Rent first before you buy?
 

I often hear people recommend renting in TV before buying. I'm curious to know who followed that advice (or wish that they did) and what they learned from renting first. Did renting change your mind about where you bought or what style home you wanted?

Not only am I currently renting in TV but I also rented at Margaritaville, Citris Hills and On Top Of The World. I am retired and I have the time so why not make the best of the time off and sample them all. I left The Villages for last because of the size and logistics of this community.

I have been in TV for 2 months of what was first a 6 month lease but I have already extended it to a year since COVID-19 has changed the dynamics of what is considered the norm. What I did learn from renting in the other communities is that they are not a good fit for me and I have removed them from consideration.

If you can rent first it is the best advice you can follow because as you may read as you progress through this forum, The Villages is not for everyone.

We rented for four years before we bought. During that time we, of course drove all over the place in a golf cart and got so lost lol. We also talked to random people that lived here, learned how the government worked and attended several meetings, and the risks associated with locations. We learned that we wanted electric carts, wanted to be as far south as we could, at the time which was Hillsborough, felt they were out of their minds for asking what they were asking for golf course or pond view lots (based on what they sell for today we should have bought many), we learned what a CDD is responsible for and what the Developer is and is not responsible for. We learned that the majority of the people that live here are "glass is half full" people (and still are). They retired to enjoy life and spend most of their time doing just that and avoid conflict, which is why most seem ok with the anonymous complaint system, avoid discussing politics and don't care what you did in your past life or how much you made. We learned that we live in the best neighborhood in The Villages (and so does most everyone else). With all the recreation and learning opportunities we learned that if we are bored it's our fault (and we aren't bored). We also found out that when someone is disgruntled they continue to live here because their other half loves it here and isn't moving (also gives a view on who is in control lol). We learned that stuff here is always changing (there were many changes in the years we rented) and if that made us uncomfortable then this may not be our kind of place because the changes won't always be what we think they should be. Since we love change and the excitement and new life it brings it has never been an issue but if you are change adverse you need to think about your choice.. We learned that the diversity of the people that live around us expose us to new views, new customs, new food and new interests. We learned that Florida has a lot of things to offer and exploring new venues and getting lost (again) all adds to the fun of living here. Hope that helps from our view.

Wow, we have been here for six years plus the 4 means we have been here in some form for 10 years. I guess I will add that time really seems to go quickly when you get here :)

We spent two long weekends here and last June rented for a month.

Saw quite a few houses while we were here and gave us a much better idea as to style of house and location.

Told us that we wanted to be in an established neighborhood where the amenities were already there and shopping was in a reasonable distance from our house.

Moved here in Feb just in time for covid.

In retrospect like the location but wish we would have bought something a bit larger.
Hindsight says should have rented for longer say 3 months.

Apparently most people here do not stay in their first house here but move once or twice. To me it is rather a hassle and not sure we want to do that.

We did not rent first but I wish we had. I loved our first house but NOT the location, so after a year we bought a similar home in another area. Our new home is closer to shopping and restaurants AND to my sister and her hubs who moved here a few years earlier. At the time renting seemed like a lot of bother but with 20-20 hindsight I definitely wish we had done it. Selling a house costs a lot of money and moving twice was a pain in the ***.

YMMV.

kathy

I came from the cold midwest in January to rent in the Villages as a home base while I looked at other 55 plus areas in Florida. I wasn't interested in the Villages when I came, but was having so much darn fun driving that golf cart all over the place, hitting all the pools, exploring, and shopping. The first week I went thru the newspaper and wrote down 19 different events I wanted to do weekly; mostly water aerobics and yoga! I got so busy that I didn't have time to look at all the art classes or want to leave for day trips to look at other communities.

Exploring gave me the opportunity to see what areas I liked the best; I chose south of 44 for the beautiful trails and live oak trees; newer areas are supposed to attract younger people whose social groups are still forming, but I found everyone to be very friendly.

I went to lots of open houses to see what models I liked, and finally called a realtor and made it official--I had drank the koolaid. And I bought a house. Because of the pandemic, the bank allowed me to do a 90 day closing rather than the standard 30.

After COVID hit, things slowed down but I stayed until mid May and enjoyed exploring on the golf cart. I finally came back to the midwest to sell my house here, did not return for the closing on my new house, and I'm anxious to return to start Chapter 3 (or 4) of my life. First order of business when I get back to the Villages--buy a golf cart.

Amazes me how many people move here and decide to move again and again.

Not exactly cheap to go from house to house.

We rented from 07 - 10. Different areas. Bought first Vaca home a PV in 2010 new. Started spending more time, bought cottage with 2car in 2012. One retired in 2014 and bought designer with golf cart garage. Easy to sell on your own here and make a profit. Plus no attachment to any home here. We still have our lake house up north for hot weather

We rented for a month in Sept 2016, went back north, sold our home in 24hrs on Nov 1 2016 at first open house, closed Jan 2 2017, drove down here with nothing but our clothes and some junk in a small Pod took a 3 month rental in Orange Blossom to look for a place and bought after 7 weeks. Yes, renting is a good idea.

We were lucky enough to have good friends that own a house in the Villages who invited us to visit several times. With each visit, as we got older and became seniors, the Villages grew on us more. Then our friends gave us an extended stay at their home as a gift. During that time my wife and I experienced as much of the Villages lifestyle as we could fit in and we were sold on becoming Villagers. We also took a couple of winter trips to Myrtle Beach and quickly realized if one really wants to escape winters the you need to go further south. When we decided to purchase a home we got a rental so that we could take our time and not get hurried into making the wrong decision. We really wanted to buy the right home the first time and not experiment and wind up moving. We wanted to live either north of 466 or just south of Lake Sumter, have a private back yard with room to add a good size pool/birdcage, and not be on a busy road. It all worked out great. Good luck : )

The first time we rented solidified our decision to eventually move there and the second time we rented was for a longer period, so that we could investigate more to get an idea of where we wanted to buy. As soon as it's safer to travel (per our own determination), we plan on renting again in TV while we take our time looking for the home we want to buy (between 466 and 466A). Ironically, we're even renting now because we sold our house and land in anticipation of coming to The Villages in early summer, then Covid hit so we're just hanging out until we feel comfortable going back down there and eventually becoming frogs. So my suggestion is to definitely rent first and take your time looking around.

Depends on when you did it. My parents moved here in 2001 and brought their third and final house in 2010. Made a profit each time with no mortgage only moving with bedroom furniture and personal items. Furnished each house new. So it depends on what is desired and what may change.

They also spent 2 winters traveling and trying out different areas before deciding. They basically stumbled upon The Villages while looking at top of the world. Did a lifestyle visit then rented before deciding. Brought a courtyard villa and gave it a year to see if this was where they wanted to be.

If you do it wisely you can make little money?

And this is exactly the target customer for The Lofts. Rent for a year on a lease, decide you like the place and then either buy or build, break the lease with ease if you build or buy through a Villages realtor (ok, sales person). They're not stupid, they know exactly what they are doing, fishing in a barrel.

we visited on a lifestyle visit, after being recommended by a friend who had just come back. So went came down, and on day 4 bought a plot which was both underpriced and in a perfect location for our tastes, and custom built a begonia. Impulse buy, maybe, looks that way, but then again, we have been traveling the southeast to find out where we want to retire. Will we get there? I hope so, but not quite able to move and have healthcare insurance not bankrupt us yet. However, we both also have bought and sold houses before, and knew that we were looking for certain items, outdoor lifestyle with golf and nearby amenities.

We have friends trying to figure out retirement, not happy being retired in New England, and only having one season of enjoyment which is threatened with climate change. so to each their own, but move before you can't if you are so inclined

sportsguy