[73Goat]

Hi, if all goes as planned my wife and I will be coming to TV in August 2011 with the intention of either reserving a lot in a new area (if you can still do that) or purchasing a spec or re-sale. We will be retiring in November of 2012 so the idea of holding a lot and starting construction in Aug 2012 is appealing. The plan is to sell our current home in the spring and rent up in Northern VA till we move to TV.

One question that is a recurring theme for us is if it is a problem making friends if you move into a resale or spec in an already established area vs a new home in a new area. Do your new friendships come more from the activities/clubs/church or from the immediate neighborhood?

If anyone can provide any thoughts along those lines it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Mudder]

We bought a resale in June in a very well established neighborhood. We have only met a few of the neighbors but since we already knew 9 couples who live here, it isn't an issue with us. Both of us have met new friends from the various activities we do. I think if you buy in a new neighborhood since everyone there is new you probably meet your neighbors quicker. Another factor I think is the time of year when you move here as we are starting to meet more neighbors now because people are out and about now more than in the summer.
Don't worry about meeting people, you can strike up a conversation while sitting in the square and you never know what things you may have in common. We go out on golf course as a twosome sometimes and meet lots of nice people there too, some you click with some you don't.
So, come on down!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by 73Goat

One question that is a recurring theme for us is if it is a problem making friends if you move into a resale or spec in an already established area vs a new home in a new area. Do your new friendships come more from the activities/clubs/church or from the immediate neighborhood?

One problem you won't have in TV is making new friends. Most residents are "from away" and are very open to striking up new friendships. We've lived in two resale communities and immediately made friends in both places. Most communities have a monthly block party which is a great way to meet neighbours. There are tons of neighbourhood clubs and activities. Also the pools are very social.

I just spent an hour outside gardening and met three new neighbours who stopped in to chat as they were walking.

If you are friendly and approachable, people will be drawn to you like butterflies to a magnolia tree.

[bike42]

Not only is it incredibly easy to make friends here -- whatever neighborhood you choose, and in all of the clubs/activities . . . DON'T FORGET your friends from "up north" (or wherever). Invite them down to visit you, and pretty soon your old friends will be living here too.

[redwitch]

I've found that regardless of the neighborhood, your neighbors will be friendly and you will make friends, if you are friendly. In an established area, you will usually have to be the one to make the effort -- have a neighborhood party, say hi when you see a neighbor, gush over their dog (works like a charm). In a new neighborhood, you're all new and, thus, you'll gravitate to each other.

A new neighborhood will have lots of activities from pool parties to driveway get-togethers to neighborhood garage sales. However, as people get into their activities, the neighborhood events frequently fall to the wayside because you start making friends with people who enjoy the same things you do. Sometimes this includes your neighbors, most of the time it doesn't. So, the reality is it only matters the first few months.

As was said, we're all transplants here. We're naturally more open to making new friends.

[ladylake1]

There are so many networking opportunities in TV that making friends is absolutely not a problem. You will meet alot of folks through your interests and activities. Everyone is friendly here so the neighborhood should not be a problem. Focus on the house, your wants/needs/price, etc. and the rest will come naturally.

[Tbugs]

I have posted a couple of things recently on my thoughts of new vs used houses. Personally, I think the residents of the new communities get together more as a group than established villages but it is hard not to meet the people you like anywhere. Everyone is a transplant and most are eager to meet new friends.

I thought (and still do think) that a "used" house offers a better deal due to the seller usually being willing to negotiate price and the bond will be partially or completely paid. I bought a home last year that was built in 2002 and there is only a $2,300 bond as compared to several friends who bought new homes with a $20,000 bond. My bond payment this year was only $435 as compared to their bond payment of $1,650. Use an "outside the Villages" realtor as well as a Villages Realtor as the Villages Realtor cannot show houses not listed with Villages Realty and vice-versa. We bought our house last year from an agent with ERA Tom Grizzard (Mike Herman) located on Hwy 441, Lady Lake.

The older communities (I live in Glenbrook) have established landscaping and no construction going on. No construction means no construction noise or dirt.

We moved from Silver Spring, Maryland and drove the infamous "495 Parking Lot" too many times to count. You will be amazed at the lack of traffic and the ease of getting around as compared to Northern Virginia and the DC area.
There are so many clubs to join that it does not really matter where you live to meet friends. I have met lots through Baby Boomer Club, 2nd Honeymoon Club, and Iowa Club as well as through being hooked up with golf groups.

[kentucky blue]

[QUOTE=Tbugs;
There are so many clubs to join that it does not really matter where you live to meet friends. I have met lots through Baby Boomer Club, 2nd Honeymoon Club, and Iowa Club as well as through being hooked up with golf groups.[/QUOTE]

Do they have a George Clooney look alike club.............just curious Back on topic, prefer established neighborhoods, bought close to LSL.Live in an eighty year old neighborhood in Lexington, love it.Making new friends in TV is the easy part, of course with Sharon going door to door, like a politician campaigning for election, probably helps.

[JimJoe]

Every newly constructed house on the villages website is on sale right now.
http://www.thevillages.com/homes/new...ex.asp?error=1

[BobKat1]

Originally Posted by JimJoe

Every newly constructed house on the villages website is on sale right now.
http://www.thevillages.com/homes/new...ex.asp?error=1

I noticed that. There are some good price reductions on new homes. It's a good time to buy.

[butchnharri]

We moved into a new village and the instant friendships we all made was a great thing for us. I have never lived anywhere where people were so open to makeing friends

[kentucky blue]

Originally Posted by JimJoe

Every newly constructed house on the villages website is on sale right now.
http://www.thevillages.com/homes/new...ex.asp?error=1

WOW!!!! Savings up to $70,000, not including the $150,000 reduction on the 1.6 million dollar home. It's a buyers market in TV, every new home reduced."The times they are a changing."It had to happen at some point, the real estate market nation wide is a long way from any type of recovery.It had to affect TV sooner or later.

PS. Jim Joe, you have been waiting for a really good buyers market in TV, i think your time has come to join us in paradise.

[Taj44]

Even with the discounts on new homes, I think there are really good values in the pre-owneds. For example, my friend has a Wisteria for sale at $199K. The lowest priced one I saw new on the Villages website was $193.9 say $194. My neighbor has a beautiful enclosed lanai with nice flooring that cost about $10K, and the bond balance is around $13. I don't know but am guessing they'd take an offer of say $193, so the total cost of the home would be $193 + $13K bond balance = $206 for a nice home with enclosed lanai. Add $1000 or so for re-painting and the cost would $207K for the pre-owned, which is only 4 years old. Plus this particular pre-owned has hardwood flooring installed in the living room, which is an added plus if you like hardwood.

The comparable price of the new home is $194 + $10K to enclose the lanai + $20K bond = $224. The pre-owned is a big savings of $17,000. And the pre-owned is in a central location near Lake Sumter, versus being out on the outskirts somewhere, which I consider added value.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by kentucky blue

Do they have a George Clooney look alike club.............just curious

Sign me up!

[Ajack]

Originally Posted by butchnharri

We moved into a new village and the instant friendships we all made was a great thing for us. I have never lived anywhere where people were so open to makeing friends

We just moved into our new home a couple of weeks ago and it is great. We are only ten minutes away from Sumter Landing and only a few minutes from the new section across 466A.
After buying used houses the last two times, it is great not fixing other people's mistakes and replacing worn-out appliances.