[Outbacker]

Hello All: We recently visited TV and fell in love with it. We are seriously considering retiring in TV, and all of our research thus far makes us even more impressed. I am curious what you wish you knew before you moved. Did you have any surprises, regrets, or things you would have done differently?

Thanks in advance for the insights.

[Madelaine Amee]

It has exceeded our expectations.

[Mikeod]

I would have sold more of my furniture before I moved and bought new here. I think we have only about 20% of the stuff we paid to bring here.

[pooh]

No surprises, no regrets. I would do exactly the same now as I did in 2006.

It is a lovely place to live, to enjoy, to meet new people, take part in things you might not have been able to previously. Remember The Villages is a lovely community with many stores, restaurants, recreation, but do know that life also exists off campus. As time passes, you start to find stores, shops, restaurants in nearby cities that you'll enjoy. There's so much around, on campus and off. Enjoy!

[Irishmen]

Only regrets is not being a true gated community. Also, we didn't have grandchildren when we moved and didnt see need for pool but now with a pool is key when they now come to visit.

[jmvalcq]

One big decision that you should make is are you going to be full time residents or snowbirds. If your full time, new or used homes are a consideration. If your going to be snowbirds, I would buy new. because most of your neighbors will also be new. Full time residents will more easily make friends in established neighborhoods. Also determine what type of housing you desire based upon your usage.

[buggyone]

No regrets at all. We would not have done anything different. We bought a resale home with established landscaping, no construction, no bond, and a golf course front lot. The house had all possible upgrades so we did not have to spend anything else. Those are important items to think about!

As for The Villages not being a true gated community - who cares? The place is clean, beautiful, and friendly. What more could you want?

[queasy27]

I'll second the recommendation to purge as much as possible, including furniture. You don't want to feel jammed in and constricted at your new place and you'll find don't really need half of what you thought you did! Plus, it's fun to buy a few new pieces to suit a new home.

Another consideration is your health. Even though there are a lot of medical facilities in The Villages, if anyone in your family has a chronic disease or condition that requires specialists, check to see what's available here.

[gomoho]

The Villages has exceeded my expectations - only thing I would have done differently is looked longer and harder for the right home, but at the time I thought we were buying the right home so don't know how that would have been accomplished without renting.
As far as the home would have chosen a larger lanai since we basically live out there since it is enclosed. Don't know if it were screened and I had to deal with the heat how that would work. So after a year I know what I would prefer, but can't stand the idea of moving again so we'll see.

Sounds kind of trite complaining about this when some folks don't even have a roof over their head so I take it all back.

[Quixote]

I wish I had known about TV a lot sooner than I did....

[Happinow]

Not necessarily my case, but two of my neighbors have moved due to the neighbors behind them. With the kissing lanais, privacy is nil. Be carful when purchasing or building a home. Your back neighbors are who will impact you the most. We are very lucky, we have a golf course lot with no rear neighbors. Lot first, house second. We wish we could have moved here sooner!! I have to pinch myself everyday to make sure this is real.

[Outbacker]

Thank you for the helpful insights. Knowning what you know, would you buy new or a preowned? We like the idea of buying new because we get exactly what we want, and the prices appear reasonable. However, we also like the idea of the established landscaping and neighborhood of a preowned home and expect he preowned may be a better value.

[Villages Kahuna]

We love The Villages. It's as close to perfection as one could imagine. But if you decide to join us here for all the friendship and fun, I do have a suggestion...

YOU'RE BRINGING TOO MUCH "STUFF"

Ask anyone who has moved here and they'll explain what I mean.

[raynan]

I think you will make friends easier and faster in a new neighborhood because everyone is new and very willing to help each other. Everyone is so open and excited about coming here when they are new. After about a year things settle down and people find their own routines.

My only regret is when we bought our piece of sand the house behind us hadn't been built yet either so we didn't realize how close we would be with the kissing lanais. Learning to live with it by glassing in.

[laceylady]

The Villages is fantastic. The one thing I wish I knew is NOT to give any contractor, lawn person, landscaper, etc. ant money up front. We got very ripped off by a landscaper who advertises on this forum. I have found that if you hire companies that also work for the Villages, you can trust that they will do an excellent job. Beware of posts on TOTV praising work done by a company if the poster has only a few posts. The company that ripped me off was setting up different logins and praising their own work. Due to the diligence of TOTV posters, this company has stopped that practice. You MUST see pictures posted of landscaping or remodeling jobs. Other than that, the Viilages is UNBELIEVABLY FANTASTIC!