Deluna vs Richmond
 

We are looking at a new home to purchase in TV.
We have never lived here before.
We notice that there are a ton of homes available in DeLuna that have been on the market for a little while. The homes in Richmond seem to sell much quicker.
Deluna seems nice.
Why is Richmond more desirable other than its closer to Brownwood?

If you can wait a little longer, there are some great sites on southern Meggison.

What Village is that in?

Newell, Lake Denham and at least one other. Lots are for sale now in Newell.

Newell is just below Citrus Grove... Lake Denham is farther down Meggison, followed by Dabney...

Only two lots are currently available in Newell. Nothing yet in those other villages......

Deluna is somewhat 'isolated' from the rest of TV and from shopping opportunities. Richmond is the closest village to Brownwood, to several shopping opportunities outside of TV owned properties.

That is not to say Deluna does not have it's charms.

Maybe The Villages app is wrong. If I filter everything out except home sites it’s showing about 45 lots in Newell. Am I looking at it wrong?

I live in DeLuna and I am moving to Richmond.

DeLuna is about 3 miles from Brownwood, either by car over 301 to 44 or by golf cart over the Waterlily Bridge and Richmond Bridge. Richmond is approx 3/4 of a mile to 2 miles from Brownwood (depending on which side you live). Both areas have quick access to the same shopping and dining. I actually prefer the Publix on the Marsh Bend side rather than 44.

The only reason I'm moving is to be able to walk to Brownwood.

As far as existing houses in DeLuna, they just finished up a bunch here as they released the new ones in Richmond so people are trying for the newer neighborhood. Keep in mind that for every person that gets a house in Richmond, there are 10-15 that also bid and lost. The houses in DeLuna will not have that problem.

Richmond is closer to Brownwood but we live in Deluna and enjoy it. We are about a 9-minute nice golf cart ride to Brownwood. We are not far from Magnolia Plaza. We have some real nice walking/ bike riding paths in Deluna. Easy access to the turnpike and I 75. I think some of houses in DeLuna are still for sale due to the downturn in the economy. When all the spec houses in Richmond open up they may have the same issues. Our village realtor told me it is slow right now in new home buying.

I thought every home has 10-20 buyers lined up?

Richmond is the only village at this time that has multiple names per every house released. Each house goes pending same day. Doesn’t mean Newell won’t have wait list also

Deluna has multiple homes for sale with no wait list for certain homes. Richmond has become the hot new village. We turned down 3 lots that would have held our model in Deluna, waiting for Richmond.

It a choice one needs to make. Is the house more important that what village you want to live in, or is the village more important. We lucked out right village, model stretched, and room for a 14x26’ pool, with large birdcage, our back yard looks out at the prairie. Yep there is the turnpike, but we are 4 streets over. Our agent went to the lot at 10am streaming level of noise, and again at 7pm, with no construction noise to make sure we were happy with the lot.

I don’t live there but I heard there is a noise issue with the expressway so close and the people that live there want the developer to build a wall by 75 to lower the noise. Don’t take that as gospel, it’s just what I heard.

You can enjoy all the wonders of the turnpike noise at either location.

Richmond does seem to be Highly desirable and appears to have a magic shield for its locations with close proximity to the Turnpike. You hear negativity about the Roar of the turnpike for properties of DeLuna while Richmond properties near the turnpike are highly sought after. I fail to see the 'magic' of Richmond in spite of its closer proximity to Brownwood. Evidently 'Location' is in the eye of the beholder.

Richmond vs other locations
 

Richmond has:
1. Close proximity to the Brownwood Square - music, restaurants and retail/medical offices.
2. The Buena Vista extension connecting to Meggison - quick access to one of the two main North/South roads in The Villages.
3. Okahumpka Rec Center - Nature walks, fire pit, lake access and a restaurant on the water.
4. New Pitch & Putt on the Southern edge, by the Water Lilly Bridge.
5. Easy access South to Sawgrass and, when completed, the new Eastport area.

DeLuna
 

Don't know how soon it will happen (was supposed to be by 2028), 301 is to be widened to 4 lanes and the turnpike exchange there to be improved - making for construction nightmares for a while for DeLuna and Fenney.

Check CDD Bond. Not sure what t hey are but that maybe deciding factor.

The newest upcoming villages of Newell, Lake Denham and Dabney are all in Lake County. For some, this could add another decision point as Lake County taxes are somewhat higher than Sumter.

Bonds will vary by neighborhood. Four homes later, three in the "north" and the Marsh Bend is the lowest bond we are paying yet.

What did your sales person tell you? Don’t depend on a third party info on this site!

Richmond is on the same side of the turnpike as the majority of the current Villages, DeLuna is not. The current bridge over the turnpike for carts is convenient to DeLuna but you still have to get across the turnpike for all of the squares and most shopping and golf. The southern area where DeLuna is located will be awesome when Eastport goes in, but that is a few years off. By car to go north from DeLuna, the 301 interchange at the turnpike is just not easy at most times of day. Most of these issues will be fixed with time...

Could be the only reason.

Well gospel needs correcting, it’s the turn pike , not I75. There are many verandas and CYV in Richmond so walls are in place. We are 4 streets over with homes, plus open property before the turnpike. Rumors are created by those who went to the barber shop, with no first hand experience, Or bigger scare tactic from MLS agents who can’t sell new houses, and May want to create a sense of fear to buy preowned, for a sale

No one is spending millions of dollars for sound barriers where the highway existed before the homes were built. Pipedream.

DeLuna
 

Disagree. DeLuna is close to much shopping to Magnolia Plaza and along 301 to 466/466a. Within 15 to 20 minutes is LOTS of shopping opportunities. Love the location of DeLuna!!

Agree. I don't understand it either. Advice to a new homebuyer, spend some time here. Each area has advantages and disadvantages. Do you want easy access to shopping, golf course frontage, medical facilities? You need to decide what is important for your lifestyle. The building is on-going. There will always be a nice new house if that is your preference. Good luck.

It really comes down to your definition of easy access. If you need or want to have a 5-10 golf cart ride to Brownwood, that's fine, I have a 20 minute cart ride from Hammock at Fenney and it doesn't bother me. If I am shopping or going to a medical clinic I'm usually in the car anyway. Sometimes its just good to go sit in the area you want to live and see what it's like. The activity level, noise, traffic. It's all a personal preference along with what you're willing to pay for. What you like is more important to you than what I like for me.... Enjoy your choice...

My Villages Realtor told me there is to be a full-sized bridge from De Luna across the turnpike (i think) that will make getting to Brownwood a lot faster. So if proximity to Brownwood etc. is important to you De Luna might actually be a better option. Richmond is a feeding frenzy right now. But De Luna has more availability and is a beautiful village too!

Deluna
 

We choose Deluna and love it!! Bridge to Brownwood is a 15 minute golf cart ride. Prices are slightly lower then Richmond and Water Lilly is a nice community Center.

Bridge
 

You said it “I think” there will be a bridge for cars across the Turnpike. I strongly believe you misunderstood your Relator. That happens.

The bridge from DeLuna (Water lily) is golf cart only. They are currently building a car/cart bridge across from Sawgrass.

Every Village in TV has pluses and minuses and various charms. It all depends on a person’s likes and dislikes. Will your major activity be golf, pickleball, swimming, shopping, walking, biking or arts and crafts, etc. etc. Is “noise”a bother or must you have peace and quite? Bottom line, due diligence with these things in mind. Finally, remember you can pick your lot and house but not your neighbor. Usually it all works itself out in the end. One last piece of advise, pick out your lot and house in person. We make the mistake of not doing that once - but only once!

We have an extended Lantana for sale in the Village of Virgina Trace (2296 sf). One-quarter mile from Lake Sumter Landing. It was totally renovated in 2019. Roman shower in the master bath, retiled guest bath with frameless door, crown molding throughout with 5 3/4" base. New argon gas doors in lanai and summer kitchen. No transition from LR to lanai. Zulcan gas grill in summer kitchen. All gas stainless steel appliances. Granite counter tops with maple glazed cabinets. New roof 2020. THE BOND IS PAID. 1416 Duncan Dr. Ten minute walk to Lake Sumter Landing. (727) 481-6604.

I didn’t like deluna because of the commercial 301 area, interstate, and the power lines. The homes closer in (further from 301) are more desirable. I think it would have been better if they would have put a tunnel under Warm Springs from deluna to go to Fenney Grill and the golf courses. When Eastport gets developed, it will be a long golf cart ride there too.

Those homes were not available when I made my post. The must have just released a bunch of lots...

South fight! South fight! :1rotfl::boxing2::1rotfl:

I guess this beats the age old North vs South fights...

We are hoping for a Richmond home after being there last June. We won’t arrive for another month though, so not sure what will be available by then. Our reasons for preferring Richmond over DeLuna is no power lines in Richmond, and part of Richmond is a decent distance from the turnpike. Also, we want to stay on the east side of the turnpike and be as close to Brownwood as possible to make my husband’s drive to the model railroad club meetings as close as possible by golf cart. All other southern villages are farther from the “north of 44” villages than Richmond. We aren’t feeling very positive about our chances though. Richmond is HOT!

and soon the food truck wars to begin… lower the bar and tell them it’s been raised ! Who would have thought they would line up for a wet prairie home…

Good luck in your decision-making. There is no easy answer and there will be trade-offs wherever you choose in the Villages. I think the proximity to Brownwood is what gets people excited, but there is a small point to consider - after you are in the Villages for a while, you may find that you spend a lot less time at the town squares than you think, but of course, that differs from Villager to Villager. Both DeLuna and Richmond offer lots of choices. I think turnpike noise is an overrated issue unless you are right next to it, but if that is an issue, I believe DeLuna offers choices that are as far or farther from the turnpike than Richmond. Of course, with Richmond, you will have major streets not too far away — Meggison and 44 — and there may be some limited noise from those busy streets in parts of Richmond. Either DeLuna or Richmond is a great choice in my personal view and you won’t go too wrong either way. As far as proximity to highways, once you have to get into the car to go where you want, that distance is really not an issue to us. If you want to go often to the areas around Spanish Springs, such as Sam’s, BJ’s, Best Buy, etc. both DeLuna and Richmond are not particularly convenient and will require driving as as practical matter. Again, good luck, and take all that you read here, including my comments, with a grain of salt.

Southern Oaks