My good friend used to live here and now lives in Lakewood Ranch near Sarasota.
I've visited many around here prior to buying in The VIllages, and I think TV has any local area beat hands down, not even close.

Another vote here for On top of the World. We owned a court yard villa in The Villages for 2 years then 6 months ago we moved to OTOW for a number of reasons. One was we had long time friends who live in OTOW that was a factor. We were able to purchase a home the same size as the court yard villa we sold for less money than we sold the CYV for. Our home is on a corner lot with grass and a view of the 17th tee of one of the golf courses. We're far enough away from the tee box so we don't hear golfers who hit a lousy shot complain. Our HOA fees here include all landscaping services and internet. There's 24/7 guarded gates so it's very secure. Our new home is better constructed too than the villa we owned in The Villages.

Some will say it's too quiet for their lifestyle. I was a hell raiser until age 32. Today I don't need all the action some are looking for. I can still golf or play pickle ball if I want.

What we do find interesting is that as we drive our golf cart thru new homes under construction or about to be occupied we find quite a few people who are moving from The Villages to OTOW.

I would caution you to look at the crime statistics wherever you look.

TOTW - Never
 

We stayed there for their 3 day special rate to experience it. HORRIFIC!

There was one barn broken into multiple rooms/activity centers and my wife would not even go into one because it smelled of urine and a hospice assisted living facility.

Their rec facilities were substandard with the flooring so uneven you could trip over it but, fortunately they were all completely empty.

Saw no one outside except for one family with grand children playing on the single miniature golf course and about 3 golf carts driving.

This was before checking out TV and happened in June 2016.

When we drove out the front gate we both LITERALLY felt a huge weight lift off of our shoulders like we'd just escaped from prison.

There is a real, person there checking IDs before letting people through the gate so there is better security.

I have some rather simple requirements.

1. Golf Cart Community
2. Nightly Entertainment - so if I go out I can expect a bit of it...
3. The ability to possibly play golf - never have, but want to learn
4. A couple good watering holes to swap stories
5. Florida - income taxes

I have been looing for awhile. It appears to me, in my searching, that in reality TV hits all the nails. I am intrigued by Latitude Margheritaville in Daytona. But it's just getting started.

Its all personal preference. Some want golfing areas, some want parks or walking areas. Check the site and see what appeals to you and your likes for life

Leesburg Florida right down the road.

Plantation located in Leesburg FL. Low HOA fees, No CDD fees, No Bonds, Gated. Does not have the number or quality of The Villages facilities or activities, nevertheless has them. It all depends on "what' you want for your money and what you feel is acceptable in fees and taxes in exchange for what you get. The answer to this question is specific to each person looking.

The Villages is NOT a “Best Value” sort of community. You and I may agree that it has a value surpassing all of these “best value” communities, but it isn’t cheap. I could buy a house the size and fanciness of mine a mile or two outside The Villages or in Ocala for half the price. But I wouldn’t have access to the activities here, and the neighborhood probably wouldn’t be as beautiful or safe. We are definitely getting what we are paying for, but “best value” implies “budget,” and The Villages is upscale in activities, not budget.

Citrus Hills. 30 minutes or so from TV.

Sun city arizona

It is the percentage of people using a particular facility, not how many facilities they have. TV is ridiculously crowded and ever expanding. Driving anywhere around here whether its by car or cart is a pain. There are waiting lists to join many clubs. My wife made me buy here and it sucks. I would definitely find somewhere on the coast.

I took a look at OTOTW. I loved it. You can get a lot more for your money. Then I thought about the downside(s). First, you own the structure, not the land it sits on. My favorite things to do are golf, golf and golf! There are 3 championship courses. Memberships are not cheap and greens fees are a lot like ours. They are still building and it will soon be as large as The Villages. There was no mention of adding additional golf courses to accommodate their growing population. There are no executive golf courses. If you buy a home that includes exterior maintenance (which I would love), the monthly amenity fee is about $350. I wish they would build condos here.

Had my wife been a golfer we most likely would have chosen Citrus Hills/Terra Vista as well. However, she much prefers the availability of activities here, and has never golfed. I on the other hand like the Citrus Hills area because of the golf. Better cared for courses and less expensive too. Up north I play nearly every day (18 holes). It would be very expensive to do that here, and because of the points system, maybe not possible(?).

We wintered in Belize for 4 winters and then built a beach home in Xcalak, Mx. We spent 12 winters there and it was paradise, BUT we got robbed three times! We sold our 3200 sq/ft home in Mexico 5 years ago. Since then we tried Az and San Diego areas..nice but expensive in Diego and rather cheap in Green Valley,Az. But we didn't like the desert and everything is brown. The other 4 years we searched Florida top to bottom and kept coming back to The Villages. The only change I'd make is to move TV further south..amen