The answer to why villagers on average move three times..
 

It has been said that villagers on average move three times and many answers have been given as to why. The logical answer is that villagers moved three times because they could due to a stable six percent appreciation of value on their homes. Current inflated values from COVID may not allow for three moves so I hope I get my purchase right the first time.... Coming soon to a village near you.

My guess...

1st house: Let's not spend too much, buy a small house, see if we like it.
2nd house: Love it here, let's buy hour dream home with a pool.
3rd house: We don't need this much space, we never use the pool. Let's downsize.

Price of my home when up 120K in 10 years. But even if I sell here I won’t gain anything unless I move off bubble. I think when some retires they really down size, notice I said some? For those Some once they get here for while they figured out they need more space. especially in garage that says 1 1/2 but got half house in garage, heater, water heater, half room. So 1 and 1/2 really small 1 car garage plus not to mention small bed rooms and open are that includes kitchen and living room.

I think it is because people move here without throughly investigate the place and after awhile decide to move to another area.

IMHO foolish to buy without renting for at least a month giving yourself time to explore.

From the folks we have met here very few are in their third home, mostly first or second.

I think that this undocumented statement may not be true. In my neighborhood where we have lived for 10 plus years many houses are filled with the original owners. I would say more than 50%. I do believe that the people who did move out have bought at least two or three more homes after they sold here. So maybe this rumor started with those people. Once they move they keep doing it. I would be suspicious, though, of someone telling me that the average Villager moves three times in the Villages and then observe that they work in the real estate business!

No guessing for some..

Death..of spouse downsize.

Our 4 moves no guessing involved.

1. Bought PV as a vaca home 2/2 1165sf
2. Cottage with 2 car garage 3/2 1534sf
3. Designer with 2 car garage & golf cart garage 3/2 1954sf
4. Premier with 800sf garage & golf cart, pool 4/3 2875sf

Reason for all is larger garage.
4th More sf house parents will no longer be capable of living alone, so need 2 primary suites.

Is it our forever home no idea, moving is not an issue for us it is for many.

Life changes so does living arrangements

Older gens seem to have thought process of age in place. Younger seem to have very little issues with changing addresses. After all zero attachment to any houses in TV.

Our up north home has the attachment, on the fence when to sell, but the Lake house has been in the family over 150 years, and will continue to be passed to next gen.

I think it's... Those that move, move an average of three times.

Three moves in T.V. is obvious... Everyone gives up, on the third move...

3
 

Interpretation:

Fool me once, shame on you
Fool me twice, shame on me
Fool me three times, I’m tired, do we have to move again? What’s our address?

downsize for my move and very happy now - frog for sure

Same in my neighbor hood. There may be some people who move several times, but none of my Villager relatives did in 32 years and most of my neighbors are original owners. I think that moving 3 times is simply a myth. Probably good motto for sales. That’s all.

I also agree with HappyDaz, the move 3 times is a myth. I am a relatively new arrival, & I am surrounded by original owners. Some are thinking of moving, (they aren't doing it, & might never) but either out of state to be in an assisted living facility near their children, or out the The Villages into an assisted living facility. I suppose once you arrive at a certain age it is something you think about. Check back in five years to see if any did move.

I've seen people move for all the above reasons PLUS they are chasing the "I'm new to this new area and everybody's my friend and people and neighborhoods are more active".

I also live in village were nearly all brought originally 20 years go. Out of 84 maybe 15 moved elsewhere in villages. Probably 50% had spouse die and moved somewhere. Out that 50 % probably 40% went to assisted living home.

Realtors should have golden metal Award. Sure money maker award! :$::$::$: Bingo! Opps I forgot one :eclipsee_gold_cup:

I'm happy with my neighborhood. If I won or inherited enough money to afford a multi-million-dollar home, I'd probably just tear down this double-wide and roll in an updated model, maybe a tiny bit bigger, and replace the old golf car garage and laundry shed with something more functional. But I wouldn't move. This is too nice an area to want to leave.

We lived in a cyv by a square. Once airbnb arrived, neighbors starting renting their homes or sold them to investors. After 3 years, we grew tired of this and moved. We love our new home and have no plans on moving. We are blessed to be living in a neighborhood full of wonderful people.

Life changes is probably the reason most move. Second, the size of the home is not efficient for their lifestyle. Either too large with lots of maintenance or too small to entertain. Most realize even if you make a profit on your home, the next home you purchase will cost more. So, the MAJORITY stay put.

Realtors often tell buyers that residents move often to hook them into buying. "Don't worry! If you don't like it, you can always move. In fact most Villagers move three times!" is their favorite line. Every buyer has heard it. Makes me wonder if they are trained to repeat the same sales pitch to all.

Yep we are on house number 4… 1 small to see if we liked it we were snowbirds. 2 A larger house but it backed up to Powell Rd which got crazy busy. 3 A 4 br with a pool and spa. The pool was expensive and not used all that much and we made a ton of money on the sale. 4 A 3 BR no pool but a large birdcage area and outdoor kitchen…. Perfect.

We were LIVING THE DREAM Selling our third home, because we needed to make room for parents, who can no longer remember who we are, or where they were 20 minutes ago. Then again we have been in TV since 2007, so 4 houses in 17 years is definitely at slow pace.


You are forgetting One can choose to sell by owner is always a good option. Then again according to our financial advisor and tax accountant, unbelievable income profit every 2-4 years, surpassing stocks, investments, and retirement accounts, is a bonus.

Some create great income, who sell every 2-3 years buy new home and live extremely well on profits, with or without realtor. We know of 7 couples who have moved 4-9 times, always to the next new neighborhood. Then again they are younger age bracket.

Many of the inspection guys keep count on their recurring customers, so far 16 homes is their best customer this year. So we are way down the list for that gold cup honor you so speak of. Unless it the award for taking on parenting of parents

In 42 years of marriage we’ve only lived in 4 houses.
So the idea of ever moving from our current Villages house is low.

If you read OPs tread he hasn’t bought a house yet, 5 years reading looking to buy first house.

Wow! Rather strong with your unnecessary criticism………….

The reason for my post. After 5 years, I would think the poster would have it figured out by now.

I fail to see the "criticism".

Merely an observation of the facts.

Sure 5 years of reading posts would make anyone blindly figure out where to live with little experience boots in.

Then again OP was asking a question of something he heard, and their experience.

Those who have moved more than once have given their experience.
You have been here since 2021, with all those years of experience, Maybe you could include how many times you have moved, and was it for bigger smaller garage or location. That would help answer OPs question.

Many people in my neighborhood were still 1-3 years from retirement when they bought so wouldn't have the luxury to take a full month off from work. Also when we were looking in our Village as it was being built, there were about 10 people trying to buy each house. If I waited a month, I would've ended up in a different location than we wanted.

I bought after spending a week and don't regret it. There's not really a scenario that I can think of that another 3 weeks would've changed my mind one way or another. One thing that I have to say about The Villages is that what you see is what you get for the most part.

I guess as a child I moved a lot. My dad was wanted by the Communist party, we were on the run. Every time you move, you leave people behind. You leave friends, relatives, schoolmates (when you are young). You start over again, it is not fun. The amount of money one makes in a move may be substantial but when you have enough, it no longer means much. It’s the quality of life, not the quality of the house that makes most people happy.

That is so true.

They move three times because they make quick emotional decisions.

I agree. I rented in 2 different areas before I bought.

We rented for 4 years to decide what and where we wanted. happy now close to everything and quiet Forsyth Villas

Bingo !!!!

I overheard a Sales Representative at Sawgrass Sales Office say to some folks that your 5th purchase here is your free one. He must have missed 2008 and what followed

I would think that high income people would be more apt to move several times because they can afford to.

Move so friends and family can't find you!!! 😂

I don't know anyone here that has moved 3 times here and I have lived here for 23 years in the same house and lost 2 spouses. I worked in the Villages for 16 years, so know thousands of people here. I think that it is an urban myth that the average Villager moves three times. We looked over our Designer home plans for 2 years making all the changes we wanted before having our house built and honestly I still love my home. It took us over 2 years to find the perfect lot with no one behind and one that would stay that way. Do your homework, don't rush into anything, pick your location well and there will be no desire to move. My home has gone up just under $400,000 in value in 23 years. Not a bad return.

My rules
 

I had 2 rules it had to have a 2 car and golf cart garage and be above hwy 44 but not too close to hwy 42. This will let you get to lots of activities, shopping and restaurants in about 20 min in a golf cart.

Same for us except 46 years of marriage. Ironically, it’s our biggest (4/3) home out of the four. We raised our three kids in smaller homes in SoCal. They all love to come visit us because they have the whole guest suite to themselves, lol.

100% agree. I always thought people who said villagers average 3 moves was bs.
My neighborhood was built in 09, and the majority on my street are original owners.