Advantages of living WAY up north?
 

What's the advantage of living way up north? What are the cons?
We're looking at TV for retirement soon. There's some nice houses and nice neighborhoods up north of St Simons, in the Nancy Lopez/Hwy 42 area.
It seems it's a long way to Spanish Springs, even longer to Lake Sumpter. The Morse compound seems like it cuts off that area from rest of the Villages.

Please, educate me so I don't write off an area from lack of knowledge. Your pros and cons are appreciated!

The Morse compound has nothing to do with traveling through The Villages.

I’ll get my comment in early, before the thread is hijacked as a north/south argument.

Bottom line, plan to stay a few days in each area of the villages, drive around, the feel of the different areas are different. My wife and I knew the area we wanted to buy and where we didn’t want to buy just by spending time there.

Depends on what you want to do. Most people move more than once after they arrive. Up towards First Responders, then yes, everything is a drive. A car ride will take 45 min to drive the length or a cart ride will be a couple of hours. If you pick Middleton, then you drive is just as long.

If you like a pre-owned home with no bond, north of 466A. If you want a new home with a high bond, then go south 44. Center of it all was Sumter area generally back in the early 2000s, now center is roughly 44. Get an actual map from the village office, not what Google determines are the boundaries. If you pick the center, then plan on moving in a few years when the center has moved another ten miles south or east or west. Utilize MLS and VLS listings, they can't cross sell/show.

There is no advantage of one area over another. It's what you think you will enjoy doing vs what you end up actually enjoying. We thought 2 golf carts would be perfect, but ended up with 2 cars since our events/gatherings/friends were too far to ride in a cart.

Thanks for that. We have a lifestyle visit planned, I know the lifestyle homes are all wayyy down south, but it didn't occur to me yet how that plays into getting to know the various parts of town.
We were looking at a 7 day lifestyle. Maybe a 4 day and spend a few 3-4 day trips in rental homes.

I have been looking at 466A, as there's a very high concentration of golf courses, easy access to Sumpter and Brownwood, and not bad to get to Eastport.

But again, I'm seeing some really pretty neighborhoods with bigger lots, no bond, etc. up around Nancy Lopez. Seems like there's good local amenities, but a long way to squares and such.

I see disadvantages, but just want perspective from folks that live up there. There are probably advantages that aren't apparent if you don't live there.

We plan on moving there this summer but plan on renting for a year first and maybe renting forever depending on interest rates. Looking to be in between the sixes 466 and 466A. Would like to be halfway between Sumter and Brownwood.

I did not think they did lifestyle visits for as long as 7 days but maybe that changed? If your wanting to check out the north not sure why you would spend time with the lifestyle visits in an area your not interested in (and what would you be gaining?). Check out the rentals and airbrb’s in the areas you’re interested in first, IMO. Your coming in the off season so rates and availability will be good.

It sounds like you’ve got the best plan. Staying in different areas will really help you get a feel for things, though it does take quite a while to really figure it all out. Good news is, you’ll be so much closer coming in from the Airport being waaaay down south. Have fun and good luck!

Advantage? Less traffic, close to VA, lake Sumter and Spanish springs about same 5 miles or so. Closer to Ocala area. Shopping close to include the Proposed Costco’s at Southern Trace. Disadvantages? If buy Marion county little higher taxes than other counties. Things you may like to do maybe below lake Sumter 7 plus miles. So, basically you have to decide what you want. IMO anything below 466 traffic gets real bad. If that don’t bother you have at it.

I would do that. 4 day rental will be reasonable. Make sure rental comes with golf cart.

Pros - If golf is import to you then you are much closer to lots of both Championship and Executive golfing options than the southern parts of the Villages. In general, the amenities aren’t crowded relative to other areas. Just about everything you could possibly need is relatively close and golf cart accessible. The neighborhoods in the area have mature landscaping, are beautiful, and the traffic isn’t bad and getting exponentially worse because of the rapid growth in other areas.

Cons - Hard to think of any, but I’ll try. If you are hell bent on a new home, not your best option. There have been a few sink holes in the Calumet Grove area. Taxes are higher in Marion County. It’s farther away from the town squares than other northern sections of the Villages.

Thanks for all of that. I don't think I'm interested in way down south. The bonds are insane, and the amenities are a ways off.
I'm thinking about the 466A area due to density of golf courses and amenities/retail. Although anywhere between Spanish Springs and Brownwood is under consideration.

But there's lots of houses for very good prices up above St Simons. It just looks like it's inconveniently far from many things.

WAY up north you get to experience four seasons.

On developers lopez golf course due to retention pond transfer tube failure leaks and suspected irrigation problem? This happens throughout villages. Other parts of villages not immune to that.

The only cons I can think of for the area you describe are higher taxes (Marion County) and the need to memorize ridiculousy long and cumbersome street addresses.

The area between 466 and 466A is the prettiest part of TV and fairly convenient. The most convenient is between 466 and 441/27 because those homes are close to two town squares, several shopping areas, and many businesses in Lady Lake. The areas south of these two are newer and younger. They will be pretty and convenient in time but not yet - except for some of the public areas.

We moved here 5 years ago.

After renting a month decided we wanted to be in the middle so we are just north of 466A. Easy to get to major areas of villages and shopping on 27/441 not that far away. Also we did not have the time to wait on a new build.

If you like to take a walk, be aware there are no walking/biking trails north of Route 44, except for the sidewalks where golf carts whiz by about a foot away from you.

My wife and I love to walk so we always drive south of 44 to enjoy the beautiful trails down there.

We live halfway between Sumter and Spanish Springs and it is nice to have the choice.

Apparently you haven't been to Lake Miona or just south of Sumter landing. There are trails both places.

Living in Fenny area. My observations:

Younger demographic as you go further south. Not a deal breaker, but if you are 65 and all of your neighbors are 85, how much will they want to do with you and what will you have in common? They may also start looking at you as the "young people" that can help them out with the things they can't do anymore, or transportation to their Dr. appointment.

More shopping up north. But if Amazon and Walmart deliver, what do you care? Drive up there once a month if you need that fix.

More square activity. Brownwood and Sawgrass are generally packed. Spanish Springs? Not as much, and look at all of the closed stores.

If down south, you have all of the new things, not to mention Middleton. And Eastport is coming. There is something about looking at young people walking around, and just experiencing a feeling of vibrancy. I don't get that around Spanish Springs.

Closer to Orlando and Clermont. Airport, shopping, and unique restaurants. And personally, I have an antenna in my attic that pulls in all of the Orlando stations for free. Not sure that would work as well up north.

Just my thoughts. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!

We have been to both places and they are nothing compared to the beautiful trails south of 44.

The trails south of 44 allow bikes, so we definitely stay to the right side of those trails. When our grandchildren visited with us, we took them to the trail behind Lake Miona rec center because neither bikes nor dogs are allowed on that trail.

The trail on the south side of Lake Sumter Landing is pretty neat as it goes along the creek, but it hardly qualifies as a real walking trail.

As you point out, with the addition of Middleton and thousands of working families with children, the areas near Eastport are feeling less and less like a like a retirement community.

We like the evolution but others may not appreciate the "vibrancy" and potentially feel more comfortable in the northern areas.

I don't live "way up there", (I live in Poinciana, just north of 466A), but I travel to Lopez, and Churchill Greens fairly frequently, and I find the neighborhoods north of 466, and West of Morse delightful. Nothing wrong with east of Morse, closer to Spanish Springs, but I like west of Morse better.
We very much like being "between the 6s". This place is really big, much bigger than when I was first exposed to it, so spend some time exploring.

Shhhh! Don't share that information. Hubby and I walk on the northern trails daily. Few people know about them and most of the time we have the trail(s)to ourselves.

OP: you should rent in the area for a month and ask the residents what they enjoy. There are PLENTY of amenities. Some not found in the southern area.

Northern part is too far from the squares? Both Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter are less than 6 miles away.

So let's start you off with a new "good" habit: Sumter is spelled Sumter, not Sumpter. Okay that's out of the way.

Next - the upside to Lopez area is that there's less traffic EXCEPT on El Camino Real and the Buena Vista roundabout at the Savannah Center. But you get the Savannah Center, which is a great upside. The MMPs (multi-modal paths) will get you through some of the prettiest areas of the northern half of The Villages. It's close to the hospital and The Villages Health, but far enough away you won't hear ambulances or the medicopter buzzing around all the time. You're closer by car than anyone else to the taqueria on 301 (that's a huge upside, to me). Your newest rec center, First Responders, has free video games. Bonds are all paid, and the developer isn't interested in expanding up there so you don't have to worry about your street becoming a thruway.

Downside - you're far away from everything else by golf cart.

Neutral - it's not THAT far, if you're doing your weekly shopping and want to make a morning or afternoon of it. You can get to Southern Trace for Publix, then to the end of Wedgewood and across for Fresh Market and Petco, pick up a new 6-pack of Hanes for Hers at Marshall's, have lunch at NY Pizza or any of the myriad of restaurants and fast-food joints in the area, and still be home in time for your pickleball game.

Spanish Springs Town Square is only around 20 minutes down El Camino Real by golf cart, 10 by car, Sumter Landing maybe a half hour since you'd be coming in off Stillwater at Buena Vista or 15-20 minutes by car depending on traffic. So if you're looking for live music/dancing and socializing with groups, it's really not that far.

Brownwood and Sawgrass would be a trek.

There are MANY residents in the 50-65 yr old bracket in the north. The squares in the south are crowded because everyone is new. Stores and businesses close throughout the Villages REGULARLY. Have you been to Sawgrass? Not the same as when it opened, is it? Ednas on the green? Not the same!

The walking path beginning at Lake Miona Rec Center has a springy pavement. It is WONDERFUL on the joints. Great stuff.

LOL! Thanks for that. :jester:
Seriously, this is exactly the type of feedback I was looking for. Another thing for the to-do list for lifestyle visit, explore the Nancy Lopez area.

I really appreciate it!

Any hints on amenities not found in the south?
You make a great point, just talking to the local residents.

Thanks again!

Quietest and nicest community in the Northern area has been the village of Santiago, off of El Camino. Have to catch a deal real fast when the homes become available because they seem to sell as soon as they are listed. Probably because folks really like it there and it is a quiet and friendly neighborhood. And it is located in Sumter county, close to shopping, hospital and village center of Spanish Springs. I originally had a smaller home and we decided to upgrade to a Designer model. We were looking South of Rt466 but ended up setting for the Santiago village and we are really glad we did. Just my opinion, but if there are so very few homes for sale in an area, it seems like it is most likely due to it being a choice area.

Avoid the southern areas. Ridiculous bond fees, houses with bare landscaping, little or no med services, little or no shopping, scarce golf courses, etc.

You must not have been “south” in awhile. Our area south of 44 is now 6 years old, landscaping is beautiful and not overgrown and old looking. There are plenty of medical facilities including the emergency room at 44, all the facilities at Brownwood, as well as many independent offices constantly opening. We have 3 new golf courses opening shortly in addition to what we already have, as well as all the new businesses that will be at Eastport. Are there bonds, yes. Some have been paid off but most have not. But you are getting new/newer homes with updated floor plans, new roofs, new heating and cooling, etc. There are many benefits to the more southern areas.

North of 466 the golf carts in a hurry drive on Morse, so the multimodal paths are safe and pleasant. Plus, there are more cut-throughs between neighborhoods, so plenty of walking options. We have near a dozen different 3 mile loops to alternate between. We are extremely happy in the North, but I'm reasonably sure we would have been happy in the South too. The Villages is the place to be!

First there is no Lake Sumpter. You are probably referring to Lake Sumter.

The biggest advantage of being up north is you you are close to everything and far from being south of 44.

There have been at least 6 sinkholes between 466 and 466A. There have been 2 that I know of in the Calumet Grove area - both homes were abutted to a retention pond. Marion and Lake counties are both higher property taxes than Sumter county. About $300/year more per $100,000 of house.

The main advantage of the far north is being able to find a house with full height shade trees in the yard so that you can actually go outdoors in the summer months.

But really what you need to do is look through the list of which sports, clubs, and activities are held at which recreation centers and plot your favorites on a map and then figure out which area makes sense. Most activities have both a north and south option but not all. The more "active" stuff is going to skew south also.

More in the South
 

The south end is amenity rich! Golf is everywhere and there are additional pitch n putts too! There is Brownwood, but now the much larger square under construction, Eastport. Last I checked the north end doesn’t have dragon boat racing? There really isn’t a comparable Sawgrass or Edna’s up North? Further, retail is exploding in the south: Super Target, Outback, Walmart, Hooters…you name it. I’m not sure what the OP is saying. The south is also nice because MCO is 45 minutes or so. We love the southern end.

Good luck in your search. My wife and I are in the northern part of the Villages, Woodbury. We have found that being closer to (outside the bubble) shopping works for us works better. We like being able go to major retailers within 10 to 15 minutes along Rt 27. Yes there is traffic. It comes with the territory. We just shop when it's not as busy. Our neighborhood very neighbor friendly. We both are part of Breakfast groups that meet regularly. There are both Men's, Woman's and couples Golf groups if you like to play Golf. Easy Golf Cart ride to Public's, Mulberry Rec Center, less than 30 minute cart ride to Spanish Springs & Brownwood. We have a neighborhood Christmas party. We enjoy the Squares but not every night. Generally once a week or less. Like most Neighborhoods we have an active AED group that maintains the AED stations within the Neighborhood. As we age this is an attractive aspect. The Bonds on the homes tend to be paid off. Our home is 20+ years old. Newer Roof and Air Conditioning system. Something to consider. It makes a difference when you are shopping for Insurance. Our home is a nice size home and the lot is a little larger than down south. Some of the homes on the market have been updated some have not. Ours was not updated. That gives us the ability to customize the way we want to with out ripping out renovations you don't like. Good Luck in your search.

Please, educate me so I don't write off an area from lack of knowledge. Your pros and cons are appreciated![/QUOTE]

We bought a couple years ago and are up in mulberry Grove. We love riding in our carts with a nice breeze. 20 minutes to SS, 30 minutes to Sumter and 45 to brownwood. We even head down to fenney grill on occasion for a nice lunch. When we go to first responders to play putt putt I often notice nobody is using the pickleball courts, which is not what I hear from posters in the south. In the north I feel young (58/55) and in the south I feel old. We are only part timers, and when/if I ever get to retire full time I probably will change to a bigger house but don't see moving below Sumter. Lots of shopping and dining up in the north, and a lot less traffic.