Tunnel
 

I agree there won’t be a bridge for golf carts because of the 2 entrances and exits, but what about a tunnel? Unfortunately we are in Dabney, it was a poor choice. But, a connection could improve things a lot.

If only I could get that pizza in Florida. It’s the best.

The entire area is suffering from the lack of amenities.

Eastport will have more but it is not a “town square.” Both Championship and Executive golf will remain inadequate for the number of residents in the area.

Could you elaborate why Dabney was a poor choice? Is it just proximity to things by golf cart? Or are there other factors that make it a poor choice?

When we bought last year we went to a sales office and were swarmed by sales people. They showed us what the villages wanted them to show us. Do yourself a favor and get a realtor, tell them what you want and let them direct you. This is why do many people end up buying at another location after being here a year or two

Location
 

I would wait just little while and across the street from Richmond houses are going to be built. Two minutes to Brownwood Square and supermarket. Also resale would be better. LOCATION LOCATION.

Younger move soutg
 

I have lived all over the villages and I would not do the south as there is so little there and so much driving. I did 300 miles a week then moved north of 466A. If you are young you can wait for the amenities. I love having 4 pools, shopping, and many golf courses nearby in Duval!

Don't eliminate a resale home in your search. Better locations and the resale homes have smaller bond amounts. Most gently used homes have additional add ons such as crown molding or enhanced landscaping. Things that you would likely add anyway.

Definitely Moultrie. In addition to the other reasons already stated, Moultrie is in Sumter County and has lower taxes. Dabney and Denham are in Lake County.

On a new construction $400000 house the estimated taxes are $6070 in Dabney/Denham and $5360 in Moultrie. Source: Lake and Sumter County estimated tax calculators.

Remember the further north you purchase you may have to deal with buying a new roof, windows, HVAC and appliances.

Good luck with Richmond East. There are more than a hundred plus names on VLS’s waitlist. Very few homes will ever hit the website, just like Richmond. I know we tried for 17 sometimes we were #5 twice but the rest #30 and up. If you wanted those houses you needed to be on your VLS list 8 months ago. Then if you get #1 and not a fan of the house or the lot, don’t turn it down it may be your only chance

Eastport doesn't exist and Sawgrass is well ... just about nothing.

Folks don't seem to understand, that the Developer's business model has changed significantly. The Demographic is changing. Being close to everything doesn't matter so much when you're 55, when you're 70 it's another ball game. At 55, you have "time" to waste ... not so much, 15 years later.

All those folks living on the outskirts of The Villages, are going to be looking to move North when they get a little older.

Sounds perfect if you want to live in a frontier town.

However, if you'd like to live somewhere in proximity (golf cart proximity) to the town squares, (not the mall food court at Sawgrass), several championship golf courses, a couple dozen or so executive courses, more pools, pickleball courts, and rec centers than you need, look north of 44, and make sure you check out "between the sixes" (between 466 and 466A)...
Don't be afraid of looking at older homes. There are plenty to choose from now, and they are solid, and the neighborhoods are mature with landscaping.

At least check a few out, drive a golf cart around from rec center to rec center, pool to pool, golf course to golf course. If the ambience isn't for you, it isn't for you. But if you have any concern that the new areas are a "social desert", you might really like the vibe in the older neighborhoods.

The myth that will not die. Plenty of amenities south of 44. The only thing lagging behind is golf. And there are several courses being built right now.

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes.

We live in Lake Denham. We are 12 minutes to Publix and Winn Dixie by car. I wouldn’t be taking my golf cart grocery shopping anyway.

The bond is $7000 higher in Moultrie Creek.

Definitely Moultrie. In addition to the other reasons already stated, Moultrie is in Sumter County and has lower taxes. Dabney and Denham are in Lake County.

On a new construction $400000 house the estimated taxes are $6070 in Dabney/Denham and $5360 in Moultrie. Source: Lake and Sumter County estimated tax calculators.

10 yrs
 

In ten years, the excess bond payment is recouped. It’s a no brainer.

If you could, Citrus Grove or St. Catherine might be your best bet for newer. That way you would have Eastport and Sawgrass with lots of golf? More is/has become golf cart accessible, the landscaping is maturing and things are settling. I believe the area south of 91 will be a dust bowl for some time. After all, it’s all about golf cart accessibility to everything. Dabney and Denham are the desert sort to speak.

Sawgrass can be your temporary entertainment till Eastport is complete.

Good morning. It is a beautiful day!. I love watching all the banter back and forth. Just live in the Villages. Who cares. There is always a struggle on these chats between South and North. Bottom line, it is one big, beautiful community. People outside the bubble have a lot more problems than we do. I live south and I love it. Everyone there is new and moving in. Block parties, dinners, pool parties... everyone is interacting. Everyone is super friendly. No groups to "break" into. South requires "patience" if you have it, then you will love it, especially what's to come. If you don't, well then move north of 44.

Now, down South specifically which was your original question.. Denham/dabney is on the very tail end of construction. Moultrie Creek, the fun has just begun. Dabney to Eastport is literally 18 minutes by golf cart. Do it all the time. Sawgrass 10 minutes. Brownwood 28 minutes. Eastport WILL be a town square, so if you want to be within walking distance or a short 5 minute gold cart ride move to Moutrie Creek. If you don't mind a few minutes on golf cart and not deal with construction, then Dabney/Denham. It's all about YOU. Don't worry about what other people say. Some people hate change, some take it on. Only you can decide what you want/like. I personally like the social aspect more down South. And I love driving my cart north. I don't really care how much time it takes. And I work full time. It's why I moved here. To enjoy our bubble life, stop and smell the roses attitude. Good luck. No matter what, you are lucky to be here like the rest of us. Enjoy the journey.

Dust bowl has existed since the dawn of TV, or in any new community being built. In 2010 Pennacamp new house with sand and dirt for over a year. I thought the new house didn’t get builder cleaned. They returned, one week later had the same sand and dirt sifting thru the screens. So not the cleaner

2012 Fernandina our house for 14 months was the same dirt air.

2022, dirt bowl for only a few months since we were close to the last build house.

So in 12 years developers haven’t found a way to curb air, with sand and dirt particles. Some days you can actually watch the dirt moving across the area, for miles

True
 

True, if the top soil is exposed, it blows.

My husband and I just moved from Tallahassee so this was easy for us, but we came down 4 weekends and rented a golf cart and tooled around looking at everything to see what we most enjoyed and how easy it was to get there. Then we gave a list to our realtor of our top 9 villages and top 4 models (excluding our fave one that wasn't being built in the areas we loved) and told her we'd look at any combinations that had at least a village or home towards the top of our lists. We wanted location over home and wanted to move asap (day after we retired!) we were so anxious to get here. Anyway, I recommend doing something along those lines if it's feasible for you so you get a real feel for what you like since everyone's different........ you say tomato, I say Bloody Mary! 😁

Don’t bet on ANY new restaurants and shops being available in the next year! I would give it at least 5 years. It’s taken Brownwood 10 years to be where it’s at today. And Magnolia Plaza was about 5 or more years before Publix opened.
If you want new, that’s where you need to be. But don’t expect amenities in the areas for years.

7 is more than "several"
 

The Villages has announced plans for one championship course and four executive courses (named)....but none of them are scheduled for opening dates.

It's not just about how long it takes to drive a cart from A to B, it's also about the quality of that drive. Take the cart ride from Sawgrass to Edna's, and from Sea Breeze to Lake Sumter, and from wherever you are considering to the most likely destinations you will be having and see, and feel and smell what you most enjoy.

I love where I am. I really enjoy the rides to the places I go. It's a big part of life here in TV. Make a small investment of your time to get the feel of a few different areas before you make up your mind and I think you'll be well rewarded for the effort.

Not a Villages specific issue. Such is most construction sites....except the ones that have a fleet of water trucks spraying down problem areas. When they finally max out all available land for development, infrastructure etc (not complaining)....then the dust will settle. By then, we'll all be dust as well!

We have a home in Lake Denham. I will admit a few more amenities would have been nice (i.e. restaurants, a gas station etc), but where it lacks in these areas it more than makes up for it in bike and walking trails. But most importantly to us was bring surrounded by neighbors that were all "new" to the area, which we felt would help in making new friends to enjoy the area with. We have not been disappointed yet. But if golf is your primary source of entertainment, looking elsewhere would be recommended. Best of luck in your search.

Many of which have already been recently replaced...

Just curious, where do you go to get a quart of milk?

Not even close to being correct...

I live in Lake Denham, we have 4 options we use for quickie things like bread or milk (or beer).

The 2 stores at the intersection of 27 and 470 is 4 miles, 9 minutes. (This is the one I tend to use most as there are several other businesses in the area and I try to do multiple things in a single trip, the Ace here knows me by name....)
The Publix on 44 is 8 miles 17 minutes.
The Publix at Warm Springs is 7 miles 15 minutes (if I go by cart or bike this is the one I choose but I don't like to shop on a bike or cart).
Neighborhood Market on 466a is 10 miles 21 minutes (This is my preference but I find I don't go north very often unless its just out messing around).

There is a gas station at the intersection of 33 and 470 that is only a few minutes away but I avoid it, pretty sketchy at times.

Golfers Should Purchase Pre-Owned Homes in North & Central Villages
 

Golfers shopping for homes in The Villages should NOT purchase a New Home in the Southern Areas, which lack enough Executive Golf Courses. Rather, they should buy a pre-owned home in the Middle or Northern areas which have plenty of Executive golf courses nearby. Also, the Bond is usually paid off on homes in the North and middle areas, plus you are MUCH CLOSER to Shopping & Restaurants.

3 miles down left on 470
 

3 miles left on 470 to Rt. 27 there are several restaurants, a Winn Dixie and a Publix. (My favorites are the Somkehouse and the Seafood restaurants.) There's also an ACE hardware, Dollar general, a car wash, and a Dollar General. Several fast foods and on and on. You're less than a mile to the turnpike. I like going to Costco- about a 25 minute drive. That's plenty of retail for me.

Answered above. No shortage of places to buy milk and any other grocery, beer, wine, anything really. I’m also betting the small vacant lot area at the end of Dabney where Chandler meets 470 will be a gas station. Already a cart path leading into it. They may even sell milk. Wouldn’t. Want my lactose levels to get too low.

Im guessing the 'ameneties' that have been mentioned here escaped the glossy sales brochures at the printing deadline! ;)

Go north. Plenty of golf, shopping, med offices, etc.

That doesn't sound bad at all. Actually it sounds very normal!

I have asked in a lot of these threads, what amenities I am missing in Lake Denham. I don't golf so I'm not concerned about that, but it seems the only thing that perhaps we don't have much of. I'm interested in trying a pitch and putt and/or putting course. I will feel less intimidated to try these since I'm not yet a golfer.

But apart from that I just don't know what I'm missing. We have rec centers, with the usual stuff, pools, clubs, etc. As far as restaurants, we are close enough to Brownwood and Lake Sumter for me. I don't plan on eating out 5 nights a week and the golf cart ride is fun. I make an afternoon of it, ride up to a square, do some shopping, have some drinks, dinner, watch the band, head home. 30 minutes isn't a long ride to do that.

I'll tell ya, I drove up around the Spanish Springs area with all the shopping (forget which road it was but a very large divided road) and I wouldn't want to live near there in a million years. It reminded me of Route 1 in Saugus. Yikes.

We spent a lot of time researching and spending time in each of the areas, in the end it was Lake Denham or the Enclave for us. We decided to be snowflakes for a few years so Lake Denham won out based on costs.

There's no doubt that different areas have benefits and downfalls, all based on personal preferences. The north has great mature landscaping but not much else we found attractive. The center is a nice blend of newer houses and somewhat mature landscaping but much like the north its too crowded, too busy and close. In the south you have longer drive times and may have highway noise in some places but we found everything else about it preferable. I'd guess for every different person that went through the same exercise they'd have as many unique experiences.

We have a new house on a dead end that backs up to the swamp so its very peaceful, new pool laid out just as we like, new landscaping we picked out, miles of walking paths, picking the color of paint inside and out, neighbors of like mind etc. We enjoy it very much. That said, we have higher bond, higher taxes, you might hear highway noise if you're outside and the wind is just right.

To each his own and I hope everyone is as happy with what they picked as we are.

A little sarcasm in my post....when you mentioned gas stations for milk etc. Everything else I actually agree with you and LeRoy. Except Route 1 in Saugus....that’s part of the lore on that stretch!