Woodbury and DeSoto
 

Just wondering if anyone can give the pros and cons of living in these two or one of these two particular villages? All answers will be appreciated, thanks.

Woodbury is an older neighborhood while Desoto is 3-4 years old. Both are a bit off the beaten path. Desoto is in a rapidly growing area..Woodbury is not. My vote would be for Desoto..Lots of great facilities and terrific people there..

For an opinion to be valid for you wouldn't you need to know more about the people giving their pluses and minuses?

I live in DeSoto. We built and moved in a little over two years ago. There are many threads on pros and cons of north or south of 44. For me personally we are happy with our choice. I am a biker so I love to ride the multimodal paths and explore. I am also a golfer and like the executive courses here, but the championship courses are at least 30 minutes to an hour cart ride away. If you go by car most are 20 to 30 minutes away. I like the walking paths, Edna’s and all the new things going on down here with the construction of Sawgrass Grove and the new Championship course. Magnolia Plaza is nice and growing with more stores and restaurants. It’s is about a 30 minute car ride to big box stores either in Leesburg or on 441.

If you are sensitive to noise it could be an issue. At certain times you can hear the turnpike and there is a cement factory on 470 you can hear in the morning. It is really a personal choice on what specifically you are looking for in a Village.

I know nothing about Woodbury but live in Fenney and watched them build DeSoto. DeSoto is actually phase II of The Villages of Fenney and both communities are very similar. DeSoto has the archery range, dog park, air gun range and possibly another amenity I'm missing, Fenney is not a duplicate as we have the Putt and Play, sports pool, rec. center, and Fenney Grille. Both communities compliment each other very well. All of that being fairly equal, you might want to consider looking a little further west and north in DeSoto or Fenney as we are on the west side of Fenney north of Fenney way and we don't hear the turnpike or cement plant over here, occasionally if the air is heavy and the wind is blowing from the west we can hear a train whistle at the crossing in Coleman, but not very often, maybe 2 or 3 times per month. One thing you will hear no matter what village you choose to live in are lawn mowers, some early and some late. Good luck with your search.

It is always fun to live in a new home and here it is fun to live in a New Village.

I have just read all of your previous posts and see you haven't ever been here. I love to see reactions from REAL newbies. This place is HUGE. It is now 21 miles north to south and about six miles east to west. You can walk if you are in EXCELLENT shape but it is really hot starting NOW. It was in the mid nineties today. You can use a Golf Cart to get around but many of those who are new drive their car here and use it while they are here. This is a very large place with close to 150,000 residents now. Remember when you visit the new homes, foundation plantings that are small will get twice as big in eighteen months. Remember that people prefer small lots for easy and cheap maintenance.

Remember to tell us when you get here. Come and chat on our front porch if you like. We are all fully vaccinated.

Woodbury is a wonderful village to reside in. Mulberry regional recreation center is there, Veterans services, an outdoor fitness trail, Mulberry dog park, a shaded walking trail, pools, convenient stores and restaurants within a mile, and the First Responders recreation center will be coming soon in that area with even more activities to offer. Woodbury is very dog-friendly and there's mature trees everywhere to provide shade always.
I would also assume that most of the home bonds in that area are paid off as well because it is an older area. We also enjoy the nearby country club(s) dining and the Polo field activities up there as well.
Desoto is also lovely, new, with exciting energy all about.
However...Woodbury is an established neighborhood, wonderful people but more on the quiet side, just my opinion and a general observation from experience.
Spend time in each area and see which one feels more tuned into
you and your desired lifestyle.

Why move to an area that lacks shopping, supermarkets, doctors offices, libraries, Lowes or Home Depot, gas stations, etc.
Willing to wait another give years?

I live in DeSoto. I love it south of 44. I lived north of 44 for 12 years. Loved it up there as well. Depends on if you want preowned or new Come on down

Woodbury is great - in the quiet north end with all services nearby.

I live in Woodbury, only downside is 20-25 minutes to The 2 Squares. On the plus side, houses are lower priced, No Congestion especially in Prime Season, easy access to Groceries and restaurants, Great Golf at Nancy Lopez CC and some really good Executives, No Bond or just a small one left, many house have already replaced Roof & AC, easy to get in and out of the Villages for travel and or Retail shopping. Built in 2003 so many house have turned over so even though an older area, many younger residents.

I live in DeSoto and love the easy access to the Turnpike and I75. I believe this is going to be the place to be in 5 years. We do not have a lot of amenities, shopping, restaurants but they are coming. I do travel out of the bubble often to see family, activities and restaurants so access to the highway is most important to me.

I agree with Bitsee. Come down & get a feel. Don't overlook other "older" areas, especially around Spanish Springs. Be aware of the county in which your house choice sits so that you can make an informed choice regarding things like taxes. A home in Woodbury may be a pleasant surprise.

DeSoto
 

Rent in both places for a month, and it will help you decide. Both places are great, but I went to DeSoto.
Sure there are less stores south, but more are being built. Leesburg is 15 minutes away you can find almost everything there.

I bought a new home in Woodbury almost 4 years ago. I love it’s convenience to 441 and 301. The convenience of the area and the lack of congestion all appealed to me. The nearest square is Spanish Springs and is my favorite of the three. I am very happy with my location. My neighborhood is filled with wonderful people. If it’s nature that appeals to you, it seems that the southern portion is more tropical.

We own in Woodbury and love it! Yes, we do not have all the choices as living in different area's do but I for one love the golf cart ride to go to Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter or Brownwood. I like taking in the scenery and seeing what is new. But that is just me. I like that Woodbury is quiet and easy to get to 441. Just hope you find your forever home and in the area you want.

Stay north of brownwood

Let's see. DeSoto is near Publix, gas stations, lots of doctors, specialists, and dentists right on 44, there are at least 15 restaurants within 10 minutes, the new 24 hour emergency room is right on 44, 15 minutes to the UF Leesburg Hospital and emergency room which is much more important than being close to Lowes or Home Depot, near 5 executive courses and all of the new amenities that are being introduced south of 44. There are not as many people that buy homes because of the nearness to shopping as you might think. Other than a grocery store or drug store how many times a month do you go shopping?

Pros: If you’re disabled veteran and depend on VA Woodberry right next door, several restaurants, grocery store, gas station, and way less traffic. Probably no bonds on homes? Cons way less amenities due to woodberry and piedmont don’t have rec centers, you have to drive to mulberry, Chatham, or way done to saddlebrook or Santiago, but it’s nice golf cart ride without congestion like down south, rarely any cart accidents up there also.

Plus 1

Up north has many more amenities close by!
 

As you can see, people choose to where to live based on their personal needs and wants. There are so many possibilities, and none of them are bad.

When you come to visit, spend time driving around and just looking. Also spend time talking to as many people as you can in as many places as you can. You will find that residents of The Villages are more than willing to tell you all you ever wanted to hear and more.

We began by eliminating areas to reduce the number of choices. Then went from there.

I totally DISAGREE with this post. Unless you are from the BIG CITY, you will not want to be in DeSoto in the heart of all the people and the traffic. Woodbury is such a quiet neighborhood, peaceful and still near most everything offered in The Villages.

Disagree, traffic in ALL of the Villages is nothing compared to other big cities. If you want to see traffic go to Orlando, Tampa, or South Florida.

How many people would be interested in this?

Thank you all for your answers. Will be there next week in Woodbury for a month and if we like the Villages probably another spot for a month. I asked about DeSoto because I saw a few interesting rentals. Also this way we experience North and South. If we still like it we will be looking to lease somewhere for a year, to get a real living there feel as opposed to a vacation feel, then we would look for a more permanent home. Close to supermarket is good, quiet, especially at night, is good. Not a golfer but use gym, enjoy shooting pool, gun range, clubs such as book, trivia, history clubs etc. Looking for non denominational Christian church, wife loves walking, just some idea of area I would like. Both areas sound good from all the replies. Guess I will find out for myself soon enough. Again, thank you all for your replies, appreciated.

Always so surprised when someone says that there’s no doctors offices or a Lowe’s or Home Depot or even a gas station, grocery, in their area.

I go to the doctor once every six months I may go to Lowe’s or Home Depot once every six weeks and a gas station I may visit with my car once every 60 to 70 days. Grocery, couple times a month. As for my gas for my golf cart I go to one of the villages golf cars gas station. I am guessing my life , is more simplified than those who need high traffic big box stores. Thanks to a healthy lifestyle, I don’t need to frequent physicians. Early lifestyle pays for itself, much later in life