Is the Villages as great as I hear
 

A friend of mine was just down 2 weeks ago and got sold on the entire idea and bought a $700k home. He's trying to sell me on the entire package, home, lifestyle etc to get me to move down from Myrtle Beach.
Where I'm stuck is If this idea has worked so well can someone explain to me why nobody else has been able to duplicate what's been done?
I also understand that these a bond that needs to be paid off. Is this something that's included with your real estate taxs and thus tax deductible as far as my friends at the IRS are concerned?
Ken

This might wet your appetite for more information.
click here

It really is pretty remarkable. Most of the people are friendly, the community is very clean, your economic-social status is pretty much irrelevant, there are enough activities to keep you occupied seven days a week from at least seven am to nine pm. So, I'd say yes, The Villages deserves the hype. It ain't perfect, but it is definitely pretty darn good.

As to the bond, no, it is not tax deductible. You can purchase a preowned house where the bond is paid off or at least paid down.

As to why it hasn't been duplicated, who knows. Some have tried but not quite succeeded. The surrounding retirement communities all use being close to TV and its stores and facilities as part of their sales pitch. That, to me, speaks volumes.

However, the only way for you to understand this community is to come and visit yourself. Talk to people, go out and about a lot, visit the town squares, look at some houses. I think you'll see why most of us are so enamored with TV.

The bond is paid with your county property taxes, although listed separately on the bill. It is NOT tax deductible though. Sorry!!!!

Perhaps your friend is just expressing how great he feels the Villages are. And perhaps he has been searching for quite some time and finally found a place where all his personal needs are met, not trying to "convince" you to move there. You should investigate all it has to offers and make your own informed decision. Once you have visited, you will know fairly quickly if the "lifestyle" is for you. Maybe not as quickly as you friend did. Good luck.

YES! Come stay a while.

I never wanted to live in Florida.(I did like to vacation here.) I never EVER expected to be so wowed by a place ever.

There is NO catch, which is what I thought when I first came here.

The bond is simply the cost of the infrastructure that is included in the price of homes up north. For example. A new designer home is listed at $270K? just add 24K on for the real price of the home. You can pay off the bond at closing or pay on it like taxes.

It is run so well, because the developers have worked very hard to think of the best solutions and have high standards for planning and maintenance. It is a wonderful example of free enterprise working wonderfully well.

The common area structures are painted yearly and the streets are free of debris in a way I have NEVER seen anywhere else anywhere. The squares are whimsical and lovely to see. The rec centers are decorated in expensive and beautiful things, each with it's own scheme and there are dozens of rec centers. They have pools for youngsters visiting and those for only above thirty years, and all of the water is sparkling and clean and everything is very, very well designed and beautiful.

There are literally thousands of clubs and activities and opportunities to learn and experience things that we didn't have time to enjoy before. The art classes are filled with wonderfully talented people and just beginners. We have several bands and orchestras made up of enormously talented people. We have the Village Voices that is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...F4EE20A8B6B655

I am a huge fan and a very happy villager.

AND I don't work for the developer.

This reminds me of a scripture. Eye has not nor ear heard nor entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him....
The villages is not something you can imagine or believe on someone else's knowing.
You must come get the knowing for yourself.

from my religious education, scriptural Knowing has a meaning that gets you jailed for six months in this county
know someone in the biblical sense - Wiktionary

It's special. I have lived in Florida (grew up in Key West) most of my life and there is nothing else in the state that compares as far as lifestyle.

Some one will always try to help, some one will share your joys and sometimes sadness, and sometimes they leave the light on for you . Come stay and experience for yourself.

There aren't enough words that will convince you to move here until you come and see TV for yourself. Most people don't believe anything, when someone tells them, how wonderful, it is here.......

It is not perfect but as close as you will ever get........

IMHO - Other developers may have tried to replicate this place but it's never been duplicated, because they have fallen way short of Gary Morse's vision. I can't really say why because Gary's vision was just so great and it's residents are extremely grateful as he built such a beautiful place, where older folks can live in a community where one feels they are getting younger everyday, with it's myriad of activities. Gary and his family members thought of just about everything, in planning, an almost perfect community....

TV doesn't need anyone to promote itself, as there are 110,000 residents that love it here, minus a few "crancky pants". We all can't be wrong. :smiley:

BTW - I don't work for the developer, either.......

The people are for the most part nice

It's an awesome place to live. We've been here 15 years and love it !!

Is the Villages as great as I hear?

"GREATER"!!!!

One last thought. The best thing I like about TV is it makes me feel like I am back in the 50's where people seem to care more about their neighbors, and it's community.

There are many wonderful people here!!!

I think most people who move to a retirement community will think there's is the best. Could be for them. Before you buy rent for a few months.

Redwitch, that is a great explanation, honest opinion, fair and balanced.
Very nice!!:bigbow:

I love it and I think those who love it share certain characteristics. If you are outgoing, optimistic, active and enjoy a sense of community, it's wonderful. If you have always belonged to clubs and groups, this is your place. I have friends who are classic introverts and I don't think The Villages would suit them. It would be interesting to do a survey of Myers-Briggs personality types and how they fare here.

Anyone who reads this forum knows Kitty and knows she is sincere.

I believe that she was affirming her love of The Villages in her way.

I think your post was unnecessary.

bump

I second your sentiment Gracie . Thanks for taking the time to think how our kind , most gracious and extremely generous Kittie might feel from such an unwarranted remark being directed her way .

My wife and I always said we would NEVER live in FLORIDA. You won't like it, the weather is terrible and the ice and snow never ends, the people are mean and unfriendly. There is nothing to do, nowhere to go, few restaurants, have to drive forever to get to a golf course. No... You wouldn't like it. :1rotfl:

I, like Gracie, was not big on Florida. I was more intrigued by Arizona. My wife and I resolved to visit several different retirement communities. We visited The Villages first. We were blown away and bought a lot to build right then. Never went to the other visits and never regretted it. It's the LIFESTYLE! Come and spend a week and make your own decision. :-)

The same for me. I had planned to visit several states before deciding on the place that I wanted to retire. I rented a house in The Villages this winter and three weeks after arriving, I bought a home. I guess I'll never get to experience retirement in Texas, New Mexico, or Arizona.

We spent three winters visiting retirement areas in North and South Carolina, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. We both said we would NEVER live in Florida. My wife's brother was staying in Zephyrhills each winter, so in 2012 we went to visit him for a week. On a whim one day, we decided to drive up and see The Villages. We came across 466, crossed the bridge and entered Lake Sumter Landing. It was lunchtime and we found a parking space near Subway. We got sandwiches but there was no place to sit inside. We walked outside, and a man and woman said, "Sit with us. There's room." We talked about dogs, and grandchildren, and family. They were from New York state... we were from New Hampshire. They seemed really nice and friendly, and told us this was the best place they'd ever lived.

After lunch we walked up the street to the square, wandered around and looked out at the water. An hour had passed since we first arrived. We hadn't seen any homes yet, but I turned to Linda and said, "I think we've found it. We've found the place to retire." She responded with, "I was just about to say that."

We went back to Zephyrhills for a few days, thought about it, and talked about it, then drove up to The Villages again. The second time it was just as nice as the first time. We talked to people who were friendly and praised the place. We met Jim McLaughlin in the Lake Sumter sales office. He drove us around and showed us a few houses in different price ranges. We went back to New Hampshire, and put our house up for sale.

It sold, and we returned homeless in the fall. Jim showed us more homes and in October we bought a new house in Charlotte, closed on my birthday, November 13th., and have not regretted our decision for a minute.

There is no way to describe The Villages in words. Even pictures don't do it. You have to visit here and see for yourself. Stay a day... a week... a month. The longer you stay here the more difficult it is to leave.

No, I don't work for the developer, either.

Original Poster Ken, this is a testimonial above that can be told by thousands of people here, not just people who came from the frozen, expensive North, but by people who left Hilton Head and other coastal Carolinas places, too. Cost of living and especially, things to do other than golf and fry on the beach, are a couple of big reasons people come.

Best thing to do is the Lifestyle Preview Plan so you can LIVE it, not be "sold" it. There is no pressure nor sales pitches. The developers have been very wise about letting TV sell itself. THAT is why nobody else has been able to duplicate it! They lived as we did.....born into working for a living and living within their means in order to get ahead in the long term. That provides insight to the buyers and residents as no other method would.

See lifestyle preview plan at The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Retirement Hometown - New Home Sales, Home Resales, Build Your Dream Home, Brownwood Paddock Square It fills up fast.

I too had my reservations about TV; heck, an old cotton and soybean farm boy and retired LEO from Arkansas living around a bunch of rich folk in Florida? My wife, on the other hand, had been everywhere with her DOJ position and could feel at ease with anyone. We had both seen the video and thought "Nope, too rich for our blood". Then, one night back in August, we watched the Golf Channel segment and decided to make the trip there; with me all the while thinking "Nope, too rich for our blood".

Wow, was we surprised! We soon found that, even though there were the "entitled rich", there were many, many common folk just like us. We did the Lifestyle Visit and made the decision that this was where we were going to retire. Bear in mind, we had purchased a lot (8 years ago) on a golf course in Bella Vista, AR to build our retirement home. But, we then realized, that in Arkansas when you get through playing golf, you go home and stare at 4 walls; we didn't want to grow old doing that.

We drank the Kool-Aid, went back to KC and bought our home ONLINE (yep, we never saw it but our realtor looked at it and said it was immaculate), the 1st week of November and closed on it the week of Thanksgiving; we'll be there full time (at least my wife will, I'll be in KC until our home here sells) starting 3/1. We are so looking forward to "living the dream".

Villages a great place move on with life...
 

This was our 3rd trip to the Villages and each time we really enjoyed ourselves. This time we decided it was time to call it "home" and purchased a home in "Bonnybrook" we are going back to Mi to sell and pack up what is left and return to our new home here at the Villages. We are sure it won't be perfect as nothing is, but, confident we will enjoy our new lifestyle.

Congratulations. There's no place like TV!

No matter how excited your friend is, or how he waxes poetic, or how much people tell you about The Villages, you can't comprehend it until you experience it. Come, stay as long as you can, do everything you might want to try. It's even better when you live here and vacation never ends! There are homes and neighborhoods for every person and every pocketbook. Take your time choosing your location. Get near the things you enjoy most. Then live it!

This community takes in 40 square miles in a part of Florida that has great climate. There aren't many places like that for a developer to develop. The big factor is they spare no expense to make this place manicured and beautiful. They don't use every square foot to develop, instead leave large areas natural. What is built is maintained constantly and everything always looks new. There is a large price range of homes to suit everyone and wherever you move into you have access to everywhere. It's like spending the rest of your life in a vacation resort.
As far as the bond is concerned, it is your share of the cost of the sewers, roads, etc which is usually included in the original cost of the home . Here it is a separate bill which you can include in your house payment, pay once a year or pay off. It's not a tax so not deductible.

Is the Villages as great as I hear?

Where I'm stuck is If this idea has worked so well can someone explain to me why nobody else has been able to duplicate what's been done?


It has been tried by many different developers in various places in the U.S. but they never did it on the grand scale like it has been done in TV. Gary Morse thought of everything and what is not here, will be put here, by his children!
Gary Morse was a genius and a master developer. IMHO

Do yourself a favor and come down, and see for yourself. There aren't enough words to explain how beautiful this place is. It's the feeling you get, when you visit.

After your visit, you won't need to be convinced. You will want to move here!!! This place, sells itself.

Could 110,000 people be wrong?

They don't even have Mall Walking here.

Yeah! And we don't need a mall to walk in.

No need to be indoors for walking!!!

.

The lifestyle here is incredible. It is the surrounding areas that concern me. These three County's are the poorest on record in FL.
I lived in SW. FL for well over 10yr. and never heard of the crime like you hear on the news around here.
Plus the fact that the developer has not been very truthful as to when the Final Buildout will come. As long as you are competing against the developer you will never make any money on you investment.

Sumter county used to be one of the worst as far as unemployment in Florida...now it is the best with the lowest unemployment in the whole state.

I read what you said about the truthfulness and the final buildout. What would you do, if it were you and you had all the money you needed for several lifetimes, but had thousands of people working that depended on their work from your company?

Many of us would quit and take our money. I have a sneaking suspicion that Gary Morse's kids are a good deal like him. They must be so proud of this place and so content with the life they have given us villagers and the crews of men and women who have worked for them for decades.

Twice we have talked to the head builder who built our two homes here. Different men, but they both said the same thing. They had worked for Gary Morse since he came from Michigan and they had nothing but good things to say about him. We watched both homes being built.

They try to do their best. They were employed when the rest of the country was in a building stop.

There are all kinds of success and only some is measured in money.

And your comment about crime in southern Florida and here??? Compared to Miami and Orlando??? No comparison.

Maybe what you meant is the crime in Orlando you see on Television.

I never dreamed that I would live in a place that kept me so busy and happy, and live there with thousands of people who worked hard all of their lives and are living like millionaires used to live. It could be so different. No matter so many people wonder....WHAT'S THE CATCH?

No. I don't work for the developers and sadly never met Gary Morse...or his kids.

It's probably even better because what you hear is from the perspective of someone else. There is so much to do here that you will find those things that really appeal to you, and make it special. You gotta see it and feel it to believe it!

Sorry, I totally disagree with your assumptions. Where are the statistics that support your statement? What three areas are you talking about? Possibly Wildwood and? How does that affect the crime rate within TV? I think it is a very safe area as the crime rate is very low! Like any city with a population of 110,000, there will be some crime. I feel very safe here. The city I moved from was the murder capital of the U.S.A at one time.

The developer never had a firm build-out date. As he saw there could be other areas to be developed, being a great business man, he developed them. Gary Morse never mislead anyone! His children will carry his legacy by doing the right thing by TV residents. This place gets better every day.

There have been other posts where some people have claimed TV will be run down after build-out. I don't believe that for one second!!! Gary's children continue to make TV, the top retirement destination. His grandchildren will be brought into the business to further continue his legacy.

We will all be dead and gone and our children will be able to move to TV and still enjoy this paradise and some already have come and decided they wanted to move here!

BTW - I am not related to the developers family.

It's almost funny when people come from major metro areas with huge ghettos they would not set foot in because of simmering/incendiary problems like Ferguson, and yet they condemn TV for being near poor people in surrounding towns.

:ohdear: :ohdear: :ohdear: