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Lifestyle Preview
Hi All, I'll be arriving for a lifestyle preview on Tuesday. There is a Realtor who will show me some of the Villa's I picked out as the type I may like.
Do they want to take a person right away to start looking or do you get that day to adjust to TV? I will be checking in and staying in the Brownwood section for five days. I know there is entertainment at the town square at 5pm. Is there a place nearby I could walk to for an easy casual dinner? Thanks in advance |
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We were here three days and didn't get a call. They wait for you to call them many times. The place sells itself. We had no pressure at all. They asked our interests, took us to the Arnold Palmer golf course and showed us an art room and we had to ASK to see houses. The squares are full of restaurants. Be sure to order a glass of that artificially flavored red drink that we used to give our kids. Cool something. Oh wait. You don't have to, you will love it here. Welcome home. |
Lifestyle Preview
Hi New Englander! You can let your real estate agent know when YOU are ready to see homes; you set the timetable, but like previous responder stated-we were never pressured-this place sells itself.
Many good restaurants directly across the street from where you'll be staying. Brownwood Paddock Square has a TooJays which is good, burgers are great at Five Guys, Cody's is o.k. plus there are several other restaurants at Brownwood. Just a heads up: I'm from Cape Cod and the food here is not like back home. All New Englanders miss the food back home! Enjoy your time here. |
If you want a new home you need an official Villages realtor. Used houses are sold by both Yillage and independent reactors. Pick up a Daily Sun and explore. Neither are pushed.
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You'll probably be at Alden Bunglows on Powell Road, which are courtyard villas (CYV). Directly across that 4 lane road is a big darkish brick building, that's MVP Health Club. About 3 doors past them is McAlister's Deli, they are a sort of fast food deli, great place for lunch. To the right of MVP on the edge of the parking lot is Toojays, also a deli but with meals and table service. If you walk in the direction of Toojays and keep walking, an Italian Restaurant will be on your left, a German restaurant on your right, or you turn right and they'll be Gators Dockside (sports bar) known for wings and burgers and just past that on the left is Cody's Roadhouse, known for steaks. The golf cart they'll give you to drive around is a basic rental cart that can usually only go 15 mph. Remember don't drive across Powell Road, look for a tunnel. At the entrance to Alden Bungalows there should be a tunnel to your right as you head toward Publix (grocery store) and one to your left. It would be OK for just cruising around the square, but I wouldn't venture much past that in a golf cart. You won't know the lay-of-the-land and you can see so much more by using your car. Enjoy your stay. |
You DO Have Choices
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Villages agents are not Realtors, however, outside agents are. There is a difference! Villages agents can only show you properties listed with the Villages. Realtors (which are affiliated with a local MLS office and a member of their local Board of Realtors in addition to the National Association of Realtors) can show you all and any brokers' listings. If you want new, then you must go to a Villages' agent. You cannot "deal" on the price of new houses. Otherwise, a Realtor can show you all the rest. In some cases the property might be almost new or hardly lived in. |
I used both MLS, outside realtors with mulitiple listings and VLS for properties listed with the Villages (or the builder) for resale homes. I would not use Gail E of the Villages again as she really not working for the best for me, but herself. She also hung me out dry (a situation). The listing agent or the property worked with me to get things done (repairs, etc.) to make me happy while my own agent who showed me the property, Gail fought with me. As for the MLS agent, I will stay away from Jeff Sz, who is totally unprofessional and he will be mad at you if you do not buy a house from him after he showed you 6 homes! My experiences are fresh. I can provide good names if you PM me. I closed on May 22 with a VLS property with a water view in Polo Ridge.
Do try to enjoy the community while you are there. I had a great time there and made some friends and have great neighbors who are very friendly and helpful. They have keys to my house and watching the house and received furniture for me. My house was built in 2001, not new neighborhood. I heard some people suggest that getting newer communities is better. Well, I think that does not always true. There are plenty of friendly folks every where. I talked to a couple who bought a new home a few years ago. They think their neighbor is not friendly at all. I am still communicating with my neighbors even I am in VA. Look forward to go back soon. I guess, may be you should stop by and waive or talk to the neighbors. I did. Let us know where you land. Bests to you. |
Restaurants at Brownwood
Hi New Englander,
I copied the list of restaurants at Brownwood from The Villages web site, My personal favorites are City Fire, Gator's Dockside, Cody's and Toojays. Enjoy your Lifestyle Preview Visit! :wave: CITY FIRE — 561-2078 FIVE GUYS — 399-5535 WORLD OF BEER — 633-9519 GATOR’S DOCKSIDE — 775-4071 RICCIARDI’S ITALIAN TABLE — 391-9939 SCOOPLES — 750-6263 CODY’S ORIGINAL ROADHOUSE — 430-2996 BAVARIAN BREWHAUS — 399-5516 DUNKIN DONUTS — 689-2007 McALISTER’S DELI — 399-5934 TOOJAY’S GOURMET DELI — 350-2122 |
Hi New Englander,
A very professional, but not pushy Villages realtor is Tony Trussler. Ask for him when you are ready to see homes which would be either new or resales being sold through The Villages. He's from NE and is very thorough and friendly. We're from MA and came in 2010 and live in Pennecamp. Good luck and you'll love it here. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed. We saw quite a lot in one day and then took a day off before looking again and getting better oriented to layout. Buy a $5 map at the Mercantile Bldg or have your agent bring one to you to help you get oriented. Nancy |
Where in New England are you from?
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Thanks to all of you kind folks for your helpful information. But be careful, if you see a confused yankee who's never driven a golf cart before,, steer clear.
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Don't worry about driving a golf cart here. If you can handle Boston area traffic/drivers, you'll be fine! :icon_wink: |
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I've seen Tony every year that we've been here, because we've been invited to all of his 'thank you' lunches, I think that's been five of them. As far as his background, Tony is British and you'll know that the minute he talks. From what he told me, he came over to America around 1977 and settled in the New York area he's a Yankee fan, that I know is for sure. Call the Lake Sumter sales office and ask for Tony Trussler if you don't already have a salesman. |
the lifestyle preview is the only way to check TV out.. great choice. Yes Brownwood has nightly entertainment (as do all the town squares) and brownwood is within walking distance if you are staying at the Alden Bungalows.. As for the sales person showing you things, tell him or her when and how you want to do this - they are no pressure people here
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If you want to see all available preowned homes for sale (other than FSBO's) you may want to contact a Realtor with MLS. As you may know, a Realtor can function as a buyer's agent, a transaction agent or a seller's agent so you might want to let them know how you desire to proceed with them.
As has previously been posted the real estate agents that work through The Villages (VLS) solely represent the developer with regards to the sales of new homes. They are sales agents or brokers licensed by the state of Florida, but not Realtors. On VLS resales (if you can get a VLS agent to show you any), I don't know if it is possible to contract one as a buyer's agent. I suspect they probably represent the seller but possibly may be allowed to function as transaction agents. I would ask. My Villages agent evaded showing me even one resale, even after I made multiple requests to him. He told me he sold mostly new homes and alluded (possibly after winning a sales contest, I really have no idea) to having ridden on one of the developer's private jets. Maybe someone will post here the name of a Villages agent who was happy to show them resales. As I understand it Villages agents receive higher commissions for selling new homes and are likely otherwise incentivized to push spec homes the developer has already built, homes under construction or homes planned to be built soon. I have no problem with that. However I do feel potential buyers should be aware of it. |
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TV realtors
I'm surprised at the experiences of the posters. We worked with Michelle Halloy of The Villages and she showed us everything that related to what we were looking for. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. New, used, no problem.
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An excellent comment and 100% true! |
Well, I'm here and staying at the Alden Bungelos. This is quite a place... Last night I went up to the square and had a beer and listened to the band. Don't know their name but they were good. Lots of folks dancing.
Today my sales rep is taking me to look at some two bedroom villa's. I want one on the newer side. Like built in 2005 to now. It woke up to a pleasant rain this morning and went up to Dunkins at the square. Sitting in the screened lanai writing this drinking coffee. Very peaceful here. Just how I like it. I'm about to give the golf cart a try around my neighborhood. Watch out!!! |
Sorry about the rain but we desperately need it. If you came two weeks ago we looked like a desert. Have fun on your stay. If you get lost just ask someone to help. Most of us have been newbies and the cart path system is both amazing and confusing. When we made our lifestyle I ended up on Buenaventura Vista in the cart by mistake.
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If you look at CYV built in 2005, you'll actually be going north of 466, up around the softball fields and polo grounds. This development moves very fast, if you want to stay in the newer areas, south of 466A, then don't look at any villas built before 2012. The oldest village in the new area would be Sanibel and they didn't break ground there until 2011. |
Not sure if you have ever been to the Villages, but 5 days isn't really enough to experience the lifestyle.
My husband and I visited friends for a week for 3 years. This past year, we rented for the month of January. During that time we fell in love with the lifestyle and purchased a home. Since my husband still teaches, we are only able to be there for the month of January, so the house is a rental the rest of the time. The home is available for rent if you have an interest in staying longer. It is located in the Village of Delmar and minutes from Spanish Springs Village Square. My daughter recently stayed at the house and she walked to the Square. If you are interested, please call or text and you will let you know how to find photos on a website. Jean 585 694 3279 or email jricciuto@rochester.rr.com Hope to hear from you |
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A different lifestyle here in TV. Very laid back and relaxing. You can as much as you want or as little as you want. I'm sure you will love it here! :smiley: |
Well, I took the cart out and I got lost, I mean really lost lol. My realtor had to come and find me. God bless cell phones when you need them.
We looked at patio villas, courtyard villa's and cottage homes. We dicided to look at one more and then call it a day. As soon as I looked around I really liked it. When I looked further I kinda fell in love so to speak. I'm a single guy so the size of a patio villa works for me. I made an offer and we are waiting for the reply. It's a very young patio villa about two miles from Brownwood Square. The wait begins. |
Wow! Sounds like you scarfed the Kool-Aid right down. It only took you a few hours before you made an offer to purchase? And you used a Realtor, not a Villages agent? Congrats!
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Download the free Villages App. You'll never be lost again. Though every time I pull off a cart path someone offers to help if I'm lost.
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Milford
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Well, after some back and forth we met in the middle on the price. The other issue was instead of a 10K deposit they wanted 20K because I asked for a late August closing. They said the home would be off the market for 11 weeks. So I did it. Sept 1st I'll be living in the Village of Pinellas.
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Hmmm... I was just in Milford today!
My wife and I did the Lifestyle in January. We originally planned to check out a number of areas in Florida as possible retirement targets. After three days in TV, the decision was made. We are now just waiting for my wife to reach full retirement age. We still haven't decided on long term rental (really long term!) or purchasing a home. We recently sold our home and are now living in a rental condo, and find we really like the freedom that comes with renting vs. owning. Time will tell. The only thing we know for sure is that we will be in TV eventually! |
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A big health club would be MVP, that's privately owned and it's back at BW. If you know McAlister's Deli and the bicycle shop, MVP right there. It's across from the parking lot from Toojays. Looks like this photo. Stop in the front desk anyday and they give you a tour. They have a special in the Village's Magazine, 7 days free to try the place. It opened in 2013, I've been a member since May of '14. It is huge, offers classes, everything from spinning to yoga, to zumba to weights. It has locker rooms, and individual instructors if you want to pay extra. It's $60 a month for a single. I go there about 5 days a week and I'm really addicted to the place. Since your a single guy, it would give you a lot of opportunities to meet village women. http://www.mvpsportsclubs.com/sites/...nwood_Home.jpg |
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I leave tomorrow. I got a lot to do when I get home. I don't close on the new place till the end of August. |
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We're in Pennecamp since 2010 and had lived in Attleboro MA. You'll love it here. All our friends from MA who came to visit us also bought. When you get here don't forget to join Red Sox Nation. Biggest Red Sox Club in the country. You'll especially love it here when you watch the weather channel next winter and don't have to shovel. Welcome!
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