Too remote for me at this time. I prefer the Sumter Landing area. Close to everything important to me, especially golf.

WE love Marsh bend

If you happen to be sensitive to noise, be mindful of a prospective new home's proximity to the turnpike. And...do your due diligence and visit the area at night. When there are no competing sounds in the area, it is amazing just how noisy turnpike traffic can be. Some of those new areas currently under construction are VERY close to the turnpike.

We just bought in St Catherine after renting in a few places over 5 years. We've rented in St James, Caroline and most recently in Fenney. While we liked the areas north of 44, south is what we decided suited us best. We like new construction, "younger clientele", many walking/biking trails as well as new development such as Saw Grass Grove. Each area offers its own pros/cons and is up to you to decide which area offers the most pros for you. Good luck with your search!

areas south
 

finally someone mentioned the turnpike noise. also be aware of flood zones where you may need flood insurance, blasting from the quary and loud speakers from the prison

The houses are beautiful down there but watch out for the bond prices. It adds an additional $25,000 in cost on top of the house, that they conveniently “forget” to tell you. They roll it into the cost of the mortgage so you are not only paying the cost of the interest on the bond but also the cost of the interest on the mortgage bring the interest to almost 10%

We've lived in our home in Monarch Grove for a year now and absolutely LOVE it!!! It takes us literally mins by cart to get up to Magnolia Plaza and all the executive courses are within a few mins cart driving time. We actually use our cart more than our car now!!! Our friends looked for a home in several areas near us, including Hawkins and St. Catherine, but there's currently only one way in/out of Hawkins and if you're in the homes closest to Warm Springs and the church, you'll have quite a hike in/out of that village to get to those homes. They didn't care for the layout at all. Plus, for the foreseeable future, you won't have easy access past the turnpike to Magnolia Plaza or the golf courses by cart unless you go all the way down to Water Lily bridge and back up. Our friends ended up buying a home in Monarch Grove, but for my money, I'd buy something in the areas west of the turnpike as there's no telling how long it'll be before they get the Bexley bridge done. Just my opinion.......

You just covered everything you can do south of brownwood. You are considered isolated. Developer has changed model.

1. And, in addition, everything north of Brownwood is available.
2. Considered by whom? Not those who live here.
3. Yes. Changed to a better model. More colors. More green space. Etc.

It’s called “Marsh” Bend because it was built on filled in swampland with potential settling issues in the future. At least one resident there has died of West Nile virus from the swarms of mosquitoes. There is also lots of noise. It’s not “new” once you move in either. So your used house will face competition from more desirable areas North of 44.

Yes, Southern Oaks Championship Golf Course is going to be an eighteen hole course and not twenty seven. It’s projected to open in the fall or winter of 2021.

If we were younger and didn’t have such good neighbors, we would definitely consider moving into a new home south of 44. It has a lot of pluses. What the heck, might still do it!

Geez...who doesn’t like a good dog park? (Cats)

I thought the dog park reference was a bit odd. We do not take our dog to them, for many reasons.

But, to stay on the OP’s topic, watch out for water treatment, sewer pump stations & debris dumps. There are definitely some within The Villages & they stink when the wind blows in your direction. Ask your realtor but definitely do your own due diligence.

Good luck in your search, enjoy the process & welcome!

Realize everything is a matter of opinion. Many, in my opinion, have a need to defend the choice they have made rather than admit others have perhaps made a better choice than they did.

We also did three of the life style visits. Since, you say we there are at least two of you.

I would suggest you write things down. What is important to you and what is important to the other or others in the at least two. Writing things out makes all of us think about what we are saying. You then assign each care a number order in order of importance.
In writing it does not change or get spun. See where you agree and disagree. Often it is a surprise.

My opinion, my personality it is far less expensive and less stressful to do it right the first time rather than doing it over and over and over again. The realtor told us the average villager moves three times. We have been here almost 9 years, in the same house and we are happy. What to I regret? Frankly, I miss the basement we used to have. In the villages, I don't think anyone has a basement and due to the soil, the rain etc a basement would be an indoor swimming pool that you would hope to stick the next buyer with.