[charmed59]

My hubby and I are taking part in the Villages Experience to see if the Villages are the place for us. We only have four days there, and I'd love to hear suggestions of what to do for our first taste of life there.

We are interested in seeing if the recreation activities would be something we would take part in every day. The idea of pickle ball sounds fun. We would like to try out some pool activities (volleyball, aerobics). And we are enthusiastic but horribly mediorcre golfers that would love to try out an executive course or two.

From a social point of view, we love live music, and I see from this website there is live music everynight on the squares. Can we just show up and dance? Is this the time of year we need reservations to eat at the restaurants?

As for real estate, we'd like to look around and see what different price points will get us. We have several scenarios in our head of how to transition into retirement, ranging from renting a few high seasons, to buying a lower priced second home, to sell our big house and going all in. Is there a specific day for open houses in the villages? And wll golf cart cruising/biking through the neighborhoods help us figure out where we want to be?

Any advice would be welcome. And we'll see y'all soon.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by charmed59

My hubby and I are taking part in the Villages Experience to see if the Villages are the place for us. We only have four days there, and I'd love to hear suggestions of what to do for our first taste of life there.

We are interested in seeing if the recreation activities would be something we would take part in every day. The idea of pickle ball sounds fun. We would like to try out some pool activities (volleyball, aerobics). And we are enthusiastic but horribly mediorcre golfers that would love to try out an executive course or two.

From a social point of view, we love live music, and I see from this website there is live music everynight on the squares. Can we just show up and dance? Is this the time of year we need reservations to eat at the restaurants?

As for real estate, we'd like to look around and see what different price points will get us. We have several scenarios in our head of how to transition into retirement, ranging from renting a few high seasons, to buying a lower priced second home, to sell our big house and going all in. Is there a specific day for open houses in the villages? And wll golf cart cruising/biking through the neighborhoods help us figure out where we want to be?

There are Open Houses every day in The Villages. However I would recommend letting a Villages agent take you around and show you houses in your price range. A Villages agent can show you both new and resale homes without obligaton. Debra Park is a good agent, Mobile 352-408-8800. There is a trolley bus tour provided by The Villages so you can get an idea of the enormous size of TV.

There are three town squares that have free entertainment nightly: Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing and Brownwood. Just show up (entertainment starts at 5 PM).

For us, during our lifestyle preview, we found it very helpful just to talk to other Villagers, at the pool, at restaurants, and while enjoying dancing at the town squares. Villagers are friendly people and more than willing to offer their comments and opinions! It's very easy to make new friends in The Bubble.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

There are Open Houses every day in The Villages. However I would recommend letting a Villages agent take you around and show you houses in your price range. A Villages agent can show you both new and resale homes without obligaton. Debra Park is a good agent, Mobile 352-408-8800. There is a trolley bus tour provided by The Villages so you can get an idea of the enormous size of TV.

There are three town squares that have free entertainment nightly: Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing and Brownwood. Just show up (entertainment starts at 5 PM).

For us, during our lifestyle preview, we found it very helpful just to talk to other Villagers, at the pool, at restaurants, and while enjoying dancing at the town squares. Villagers are friendly people and more than willing to offer their comments and opinions! It's very easy to make new friends in The Bubble.

I so agree with Barefoot. Hope you are as wowed as I think you will be. Please let us all know what you think after your visit.

[MikeV]

We did our Lifestyle Visit in 2011. We found that just driving around in the supplied golf cart was beneficial. We talked to Villagers in every Town Square and visited several restaurants to get a feel of the area. South of 466A was just starting so there wasn't much to see there. We used a Village Agent to show us the styles and available lots. We bought a lot in Charlotte and built our home to be available in September 2012. Everything went very well and just as promised by the Realtor.

[villagetinker]

Charmed59,

If you have not already gotten the villages CD, order one (they are free), and look at it before you come. Take the 2 hour tour, I think you need to sign up at the Lake Sumter landing sales office. This will give you a great over view of the villages. Walk on of the squares. If you have a GPS and a car, just drive around the area. TV now covers around 40 square miles, you will not cover it all. At a minimum, I would go over Buena Vista and Morse the entire length of both, and also 466 and 466a. This will give you an idea of the scenery and the retail areas. There is much more to see this will be only the tip of the iceberg. Go to one or more of the regional recreation centers, and one or more of the pools.
As you are going around talk to the people, most if not all will be glad to talk to you about TV. We did the 2 hour tour, followed about 2 years later with a 1 week stay. We fell in love with the whole concept of the villages, and purchased within the next 3 months. Would have been sooner but ever house we were looking at someone was just signing the papers. We eventually bought a lot and built. (Not sure this is an option any more.)
Hope this helps.

[charmed59]

We did see the CD, and that's what really got us excited. We will definitely do the two hour tour. It would be hard to get my husband not to talk to folks, so I think we are good there.

[Avista]

If you are church goers and possibly interested in a Methodist church, stop by New Covenant off 466 behind Crispers. Park, come in and look around. Lots of music offerings throughout the week. This Friday night a musical,Titanic program we are looking forward to.

[joldnol]

As Mike V said, take advantage of the golf cart. If you get lost someone will be happy to point you in the right direction. You'll feel right at home on the golf course since many of us are duffers too. The suggestion of having a realtor take you around was good too.

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by charmed59

And wll golf cart cruising/biking through the neighborhoods help us figure out where we want to be?
Any advice would be welcome. And we'll see y'all soon.

The Villages is MUCH larger than most realize. The best bet is to do the trolley ride from the lake Sumter or Brownwood sales office. It's very informative and will give you an idea of the area and the lifestyle available.
If or when you are interested and want a salesperson to take you around to show you what they have that meets your requirements it's comforting to know they wont pressure you or even call you.

[m103619]

Hi, Never posted here before, My wife and I visited TV last fall and took advantage of the Lifestyle Preview Plan and visitied friends that moved there a few years ago. My suggestion, stay longer if you can. 4 days will go by way to quickly. My wife was sold the first 5 minutes, I took a little longer. The time went by so fast, and we do not even golf! We went to more parties in the 7 days we were there than we did in two years here in Vermont. Everyone we met was so friendly. Most folks we spoke to say there are not enough hours in the day to do all the activities they would like. TV provided us with guest tickets to a show at Savannah, the movie theater and a few others we did not have time for. Got lost on the golf cart going to open houses, stop and take out a map and someone will stop and help. Be sure and go to Eisenhower Rec Center (Rohan was not built yet), spend some time at the squares. We are not yet TV residents but will be as soon as we manage to sell our Vermont property. We met with the agent that treated our friends really well, Carl Pheil, 352-753-2270. Have fun, we did!

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by joldnol

As Mike V said, take advantage of the golf cart. If you get lost someone will be happy to point you in the right direction. You'll feel right at home on the golf course since many of us are duffers too. The suggestion of having a realtor take you around was good too.

Add the villages app no worries about getting lost with it

[WhoDat]

Be sure to get a copy of the Daily Sun newspaper. It lists all of the open houses VLS and MLS. The Villages agent can't show you the MLS listings.

[Kelsie52]

Welcome

Whatever you do it will be right !!! I agree with taking the trolley tour very informative ---

You will be assigned a salesperson they will not pressure you . Ask them to take you to the model center

Get the paper open houses every day --go by yourself and ask questions

One of the best places to get info is the town pool---talk to people they will be glad to give you their opinion

Music at all three squares every night ---just pick one and go --you will most likely be closer to Lake Sumter or Brownwood...

Restaurants mostly will not take reservations Just go times should not be too long --we haven't waited in several weeks since the snow birds have partially gone.

The last thing bring your checkbook ---lol

good luck

[charmed59]

Originally Posted by m103619

Hi, Never posted here before, My wife and I visited TV last fall and took advantage of the Lifestyle Preview Plan and visitied friends that moved there a few years ago. My suggestion, stay longer if you can. 4 days will go by way to quickly. My wife was sold the first 5 minutes, I took a little longer. The time went by so fast, and we do not even golf! We went to more parties in the 7 days we were there than we did in two years here in Vermont. Everyone we met was so friendly. Most folks we spoke to say there are not enough hours in the day to do all the activities they would like. TV provided us with guest tickets to a show at Savannah, the movie theater and a few others we did not have time for. Got lost on the golf cart going to open houses, stop and take out a map and someone will stop and help. Be sure and go to Eisenhower Rec Center (Rohan was not built yet), spend some time at the squares. We are not yet TV residents but will be as soon as we manage to sell our Vermont property. We met with the agent that treated our friends really well, Carl Pheil, 352-753-2270. Have fun, we did!

You will appreciate that the reason we only have 4 days is then I head off to Vermont to visit my daughter for some sort of award ceremony. This is her last year of school there. I'll miss my visits to Vermont.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I'd say relax and don't try to do everything because you simply can't. Get a copy of the recreation news at any of the rec centers. Look through it and find activities that you think you might be interested in and attend some of them.

If you're here on a Friday morning, you shouldn't miss The Beatlemaniacs of The Villages. (Sorry, shameless self promotion)

But, just relax, drive your golf cart around and just get the feel of the place. Make it to one or more of the squares at night to check it out. Most of the squares have a lot of regulars who are there every night. You might turn into one of those if you like that atmosphere. Then again many go to the squares a lot when they first arrive and find it's not for them and do other things in the evenings.

Your Villages real estate agent can help you with a lot of things. Yes, they will show you homes, but they will also assist you in finding things to do. Obviously, if you play golf check it out.