Moving to Villages
 

I am currently living in Vero Beach and am planning to move to the Villages. I am going through a divorce and looking forward to a new start.
I am planning to move into a new home, either a spec house or a new build, in a new village.
I am wondering about my timing.
I am attracted to the Villages because of the variety of activities and the friendly people I have encountered on previous visits.
I am looking for input on the timing of my move. I would love to go soon but concerned about the impact of the virus on life up there.
I am living fairly safely here in Vero.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions about the timing?
Thank you

Other than golf and pools everything is mostly closed.

We moved here a couple of months and really like this place but would think if safe at home and not quite ready to move would wait for this to be over.

Welcome in advance, MHEEH!

I'm sure you'll get many helpful answers, but my opinion is that your selection of house and village will be the main factors that control your timeline. If you find a house and lot that are perfect for you, no need to wait! New build prices don't really fluctuate much by season, so buying in summer vs winter isn't critically important. There are discounts/markdowns for certain homes; usually those that are lagging on the market.

The virus has not heavily affected The Villages, imo. The overall number of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are still comparatively low as a percentage of the population. That could change at any time, of course. I personally think closures of some activities and clubs could continue through the end of the year and even beyond. But there are still many things to do and quiet moments of nature to enjoy.

Welcome and enjoy your future adventure. The opinions will be wide on when to move, the virus, etc. Got with your instinct. I've had a number of homes over the past several years, good times and bad and have no regrets. See you when you get here!

Not closed:

Softball
Tennis
Pickleball
Water sports
Air gun ranges
Recreation Centers
Billiards
Shuffleboard
Corn Hole
Bocce
Archery Ranges
The Enrichment Academy Courses
Basketball courts
Beach volleyball
Beach tennis
Platform tennis
Croquet
Polo (in season)
Volleyball
Petanque
Horseshoes
RC Cars and Boats

it's as safe here as any place...as the great majority of folks are practicing social distancing and wearing masks

like anywhere things that were 'inside' are basically on hold (club meetings, theatre and movie houses)...restaurants are open and practicing social distancing

When you are ready to move move. Don't delay due to the pandemic.

Thank you for the correction. We are actually taking advantage of several of the above.

However this place is even better when we can resume activities that are on hold such as concerts and club events.

Most restaurants are open with inside and outside seating. Don't know where the person who says it's mostly closed gets their info....perhaps they don't leave their house so don't have any idea.

Most things are closed. I would wait several years.

Most of the truly important activities ARE NOT closed.

We continue to walk, run, cycle, swim and dance, to feel good and stay healthy.

Rent for six months at least. We did not like TV at all.

What didn't you like about it?

Singles Clubs
 

As a newly single person, you might be interested in joining some of the many singles clubs which offer an opportunity to meet and socialize with other singles. While many activities have been been curtailed - like monthly socials, other activities are still being offered - like golf, pickleball and other (mainly) outdoor activities. It’s not an ideal situation, but it would give you a chance to become a part of the community.

I just moved here (also from Florida).

I would begin my search. Another impact of Covid is everything is slower than normal. Contractors are having trouble getting products from their suppliers, closings are taking longer, etc.

Hopefully, buy the time you build or find a home; get moved and settled, even more will open up!

Why would you say " other than golf and pools everything is mostly closed"? Life in The Villages is quickly returning to "normal". We quite often go out for a round of golf followed by a nice meal INSIDE a restaurant. We are going to church again. Beyond concerts and large gathering events, the rest of The Villages is humming! It's simply a matter of choosing what you choose to do or not do.

Renting would give you opportunities to see and experience before full investment. Also if you have medical issues getting established with doctors may be challenging. Think past the pandemic. You are coming out of a marriage,who will be support systems in a new area? The Villages is wonderful for couples, challenging for singles looking to have new relationships. And fun for those who just want to live and enjoy. You might consider a year rental plenty to be had.

“Laughing”. Where do you live?

Leaving Vero beach for TV......I moved here for the sociability and since the virus that aspect is presently missing here. All the clubs I joined are not allowed to meet. There is no entertainment in the squares. There is some entertainment in some restaurants. I would start your search for a place as if council take time which by the time you do move here there will be a vaccine. Personally I would avoid the newer homes in the south as there are no restaurants there and no entertainment there. Look in proximity to Sumter Landing. Funny I am considering Vero Beach as a place I would move to if things don’t open up here.

Think about a pre owned home. The newer sections lack ample golf and rec services, good food shopping, restaurants, MD offices, malls, auto stores, libraries, etc. It will take years for them to be built, if at all. What your read about them is all hype.
Buy where you can see the things you want and need, not what someone promises will be there.

It ain’t for everyone. People are leaving in droves because they can’t line dance in the Town Squares.

I would expect pricing to go up around 10% in the future. Everything is going up daily. Agree about renting for awhile first, and try living the way you are used to living, and see if it can feel like home.

We already had plans to move here in May and didn’t let the pandemic stop us from doing so. We actually feel safer being in TV than we did when we were still living in metro Atlanta. The number of COVID cases and deaths here is minimal compared to where we were living.

We do look forward to activities being started back, but we have still found other things to do (besides our home renovations) that we enjoy, such as going out to dinner where there is live entertainment outside, taking a long golf cart ride to become even more familiar with TV, going to the pool, exploring the new areas of TV that are being built and next I’m going to start learning to play golf so I can golf with my husband.

Games
 

One of the things I miss most is playing mah jongg and samba in the rec centers. Also, if you are a bridge player, they are not playing duplicate bridge now in the rec centers either and probably won’t be for some time.
We miss the nightly entertainment in the squares and who knows how long it will be until that opens up again. We also miss going to the movies as the theaters are still closed.
Thank goodness we can still play golf.

One of my former neighbors is a master bridge player. He plays online several times a day. As to the comment regarding avoiding the new southern areas, I would take the opposite view. All new people, very few cliques. Younger population not afraid of their own shadow, figuring out safe ways to socialize and have fun. Many of these postings come from people with some kind of axe to grind. Welcome Home !

The Village Real Estate People
 

We bought a home in TV in March and no regrets whatsoever. A word of caution if you are buying new and there is a bond involved. If taking out a mortgage, make sure you tell your realtor and your lending institution whether you will pay the bond up front and in full or not. Otherwise, they will assume you are including the bond money into your mortgage payment. We opted to pay the bond up front and in full. If not, our $31K bond would have resulted in being more like a $55K bond payment over the life of the mortgage.

See post #5

don't wait.

I agree find what you want where you want and do it. Life is to short. Not much difference on risk from one place to another. Most cases it’s your actions that control risk.

Your timing depends on your concern about the virus. Florida is not controlling the amplification of the virus like many of our home states. If you are high risk and your state is putting a damper on this maiming virus, slow your move. Many activities are on hold here, although outside activities like golf, biking, walking, etc. are allowed. Most residents mask if inside or distance. We can’t really get out and meet friends with common interests unless they are those stated. We are ballroom dancers and it has been difficult for us.

Keep in mind that Florida is a tourist state so reinfection from travelers is expected, we have no safe vaccine presently that offers long term protection, and that health care here is middle of the road.

If you do buy in The Villages, find out which grocery stores and pharmacies are nearby for you to use. We are in the new area near Fenney and still don’t have the shopping area that was promised. TV is starting it now. Many of the residents have been here for years. The significance .. stores just north of is have been under stocked frequently. We now shop much further away than planned and travel by car. The golf cart paths between the old and newer sections have yet to be made.

You'll be fine. Now is a good time if you are purchasing in the Fenney area. Once the infrastructure is completed, I have no doubt house prices will increase.

Move
 

For about 15 years we lived about 10 miles south of Vero Beach and were on the Beach. Sure you know where that is. Moved here 13 years ago to get away from the lousy hurricanes. Know Vero Beach very well and use to go to lunch there, etc. Having said this I would seriously recommend you make the move. You can control any exposure to the Virus by managing your activities. Regarding your move, the more important and critical thing is location, location, location. We rented a couple of months for 2 years before making the move and finally settled on what has turned out to be a terrific location. Compared to Vero Beach this is a mecca of activity. If you are bored it is your own fault. I won't try to cover what is still available but rest assured it will keep you busy if you want to be busy?? Regarding purchasing a home. You have the normal choice of New or Previously owned. We decided to go for previous owned and picked an area we liked and then started to follow the real estate as it became available. We lucked out as the previous owners bought and lived here 3 months before moving to a much larger home and therefore left a Designer Home. We made a prompt bid and all was excepted. I can't say enough how critical that it is to look for the right location and then decide where to move to. I don't see any reason to delay making the decision since you are going to go to a Village which will have more than you can utilize. Good Luck. !!!:ho:

The percentage of people in The Villages who have been diagnosed as having the virus is, I believe, 0.5%. That pretty low! Is it that low at Vero Beach?

I’d say, go ahead and buy now IF you see something you love. I did. Why? If you buy a new build, it won’t be ready until next year. If you buy a spec house already built, it will still take a few months to buy and move. If you love outdoor sports, those are available now, and the cooler seasons are not far away. If you like clubs and cards and indoor activities, those are NOT open yet, but I think they will be early next year. Maybe you will have to wait a couple months after you move, but you are already used to that.

There is a LOT more to do in The Villages than most places, so it’s a great place to rejoin the world after a divorce and make friends to replace those who no longer talk to you. (After all, many of us act as though divorce is a contagious disease.)

I'd be more worried about the STD's

It’s like The Love Boat. Only on land. We do have Larry the Lounge Lizard

Only if you’re looking for love in all the wrong places

Good...finally others can get out there, also better view of the band. Nothing personal, but come on people you monopolize the floor on every song and that teacher is so distracting.

Did not like it?
 

Then what are you doing on this site?

he who hesitates is lost.

Great place. Lots of resales available now too. Have been here for six years and thoroughly enjoy this place. Do not hesitate. The virus is everywhere but TV has weathered the storm well. Some activities are limited but will get back to normal. Do not listen to the naysayers, they will just bring you down.