[bagboy]

Originally Posted by Mleeja

St. Simon’s? Where is it located? Morse Compound? The Polo Grounds?

I wondered the same thing. There is a courtyard villa community St. Simons north of the Savannah Center, west of Buena Vista. I guessing that's what was referred to.

[PilotAlan]

Originally Posted by bagboy

I wondered the same thing. There is a courtyard villa community St. Simons north of the Savannah Center, west of Buena Vista. I guessing that's what was referred to.

Yes. Just south of Nancy Lopez, just north of El Camino Real.
Sorry, I thought that would be a landmark. Not a Villager yet I forgot there's hundreds of village names.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

The distance between Spanish Springs and Eastport is about 14 miles and takes about 35 minutes by car. Almost everything of interest except a few notable golf courses lies between those two. So if you are anywhere between Spanish Springs and Eastport you are within a half an hour by car of almost everything.

If you go to the far north you lose some of that. The far south becomes more than 1/2 hour away.

So the appeal/advantage of the far north would have to be the look of area itself, the cost, and/or its proximity to particular golf courses.

This was not our experience at all last Thursday. We drove our car from our home in DeLuna (about 15-20 minutes north of Eastport) to the Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center in Spanish Springs, and it took 50 minutes to get there. We were never in any kind of bumper to bumper traffic, so just a normal drive up there.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

On that stretch of Morse off 466 its diamond lanes all way to el Camino Reno roundabout. Probably the most dangerous stretch in villages?

We drove our golf cart on that stretch of Morse Blvd only once. We will not do it again. We stay in our golf cart stomping ground right which is around LSL.

Speaking of driving north of 466 on Morse........

Two days ago I was driving my car on Morse heading south approaching the light at 466. On my right I saw two golf carts with a couple in each cart approach the light at 466. Oops, they missed the left turn to hop on the MM path. I motioned to them that they should not drive on 466. The guy in the first cart motioned back to me that he knew they were wrong but proceeded to make the right turn onto 466 and the guy following him made the right turn onto 466 too. Hope they were OK.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Best to come in August or July to see how you react to the temperature and sun.

I remember summer nights and days on Long Island that can rival the heat and humidity here in The Villages. Here in Florida that miserable heat and humidity lasts longer but it's not really any different than what I experienced on Long Island. I just stay indoors more in the summer months living here. Air conditioning is my friend.

[Marmaduke]

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

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.

That was an excellent response. I concur. It should prove very helpful to the OP.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

This was not our experience at all last Thursday. We drove our car from our home in DeLuna (about 15-20 minutes north of Eastport) to the Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center in Spanish Springs, and it took 50 minutes to get there. We were never in any kind of bumper to bumper traffic, so just a normal drive up there.

I just checked two different map systems - WAZE and google maps (directions). By car, at this time of day (10:15am on a monday) it would take around 25 minutes. You'd leave The Villages and take 301.

[MikeVillages]

Originally Posted by Battlebasset

Living in Fenny area. My observations:
…
And personally, I have an antenna in my attic that pulls in all of the Orlando stations for free.

I live just over the Marion county border. My antenna had to be outside but that is not an issue at all and get over 70 free television stations mostly from Orlando. That and a few free internet shows is planty. See link below.
Let us know where you decide to live even if it takes some time.

[kkingston57]

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!

That area is one of the most mature areas of TV. Has well established large trees and closest to 3 of the best golf courses in TV, Nancy Lopez, Glenview and Arnold Palmer.

Easier to get tee times on the exec courses there. People from the south will not or do not drive that far.

Houses there are mostly in Marion County which does have higher property taxes

[kkingston57]

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.

TV agents will try to steer you to the new homes and can only sell non new homes if they have the listing. If you are really interested in buying use an outside MLS realtor. They have a lot more homes that they can show you

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I just checked two different map systems - WAZE and google maps (directions). By car, at this time of day (10:15am on a monday) it would take around 25 minutes. You'd leave The Villages and take 301.

Nope. We’ve taken all of the various routes, including today when we drove from DeLuna up to Hobby Lobby on 466. It took us 50 minutes each way via Buena Vista, but we’ve used 301 several times to go to our dentist on 466 (close to Hobby Lobby), and it’s never taken less than 45-50 minutes. Eastport is another 20 minutes south of us if traffic is light.

[PilotAlan]

Originally Posted by kkingston57

That area is one of the most mature areas of TV. Has well established large trees and closest to 3 of the best golf courses in TV, Nancy Lopez, Glenview and Arnold Palmer.
Easier to get tee times on the exec courses there. People from the south will not or do not drive that far.

Great feedback. Thank you!

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

We drove our golf cart on that stretch of Morse Blvd only once. We will not do it again. We stay in our golf cart stomping ground right which is around LSL.

Speaking of driving north of 466 on Morse........

Two days ago I was driving my car on Morse heading south approaching the light at 466. On my right I saw two golf carts with a couple in each cart approach the light at 466. Oops, they missed the left turn to hop on the MM path. I motioned to them that they should not drive on 466. The guy in the first cart motioned back to me that he knew they were wrong but proceeded to make the right turn onto 466 and the guy following him made the right turn onto 466 too. Hope they were OK.

I call it the gauntlet.

[MikeVillages]

Less traffic during snow bird seasion.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by kkingston57

That area is one of the most mature areas of TV. Has well established large trees and closest to 3 of the best golf courses in TV, Nancy Lopez, Glenview and Arnold Palmer.

Easier to get tee times on the exec courses there. People from the south will not or do not drive that far.

Houses there are mostly in Marion County which does have higher property taxes

I think most avid golfers would agree the Northern section has the best championship golf courses. I lived in the Villages during the time of planning. The developer at the time, asked for input and design from professional golfers.

The First Responders Rec Center is only a few yrs old. It was designed with input from Villagers who live in that district. It is one of the favorites of many residents.

Lots of shopping and dining in that area. You have direct access to Ocala. A city that has wonderful state park areas (hiking, biking,fishing, kayaks, zip lining horseback riding, and more). There are also many wonderful dining options and plenty of scheduled events. When you want to get out of the bubble, it is a city full of many surprises.