[Number 10 GI]

It's called "due diligence", in plain talk you check it out thoroughly before you take the leap. The wife and I made 3 trips to the villages before purchasing our home here. It helped that we had friends that had been living in TV for years that we mercilessly questioned about how, what, when and where concerning home ownership in TV. We met with a loan officer before we even decided to buy and gained valuable information on taxes and the other expenses of living here.
The description of water views and golf course views you take with a grain, or maybe a pound, of salt and see it personally to determine if the description is factual. If it isn't then nobody is putting a gun to your head forcing you to buy the house.
It never entered my mind that TV would have a police force, I knew that it wasn't a city and therefore unable to have police officers. TV could hire private security but they have no police powers so what good would they be?
As far as the distance to Orlando, where in Orlando was the end point? Usually the online map/driving aps measure to city center unless you specify a specific street address. Maybe it was measured to the closest city limit location. Again, due diligence on your part to check exactly how far it is to the location you want to go to. I just checked google maps and from my house in McClure to Orlando city center is 47 miles.

[Leadbone1]

Originally Posted by blueash

In another thread a person suggested they were lied to about whether people under 55 could reside. That got me looking at the FAQ on Developer's website

FAQ | The Villages

While they don't exactly lie, they certainly get right up to the edge of lying. It makes me wonder why they bothered to post a FAQ if they didn't want to give a truly honest answer. The only possible reason is to mislead with a misleading answer. You think you've learned something about TV, but you've not had your question answered the way I believe it should be answered. Maybe I'm wrong about that...

Examples:
Does TV have their own Police Department? We all know the honest answer is NO. Is that the answer the FAQ gives? It is not. It gives a weasel answer that strongly suggests that the answer is yes..


The average person would very likely believe the word LOCAL means TV has a local force.


Is The Villages a city or a town?

The honest answer is NO. There is no citizen elected government in control. For good or for bad we are residents of a privately held corporation that sets the rules.



Again true, but they did not answer the question they posed. Misleading. We could well be a 55+ community in a city or in a town.

Even a simple question which is easily fact checked

How far is TV from Orlando?


Perhaps from the closest tip of Orlando to the closest part of TV it is 45 miles, but that is certainly misleading.

From Brownwood to MCO is 60 miles, to the Premium Outlet which you see from the Turnpike exit is 51 miles.

From Lake Sumter Landing add 6 miles, from Fenney Grill it is 49 miles to the Outlet.

I don't know why TV chose 45 miles as the distance from TV to Orlando for the FAQ, but it is a less than honest answer. If you just use Google and enter distance from The Villages to Orlando it gives 61.3 miles. That would have been an honest answer, or even round down to 60.

Weasel answers do not make The Villages look honest and trustworthy in their approach to potential buyers. How about giving a forthright answer rather than one which is as close to a lie as you can get without crossing the line?

The three examples you gave are inconsequential and don’t amount to a hill of beans. If you’re looking for something to be upset about you certainly will always find it!

[J1ceasar]

When you go supermarket shopping you read the labels right? Buy a car and you read reviews? So you buy a $300,000 home and don't do any research yourself? Not to denigrate real estate sales people but they are right at the bottom with used car sales people . and yes I know some are great ethical realtors.

[JimJohnson]

Anyone Selling Anything will lie if it will help them get a sale. Cars, furniture and REAL-ESTATE have the most prolific liars.

[DecaturFargo]

Point missed

[J1ceasar]

They would never forget to tell you your lot is next to the highway or power lines or that community center will take two years to build. That you can't put a gnome in your yard .

[hardwick2112@yahoo.com]

You are correct, many of the Morse Family statements while not lies, are misleading. In regard to the 55+, they do not sell as many homes each year without the 20 and 30-somethings. You ought to come south of the turnpike to see it in the flesh.

Hacienda County Club is another example, the Morse Family decided to knock it down and re purpose it. Did they have a open forum to discuss, the answer is no.

Talk about socialism and take it or leave it, welcome to the Morse Family Villages.

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by blueash

In another thread a person suggested they were lied to about whether people under 55 could reside. That got me looking at the FAQ on Developer's website

FAQ | The Villages

While they don't exactly lie, they certainly get right up to the edge of lying. It makes me wonder why they bothered to post a FAQ if they didn't want to give a truly honest answer. The only possible reason is to mislead with a misleading answer. You think you've learned something about TV, but you've not had your question answered the way I believe it should be answered. Maybe I'm wrong about that...

Examples:
Does TV have their own Police Department? We all know the honest answer is NO. Is that the answer the FAQ gives? It is not. It gives a weasel answer that strongly suggests that the answer is yes..


The average person would very likely believe the word LOCAL means TV has a local force.


Is The Villages a city or a town?

The honest answer is NO. There is no citizen elected government in control. For good or for bad we are residents of a privately held corporation that sets the rules.



Again true, but they did not answer the question they posed. Misleading. We could well be a 55+ community in a city or in a town.

Even a simple question which is easily fact checked

How far is TV from Orlando?


Perhaps from the closest tip of Orlando to the closest part of TV it is 45 miles, but that is certainly misleading.

From Brownwood to MCO is 60 miles, to the Premium Outlet which you see from the Turnpike exit is 51 miles.

From Lake Sumter Landing add 6 miles, from Fenney Grill it is 49 miles to the Outlet.

I don't know why TV chose 45 miles as the distance from TV to Orlando for the FAQ, but it is a less than honest answer. If you just use Google and enter distance from The Villages to Orlando it gives 61.3 miles. That would have been an honest answer, or even round down to 60.

Weasel answers do not make The Villages look honest and trustworthy in their approach to potential buyers. How about giving a forthright answer rather than one which is as close to a lie as you can get without crossing the line?

I dont actually see where the “lies” are. “Protected by local and county police.” No where does that suggest its their own police dept nor would I think that by that response.
I have registered 45 miles to the villages from Orlando on my car speedometer, not using a google on line search.
Anyone can make their own interpretation of statements made by anyone. How about just doing your own research and figure it out for yourself? But I dont see any lies here. Its just a matter of how YOU interpret it

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by Ladygolfer93

So interesting to read your post ! A real eye opener. Almost none of the questions are actually answered. Does the Villages have a police department people ask ? What kind of answer is "the Villages are protected by local police" ? Why not say "NO, the Villages has no police department, no mayor, no city councilmen, etc. EXPLAIN to people ! Why go to all the trouble to "appear" to answer something while NOT answering. Yes, it is just another example dis honestly that seems to go on everywhere, at the bank, the real estate office, the insurance company.... if you read the Q&A's of these others, you quickly see it's not just the development company that owns the Villages, it's everywhere !

I still dont see how you feel their replies are lies. It says protected by local police. It doesnt insinuate it has its own police dept at all. And why do you feel they need to answer a question with a 12 page story. Would you prefer they said .....nope....no police dept. That would just lead to.......ok, who does the policing? So you got all your questions answered in one simple response. “Local police”. Not everyone is a scammer, liar or con man. And its your responsibility to check things out for yourself instead of sitting home behind a keyboard typing a question. Get out and check it out yourself

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

As far as I can tell, they come no where close to lying. They simply give positive answers to questions. I don't see any of these answers as "weasel answers." They are truthful.

And what happened to the original subject of this OP where "The Villages" supposedly lied about people under age 55 living here?

If a salesman did indeed lie, does that mean that "The Villages" lied? Because one person who is employed by a company may have told a lie, that doesn't mean the company lies.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by hardwick2112@yahoo.com

Hacienda County Club is another example, the Morse Family decided to knock it down and re purpose it. Did they have a open forum to discuss, the answer is no.

Talk about socialism and take it or leave it, welcome to the Morse Family Villages.

Do you invite friends and neighbiors over to discuss how you will spend your money? What gives you or anyone the right to an "open forum" on how the developer's family spends and invests theirs? What an entitled perspective.

[Dilligas]

Originally Posted by blueash

In another thread a person suggested they were lied to about whether people under 55 could reside. That got me looking at the FAQ on Developer's website

FAQ | The Villages

While they don't exactly lie, they certainly get right up to the edge of lying. It makes me wonder why they bothered to post a FAQ if they didn't want to give a truly honest answer. The only possible reason is to mislead with a misleading answer. You think you've learned something about TV, but you've not had your question answered the way I believe it should be answered. Maybe I'm wrong about that...

Examples:
Does TV have their own Police Department? We all know the honest answer is NO. Is that the answer the FAQ gives? It is not. It gives a weasel answer that strongly suggests that the answer is yes..


The average person would very likely believe the word LOCAL means TV has a local force.


Is The Villages a city or a town?

The honest answer is NO. There is no citizen elected government in control. For good or for bad we are residents of a privately held corporation that sets the rules.



Again true, but they did not answer the question they posed. Misleading. We could well be a 55+ community in a city or in a town.

Even a simple question which is easily fact checked

How far is TV from Orlando?


Perhaps from the closest tip of Orlando to the closest part of TV it is 45 miles, but that is certainly misleading.

From Brownwood to MCO is 60 miles, to the Premium Outlet which you see from the Turnpike exit is 51 miles.

From Lake Sumter Landing add 6 miles, from Fenney Grill it is 49 miles to the Outlet.

I don't know why TV chose 45 miles as the distance from TV to Orlando for the FAQ, but it is a less than honest answer. If you just use Google and enter distance from The Villages to Orlando it gives 61.3 miles. That would have been an honest answer, or even round down to 60.

Weasel answers do not make The Villages look honest and trustworthy in their approach to potential buyers. How about giving a forthright answer rather than one which is as close to a lie as you can get without crossing the line?

I guess they are lies if you expect them to be. Otherwise they are the truth with out having to go into a long explanation. City or town.....vs CDD. Many have lived here decades and still don’t understand CDDs. Mileage to Orlando, is probably to the northern city limits (just like on most highways). MCO is in southern Orlando. Police....TV is covered by 3 county sheriff and 3 town police forces.....try explaining that one. This is a 55 age restricted community, but fed or state law requires some accepted under 55. So if believe all these are lies....stay where you are....you will only be looking for more lies and not enjoying our “friendliest hometown”.

[Annie66]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

In 40 years or so might be able to walk to Orlando

Maybe, but in 10-15 years Orlando will be a suburb of TVs.

[phansen2246]

Maybe, as the crow fly's?

[Dgizzi]

Originally Posted by Homer49

That person simply didn't do their homework re: deed restrictions before buying if they thought that no-one under 55 could live here...

Well I did ask my TV realtor if they sell to anyone under 55 and she NO! And it is true. why bother having TV as 55 and older. I am hearing more stories of younger people living here. TV is so large no way to keep track anyhow.