[Normal]

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star

A visit is NOT mandatory. Many of the reasons you cited, you also answered in your post.

If a brand new house is desired, then the southern section is (mostly) the answer.

An amazing amount of information can be found out via the internet. Forums, like this one, FEMA flood maps, county tax rates, satellite views of the area, & in some cases, Google street views.

I’m fairly certain you should visit before buying. There are real estate booby traps everywhere down here in the newer section.

Case and Points:

The three houses for sale in Newell that have a fantastic view of the power station ugliness.
The lots down in Moultrie Creek near the stadium with a fantastic view of the health hazard cement plant that is going no where.
Maybe enjoy the nice 24 hour a day 7 day a week noise level along the turnpike?
Or how about living miles from anything over in Dabney?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star

A visit is NOT mandatory. Many of the reasons you cited, you also answered in your post.

If a brand new house is desired, then the southern section is (mostly) the answer.

Taxes can be determined for existing houses (approximately) by looking up the property on the respective county websites.

An amazing amount of information can be found out via the internet. Forums, like this one, FEMA flood maps, county tax rates, satellite views of the area, & in some cases, Google street views.

But most importantly, a visit will not tell you about your potential neighbors. Unless, you settle on a house & try to visit the specific houses around your purchase. Very difficult, for all sorts of reasons - they may be out golfing during the day, they may be out dancing at night. They may be visiting relatives out of state. Theoretically the older areas have older residents, but those initial buyers may have been moving on. A newer area might have a many rentals. The best advice is to try & find a house you like in a village you like.

Why in the world would anyone buy a house in a development they have never been too? Can learn a lot by reading online but nothing takes the place of boots on the ground and doing lots of exploring.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Why in the world would anyone buy a house in a development they have never been too? Can learn a lot by reading online but nothing takes the place of boots on the ground and doing lots of exploring.

some people are extremely visual,
and others can envision from the web, from conversations, from research

others might not be very discerning, and realize that getting a first home is just the first step,
and may feel that they can move to something better later.

there are so many different types of people, the bizarre behavior doesn't surprise me as much anymore

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

some people are extremely visual,
and others can envision from the web, from conversations, from research

others might not be very discerning, and realize that getting a first home is just the first step,
and may feel that they can move to something better later.

there are so many different types of people, the bizarre behavior doesn't surprise me as much anymore

Well said. The world continues to change. The internet has made 'remote' normal.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Well said. The world continues to change. The internet has made 'remote' normal.

For 2 dimensional people it has. Looking on the internet is only one feed for discernment though. You can’t hear constant traffic on the internet. You can’t see power stations and the changes they have made to scar the skyline. You don’t know if the lights are on all night in the neighborhood cement factory or exactly how tall it is. You can’t smell the pollution or even feel the constant daily mosquito stings an hour before nightfall.

Just like intuitive deciphering of all senses, a buyer needs to experience a home site before making one of the largest moves in their life! There certainly are some garbage home/homesites out there.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by Normal

For 2 dimensional people it has. Looking on the internet is only one feed for discernment though. You can’t hear constant traffic on the internet. You can’t see power stations and the changes they have made to scar the skyline. You don’t know if the lights are on all night in the neighborhood cement factory or exactly how tall it is. You can’t smell the pollution or even feel the constant daily mosquito stings an hour before nightfall.

Just like intuitive deciphering of all senses, a buyer needs to experience a home site before making one of the largest moves in their life! There certainly are some garbage home/homesites out there.

Absolutely! On a website you see what someone wants you to see, and you don't see what they don't want you to see.

Our first rental experience taught us, among other things, how loud the golf cart traffic can be on Canal St. We had a nice villa, but the living room sliders faced Canal St. Despite the wall, we would have to close things up to hear the TV. Also could smell gas cart exhaust at times.

The vibe is so different depending upon what area you are in. North of 466 feels different and looks different from south of 466, and likewise between "the sixes", and north and south of 44. While I wouldn't say any one area is better or worse than the others, they are different, and you can't get that online.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Normal

I’m fairly certain you should visit before buying. There are real estate booby traps everywhere down here in the newer section.

Case and Points:

The three houses for sale in Newell that have a fantastic view of the power station ugliness.
The lots down in Moultrie Creek near the stadium with a fantastic view of the health hazard cement plant that is going no where.
Maybe enjoy the nice 24 hour a day 7 day a week noise level along the turnpike?
Or how about living miles from anything over in Dabney?

Not to mention the gorgeous back yard with the (always dry) retention pond.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Laker14

Absolutely! On a website you see what someone wants you to see, and you don't see what they don't want you to see.

Our first rental experience taught us, among other things, how loud the golf cart traffic can be on Canal St. We had a nice villa, but the living room sliders faced Canal St. Despite the wall, we would have to close things up to hear the TV. Also could smell gas cart exhaust at times.

The vibe is so different depending upon what area you are in. North of 466 feels different and looks different from south of 466, and likewise between "the sixes", and north and south of 44. While I wouldn't say any one area is better or worse than the others, they are different, and you can't get that online.

If you're coming from a metropolitan area, such as NYC, Boston, or parts of Los Angeles, those sounds and smells would make it feel a little more like home.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

If you're coming from a metropolitan area, such as NYC, Boston, or parts of Las Angeles, those sounds and smells would make it feel a little more like home.

Lol, a lot of people are coming here because they don't want to be from there any longer. As a born Los Angeleno, I am one of those many.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

If you're coming from a metropolitan area, such as NYC, Boston, or parts of Las Angeles, those sounds and smells would make it feel a little more like home.

Yeah, could be. Another reason to come down and see and experience in the flesh. Otherwise you might miss out on the sections of TV that offer the "urban" feel.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I prefer the see and touch and feel as well, however, ours was an impulse buy having seen the success of these types of developments. And having done many of those check it out behaviors, the final buildout from a very early purchase, is unable to anticipate ALL the changes which might have come about.

Sometimes the highway noise is unnoticeable, other times very noticeable. .
The developer decorated the softball field with baby trees under massive live oaks, with the trees right in line between my front patio and the home plate, blocking my view of the actions. . several houses on my road have their line of site to home plate blocked.
Sometimes pools go in after the house is sold, and changes the vies from the lanai.

The future is uncertain, sometimes at times more uncertain than at other times.
Sometimes the future works like you hope, sometimes it doesn't

But everyone has different tolerances and desires,
so its better to just observe the other crazy people,

and just keep saying "I am the only sane one, I am the only sane one"

[MrChip72]

On a lifestyle visit, we almost had a deal signed for a pre-owned home in one of the Villages. Seemed like a nice area.

Then we decided to take the golf cart there from Brownwood. It was a neverending journey and we realized how isolated that Village was. That one hour golf cart ride saved us from making a not so great decision with 400k on the line.

We then decided to take the golf cart to all potential properties and found a new home south of Brownwood that was under 10 minutes by cart and also under 10 minutes by cart to a major plaza. Exactly what we wanted, but would've had no idea without spending the time comparing in person.

Looking at a map doesn't scale well at all in TV. What might look like 5 mins away can be 20 minutes.

[NYBob]

Thanks to everyone who responded. A lot of good information and advice here.

On the note of medical care and hospitals I came across this video from villager Skip Smith concerning the one star rating of TV Hospital. What are your thoughts on this and how accurate do you believe it is ? What do you believe will/should be done to correct this if anything ?



Is The ONE STAR RATING At The Villages Florida Hospital as Bad as it Sounds ?

[margaretmattson]

Be careful of buying a home without the necessary commercial and grocery stores nearby. Middleton has a town center being built but it may be awhile before the stores are leased. The same with Eastport. Many erroneously expect once the squares are built, everything will be at fingertips. It doesn't work that way. You can build the store and commercial frontage but you can't make a business lease them. This takes time! It took Brownwood several years before it reached full capacity.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

Be careful of buying a home without the necessary commercial and grocery stores nearby. Middleton has a town center being built but it may be awhile before the stores are leased. The same with Eastport. Many erroneously expect once the squares are built, everything will be at fingertips. It doesn't work that way. You can build the store and commercial frontage but you can't make a business lease them. This takes time! It took Brownwood several years before it reached full capacity.

That's a bit draconian to say that one can't/shouldn't/must be careful to buy prior to services being available nearby. All depends upon one's needs versus wants versus wait time versus what's available. .

Although true you have to wait, prior to buying in Marsh Bend, we would drive our car to get groceries, and before magnolia plaza was completed, we still drove the car to get groceries, so if you know how to drive a car, you can still get groceries, and even gas, doesn't mean you can't buy a house where you want to buy it, and wait for the stopping plazas to get built out.

getting golf cart gas is a bigger issue nearby than groceries, so if there isn't gas nearby, getting a 5 gallon container for buying and storing golf cart gas is almost a requirement.