pros and cons of buying north or south of 466
 

North of 466 Pros:

Closer to big box stores
Closer to bowling alleys
more trees (this could be a con also, Ha!)
Bond either doesn't exist (Lake Co.) or is already paid off!
and last but not least, you would live closer to ME!...giggle..

just read this forum and you will find most of the complaints and concerns are from the south.
nuff said

Bingo. I'll also add another one. I kept reading in the dog poop threads about people's lawns being irrigated with stinky water (non potable, reclaimed...). North of CR 466, homes are irrigated with potable water. And my water bill is very inexpensive.

I live on the Island in the middle of 466 just in front of Gary's house. They send me out their leftovers after dinner.

You are so cute
 

Who needs Gary's leftovers when you are the best cook on the planet!

Much, much , much less traffic.
Better golf courses.

We are becoming the 'youngest' of all the villages neighborhoods! By virtue of the fact that many of our neighbors are as 'historic' as the neighborhoods are, we grow younger as many of those residents leave us for the true paradise.

South
 

Live South of 466A - no complaints here. Love the drive to get to the big box stores - it's just beautiful through the hugh oak trees on Buena Vista. I don't think it matters where you live in the Villages. What counts most is that you can and do live in the Villages. It's all good here !:MOJE_whot:

They tell me Florida is Gods waiting room.

Don't believe everything ya hear! ;)

isn't this how the civil war started?:jester:

btk

Loving South of 466a as well.

:eclipsee_gold_cup::eclipsee_gold_cup:

I like it all over. It feels good all over. It looks good all over. It is a beautiful blend of residents a bit old, kinda old, and older, and they are all very beautiful to me. I like that fact that they are smarter than the rest of the world because they have handled more "stuff" than the tadpoles.

I like the historic side with it's big trees and big lots and sweet small town feel. I like the near north and the far north and the mid section. The landscaping has grown to the point that it gives privacy from the folks nearby. I like the near south and the far south even those sweet folks who are still a little wet behind the ears and are not too familiar yet with the fact that nobody dresses up here. They will settle in soon.

This my friends and companions, THIS whole place is lower Paradise.

P Turner said it was and we think she is always right.

St. James = Best of both worlds. Halfway between LSL and Brownwood and can easily zip to stores in Spanish Springs area. Life is good! :)

Sorry Dawg, best of both worlds = halfway between LSL and Spanish Springs. Don't have to even think about zipping down to Brownwood until something good actually opens.
:boxing2:

I have been in the Villages for 14 years, have been in every Village, and in my opinon the Historic district is head and shoulders above all the others, too many reasons to document here. Lets start with Trees, Large lots, Golf front, Lake front, less expensive, site built, local police protection, etc, etc.

I live in Duval and while I like it, if I had it to do again, I would go further north.

Yep. When Harold was in charge. You know what they say up north. "Let the Schwartz be with you"

I LIKE that.:bowdown:

We bought in the older section Mira Mesa and love it, the trees are beautiful, most of our neighbors are older, but they are cycling through to greater places. We love being close to the stores and 441, we are close to both squares up this way, it only takes minutes to get to Sumter Landing or Town Square, it is not as busy as the southern areas with carts because of the age of people, but that is a choice and is up to the individual, and what they want. We think it is the best of the best, just like everyone else thinks their neighborhood is, it really depends on what is important to you. We rented up by 42 and knew that area was not for us, too far away from the squares and stores, but if you don't go there much it doesn't really matter, so that is my two cents for what they are worth. You should take walks in areas you find interesting and talk to people if they are out they usually will talk. Good luck with your search.

Agreed!

Either area is fine, but being with neighbors in the same or similar stage of life is important for socializing and meeting friends who like to do the same things.

That's interesting, that if you had to make the decision again, you'd go further north. Why?

it just seems to me there's more close at hand further north. now I have to go to home depot or lowes a lot and it's getting to be a drag. also, it appears you can shop the grocery stores up there a lot easier than at Colony. I just wish some stores like Target, or Home Depot would open up down here. I'm driving a lot these days just to get to stores for everyday things.

[QUOTE=jbdlfan;779114]Much, much , much less traffic.
Better golf courses.[/QUOTE

For north or south???

For the north or the south???

North.
Traffic, even in the high season is a non issue. Most golf courses, in my opinion, are better also. They have had a chance to settle and seem more picturesque. Living next door to Lopez may better explain my bias.....

:1rotfl:

I'm in the North, the winning side :D

I have found where I live to be the perfect blend of being in a quiet neighborhood and close to shopping. I'm starting to find out, it very easy to get to the stores, doctors and activities. I am a short ride down Buena Vista, (very beautiful), to 466 or I can travel east on El Camino Real to get to 441. That's a short trip also. IMHO. After a while, most people don't go to the squares every day, and settle into their routine.

I've heard that people in the South, complaining of not enough shopping and congestion in the supermarkets. I'm sure all that, will work out as more businesses will be built.

Fruitland Park homes are not even built yet.

Bonnie, I hear what you're saying about being close to Grocery Stores and Shopping. We live mid Villages, close to Southern Trace Plaza, and the Library, Publix, Ace Hardware, Walmart, Bealls, etc. Many restaurants are just a five minute golf ride away, so we feel very lucky.

It wasn't good planning because we didn't know enough about our needs. Purely by luck, we ended up in a very good location for us. Fireboy goes RC flying every morning at the Polo Fields. And we're ten minutes from the private dog park, which we use every single day. I think it takes a while of actually living in TV, not just vacationing, to figure out where you want to be located. I guess that's why a lot of people move three times.

Before we purchased, we thought it was important to be close to the Town Squares because we thought we'd be there every day! However after the novelty wore off, we only go occasionally. So for us, it's way more important to be close to shopping. Of course we love the Squares and always take company there.

:agree: and your quote "I think it takes a while of actually living in TV, not just vacationing, to figure out where you want to be located" is absolutely correct. We were lucky to get it right the first time, and it was pure luck because we knew absolutely nothing about TV at the time of purchase!

We agree, pure luck!
 

We love our little exec (Mira Mesa) and Hacienda Lakes and Tierra, Lions golf range, just down the street, The Villages Hospital and Moffit Center (hopefully we will not need), woodworking shop also, and did I mention we have wonderful neighbors, BUT I'm sure that EVERY Village has it's advantages, we just LUCKED OUT!

The question should be qualified. If you are asking based on the present situation then I would say folks north of 466 continue to experience the Lifestyle as it was intended. If you live south of 466 and continuing beyond 466A then you are experiencing real crowding and it is only going to get worse and will compromise the Lifestyle.

We moved here in 2006 just south of 466. I was not anxious like many about the Walmart coming ,etc because I knew 441 would be duplicated on 466 and with that all of the traffic problems.

Eventually that will be the fate of 466A.

I am certain that I am alone on this but I have always preferred a true bedroom community and preferred commercial businesses compartmentalized rather than inter-mingled with the community

This is a good thread. I had not considered some of these things folks are mentioning. Keep 'em comming!

Look at stage in life, i.e. about to retire or recently retired......age under 55 or 60....etc.

(Yes, people under 55 can buy and live here....up to 20% of residents can be under 55 according to federal law allowing "adult communities")

55-year-old newbies may not be happy in a neighborhood where everyone around them retired and bought their place 15-20 years ago..... and are not playing much anymore. Any kind of "play".

A couple age 60 or so just told me about their experience with that. Many of their neighbors are widowed, older folks who don't venture out much and nobody organizes things socially in the neighborhood. I told them they could start by just putting out a flyer for people to come to an evening meet/greet party in the driveway, and everybody brings something plus BYOB.

But on the other hand, thankfully, in our neighborhood widows and divorcees are included in all the social activities and everyone helps them like the good neighbors you'd dream of getting. Many neighborhoods are like this but it begins with somebody who's an organizer and communicator by email, flyers at the door, building a phone/address list of neighbors, etc.

Most Villages have resales available ... lots of people buying larger houses or downsizing, people moving "back home" because of illness or missing their families. Resales tend to bring in a younger crowd and keep life interesting.

As NJbchbum says:

"We are becoming the 'youngest' of all the villages neighborhoods! By virtue of the fact that many of our neighbors are as 'historic' as the neighborhoods are, we grow younger as many of those residents leave us for the true paradise."

the single ladies in my cyv neighborhood have included me in their weekly game nights and although they may be as much as a decade older, I thoroughly enjoy being with them.

I live in Belvedere which was once the epicenter of the Villages . Lake Sumter Landing was just being built and NOTHING existing south of LSL.
This was nice as it was centrally located to all the six country clubs .

The golf courses are all in close proximity. The courses are still within cart driving range.
Occasionally I go to Evans Prairie or Bonifay for variety of courses. However that being said the Courses North of Sumter Landing are more mature, with plenty of shade during the heat of the season .Driving to EP or Bonifay you do notice a lot of traffic going North under the tunnel 466a (and a lesser amount going south). If you prefer a electric cart (your choice) that would limit the variety of courses at your disposal.

BUT FREEDOM OF CHOICE is a great thing!

PROs of living N of 466
- short ride to the two completed squares
- close to LOTS of shopping, all accessible by golf cart
- banks
- post office
Gas stations
- bealls, Fresh Market, Wal- Mart, Target
- great new friends, of all ages. Not all of the folks in my neighborhood are older. Many younger retired folks moving in! We have block parties too!
- mature landscape and beautiful trees.
- no bond

CONs:
Can't think of any at this time