South of 466A
 

When we were looking at an open house on our LSP, a realtor (obviously not a villages associate, but a villages resident) told us to avoid buying anything south of 466A or in future villages west of Buena Vista. Said the crime rate in Wildwood was among highest in Fla. and the area could be prone to break-ins and crime. Agree? Disagree? Not trying to start a fight, but something we thought was interesting and perhaps, worth remembering.

There are a lot of areas in Florida with crime issues. As well as the rest of the country. I think many areas surrounding TV would have potential thiefs. I don't think wildwood should be singled out. However I feel very safe in TV, for a number of reasons.
The first think to remember is your neighbors are watching. This is particularly true in newer neighborhoods where everybody is new and it is very easy to make friendships and we lean on each other. They watch us and we watch them if it doesn't look right there is a phone call for help. I remember last year my neighbor had contracted with a cement finisher to add a patio. Our next door neighbor actually stopped the contractor from digging untill he got a hold of our mutual neighbor, who was at the store when the contractor arrived, to verify if the contrator was suppose to be there. That is not all that unuaual.
Secondly it is very hard to get out of the neighbohoods quick and un-noticed. The streets wind all around there are no quick exits. From the gaurd gate to the neighbors to the home watch drivers there are many eyes watching. It's just not an easy target for theives. They are more likely to go elsewhere where they can blend in and dissapear quickly.
That's just my opinion. No facts just observations.

I have also wondered about that area and grew a bit more apprehensive when I saw another post on this forum indicating that a “mall” is planned for Brownwood. I don’t know if this is true or just rumor but, I do hope that the developers are planning to create villages and commercial facilities that will address these concerns.

Doesn't Seem Valid
 

This doesn't seem like a valid concern to me. Lots of areas in TV have had break-ins....not as much as the FL average, but some. They have occurred in areas north, south, east, and west. None of us is immune. We just need to be vigilant...like not putting your trash out 2-3 days ahead of time because you're going to be out of town, not talking about what all you have when you're at the restaurants, etc. If the criminal element wants to operate in TV, they don't have to wait for the new developments because they are more convenient to them, be it Wildwood, Oxford, or any other place. Every place/section is totally accessible and not too far.

Wildwood may appear to be depressed but does not have the worst crime rate in FL. Check it out on this site.
http://www.bestplaces.net/crime/
You can also compare Wildwood to the city you will be moving from.

Hi elevatorman,
That might not be the best source. That link says the 2009 population of TV is 19,236!

disagree...gn

As we have reserved a lot in Buttonwood and will be beginning construction in May, this post had me quite concerned. I feel that the realtor is doing a great disservice to present and future residents of these areas by telling prospective buyers that a particular area of TV could be crime prone. Now I'm not even sure if this area includes Buttonwood, but I'm assuming it does, and unsubstantiated claims like these can unfairly hurt an areas value.
Seeing how these areas are going to be new builds, the realtor will not be able to sell these homes until they become resales and will only be sold by TV sales. Coincidence? Personally I think this is unethical, but maybe I'm the one who's wrong. I do know that as someone who doesn't live there yet (I'm still coming!!!), this could be a reflection on TV as a whole. I think this realtor should prove his claims or issue an apology and stop this sales tactic. If he reads TOTV he can do it here.

I don't know if it would be considered unethical; however, I am usually leery and put off when a sales person bad mouths the competition.

Laryb, congratulations on your purchase and :welcome:. I bet Buttonwood is going to be fabulous. I'm excited for you!

I think all of TV is pretty darn safe

THANKS! I've read your posts along with Gracie, Fumar and all the other regulars and my wife and I can't wait to move down full time and meet all of you. You all make this forum a pleasure to read by your genuine posts. With that being said, how about we change unethical to callous and self-serving?:shrug:

My thoughts are that the used home sales person set you up to buy used. You were told what you were told to keep you from purchasing a new home that this person can't sell you since The Villages pays no commission to outside realtors on new homes. So with what you were told it keeps you thinking used which is all that person can sell you. Just a thought.

Spot on Indy-guy
 

I am sure you are right on Indy-guy. It's amazing how the posts in this web site suddenly become gospel. I think 75,000 plus retired people haven't made a bad decision. I am fairly certain the realator that made that statement can only sell pre-owned homes and is trying to steer potential buyers to his or her market. I wouldn't be at all suprised it local realestate agents actually post this type of garbage on this site. There are a lot of potential home buyers that read this web site, so it's a good place to spread your particular slant on an issue. Unfortunatelly it alarms a lot of worry warts.
I am so looking forward to the next town square near to Wildwood. It should be a great addition to TV an already great community.

Just my humble thoughts...
 

TV will have 3 squares at build out; Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing, and Brownwood. Lake Sumter Landing, based on its location, mostly services residents, guests and some local non-residents. Spanish Springs and the future Brownwood, based on their locations, tend to have a larger number of non-residents from neighboring communities. This does not mean the crime rate will necessarily be higher, but where the population is coming from to service the Squares.

To be clear, I am NOT a realtor, and I agree that the Villages, with the design and control executed by the developers, would likely discourage any crime potential. Just thought I would bring up the statement for discussion, as I was well aware of the bias of the non-villages realtor. I would not be afraid to buy in the area, although when I buy I will likely buy something in the area north of Lake Sumpter Landing because I prefer a resale with a low or no bond, and will not use the realtor in question, for several reasons.

crime rates?
 

Mount Dora's crime rate is higher as is Leesburg, Dunellon, Ocala, Belleview, Dunellon, etc. This will be the Villages not spot building in Wildwood. Since the Vilages of Hadley and Duval are already in that area how many break ins have you heard of? I haven't heard of any.

Brownwood will end Wildwood's unemployment problem
 

The scale of Brownwood -- as both town square and regional shopping destination-- should provide so many jobs that unemployment in Wildwood will be a thing of the past. Sumter County already has the healthiest economy in Florida (all because of TV) -- watch the crime statistics go DOWN, not up, as this area gets built out. BTW, a great new restaurant has opened opposite the Brownwood site on Route 44: The Speckled Butterbean, a southern country buffet with the best fried chicken you'll find anywhere.

I wonder what the mostly "good" people in Wildwood,
 

many who have lived there all their lives, would think of this conversation, from inside "TV bubble".

As has been discussed before on this forum, Wildwood is a nice "old FL" town.
Like all towns it has it's problems, law wise or otherwise.

I am sure the developer over 40 years knows where to invest and where not. I cannot imagine the Morse family (or any responsible business people for that matter) would invest in an area of question.

If the bad mouthing is realtor based, you can be sure it is to influence one and their direction of attention. They are right behind car salesmen, congressmen, senators and any other campaigning politician.

btk

BTK, that needed saying and I applaud you for saying it!:clap2:

Hogwash!!! I would avoid that "Realtor" like the plague. I question if he/she is a true Realtor as their code of ethics would not condone this.

I happen to live north of 466 but I don't feel any safer or more vulnerable than a Wildwood resident.

Negative remaks NOT made by a REALTOR
 

I have just finished reading this complete thread from beginning to end.

I would suggest that each of you who are concerned about "REALTORS" designating certain areas of the Villages as less desirable than others (or more prone to crime) ~ please go back and read the "original" post. NO WHERE does the poster assign those comments about areas south of 466A
as being crime prone to a "REALTOR". In fact, it is clearly stated in the original post, that the remark was made by a "Village Resident" NOT a REALTOR.

Instead of reading the original message, several others just jumped on the bandwagon and added their own comments to a response made in error. This is how things get out of hand and rumors are started. Just an observation that I wanted to share.

opulence:
I re-read this post and line 2 states "a realtor (obviously not a villages associate, but a villages resident) told us"..........

Reads as a resident who is a realtor not employed by villages sales office. What do you think?

Definitely disagree with the realtors comments regarding crime issues in the area. Have lived here for 6 years now. Obviously trying to sell other than villages properties.

I stand corrected - thank you.
 

Chuster - I think you are absolutely right and I stand CORRECTED.

When I read line 2 - I did not see the word "realtor" my brain did not register this word but somehow skimmed right over it. I only saw "obviously not a village associate, but a villages resident" told us. Thank you for pointing this out to me.