Comparable active adult communities
 

While it's pretty obvious everyone in TV loves it there, and I'm sure we would love it there too, we still would like to compare it to other active adult communities in Florida. Is there anyone who has any recommendations on other communities we should check into so we can get a good comparison to TV? Is there anything you can tell us about the other active adult communities? Thanks to everyone who helps us with all our questions.

If you come and stay at TV on the lifestyle preview program there are at least 20 other communitites within a half hour drive you can check out...gn

Comparable communities? There are none!

:agree::agree::agree:

A Little too short of an answer but I also agree. We researched many locations around the country. We researched many active adult communities.
There are many nice active adult communities but...

The key here is size and organization. TV is the largest in the world of its type. The largest golf cart community in the world. You can play golf, if you wish, all year and never play the same course more than twice. (No extra charge) All of the "active adult" communities that came up when I Googled were very small in comparison. Most have a golf course or two. TV has, what, about 30? Most have a (One) recreation center. TV has local centers with pools. Regional centers. so many that I don't know them all.

TV is twice the size of the "City" that I moved from. There is so much to pick from that you can be busy every day or you can choose to do very little.

In short, you cannot compare anything to The Villages. It is unique. Not everyone will want to live here but they will not live at the competition because there is none.

Don't take my word for it, Google it.

Good luck

Yoda

I did a lot of research before buying in TV. I did extensive Internet study of over 80 so called active retirement communities. I narrowed that down to about a dozen from that study. I visited 10 of those places and actually spent time in 6 of them. There is really nothing that comes close to TV. The question you need to answer is what type of retirement you really want. Some folks much prefer the quiet mountain lake in WV with the changing seasons and nothing for miles around. If that is you, you will hate TV. Or maybe you want the ocean and the small town where you can walk to everything and never take out the car except for the trip to Home Depot. Try Seal Beach CA, it has all that. I want golf, music, dancing, the college of life long learning, the pools, the true golf cart life style and TV is the only place that has all that. It is unique, it is huge, it has everything I need.

Active Adult Communities
 

While I could not agree more with Yoda and the other responders, you did ask for some names to compare The Villages to. Here are some in the area that I either looked at or through others am familiar with.

Stone Creek in Ocala
On Top of The World in Ocala
Solivita near Orlando
Stonecrest located near The Villages (I have not visited Stonecrest)
Lakes of Mount Dora
The Plantation in Leesburg

There are many other communities in Orlando and Leesburg. All of these are nice communities. If your only interest is playing golf, some of developments listed above may work for you. If you think you want a community filled with interesting clubs, great shopping, a huge number of restaurants, incredible recreation facilities, continuing education courses and endless concerts and special events, there really is only one choice.

Very good post. While I totally agree that The Villages are a one of a kind place, some folks do retire to central Florida to other nice 55+ communities.

I am NOT saying anything negative about The Villages. I enjoy visiting there, and I know there is a world of difference between visiting there and living there.

Other nice communities in the area that have not yet been mentioned is Legacy in Leesburg. Our place in The Plantation is another choice. While not The Villages, we do have 3 large activity centers, pools, hot tubs, fitness centers, etc. We have under 3000 homes in 21 smaller neighborhoods. We have 2 large 18 hole golf courses. Some folks like this size, and consider larger communities too big and busy.

We have no CDD fees, and our HOA fees are only $85.00 per month. Our HOA is fiscally very sound. The community is built out.

This is one of the biggest choices in life that you make. I tell people to visit the area. Rent a place, ( like mine...;-) ) for a few weeks and check out ALL the areas. One will just "feel right".

Good luck!! Frank

Oh. You are lost when you drink the water here.
 

I did absolutely NO research because I was NOT going to retire in Florida. My parents did and I thought it was bore-ing! Sweetie,who is my darling husband wanted to have a house in Florida, but I did not.

We just stopped for an overnight visit with old friends who had a winter home in Poinciana (one of the villages) and I lost my heart, my sense, and all prior ideas on the subject.

I have been to almost every area in Florida. I have enjoyed South Beach, West Palm, Sanibel Island, Sarasota and have seen Mickey Mouse more than I have fingers and toes. All of those mentioned were my favorite spots for a vacation, but I wouldn't want to LIVE there.

Well, that was until I entered the purified air of The Villages and began to meet some sweet, sassy, smart, silly, serious, serene, smarmy, sage, Southern, senile, stunning, superior and social folks who would become my friends. (you know who you are)

I dare you to find anything to compare. I dee double dare you!:throwtomatoes::D:1rotfl:

We did our research over an 8 year span visiting retirement communities in other areas of Florida and other states. Just as everyone says nothing compares to The Villages. We have stayed two different times just to make sure this is what we wanted. I love you can get around with a golf cart, to the wonderful stores, restaurants, pools, recreations, coffee shops etc. Most all of the other communities did have some things nearby but you would have to leave your complex and use your car to get there. We felt that The Villages is more of an active adult community. So do visit the area and the others, check them out and decide what will fit the lifestyle you want. We visited Hilton Head, Mount Dora, Top of the World, some down near Orlando and Bonita Springs, Fort Meyers, and Naples.

Can anyone recommend any active communities in the Carolina's or Tennessee that have boating?

Do a search for Cooper Homes. They have a pretty large development on some lakes in Tennessee (Lake Tellico, I beleive). They were involved with the develpment of Hot Springs Village and Bella Vista in Arkansas and seem to do a nice job.

Not to mention spontaneous
:beer3:

Add Citrus Hills to your visit list. Lovely homes at affordable prices. Two or three golf courses and other ammenities. We stayed there twice on visits but did not select it as our retirement site. We visited in the summer and the place was a ghost town at night because of so many snow birds. TV homes cost more for what you get but the community makes it worth it all.

Sun City
 

Sun City Tampa area. Anybody know anything about it?