Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

OK, I'm sure this has been talked about before, but I'd like to stir the pot again since I've not actually bought there yet.

Interested in both PRO and CON:
Villages vs. Spruce Creek, Stonecrest, et al

My impressions:
- we don't golf, non-issue
- Villages have the great golf cart capability to get anywhere, others have to venture onto highway 27 to visit the churches, restaurants and town center shops
- Villages are higher priced for a comparable dwelling

what else strikes you? Thanks,,, J

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

villages gates are easier to get thru

villages has more clubs with larger membership

villages has more and bigger clubhouses and recreational facilities

villages has 60k population and will grow to 100k versus 3k - 5k for smaller communities

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Villages has TOTV - others don't :bigthumbsup:

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

The number of clubs and activities in The Villages cannot be matched by any other nearby communities. We consider that only a plus, and was the main reason we bought here.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

The people! I have a friend at Stonecrest. She moved in a little over 18 months ago. It took her one year to be invited to play Mah-Jongg with the people there. She still hasn't found a bridge group. She would love to learn pinochle but no offer from Stonecrest residents. It took a long time for her neighbors to start talking to her. Now, this may be her street or whatever. It is not her because, she is a very nice, quiet woman, albeit a little shy.

Here, you're greeted almost before you've pulled in the driveway. People will even offer to help you move in, bring you dinner, etc. You're included in almost everything you want.

So, that's the biggest difference, at least to me.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Our cousins in Spruce Creek South have been there more than 10 years. Although they're happy and have no plans to move, they frequently say, if they had any idea that TV would have developed the way it has over the last 10 years, they'd have bought in TV in a heartbeat. As it is, they're always in TV for one reason or another, either for the music, the restaurants, or the movies.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Yes homes in the villages do cost more, but it has been said here before that the value will increase more and faster. Just look at this forum and how many are wanting to move to TV. Do they want to move to the others? NOOOOO......

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Like you said John you're just stirring the pot and that's OK, but for anyone trying to decide my recommendation is to visit each community you're considering and when you've done that you can make up your own mind. This is not a decision you can leave up to someone else, it will be up to you to decide. It's what we did and the decision for us was easy.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

golfnut, I just like perspectives, and perhaps tips that I didn't catch,

I've visited a lot of 55+ areas, but none of those near TV except TV

just a curious sort

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Reasons I love the Villages:

1. A myriad of activities and groups with special interests.
2. I can get everywhere (activities, shopping, banking) by golf cart.
3. A large choice of pools, some where lunch can be ordered poolside.
4. A LARGE community of friends.
5. The feeling of resort living at a very reasonable cost.
6. Love the golf course view from back lanai.

Reasons a friend is buying in Stonecrest:

1. Needs a larger garage for his "toys".
2. Doesn't participate in activities except golf.
3. Likes the "pasture" he has for scenery from his back lanai.

So, I guess it just comes down to what you want for your lifestyle. The money issue seems irrelevant as both are affordable. TV just offers more of what I like and apparantly what 60,000 others like.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

pm10....http://www.millan.net/minimations/sm...esssmileyf.gif

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

you all wouldn't let me be on the TOTV board if I lived in Spruce Creek? *sigh*
Now THAT would be a real consideration

Villages is still our choice, and about 99% likely, just trying to study and examine.
Several good points above, and my appreciation

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

oshunluva,
www.arcadiavillage.com
manufactured home community south and inland from Sarasota
don't know anything more

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

If you need to ask this question than you should also look into

The Plantations in Leesburg and the Pringle development in Mount Dora. Both very nice but not the Villages.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

My husband and I are trying to sell our home in Indiana so we can move to the villages we checked out On Top of the World also but there was no comparison to the Villages. Everyone at the villages were so friendly on our 3 trips there and we can't wait to get there and start our lives as Villagers. We can't wait to move.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Plain and simple... :bigthumbsup: The Villages... 040 What's not to love!!! :#1:

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

We checked out Plantations a few times. Very nice homes and very close to the Turnpike. Have to drive too far to buy a loaf of bread and/or a half gallon of milk.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

:agree: :agree:

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

I'm about 99.9% sure it's the Villages, I just needed other perspectives
thank you all, I'll be taking a 2nd visit later this year

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

John? I thought you had already bought in Hadley. A Villa? There are three Johns on here and I can't keep them straight. lol

Anyway. I think Stonecrest looks a little shabby and has some WILD colored houses and junky stuff in lawns.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Wait... WHERE? That's where I want to live!
I want to order lunch poolside!
:hot: :hot: :hot: :2excited:

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Harbor Hills offers a very upscale environment, views of the lake at very affordable prices.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

graciegirl,

to try to clear the confusion, I had asked the original question back in January.
We did buy in The Villages in June, there's nothing else comparable (and we did look - a lot)

and in Hemingway

photo-Orange Blossom Country Club pool
 

The Country Club pools serve lunch poolside. LOL They are a priority pool and costs $260 per year. The free adult and family pools you may bring your own food and drink, which is nice also, but I LOVE my pool!!! One reason we picked a house on the historic side is they have the most beautiful pool at Orange Blossom Country Club. http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...nronda/v10.jpg Almost 4 years of resort style living has been INCREDIBLE!!! There are cabanas and umbrella tables to the right of the pool and a tiki bar to the left that are not in the picture. BTW, there is a hot tub behind the waterfall!!.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Thank heavens. I am so glad you ARE my neighbor. I hadn't realized it was an old thread.

Good for you. ...whew. I"m not as dumb as I look...What a relief.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Rok, Ok this is new to me. There are priority pools that cost extra? I thought the country clubs where free. What other things(besides golf) are there that cost extra? Wannabe Benj

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

The country club pools are extra as Rhonda mentioned. They do come 'free' if you are a priority golf member however. With the priority golf membership you get discounts on green fees at the championship courses and it also pays for the household trail fee which you need to ride your cart on the executive courses.

You can search other threads for ideas on if the priority membership will work for you in terms of payback. You can read about the memberships here: http://golfthevillages.com/tee-times/membership.asp


In my opinion the only pool that is worth the extra is the one Rhonda mentioned. Others may have a different opinion.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Wow! Rhonda, that's some pool! I think now that I want to be at Rhonda's pool! Rhonda, let's do lunch!
Do ALL the country clubs serve lunch poolside? If you pay the priority fee can you go to all the country club pools, or do you have to use the one in your own neighborhood? Are there any pools that are open after dark? Do they all have hot tubs? Can you get dinner served poolside, too? If you have houseguests can you take them to the cc pool?

Have I (yet again) managed to get off-topic? :cop:

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Rhonda:

That pool is supposed to be a secret - the newbies would never think of looking in the historic side for the best pool in TV! Now you'll never be able to get a cabana.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Chuck, I get there when they open! Its a 2 minute walk, 1 minute golf cart ride! OK, I will delete the post very very soon, promise!! I like the chat pack here right now and would enjoy meeting some at the pool! With the priority fee, all CC pools are included.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

We visited Stonecrest for their annual community-wide yard sale this past spring. A little more space between houses, but the houses seemed a little on the shabby side and there didn't seem to be a sense of community as we chatted with residents who were selling. The place seemed like what we in the Northeast (and possibly in other parts of the country) call a 'development' or a 'subdivision,' not a 'community.'

As far as TV is concerned, we know why we're here or want to be here. There's just no comparison, but to a great extent I'm preaching to the choir!

'-)

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

I would imagine it wasn't too many years ago when the people in Spruce Creek South, in their site built homes, were lookin down their noses at all the manufactured houses in TV when TV was only East of 441.

What goes around comes around

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Villages is really a close knit community. People here really watch out for each other. We have hundreds of clubs with annual fees of about $10 or less. Each Thursday you will read about a hundred or more of these clubs in the Recreation Newsletter published with the Daily Sun. There are neighborhood pools close by to almost all the homes. The recreation centers have shuffleboard, boccie, pickle ball (sp), and all other kinds of games going on all year long.

Yes, golf is the big thing and if you don't play, you never know, you just might make friends with some who do and find yourself playing a day a week at some point.

Entertainment free every night at the town center; great shopping and restaurant; getting around almost everywhere in golf carts and saving on gas.

I can't even get nearly half of the wonder of living here. I don't think if everyone posted just their favorite things we would hit everything that is great about the Villages. We have been here three years and while I do get irked from time to time I have NEVER regretted moving here.

I found a great church; an excellent doctor and wonderful friends. Can't ask for more.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

uujudy: To the best of my knowledge, all the country club pools serve lunch; don't know about dinner. Once you are a priority member, you can go to all of them and your guests as well. When the guest pass is scanned, it shows they are a guest of a priority member. I joined priority pool just so I can take my guests to the Orange Blossom Pool. It is the most beautiful in the Villages and the water appears to be a little cooler than the other pools. It is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The bathrooms and locker rooms are in desperate need of updating.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Why can't the Developer build a pool complex better than Orange Blossom that was built maybe 20 years ago?

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Fran calls it perfectly. After my 3 years here, I still find myself almost in awe that I stumbled into this wonderful place. Yeah, like Fran said, we all get irked about the little stuff on occasion, but it pales by comparison to what we have. Walk along the boardwalk at LSL around sunset and when you look at the forethought and detail of what we've stepped into, you cannot help but be amazed. Drive the length of Buena Vista and look at the landscaping. Look around and remember that this was not forest, it was pasture land, and look at the giant moss covered trees that were saved. Look at the acres and acres of wetlands and other green in a "housing development" of 70,000 people, areas that support our friendly gators, the gorgeous and quirky sandhill cranes, and plethora of other birds that seem so alien to a midwestern/DC boy like me.

I sure am lucky that back in 2003, someone mentioned to me a strange "retirement" place called The Villages and I followed up on my investigation. Oh, and did I mention that the vast, vast majority of the people I've met here have been just superb, and I've been lucky enough to make some of the best friends I've had in my life.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

Bryant, thanks for answering my many questions. Once I become a priority member I could schedule lunch at a different country club pool each day! Now I need to find a house for us that has very wide halls -- because with all that poolside eating, I'll be getting wider every day! ;)

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

As others have mentioned, the clubs and socializing opportunties are much greater in TV than in Spruce Creek for example. I take art classes at TV Learning College, and its just a 5 minute drive in my golf cart. They do allow outsiders to fill in on the classes after residents have a chance to register, and I remember there was a lady from Spruce creek in one of the classes - she had to pay more money and of course it was probably a half hour drive in her car to get to each class. So there is the convenience factor as well.

Also to consider is facility maintenance. The Villages has very new facilities - the rec rooms and pools are beautiful and seem to be maintained very well. I don't think the facilities at the other communities compare.

But if you don't think you'll use those facilities or join clubs for example, no use paying for that priviledge. The homes are cheaper with nicer lots at the other developments.

Re: Other nearby communities vs. The Villages
 

We looked at homes in "Top of the World " yesterday. It is like comparing apples and oranges. It is much smaller and quieter. The homes are site built and large with a great deal of space. Tons of trees and plants native to the area. They only use energy efficient appliances. They also have only native plants that conserve water. The indoor/outdoor pools were hugh and very well kept. The exercise equipment is new and all this is included with your amenity fee.

Everyone we talked to that lives there now were past Villagers. The theme seemed to be it- was less crowded and no traffic or problem getting to use any facilities. Woodworking club was very active and cheap to join. It has a large Fine Arts building with professional broadway troops coming in. "Annie" was coming. They have classes taught in an education building.

Every window you looked out had trees and squirrels, rabbits, etc.
Beautiful views for everybody. No houses back to back. Beautiful well kept public facilities. They say you can go everywhere on a golf cart except for one small area. You use the real city of Ocala for most your shopping etc.

Now before I get bashed and beat up again...this is NOT SAYING ANYTHING BAD about The Villages. It all depends on what a person likes. They are just very different. One is small and quiet. One is big and has alot activity and people. So I won't get bashed for not responding...I am going to be gone all day. Let's just say I hope I won't get bashed. :)