[Bella]

We will be at TV in December to look at homes again...When we were down in April, I was leaning toward a CourtYard Villa, but my husband liked the Ranches - Since the new incentives do not include Ranches, he will be reconsidering his preference...His two main concerns are...

1. They have no individuality from the front (all look alike)
2. He is very concerned that most buy Villas for rentals and we would not have a lot of permanent neighbors...

I would greatly appreciate any thoughts that could ease his mind, especially with the rental issue...

[Cliff]

Welcome, fellow RI person. Greenville was our home.

Give serious consideration to the villas. My designer home is beautiful and when we purchased it we thought we had the best location possible. Little did I know that they would extend Buena Vista (the road on which our lanai faces) to the new Southern portion of the Villages and the road would become a highway between all points south and Hgwy 441 and 42 on the North side. The front side of our home faces out onto a road which we felt would give us privacy and quiet. Wrong, it turned into a shortcut for everyone who prefers not to ride on the golf cart paths (multipurpose trails) and want to avoid possible detection by Sheriff's deputies. It is now noisy, and almost impossible to get out of our driveways. The villas are usually in areas where no direct roads cut through and you could pretty much depend on the fact that you will have more quiet and peace. The villas are almost as expensive as the designers now and some are as large as a designer. I think your husband would be very disappointed if he settled for a ranch. Row after row of similar homes. Good luck in making your decision. As for me, I wish I had a walled, private villa instead of my designer.

[DickY]

In the new promotion that goes till the end of December both ranch and CY Villas are being discounted. Look at the link: http://www.thevillages.com/specialof...ngs-200711.htm

[Indy-Guy]

I live in Sullivan Villas which are near Cane Garden CC. These Villas have been here about 2.5 years. In that time as people have done landscaping in the front I believe that changes the looks quite a bit. If you drive into the Villas that have been around for a couple of years I think you will see what I mean.

We have about 70 Villas in Sullivan Villas and there are about 5 rentals and one is owned by a neighbor who lives in Sullivan Villas. I love the Villas and if I had any complaints it is that the garage is to small but perhaps its a guy thing. I'm adjusting to that. About 65% are snowbirds. Each year they all seem to come down earlier and stay longer.

We like the privacy that we have and the Villas. The Villas we live in are always doing things together. Many are going on their second cruise this February and we play golf together twice a week. Today there are 8 of us playing at Palmer's. That reminds me I got to go!

[another Linda]

We bought a CY villa and are planning to rent it when we can't use it. Personally, our plan is to spend more and more time there. We are in an older area (Rio Grande) so I'm not sure it is comparable to new areas, but there were lots of people there at the end of May, end of August, and mid-October. I assume they were permanent residents rather than renters. It does seem as though new people moving in are younger (late 50's to early 60's maybe) and not there all the time.

[Avista]

We love our Courtyard Villa. True many of the homes look alike, but those built a few years ago show their individuality with landscaping. We love the privacy. Never have to close blinds to get dressed or walk about in PJ's. There is almost no traffic. Ususally sooo quiet. We wouldn't live anywhere else.

[kar guy]

WE JUST MOVED INTO A NEW COURTYARD VILLA 1 MONTH AGO. IT IS GREAT. QUIET WOULD BE THE WORD TO DESCRIBE OUR LOCATION. WE HAVE ALMOST 1700 S.F. AND FOUND THIS TO BE NICE SIZE. THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM SO YOU CAN PICK OUT WHAT YOU WANT. I SUGGEST TO LOOK AT THESE AS A GREAT FIRST CHOICE. TAKE CARE KAR GUY

[Bella]

Thanks for all the input - alot of choice and decisions to make in the coming month... relooked at the website and see they have added more homes to the site then there were yesterday early morning...

Hey Greenville...Husbands brother lives in Burriville...love it there...in the summer of course!!!

[SteveZ]

Whether a CY Villa or not: Depends on your needs and preferences.

We have two small dogs, and being able to let them go in their own yard freely was a prime consideration. Also, While I think the world of my neighbors, having walls to block the view of them (and vice versa) to provide a little more privacy is a welcome item.

Am still "commuting" back and forth to our TV home, but will not rent it out. Thank heavens the commuting will end in just a few months...

[gfmucci]

Yes, most models are available on the "discount list."

I inquired of a TV salesperson a few months ago if there is any tangible reason why CVs seems to be a couple of 10's of thousand more than similar sized ranch homes. I know the wall can't account for that difference...and there is nothing else visible that I can discern. His answer, a little vaguely, was that the price reflects the market. There is just more demand for CVs - for exactly the reasons stated above - more privacy, dog management, etc.

For dog management, I understand (also from a TV salesman) an option is a ranch or designer that abuts a CV wall. Hedges are allowed while walls and fences are not. Some folks plant a hedge along the rear side lot lines and install a chicken wire type fence within the hedge. This encloses the entire rear yard for the dog. If a fence cannot be seen from off site because it is hidden, it satisfies the criteria of "no fence." Can anyone confirm the workability/defensibility of this approach? Of course, the dog "shalt not bark" while outside.

[Peggy D]

Originally Posted by gfmucci

Yes, most models are available on the "discount list."

I inquired of a TV salesperson a few months ago if there is any tangible reason why CVs seems to be a couple of 10's of thousand more than similar sized ranch homes. I know the wall can't account for that difference...and there is nothing else visible that I can discern. His answer, a little vaguely, was that the price reflects the market. There is just more demand for CVs - for exactly the reasons stated above - more privacy, dog management, etc.

For dog management, I understand (also from a TV salesman) an option is a ranch or designer that abuts a CV wall. Hedges are allowed while walls and fences are not. Some folks plant a hedge along the rear side lot lines and install a chicken wire type fence within the hedge. This encloses the entire rear yard for the dog. If a fence cannot be seen from off site because it is hidden, it satisfies the criteria of "no fence." Can anyone confirm the workability/defensibility of this approach? Of course, the dog "shalt not bark" while outside.

We thought about this "natural fence" too. Is this allowed?

[gfmucci]

I'm wondering if its one of those "grey area" things that they passively allow, but hesitate to say publicly they allow because it is technically a prohibited fence.