We've lived here a little over a month now and looked at property in TV off and on for years. What we found in looking at homes in the established part of TV is that most of the homes, being older, needed updating and the owners obviously wanted their equity, so it made the cost of the home and any potential updating more. We ended up buying a brand new home in Monarch Grove near the Fenney area. While we don't yet have golf cart access across 44, the potential for new growth and activity is huge, and we can't wait to see how it plays out! It's true that the age group for those living in the newer areas seems to be younger, but overall, I don't think you can go wrong anywhere in TV. Right now, south of 44, you have to be okay with driving your car everywhere, which doesn't bother us. We think the wait will be well worth it!!

We rented for the month of January 2020. We stayed in McClure which is south of Warm Springs Avenue near Fenney. Had no intention of buying a home. Fell in love with TV and started house hunting the second week. Decided we wanted new as we are in our 50’s. Did not find a home but left knowing which models we liked and that my heart really loved Marsh Bend. Figured we would have to build. Kept an eye on the TV app to see if anything came up. Low and behold a home next to a green space in Marsh Bend appeared in February. It was one of the models we liked. Bought it the next day.

Let my Brother in Law, (yeah you know who you are) talk me into a visit... kicking and screaming the entire way we pulled into Lake Sumter Landing where I first saw the golf carts and open front bars and said okie dokie where do I sign up.. We bought a newly released Spec home 2 weeks later sight unseen from 1000 miles away and 30 days later we flew back and walked through on our way to closing.. That was August of 2013 and it's already been 7 years of driving down several times a year for short stays but we now only have 1 more year before we're there full time..We've found we're both excited and nervous, happy but also sad, it's going to be an emotional roller coaster for the next year or two but we think we're ready..

In my opinion the age of my neighbors is not an issue since I enjoy all ages. We've stayed in Sumter, Brownwood and the Fenney area. Never wanted to move here until our stay in Fenney. Too crowded up North for my taste and I love all the trails that are for walking/biking only in Fenney. No golf carts to dodge on the trails. I've heard that if you move into an established neighborhood its harder to make friends because everyone has already established their circle of friends. I've talked to people who have moved out of the North for that reason. However, I suspect it just depends on the particular people in the area and not how established the neighborhood is. I wouldn't hesitate to move into an established area anywhere in TV if it was an area I liked. Bottom line it all depends on your personality. I prefer a quiet area with nice views and friendly neighbors and I don't have an issue getting in my car to get somewhere as opposed to taking the golf cart. But keep in mind that with all the land TV currently owns what is now considered to be the South will one day be more central and most of what we would need to go North for now will be closer to home.

Check out Robyn Cavallero's videos on Youtube. She's a 50 something year old single lady who has recently moved to the villages and has started to make videos about TV. Her latest video highlights some of the newer patio villas. She does a walk thru on some of the models.

Also highly recommend Jerry and Linda's channel.

Why multiple moves so common within new homes
 

Hello, I notice many move multiple times even within new homes, where in theory you had what you wanted built for you. What are your reasons?

Hard to answer -- i looked for the garage, my wife to be at the yard and being a reasonable distance from the tennis club. We were lucky that we lived close already (Mt Dora and Tampa) so we looked every weekend and it was a scene form the Three Stooges! Decided to rent for 90 days and I scanned the computer and then drove to see some while she still worked full time. Then on Saturday we had a list to go actually visit with a realtor (never found a used home listed with The Villages so that split realtor issue never came up). Two months in we found the house we both liked and it was close to tennis so we bought. I suggest the rental if possible just to see what it is like actually living here and traveling by car and golf cart in the various areas. We are in Chatham so we cannot cart to the 441 businesses, but carts are too slow for me so I wouldn't do that anyway, otherwise we are happy where we live. Just one experience of thousands.

We rented north of 466 the first time and liked the convenience of shopping and eateries. We stumbled on a house to our liking and closed in a week. That was 4 years ago. Very happy with our decision. Now if only the virus would go away.

Tv property
 

This is your decision to make. I have been in tv since 2003. I live in sable chase. Very close to sumter landing and i love it. Consider the bond. A preowned home may have no bond. The newer section has a heafty bond.and for the most part have many upgrades.

Location - Proximity to Lake Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs

Not south of 44. A Publix May open by the end of the year and then slow infill of the retail. There will never a square like those north of 44. It’s not the villages lifestyle like you will find north of 44. We live near Brownwood and feel it’s a great location. Lots of golf cart accessible shopping, medical, dental, rec centers, golf.

Been here 19 years
 

Find a model you like, then look to see where that is available new and resale. Take into consideration upgrade costs if buying resale. Golf front homes are much less north of 466, so consider that too. You might be able to afford a golf course or lake front resale home after all. If you take your time and buy what you really want the first time no need to ever move again. We did our homework, waited for a lot on a championship course with a lake view 19 years ago, made changes to the plans of the Designer home we wanted and are as happy 19 years later with the house and lot as we were when we bought it. You could be too. Take your time, you'll be happy you did. Neighbors come and go, but your home and view lot are a constant. All Villages have their pros and cons and their great and not so great people. Buy the house and the lot you want and you'll be happy. Welcome to the Villages, life is good here.

We wanted to be between Sumter and Brownwood and reasonably close to shopping. But, it was also important (for us) to have natural gas. Ended up in the Village of Largo.

Village of La Zamora
 

The beautiful canopy of trees reminded us of North Carolina, our former home, for some that would be a negative, but we are tree huggers, lol. After looking at many homes, this one said, "You are home". My husband walked in to lanai before seeing the house and said "I'll take it!" And here we are.

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Depends if u want a new home or older home is what it comes down too..the newer villages tend to have younger crowd as well..

My wife and I visited 5 or 6 times before we bought. Each time we looked at homes and how we would live once here. We selected a plan that would accommodate family and friends and an area where we would be “living’. We do theater, movies, restaurants, health clubs, church and shopping. We wanted to be close to The Sharon and the Savannah Center so we ended up buying the plan we were after (it was an 18 year old home) and completely redid it. By golf cart we are 5 minutes from Spanish Springs and 10 minutes from Sumter Landing. We could not be happier. We’ve been there 6 years now and wouldn’t consider moving.

I would suggest that you do the Lifestyle program once Covid19 is gone. Everything is pretty much closed now. Then, after that, when we were ready, we rented a house down here for 6mos 7days, with month to month extension if needed, giving our landlord at least 60 days notice. That gave us plenty of time to get to know the areas and find the house we wanted. We had our preferences of areas, but house wants were more important, except that we did not want south of hwy 44..that's the newer areas, but no access via golf cart to anything north of hwy44. by doing this, you can join several clubs, get to know people in different areas, etc.

There appears to be a trend toward less golf in the area south of 44. There are I think 4 exec eg. par 3 courses but only 1 championship[ to be built it would appear. There are 12 championship courses north of 44 so I think that difference is quite significant

Please write that book!!!

I got here 12 years ago when I was 57. I am 69 now and I know what happened to the villages. As the older owners died, The kids took over. Not a good scene. If you’re going to buy anything stay on the north side of 44. You go across 44 are you going to be paying Wildwood taxes as well as Sumter County taxes. No big deal. But, remember by concrete or block house. I was here when the tornado hit. No one tells you that. It wiped out half of Mallory country club so many houses destroyed. I would take a gas in the villages 2000 house is destroyed. So, it’ll never happen again thank God. That was in 2007 February second. Be sure, To buy a block a concrete house. Please

Rent a home for a month and really explore. Right now you can rent an entire house for about $600 a week. Live the lifestyle for more than a week at your leisure. Not promoting my rental home, but here is an example...lol [url]www.************.com/lsp Located in the New development of Monarch Grove, south of 44. Quiet at home and lots of activity away from the house. the stars are: our home 4 rent

I did not choose a village, I chose a home. The village came with it.

I moved to TV n 2017: wanted to be close to RT 466, and wanted a car, 3 brm house. Although I initially bought a golf cart, I wound up selling it a year later [I do not golf and had a car and a motor scooter]. One counter-intuitive observation on the type of street- I live on Woodridge Drive, which is a fairly well traveled road: during the busy daytime or less busy night, I can't hear vehicle noise w the TV on in the living room (adjacent to the road).

we came to visit friends in Mar 2009, hooked up with TV sales rep (most are not realtors and work for the developer). We lucked out, told her what we were looking for and she delivered. When we returned in Mar 2010 the section of Buttonwood we eventually purchased in had just opened up. We were near 3 ex. courses, Fishhawk rec. center. Not far from LSL and shopping and amenities galore. Everyone was moving in at the same time, most of us were mid 50’s to early 60’s and we bonded quickly. 4 yrs later move south of 466 A, got same model stretched with pool. Would never move south of 44. Demographics of age groups is changing in more north as those who have lived here 15+ years leave/pass away and others retire and move in. Come for lifestyle program, they are still doing it even with COVID restriction. The sales reps with try to get you to commit to south of 44. Go with your gut.

Rent first for a few months /
 

After you decide which location fits your needs , then begin the search for the price of house you can afford , it will all fall in place once you get here and live the LIFEstyle.

Also lived in Mallory in Feb 2007. The Alexa Villas, which are cement block CYV’s off of Timmonsville Way, had their roofs torn off and home contents sucked out. Coconut Cove a cement/block neighborhood rec center, was also destroyed. After seeing the tornado’s damage in person, I realized then that there’s not much you can do to withstand a tornado.

Also BTW, homes in LaBelle pay both Sumter County and Wildwood property taxes, and they’re North of 44. Not sure if all the homes bet 44 and 466A pay Wildwood taxes but I suspect those in Sumter County probably do.

That is a very good question and would be fun to hear the many different reasons.
Here is my journey: Moved to TV in 2003. Previous home hadn't sold yet so had a strict budget. Had a new Amarillo (ranch/cottage) home built. Never thought we'd move again. In 2009 after getting an inheritance, DH was tired of parking outside and decided he wanted a golf cart garage. I wanted a CBC (block/stucco) home. So we upgraded. New designer home that backed to a villa wall. 3rd house was a resale in 2017. Similar size home except with a pool. I had given up trying to get lap swimming lanes a couple years prior when TV got impossibly crowded and I missed having our own pool before the move to TV. So another upgrade. All 3 homes closed before the previous home sold. So 2 bridge loans and 1 fifteen yr mortgage. This is our last home in TV. Hubby says his next move is to an urn. LOL! However, if I should happen to outlive him, I will sell the house and move to a CCRC elsewhere in Florida. (NOT Freedom Pointe.):icon_wink:

So fun to read everyone's stories! Thanks for the smiles.

We are in Mallory Square. LOVE this location!

Chose a house in the north rather than a village

Agreed!

You have to determine your priorities. Then match those with your budget. We chose a new home in the area south of 44 in large part due to budget. New homes in TV are typically less expensive than used homes.

TV is doing a good job balancing existing nature (maintaining trees, preserves, etc.) with new development, so the new villages are very attractive. The average occupant age in the newer section is probably a little younger (we are 55) - although many of are neighbors are older and incredibly active. And the walking / biking path setup south of 44 is better compared to the northern villages. However, the commercial development south of 44 is in its infancy. This area won’t have cart accessible commercial until year end. And material commercial development, inclusive of a new town center and championship golf, will likely not be completed for a couple years. And connectivity via golf cart to the rest of the TV will likely not occur until early 2021.

Renting for a while is not a bad option if you can make that work financially and logistically - although renting for a month might not be long enough. We initially purchased a CYV thinking it would be a perfect solution. The house was a little on the small side, but it is only the two of us, and we thought adapting to the scale of the house would be no problem. However, we have family, guests and neighbors over all the time. We never imagined we would be entertaining this much. The sense of community in TV is unlike anything I have experienced. Neighbors get together all the time. And we are enjoying many new activities, and the stuff that goes with them - golf cart, bicycles, pickleball equipment, golf equipment, bows and arrows, etc.

Ultimately we sold the CYV and purchased a larger Veranda. Which stretched our budget a little. But we feel the financial sacrifice will be worth it. Like I wrote at the beginning, you have to identify your own priorities and budget. I’m sure there are people living in TV in a 1 bedroom patio home who are just as content as someone living in a premier home.

I just got lucky when I found my home.

Thank you all for the great replies. So much valuable information in your responses. With any luck I will be visiting this fall and will probably follow the advice to rent for a few months before buying.

Considering your relatively young age and marital status, I would opt for a courtyard villa in one of the new villages such as Chitty Chatty. My husband and I live at Heathrow Preserve in the Village of Lake Deaton in one of the larger homes. If I were single, I would opt for a somewhat smaller home because it's easier to maintain, easier to sell if you decide to cohabitate with someone, and usually are populated with more singles. I have found that quite often, the more southern you go in TV, the younger the population. However, there are certainly a plethora of ways to meet individuals here so you should be fine wherever you choose. Good luck!

new vs old
 

We also had remodeled the last two homes and decided on Marsh Bend. The new home needed nothing, the people are amazing. We have been here less then two months and I am already on a men's tennis singles league, men's tennis doubles, playing water volleyball and beach tennis with a group down here. The south area will be the go to spot before you know it. Spent a month renting and bought the next month!!!