[PilotAlan]

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!

[bagboy]

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

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by PilotAlan

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!

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.

[MarshBendLover]

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.

[PilotAlan]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

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

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.

[PilotAlan]

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

Center of it all was Sumter area generally back in the early 2000s, now center is roughly 44.

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.

[Bassdeer]

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.

[CarlR33]

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.

[Kelevision]

Originally Posted by PilotAlan

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.

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!

[Topspinmo]

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.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by PilotAlan

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

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by PilotAlan

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!

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.

[PilotAlan]

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.

Originally Posted by tophcfa

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.

[rustyp]

WAY up north you get to experience four seasons.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

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.

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.