Neighborhoods-Where to Stay
 

Planning to visit the Villages in December. I'll stay for 10 days, maybe even a month if it's too enjoyable to leave. Which neighborhood should I start out with for the first 10 days? Are others worth staying in or should a golf cart be sufficient to cover the entire area? I could see buying a place there. Thanks.

Is Spanish Springs the ideal starting point?

Wherever you can get a 10 day rental, would be the first choice. As the high season nears, many will only rent for 3 months. Hotels near property would be second choice

After you get here there is a very slim chance of finding another rental to extend your stay, if you're lucky you might find someone that just bought a home to rent and might have the month of December opened but doubtful. In any event I don't think you'll be choosing your neighborhood, you'll have to take what's available. That being said they are all nice.

The lifestyle visit is a place to start but the longest is either 5 or 7 days. Hotels are always an option but you want one that you can get a golf cart to. I know the Hampton in is across the street so you can’t get there.

If you can, I'd try to stay between the 6's (466 & 466A). It's pretty much centrally located, near two town squares (Sumter & Brownwood), and will give you easier access to all the different areas...

10 days....IMHO you're staying in one of the hotels unless you know someone that has a house they rent and will let you in for that short of a visit

good luck

In the fall of 2015, we came from Virginia and stayed in the Hampton Inn for three nights, We did not look at any homes for sale. We just went to the Squares and saw that everyone was just like us, so we decided to move here if we could afford it.

As far as a golf cart is concerned, keep in mind from the Northern limit to the Southern limit , it's 14 miles. Long ride in a cart.

Actually from the southern corner of Monarch Grove to Mulberry Grove, it's 23.17 miles via golf cart.

They now have “extended” life style visits longer than the standard life style visit. But I’m sure they have to be arranged well in advance.

If you want a new house you want to be south of 44, otherwise not sure it matters as you will be going all over.

We rented for a month and could have/should have taken longer.

Lots of people come here buy a house and a year or two or three move elsewhere in the villages.

We rented for 2.5 months and bought our 9 years ago. We are 100% happy and no interest in moving.

We visited friends for 5 years, one year twice and looked at open houses each time. Finally when we were ready we bought. Have owned for 2.5 years but have only been down 10-12 weeks so far.

you have no idea of the magnitude of the villages until you get here. It cannot be explained. You will definitely get lost at some point whether in a car or golf cart. Be prepared. A golf cart to cover the entire area?? Good luck with that

You might want to check out NextDoor website for TV. There are usually several people trying to rent out their homes for a month at a time...
:welcome:

Bear in mind that lots of people on this site do not a clue what they are talking about - the longer mileage north to south is correct the other is not. You can buy a new house in the northern parts and the older side ...there is a new CYV development going in up north and lots of older properties were torn down in the older section and new ones built ...as I recall more than 200 in the last couple of years. You can tour the entire villages in a golf cart (and indeed a few areas off the Villages) but also bear in mind that they (carts) are not that comfortable for longs trips and fairly slow - using a cart to tour the entire villages would require you to rent a gas cart ...if all you are doing is touring then I think an electric is not viable. Watch out for Bond costs when buying ...lack of a bond is one of the advantages of buying preowned or a new built on a preowned lot. I've lived in the Villages for more than 20 years and you will not find anywhere better.

Where are there new courtyard villas being built in the northern area? Also, I believe the mileage would be further than stated earlier as there is all the new building further south than Monarch Grove.

I have to agree with that. Once they build all the land south of 470 including new golf courses, charter schools and the new UF hospital, it will be quite a hike from just north of Center Hill to Mulberry.

I concur with staying between 466 and 466A if available. Gives you easier access to the older north part and newer southern ones. I wouldn't buy until visiting for at least a month, but others have done it fast and are happy with their choice. Good luck!

They are building new CYVs in the same place they tore down the Hacienda Hills country club.

As far as mileage goes, I live up near Spanish Springs and we've done the full tour down Morse over Chitty Chatty bridge to Meggison, around to Brownwood, up Buena Vista back to Sumter an then home. When we're back it's roughly 32 miles on the odometer. We have only been over the turnpike bridge a few times on the cart, so it's possible to probably add another 5-10 miles to that trip depending on how much you cruise around that area to the putt-n-play and whatnot. Not to mention, if you went all the way to the northern extreme of BV, that's another 5-10 miles round trip.

planning on staying, it's really fun. Try Duval

If you have the opportunity - try 3 locations
 

Try 4 locations areas: Spanish Springs/North end, middle between 466 & 466A and 466A to 44 and below 44 that would give you a flavor - but doing it between Nov-Apr is hard. If you come after April staying a week in each area would be great.

ALSO think about what you NEED to access.

ie. If you go to the VA at home below 466A is a LONG ride, below 44 is a 45 minute ride the base hospital is in Gainsville and it might be worth looking at the distance to other VA such as 441 across from Waterman or Clermont that base hospital is Orlando

We have a house in Liberty Park (between the 6s, near Seabreeze rec center) that may be available to rent for part of December. Check out White Pelican vacation rentals.

If Stiffler is still associated with White Pelican you may want to not just walk away but RUN

It definitely IS too enjoyable to leave in terms of weather and everything to do depending on your interests - and I agree with many of the other replies in this thread — however, I do not think 10 days is really sufficient to fully explore, enjoy, learn and experience much of what The Villages has to offer. This place is huge and there is way too much to do to consume in only that period of time.

We became fans ultimately deciding to move after retirement following several visits to friends and family over a period of years.

The Lifestyle visit is definitely a good way to go through Villages Sales & Marketing (Real Estate) department - but may be tough this time of year as others have mentioned.

Respectfully, DB

You may want to hook up with a sales person?!

Sumter Landing.
 

I like the Sumter landing area. Its' 20 minutes by golf cart to Spanish Springs and 23 minutes to Brownwood. I have all the golf courses in between in easy driving distance by golf cart. If being close to just 2 town centers I would pick a location between Brownwood and Sumter landing.

Think about
 

Taking the trolley tours first? You can talk with other people and learn.

The Villages is longer from north to south than the City of Chicago. Best place to stay would be “downtown”—somewhere near CR466.

Some touring with a golf cart might be OK, but going to the more distant locations—almost certainly not unless you have a gas cart and the tolerance for multiple hours a day sitting in a cart seat.

Here’s what we did

Rented for 5 different weeks, in different areas. We ruled out some areas, then REALLY thought we wanted to buy around LSL. Ended up buying near Brownwood.

Everyone has their own likes/dislikes. You need to figure that out. Like someone said earlier, figure out what places are important to you, then go from there.

In order to cover the most ground, you should use an automobile. Ten days is enough if you motor and are motivated to see everything. We did it in five days but nothing below 44 at that time. You can visit all the squares, rec centers and take a good look at all the activities. Really do not know anything about the rental market, you will just have to look on line.

If you want access to everything by golf cart, the area somewhere between Lake Sumter Landing and Brownwood is the most central right now. That will change as time goes on and in a few years, Route 44 will be the center of The Villages.

I would choose close to 466A if you can find a place. Duval, Hemingway, St Charles…nearby SeaBreeze Regional Rec Center.

There are nearly 80 "villages" in The Villages. All have some similarities to the others but at the same time have differences as well: layout, age of homes, age of neighbors, etc. etc. It comes down to personal preference. My guess is that there are many people who have lived here for 20 years or more who have very little experience with any village but their own.

Yes, you can get pretty much everywhere in The Villages in a golf cart but be aware that the cart paths can be confusing to say the least. I walk a lot, and when snowbird season hits the times I am asked for directions by this or that confused cart driver go up exponentially.

New CYV's are being built up near Mulberry ...quite close to the new First Responders Rec center.

You're most likely not get anything inside the villages for 10 days for December. Stay where you think you might want to live. It's a long trek North to South. If you want

Mature neighborhoods with lots of mature trees and landscape and residents: North of 466-Spanish Springs;

Well developed but still maturing, Mixed ages: South of 466-Lake Sumter:

Newborn neighborhoods: Lots of housing and infrastructure construction, Limited Services but developing quickly, Little to no mature landscape, Younger average age populations: South of 466A Brownwood Fenny.

Add to previous comment: Take a trolley tour if you can. Do the one from Spanish Springs for good background and info on Villages as a whole: Some sales pitch but not too much: Then do Lake Sumter and or Brownwood to get a look at that area and facilities. Quite a bit of sales pitch in these but again a good way to get a 1,000 ft perspective of the different areas in very little time. Also just know that prices are exceptionally high right not and if you find something you want be prepared to buy or wait. A year from now things may be different.

If you’re only staying for 7-10 days, you might see if the Marriott Residence Inn at Spanish Springs Town Square is available. Would be a good home base. Just a thought!

I have a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home available to rent from Dec 6th through Dec 25th in the Village of Lynnhaven. It is south of 466 and a 12 minute cart ride to Lake Sumter Landing. The rental includes a gas golf cart. Find me on villagershomes4rent.com; Property # 5819 if you have any interest. :welcome: