have the beautiful rec centers, art classes, etc.

And frankly, I think some of the developments outside the Villages are getting kind of old and crummy looking. I like that TV is so new. In any event, whatever floats your boat. We've made our choice, and personally I'm happy with The Villages for now.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Yes - I should have said that the bond is either paid to the developer in the price of the house or it is listed separately. The bond is for gross improvements (roads, infrastructure etc.). It is not a county tax.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Would someone please introduce Annie to John leach, They deserve each other............

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You can access the Villages by golf cart from Stonecrest. Stonecrest is next to Wal-Mart on 441 and there is a path from the Wal-Mart to Orange Blossom Hills.

Also, Stonecrest isn't 2 miles from TV. Some homes in Stonecrest are adjacent to some homes in TV. Look at the homes on a map satellite view of the Lake Cty/Marion Cty line East of the Wal-mart on 441. From the main entrance to Stonecrest on 441 to the Morse Blvd entrance to TV on 441 (by car) is about 3/4 Miles.

The reason the residents of Stonecrest, Spruce Creek, Spruce Creek South and other nearby developments and older towns use the TV shopping facilities, squares, golf courses, movies, restaurants, etc., is because the facilities have been made public facilities by the TV developer (they could have easily been gated for TV residents only) who is looking for the sales from as many people as possible. The residents of TV should be encouraging more non-resident people to use the public facilities (like the family is) and spend more money in TV and thereby lowering the cost of living in TV.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

couple of months ago I drove up to the Stone Crest gate and ask for a guest pass to look around . I was told I couldn't have one , when I asked why , I was told that no visitors were allowed in when Garbage Trucks were making their rounds.......
I knew they were blowing smoke at me as I was driving a Garbage Truck.....

They did say they were thinking about changing the name to RUNNER UP RETIRMENT COMMUNITY........ ;D ;D ;D

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Annie posted this morning and already generated 32 responses. Not bad. But I see she seems to have struck a nerve. Everybody's been defensive. No one ever said TV was for everyone--you either like it or you don't. One advantage of the Dell Web communities is they're all built out. You can pretty much see what you're buying into. TV is only 60-70 percent built out and who knows how the final plan will shake out as they develop South of 466A. So far so good but there a little bit of the unknown here. The stores, medical specialists, and restaurants seemed to have caught up with the population explosion of TV. Annie wouldn't have 3/4 of the places to shop and eat without TV. But I was trying to avoid seeming defensive.

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

Maybe you misspelled your name too - FUBAR

Re: An Alternate To Living At The Villages
 

As a new resident of TV I couldn't be happier. We looked all across the country and nothing compares to the friendliness, amenities, activities and sheer beauty of The Villages. I think it would be wise if, some day, they did restrict certain events in the town squares to residents only. I don't like people that criticize something, then want to sneak in to be a part of it. It reminds me of all of our countries enemies that "hate America" but want to go to school here and buy our products. I know that's a dramatic analogy, but I don't like sneaks of any kind. I, for one, love the Villages and will never move, so you're stuck with me folks! lol wav

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So Stonecrest redsidents are pround of their gated community and compare that to paying no bond. I would love to see their expression in a couple of years when they start getting the special assessments to pay for the road maintenance and replacement....not cheap.

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This is the truth--I heard someone say "I would never move to The Villages, the traffic gets worse everytime I go shopping there." DUH :dontknow:

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When we rented in TV, we had ID's that allowed us to do anything that residents could do. It pretty much boiled down to resident gates, Katie Belle's, and the regional rec centers and wireless computer connections at those rec centers. We did not golf but there was an ID number for that, too.

The people working at the regional rec centers were all very nice and very good about checking ID's. While chatting up the locals, I learned that there was a rumor that a busload of ladies from one of the outside communities had to be bounced from a rec center water fitness class. That sounds fair.

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The same will happen to TV in Lake and Marion Counties. The villages homes east of 441 have been around for over 20 years. Due to the light weight traffic usage, the roads there still look pretty good but may have to be resurfaced in about 10 years or so.