[fflmaster]

My wife and I are looking at purchasing in TV and have a few questions. Background mid 50’s, still working, looking now for our eventual move in 2026-27’

Location:

In looking at different squares, do you find the music is concentrated to age groups? I heard that it’s 40-50’s music in Spanish Springs, and works up in years as you go south.

Wondering if Eastport area will be more likely to be from the 1980s and up with younger people or do you find all age groups throughout? Once the Eastport area is completed in a few years.

Social:

We moved to a new construction area back in the 1990’s fast forward to now and most of our friends and neighbors are retiring and moving. So, looking to start over with like ages. Do you find moving to new builds vs resale has a bigger difference on your social gathering or did you find most social groups within the activities you join?

[Altavia]

Suggest to use that time to do a Lifestyle visit and to rent a few times, in different areas and different times of year.

Music is generally mixed between the entertainment facilities so you can pick and choose.

Especially with Middleton, the southern areas around Eastport will have a lower average age.

The Villages is currently building 2,500-3,000 homes per year, thats roughly three new Villages a year. New home construction will be south of Central Parkway/Eastport by 2027.

Recently built (3-5 yo) midway between Brownwood and Eastport can be a can be a an option. It will take a few years for business to build out in Eastport so being a little closer to Magnolia Plazaand Brownwood can be a plus.

[Stu from NYC]

When we moved here 5 years ago we used to go to the squares a few times a week.

As we joined clubs and developed a social life we found ourselves going to the square less and less often.

Now we might go a few times a year for a band we have come to enjoy.

This seems to be a rather common occurrence here.

Strongly suggest renting for a month or more to explore and see if this place is for you and where you might want to live.

[GreggC69]

It sounds like you have some time before you are wanting to make the move so that could work well for you. I would do as others suggest and rent a few times to learn about the areas. Look at them during the current "off season" as well as during the winter to see if that impacts your analysis.

I would also suggest you try to determine what is important to be close to. For some it is a square and I know some that go very regularly. We are young as well, got lucky and could early retire, and have been here a year. When we moved, we were going to a square every night! We still go usually at least once a week, mostly to hear the variety of live music.

For us, golf and recreation is important so we looked for an area that had easy access to multiple rec centers, including those with sports pools, as well as both executive and championship golf course. We did not want to wait 5 or 10 years before that was close to us as these are our best years. Wanted instant access.

Re the age ranges, for us it is a non issue, for a number of reasons. We play in sports groups (water volleyball, pickleball and softball) with some who are in their 70's. We routinely are paired with golfers who can be 15+ years older than us. We enjoy all of that. We also play some of the same sports with those who are closer to our age and can find as competitive of groups in any sport that we want.

We are parts of several social groups who tend to have younger members and we enjoy that as well. Also, we have met a number of couples who are similar to our age when we have played golf who we have connected with and go get drinks, dinner and play board games from time to time with.

In our village, there is a good variety of ages. We tend to prefer smaller groups of close friends that we hang out with the most and some of those have come from the above and some from our neighborhood, and across different ages.

S0....decide what is most important to you, spend various times exploring a variety of areas and not rely solely on opinions here (everyone's style is different), make your decision and enjoy the good life!

[npwalters]

regarding the music in the squares. The roster of bands rotate through all the 3 main squares and -presumably - the 4th when it is fully open. That consideration seems minor to me since it's a pretty short drive or cart ride to any square to hear the band you like.

[Tustin714]

You've been given some excellent advice (I'll just echo) about (a) renting a bit, and (b) that after arriving clubs and other activities can lessen how much importance nightly music can have (and I'm a musician in a couple of bands, and music is a big part of my life in the Villages).

As for renting, we did the lifestyle visit near Brownwood (back when you could do that) and then a month further north, closer to Lake Sumter Landing. We visited a lot of clubs and did activities around the Villages, and realized that for what we wanted to do "between the 66s" (466 and 466A) was well-situated; we bought there and it's worked out great. The southernmost parts will seem a bit empty for a little while, but Eastport looks great, and there is and will be a lot to do down there shortly and more within a few year. If you value the more mature landscaping look, above highway 44 is probably better; again, that's something that will change over time but it can be a while.

As for activities, if you haven't looked through the 200+ page club listing, I did to get a sense what's really available and where it's located https://www.districtgov.org/wp-conte...-11.15.24-.pdf. Also, the woodshops, if that's something that interests you.

Good luck.

[MikeVillages]

Be aware there are two types of realtors in TV, MLS & VLS. The MLS can only show you home on the MLS listings & VLS can only show VLS listings. PS, my TV home was with a MLS listings.
PS
MLS are resale homes, VLS are mostly new build homes by TV & some resale homes. I used both when looking but found the VLS agents are not very transparent.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by fflmaster

...looking now for our eventual move in 2026-27’

Location:
...do you find the music is concentrated to age groups? I heard that it’s 40-50’s music in Spanish Springs, and works up in years as you go south.

The music rotates. Remember though - unless you've already been the type to go out every night to dance and be in crowds, you probably won't be the type to do that now. We all have a "honeymoon phase" when we first get here but eventually - only a core group of die-hards will be out every night - or even every week, to the squares. And this time of year it invariably thunderstorms every evening, which shuts down outdoor entertainment due to lightning risks.

Wondering if Eastport area will be more likely to be from the 1980s and up with younger people or do you find all age groups throughout? Once the Eastport area is completed in a few years.

Eastport will certainly draw mostly people who are currently 55-60 MORE than it'll draw people who are 75-80. However, resales of previously-owned homes up in the older sections will ALSO draw mostly people who are currently 55-60 MORE than it'll draw people who are 75-80. It'll depend on budgets. If someone wants to live in the Villages but can't afford a new build PLUS bond, they're more likely to move up north, where bonds have been paid off and home prices are lower.

It also depends on what people want, more than age. If a 60-year-old couple wants to be in golf cart distance to lots of shopping and wants the mature landscaping to remind them of their suburban life back home (wherever that was) they'll pick the older sections that have all of that already. If they want something shiny and new and want the environment to grow around them, they'll pick the newer sections.

Social:
So, looking to start over with like ages. Do you find moving to new builds vs resale has a bigger difference on your social gathering or did you find most social groups within the activities you join?

I know someone who lives near Eastport, who drives all the way up to Legacy Lopez for pickleball once a week. They're in a league. I would've found social groups to hang out with no matter where we lived. Hopefully you will too. I've found social opportunities right in my neighborhood, just walking around the block. I've ALSO found social opportunities by joining a couple of clubs that have members who don't live in my neighborhood.

[asianthree]

We started between the 6’s and continued for 13 years. We are not a fan of instant gratification of brick and mortar shopping and many restaurants are less than adequate.

At one time we loved the “Mature Giant Oaks” then saw some really pretty trees fall on homes and property. No matter how good your insurance is, not everything will be covered after 2% deductible.

Any tree within striking distance of your property, you need a savings of $10-20,000 cash to get things quickly removed and safe. Even branches can cause major damage.

There were many who lost many shingles, tree branches fell on their homes, many in remediation, for 6 months. Some homes still have not had repair completed after 8 months. Some to receive a few thousand on a $20,000-$60,000 of damage. Until you have a loss you really have no idea how good your insurance is. Then you have the worry if you will be renewed or canceled.

While it’s not typical in TV, it’s Florida. there have been more than one destructive tornados. Or extreme high winds from remnants of hurricanes.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

If you buy in Marion County(north), the taxes are higher. If you buy in Lake County (south), the bonds are higher and virtually none has been paid off. Plus, there aren’t that many golf courses, restaurants, or Rec Centers.

The middle area is Sumter County and you’re close enough to visit the other areas. But rent for a month or two to have time to find the right property for you.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

If you buy in Marion County(north), the taxes are higher. If you buy in Lake County (south), the bonds are higher and virtually none has been paid off. Plus, there aren’t that many golf courses, restaurants, or Rec Centers.

The middle area is Sumter County and you’re close enough to visit the other areas. But rent for a month or two to have time to find the right property for you.

Did the house you bought have a bond?

[TheMosker-Behrs]

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

If you buy in Marion County(north), the taxes are higher. If you buy in Lake County (south), the bonds are higher and virtually none has been paid off. Plus, there aren’t that many golf courses, restaurants, or Rec Centers.

The middle area is Sumter County and you’re close enough to visit the other areas. But rent for a month or two to have time to find the right property for you.

I just wanted to say, we bought in Lake County and the bond has been paid off for more than a decade. I'm not sure what you mean by that statement.

[betsyboo]

Originally Posted by MikeVillages

Be aware there are two types of realtors in TV, MLS & VLS. The MLS can only show you home on the MLS listings & VLS can only show VLS listings. PS, my TV home was with a MLS listings.
PS
MLS are resale homes, VLS are mostly new build homes by TV & some resale homes. I used both when looking but found the VLS agents are not very transparent.

70% of TV homes are pre-owned. So, more pre-owned than new.

[fflmaster]

Renting before buying has seemed to be the advice here.

I did look at the usual suspects to see and found many rentals.

Does having so many rentals affect the social aspect of an area?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com

If you buy in Marion County(north), the taxes are higher. If you buy in Lake County (south), the bonds are higher and virtually none has been paid off. Plus, there aren’t that many golf courses, restaurants, or Rec Centers.

The middle area is Sumter County and you’re close enough to visit the other areas. But rent for a month or two to have time to find the right property for you.

Compared to where.?