I will never understand why some believe a late night party is better than other parties. Or, why having a live band with food trucks in their neighborhood is WONDERFUL.

A party is a party no matter what time it is scheduled. And, why bring food trucks and bands to your neighborhood? To me, it sounds awfully plain and ordinary. You can find the same food trucks and bands in ANY town square on any given night. Dance any night you wish. And, have interesting conversations with neighbors seated beside you. Bringing this to your neighborhood is not out of the box thinking or extraordinary.

Most neighborhoods have scheduled activities, driveway parties, and monthly events. It is not just a south of 44 thing. I have nothing but gratitude for those who came years before me and started these traditions.They helped make the Villages a wonderful place to retire. Cheers to the older generations! (I hope I can keep up with them during our next outing.:))

That's ok. The people enjoying it don't need you to understand.

Why do some golfers seem to think that access to golf should be a priority for everyone? Can someone explain that?

Not Everyone Golfs
 

The problem for Dabney involves the word “golf”; like in golf cart. Golf cart accessibility is a major consideration that particularly affects the area. Many villagers own golf carts and use them for transportation for a myriad of activities. Many of those who own carts, don’t golf. This is basically a part of the Villages that is for the vast majority in the area hampered.

The area isn’t isolated by car if you want to drive, it is isolated in the use of what the rest of the villages enjoys, golf cart accessibility for enjoyment of shopping, golfing and so much more.

Looks to me like your first instinct is working here. On the map you can see the location and the distance it will to get there. I suggest you look into other areas for the house your looking for. Many of them, are just a couple of years old and have many upgrades already installed. South of 44 had 20 pages of preowned homes in their Tuesday edition. Loads of good homes to choose from right now. It is a buyers at this time.

So here's the thing. Those courses you have to drive a bit to get to currently? They're located in areas where everyone living IN those areas golf those courses, because they're close to THEIR homes. There's a lot of people playing those courses already. So you'll be competing heavily for tee-times with people who already live there. Plus you'll have to travel between 30-40 minutes each way, every time you go to play golf, for at least the next year if not longer.

On the other hand, if you were to buy a newer pre-owned home in one of those areas, you'll already be in the area, you'll have more options within a 20-minute golf cart drive of your own home, you won't have to wait for anything to be built in order to enjoy EVERYTHING you already enjoy, and - major bonus - you won't have to wake up to construction trucks rolling past your house to get to the unbuilt homes down the next block every day for the next year.

Retail and Golf Wasteland south of 44
 

Consider how far you’ll be driving for groceries, medical, entertainment, misc. shopping, restaurants, etc.. Buy where all of these are a short golf cart ride.

South of 44 is a retail and golf wasteland. Consider how far you will be driving got groceries, shopping, restaurants, medical, dental, entertainment. Choose somewhere where you are a short golf cart ride to these places.

I have several friends who moved to that area for the exact reason that you suggest not to. It is away from the things that people go to. That makes their neighborhoods quieter and more to their liking. They love it. As far "a short golf cart ride", many of them do not own carts because they don't golf. They use their cars just like they always have. Not a problem.

One person's "wasteland" is another person's "tranquil retreat".

Boy they're in for a rude awakening in a couple of years when retail, more golf courses, and rec centers are finally built down there and the place becomes bustling with business.

I am just looking at the Villages website showing the new homes that are still for sale in Lake Denham and Dabney. It looks like most of the prices have been cut several times and they still aren't selling. It will be interesting to see how low the Villages will go to sell these houses. Does anyone that was here in 2008/2009 know how low the prices were?

I moved here in 2021 and I don't remember seeing any price reductions on new homes. It was a seller's market and the Villages was no lowering prices. They were selling at the asking price.

I don't think the Lake Denham/Dabney prices have hit bottom and people hate to buy when they think the prices will drop further.

It appears that the homes in Eastport are selling faster than the homes in Dabney.

Homefinder - The Villages(R) Homes and Villas for Sale

The rec centers near their homes were built before the homes (most of them are pickleball players and play at Franklin and Homestead). Golf courses are going in on the other side of the turnpike, as well as Eastport. The land that will hold smaller retail is to the west. So, no rude awakening.

Plus, if she thinks all this retail will be there "in a few years", she's in for another rude awakening...

466A is still being filled in with retail, some of which only came in the last few years... Well after construction was finished in the area...

Their building brand new villas now off Morse where the Hacienda restaurant use to be. Great location too! I think there will be just 24 units. The pool is already open.

Agree. It’s basically a retail, golf, shopping, medical, restaurant, drug store wasteland. I wouldn’t move to a location that isn’t more than a 15 minute golf cart ride to any of those places. Two grocery stores, nine executive courses, three championship courses, Brownwood. Oh, fire station one mile. I didn’t move here to drive my car except to ACE.

Years ago, the Villages marketing strategy was "everything you need is a short golf cart ride away." Their new way of selling homes is to tell buyers all the villages and squares are connected via golf cart paths. A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

Yes
 

115 s lots will be released soon and they are much more favorable as a desirable location. 5 minutes to Brownwood by golf cart Public Portal • CivicClerk
Granted, there are only 57 to be released, but they are much more prime than a drive all the way from Dabney to the new location.

Those new lots are adjacent to a trailer park. Not exactly prime.

Orange Blossom
 

You could pretend you were at Orange Blossom. The Villages is putting up a wall anyway.

One of the many great things about TV is that no matter what is important to you, you can find the best place. Close by golf cart has no importance to me at all. I know several people who do not even own golf carts. Nothing wrong with using a car to get to where you want to be.

Does 'years ago' matter? I think not. Everything evolves. Golf carts are less important to some people than they are to others. Seems like the marketing folks understand that.

I guess you missed what I was trying to say. In past years, Everything, as in restaurants, doctors, stores, many golf courses, squares, etc is golf cart accessible. You never have to leave the bubble. Everything is in CLOSE PROXIMITY and was designed that way.

In the newer areas, golf cart paths connect the villages and squares. Very little, if anything, in between. You get a long scenic ride but must go out of the bubble(in your car) for your needs. Like I said, A HUGE DIFFERENCE. Of course, you would not want a golf cart in those areas. It would take most of your day to travel and return.

In the older areas, hop in your cart and what you want or need takes MINUTES. Need something else while you are out? Right there! Just stop in and do your second, or third, or fourth task. Easy Peasy!

Here in “07” houses were selling with knee deep names on every house near completion. Then again building was going to cease soon. If you didn’t buy there would be no new home for you. At that time the colony we looked at was $164,000, nothing special.

2008/2009 homes were selling interest rates were up, homes selling but not at the “07” free for all. Homes that were offered on discount were because the village was being closed out.

Same house in 2010 new build, in a neighborhood that had just started. $124,000. New villages usually only had discounts on homes that was a problem lot, or village was complete, and wanted to sell what was left, the neighborhood had maybe 100 houses, discount offered on most houses to close out neighborhood.

In those days new villages were kept close to the vest, and you didn’t have a drone flying over like today, letting you know that there were hundreds of acres eventually going to be built on.

But except for 2007, every village has had discounts on some homes, but larger discounts to close out the village.