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