Making our first visit to The Villages
 

My husband has retired before me, and he was the first to discover The Villages. I will be honest, when he brought up the subject I was less than overwhelmed by the prospect of moving to a "retirement" community. Being the team player that I am, though, I watched the video he sent for. I started perusing the website. THEN - I got the itch too. It became all we talked about...we became obsessed.

We have scheduled our Lifestyle visit, but it is not until November. We are an impatient duo so we are going up on our own this weekend! We can't wait! We feel like a couple of kids planning our first trip to Disney World:-) :2excited:

It is only for the weekend so I am not really sure we can get too much accomplished. But it doesn't matter - we are going to The Villages!!!
Any tips for a short first timer visit?

Take a ride to the squares to Spanish Springs, to Lake Sumter and to Brownwood. It will give you an overview of the size and the areas.

Take the trolley tour and visit the squares. Visit the rec centers. Rent a golf cart and ride around. The time will go fast.

Talk to everyone you come in contact with and ask questions.

Be prepared to be blown away by the beauty of TV and it's friendly people.

Bring your checkbook.

Take the trolley ride from the sales center. It takes you all over the Villages and is a fun ride that gives you a great tour of the Villages. I think it costs $2.00
There is no sales involved with this ride. We took it even after we had lived here 4 years and still loved it!

Wow, you "Village People" are fast! And incredibly helpful! Thanks for the tips. Can't wait to be neighbors :-)

You will find this forum is your most valuable resource. Ask a question, any question, and someone will answer within five minutes, generally less. Amazing. And whatever the sales people tell you, the people on this forum can expound upon and will give you real life application.

Greg beat me to it. Bring your checkbook !

We have taken the trolley tour several times and have never had to pay. Is this something new?

You have to read the title to this thread very carefully.......................

So... add parking at Sunset Point to their list of things to do :laugh:

Checkbook ?????
 

My wife and I came down from TN in March for the Life Style. We promised each other it would be exploratory. We came home the proud owner of a cottage in Sanibel. Furniture buying trip in May. Then another trip over the 4th of July and we came home proud owners of a lot in Fernandina. All I can tell you is, "Be Prepared". It's the most impulsive thing we have ever done, and still NO regrets !!! Bring a bag of money:pepper2:

After I did an exploratory visit in April to see our friends who have lived in TV for a couple of years, my husband and I scheduled a Lifestyle visit over July 4th weekend. We also came home the proud "owners" of a lot in Fernandina (205.124). We won't be down until mid-November for our Design mtg, but are anxiously counting the days! As it has been stated on TOTV many times, there is no pressure - TV sells itself! Unbelievable, but true! I know you will have a wonderful visit!

OH.

If the OP's want to make out. Watch the sunset at the little place off Morse Bridge. I imagine they mean just hugging and kissing. Keep in mind we do have Village Watch. ;).

You are coming "up" so that means another south Florida person?

I say to eat dinner outside at the Lighthouse at Lake Sumter Landing. Then go dance at the square and turn to the person next to you and say. "I'm new here. Do you like it here?".

Try to find litter and trash lying around. You will wear yourself out doing that.

Drive your golfcart over to the area around Buena Vista and Stillwater trail, near LSL. I think that part looks just like I always imagined heaven.

My selection for the most peaceful place in TV. The people who live near there are really fortunate.

The first thing we noticed was all the laughter from the groups sitting outside eating at the restaurants. The "happiness" is addictive. Eat outside at LSL or SS so you can watch others. Go to a couple of open houses. We were there three days before we bought a lot - but I had been researching the area for a year. We closed on Fernandina 208.66 last week and will soon be FROGS!

Take your time buying... we hear many people buy within three days... (and that is okay) but weigh your options! We had a villages realtor, AND a remax realtor... we are closing this Thursday, after 4 months of searching preowned on line... and have found our nest!
There are many links to check out...

virginiatrace.com is great!!!!!!!!!!!

if you email me ( steveanddebir@gmail.com )
we can give you more info...:O)

I coming down for a month next week (with checkbook). It would be nice to make out. Any volunteers?

Cheese!

Making out on first visit? How risqué!

He is confussed....The trolley tour is free and the boat tour is 2 bucks !

The map is five dollars.

A great hamburger, fries and coleslaw at Cane Garden is 8 dollars.

I did read it carefully, and I was disappointed in the content of the message. Shucks.

Making our first visit to The Villages
 

You will TRUELY understand the word "obsessed" once you have visited. My husband, sister-in-law and I did a short Lifestyle Visit. Hubby and I returned eight months later for another brief visit because we became so intrigued. It's killing us that we have to put off purchasing, for various reasons, but it WILL happen. One morning when we were having coffee, we circled activities on the schedule in The Villages Daily Sun, and set off for one of the rec centers. We 'watched' an exercise class and talked to people following their session. We informed people on both visits at the recreation centers that we were visiting, and they took us under their wing and gave us a tour. We walked around both town squares, sat and had an ice cream on a hot day, and a couple asked if they could join us at our table. The conversation took on a life of it's own. We circled pre owned Open Houses in the Village Daily sun, set our GPS and tookoff to look at them, learning that we preferred a Courtyard Villa, and that not all CYV's are exactly the same as the Lifestyle ones. We asked our sales rep to show us new CYV's (our preference because we have two dogs). We walked over to the pool and met more people. We hopped in the golf cart and just drove, drove, drove. One afternoon, we sought out all the dog parks. We sat in the Town Square each night, listened and watched people have fun. There was laughter coming from the restaurants. We explored life long learning, and everything that may be of interest to us, or that's on our bucket list.
I guess, what I'm trying to say is go out, explore, talk, ask questions, and take in the sights. People are friendly,except for the lady that I ticked off because I forgot to turn off the golf cart signal! The information that is offered, ends up informing you of so much more than you bargained for. Most importantly, when you return,continue to learn from TOT. Thanks to all who contribute valuable information and opposing opinions. You have helped my husband and I tremendouly!
Enjoy your trip. I plan on retiring early and catching up with life. Hope to meet someday soon!

:agree: with 2BNTV. If you have time over the weekend, you may want to go to an open house (or two or three open houses). There are open houses every day in The Villages, not just on the weekends. The open houses are listed every day in The Daily Sun and also on The Villages web site. Most people in TV are very happy to answer questions about living in TV. Have fun!

First visit
 

Our first visit was 4yrs ago. We only spent 2days and were instantly hooked. I also recommend the trolley ride (it was free when we took it). Also, make sure you stop at either town square and someone will surely talk to you. Villagers are the best salespeople. I swear when my husband and I go to Cody's (restaurant & bar in Lake Sumter Landing) we always meet couples visiting and asking questions. We are traveling down there right now from our home in upstate NY...should be there today...if you ever want to meet just PM me!!!

Yes, we are from Miami. It is time to "get out of Dodge"!

We definitely want to rent a golf cart this weekend. Any referrals for that? There seem to be several places that rent them...just wondering if one is better than another.
Also, we saw a "pre-owned" home listed on TV website that we thought might be interesting to look at while we are there. Who do you talk to about those? Is it someone in the regular sales office? Anyone on here buy a pre-owned home? We are curious about all options.
I want to go "parking" with my husband again! You do that kind of thing in Miami and I think it would be like asking to get mugged ;-P

Get settled and then absolutely take the trolley ride first! We took it last because we never could quite make the time. I wish we had done it first. It would have saved us time doing things we found were a bit of a waste of our limited time.

Congrats and good luck!

thanks, kbace6! I am soooo excited:-)

I just want to point out something you may not know. We have over 90 thousand residents. Most of the growth has been in the last eight years. We now have a population bigger than Ocala.

We have three Super Walmarts. (My husband always says that because that gives you a better conception.) We have the largest Catholic Parish in Florida and a large hospital...five story? Russ? We have all of the stores: Kohls, Target, Best Buy, MANY, many Publix, Sears, Ace, Home Depot, Lowes, Tuesday Morning, Kirklands, Beals, Belks, Pier One, TjMaxx. etc etc. (somebody HELP me)

Our local newspaper has a different editorial slant than The Miami Herald.

We have pristinely clean streets. 32 executive golf courses and working on the 11th championship course. We have an adult pool(for people over 30) in most new villages and a family pool too. There are literally dozens of pools, all that any of us can use, up 'til dark. We have huge regional rec centers that are each themed with different decor and the finest accessories, if you have nothing else to do, go to any regional rec centers and count the chandeliers. There will be a prize.

I could go on. But I have been a place or two in this old world and this is the absolute "oh my gosh" experience.

If you want to look at resales contact the sales office in Lake Sumter Landing. ( If you prefer a realtor other than TV, Lyle Gant is good)

Oh...and there is no pee in Lake Sumter.

graciegirl, we have no delusions regarding TV. We figured out that it is not REALLY a small town:-) But we must get out of South Florida. It is just not the place I grew up for sure. All of our kids have left except my husband's youngest daughter-but she is a bit of a gypsy (in a good way) so we can't really arrange our life around her's, and my eldest son, who is in the Military and is only here temporary. We want to go someplace where we can have friendly neighbors and possibly not encounter road rage on the way to Publix.

come for the weekend and just relax and enjoy...you will find out things on your own, then you can come for the LS visit....theres no rush

Wish that could be guaranteed................but some of those types slipped thru the checkpoints.:police:

We will remain hopeful ;-)

oh and btw, I am thrilled to know the local paper in TV has a different slant than the Miami Herald. I have to stop reading the Herald...it is going to give me a stroke!

JackieandCharlie, I have a place in the Chicago area and one in Boynton Beach. Love them both. Spent all last winter (for the first time) in Boynton and my neighborhood is truly awesome. Very friendly, supportive and SAFE. Took a drive to TV in October with friends, fell in love wih the friendly people and general atmosphere, and made an appt for a lifestyle visit in May. Had no intention of buying at that time, but wanted to experience what everyone was raving about! The day before I left I became the proud owner of a lot! Had my design team meeting earlier this month and my build started on Monday. How did that happen when I wasn't paying attention??? I close in Dec and cannot wait to get down there. While I would advise you to take your time and check everything out, perhaps rent a bit, see what you like, experience the lifestyle, I would also caution you to bring a checkbook!:sigh:

You are going to Love it.

Tadpole in Training

My husband was sold on TV. I had never been and, if truth be told, was not considering myself a retirement type person. To appease him, I arrived in February to look around. Net net: Left with a deposit on the first GC lot sold in Fernandina in the 208 section 15 minutes after it opened up and a design appointment for Mid march. I can't explain it. I am a very measured person. I have no idea why I did that but...I sure am glad I did.

I have been reading all these replies to my husband over the last couple of days. This morning over coffee we told ourselves that we are going to remain level headed this weekend and not rush to put down $$ on anything until we are sure where we want to be and know for sure what our "must haves" are in a house. Of course that might mean we have to limit our wine consumption while at the Town Square in the evenings ;-)
I wish this site had those thumps up icons that you can use like on Facebook. I really appreciate all of the advice.
"We're going to The Villages"!

Enjoy, a lot to take in. We went for our Lifestyle and bought a new house to be built, and we are closing 11/27, it seems like an adult Disney World.