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Would you recommend The Villages for me?
We are considering moving to Florida very soon. We have visited there for many years. The Village's was at the top of our list for our retirement location. We have stayed there 3 times over the last 2 years.
Among many things, I enjoy washing/polishing my cars while listening to music, smoking cigars in the yard with a few buds and I have several dogs. I believe in live and let live. I've been following forums, news and comments sections about The Villages. I notice quite often people complaining about their neighbors. Unapproved pavers behind fences, not visible to the street so someone had to look over a fence line. Stickers on mailboxes, gnomes on yards, 2 many dogs, etc. I have a military and police background so I respect rules and laws. However, it seems to me, you must conform to The Villages or you will be hounded by anonymous neighbors, it sounds scary. Are things exaggerated on the forums and news commentaries? I would love to hear opinions/remarks about your experiences. Thank you, Sincerely, Fred & Sonia |
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It really depends on the neighbors in question and how well they get along. We have a few neighbors who bicker often and avoid one another in social settings. I try not to take sides and to remain neutral. I would try to get an idea of what the neighbors are really like once you have a location in mind. It is location, location, location IMHO especially in the Villages. I see you live in Northern VA. Brother used to live in Burke, VA and sister-in-law (his wife) grew up in that area and went to a high school in Alexandria. Some of my friends here in the Villages have moved numerous times around different parts of the Villages looking for just the right fit. We lucked out and found a nice spot in June of 2005 but you do have to make an effort to get along with the people in your area. |
Go with what you have experienced, don't worry about the slim minority of naysayers.
BTW are there no bad neighbors in Virginia? |
Thanks, good advice, location, location
Yea, we lived in Fairfax County for many years then moved to the country in Fauquier County. We've sold our home here and we're moving south in 2 weeks! |
I don’t feel these forums accurately portray the friendly atmosphere I find in the Villages. If you’ve stayed a few times you have probably noticed that most people have the live and let live attitude. Online forums tend to attract those with definite opinions and the desire to share them.
Dogs and retired folks go together. There are studies that show older folks with dogs tend to live longer, as they have someone to exercise with and keep them company. So you wouldn’t be in the minority there. And there are more than a few car clubs with like minded people who apparently take pride in their vehicles like you do. Given your background I think you would fit in well here. |
Oh yeah, bad neighbors can be anywhere. We have been very lucky for the past 17 years in Fauquier County. 6 1/2 wooded acres made for easy going times with the few neighbors we had.
Thanks |
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I have met a lot of retired cops and firemen here in the Villages and almost every other man here has been in the military. And the ones I met usually had a dog or two or three with them. |
My opinion
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TRUTH-I hope you will not be moving in. This place is sort of like apartment living. People close together. Realize, your playing a radio while ?????? the sound does not stop at your property line. From your post, you realize that you will have issues with your neighbors and I expect you know better than people reading your inquiry. |
Read the rules for the community and if they fit into your live and let live and you will be complying with them all is ok. If you do not like the rules then move on.
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Steve |
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Steve |
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I have had old hotrod cars and motorcycles. I have always worked, cleaned, and messed around with them in the driveway and garage with a radio going. I have never had a problem with neighbors complaining. We have lived in two different areas of The Villages. The biggest problem has always been neighbors coming over to watch and talk so you have a hard time getting anything done :) I would not worry.
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It's still a beautiful place, we have dairy farms across the street.
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Thanks to everyone, great responses, we have always enjoyed our times there.
The responses have been reassuring. Thanks, Fred |
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Otherwise the rest of the homes here are packed together like sardines with very little privacy. TOTV Realtors say Villagers move 2-1/2 to 3 times within the Villages while they live here. After almost 5 years here, I'm guessing 50% of those moves are for a larger or smaller homes and 50% are because of privacy issues or neighbor problems. No matter where you live here, my guess is your stated preference on driveway activities will be acceptable to some of your neighbors but will be detested by most of them. You don't mention whether you and you wife like to golf. If you do, and you don't mind playing mostly 9 hole executive courses, then I can recommend this place as Heaven on Earth. If you don't like to golf, then I see no reason to live in The Villages. There are several 55+ communities nearby where you can get better lots and more house for the same money. Also, I'd suggest you get a good local Realtor because I've seen a lot of reasonably priced and really nice homes on 1-1/2 to 2 acres in semi-wooded settings in nearby locations. Good luck to you with your move to Florida. |
Suggest a villa or designer with a fenced in back yard. Dogs can be outside without a leash. That will solve half hour problems.
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You should do a search of previous threads on this forum about the acceptable number of pets in each household in The Villages. You might be limited to having 2 pets per household. |
If you are in a Patio Villa or Courtyard Villa, the cigar smell may gravitate towards your neighbors yards. I personally hate the smell of cigars and it would bother me to smell it if I were sitting on a lanai but I understand that is what you like to do. Polishing cars and listening to music would be difficult in Patio or Courtyard Villa. The driveways are very small and the homes are joined together with a common fence. Unless you can find a corner lot, that may work. You can work with a realtor and let them know what you like to do and hopefully they can steer you towards some homes that may fit your lifestyle. Good Luck and thank you for your service!
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I think you are experiencing the...".What is being hidden from me" syndrome which is akin to buyer remorse, but happens before the purchase. I remember thinking, WHAT AM I MISSING? This place cannot be as it appears. What's the hitch? Where's the scam?
Eleven years later, I am still thinking how lucky we were to find this place. Hope your healthy skepticism is allayed. (There is a house on our street for sale. I think it is far enough down, we wouldn't get any of your cigar smoke.) ;) |
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Some of the deed restrictions say you can only have one dog. Some say you can have up to two dogs. You would not be allowed to have "several" dogs.
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Not true
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As I've said before. These rules are old, and should probably be re-negotiated by the homeowners associations or by specific villages covered by the different restrictions. |
I know many people who moved here with multiple pets and were told the same thing. I have lived here for 6 1/2 years and people are still told to bring their pets but as they lose them they need to have a max of 2.
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Again - what they are TOLD and what is in WRITING are two different things. If you don't get an exception, and one of your three dogs starts acting out, barking at all hours, jumping the wall (for instance if you put a table up against the wall and they climb the table and hop over into the neighbor's yard) - etc. etc. And the neighbor complains, and the Community folks see that you have three dogs - they would be within their rights to tell you to get rid of that dog and not replace it because you're already over the limit.
All's fair til someone complains. |
Yes by all means move to TV. Your personal experience to date is more accurate than the minority negative play here on TOTV.
Keep in mind there are 90,000 members on TOTV (I saw that number some place). How many active participants on TOTV? Somewhere between 100-200 (maybe). For that percentage you need to go to the third decimal point to get a number!!!!!!!! Then let's be generous and allow that 2-4% are negative....across 90,000!?!?!?!?! As can quickly be determined the negative representation here is barely measurable when weighed against the totality of either TOTV or TV total population. C'mon down and join the rest of us in the 98% who enjoy every single waking moment here.....of course mine are limited only to the last 16 year here......:) |
Are you serious
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Headline from the other newspaper just hit "Villages District Office issues notice to pet owners in The Villages". If you want to do the anonymous complaint this would appear to be a good time to test the system. Wonder how many have their grandfather clauses in writing !
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In response to another misconception. The Villages Watch...…..they watch. They don't report anything unless it is a danger or a crime or an accident. If they see your garage door up in the middle of the night they will call you. If they see an accident or a break in they will call law enforcement. They drive up and down the streets checking to see that all is good and will call the right person if a street light is out or a dog is loose. They do not report deed restrictions.. They are helpful ladies and gentlemen. I see them on some sleepless nights as they drive up my street. |
Moving
[QUOTE=Quills;1623629]We are considering moving to Florida very soon. We have visited there for many years. The Village's was at the top of our list for our retirement location. We have stayed there 3 times over the last 2 years.
Among many things, I enjoy washing/polishing my cars while listening to music, smoking cigars in the yard with a few buds and I have several dogs. I believe in live and let live. I've been following forums, news and comments sections about The Villages. I notice quite often people complaining about their neighbors. Unapproved pavers behind fences, not visible to the RESPONSE: Have been here 3 years, want to move soon. You cannot judge a book by its cover? :bigbow: :MOJE_whot: |
[QUOTE=Brawnwy123;1623842]
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My wife and I have stayed at about six over 55 communties in Florida, from the expensive to the reasonable, and The Villages had more to offer than any of the others.
It isn't perfect, nowhere is, but has a whole lot more plusses than the others we tried. Also when you talk about restrictions and moaners, try one of the really up market places. They even tell you how many breaths you can have a day! Go for for it. |
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Sent from my SM-N920R4 using Tapatalk |
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If I wasn't a golfer who is willing to play mostly 9 hole executive courses, I'd be living in Stonecrest right now in a larger, nicer home, on a bigger lot, with an original purchase price that was a lot less than I paid in The Villages. I could still come to the Village Squares, I could still go to concerts at Savannah and Sharon Morse Centers. I could still park at a Rec Center and then ride my bike or go jogging. As a Stonecrest resident I could enjoy all The Villages had to offer except the Rec Center activities, the swimming pools, and the golf courses. Also I couldn't drive my golf cart in to, around, and out of The Villages. (But why anyone our age actually enjoys riding around in a golf cart mystifies me). Based on the lifestyle the OP described, if he and she don't golf, I think they'd do well to check out the other retirement communities in the area. |
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When people say "you are buying the lifestyle" they ain't jokin! P.S. I am probably not your age.. Sent from my SM-N920R4 using Tapatalk |
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