[hosegooseman]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Looking to buy very soon south of 44. I know shopping is limited (for now), but outside of a weekly grocery run, that is usually the extent of my shopping (buy everything else almost exclusively online). I only shop with a purpose, do not enjoying just casual, browsing and window shopping. To me, being near the Big Box stores just creates more traffic and congestion. Are you OK being a bit away from major shopping plazas, as long as you are close to a grocery store?

At Magnolia Plaza you have a Publix and soon a 7 Eleven Gas Station and a CVS. Also a few places to eat. At the intersection of Morse and 44 (next to Rohan Rec Center), you have another Publix, Gas Station and Walgreens plus some places to eat as well. If need/want to just google Walmart and you will see your options in terms of distance but in my opinion is not that far.

By car it takes about 35 min from the Fenney Pool area to US 27 Spanish Springs where a lot of shopping options are available (and yes, lots of traffic and congestion). In between you have 466a and 466 areas where there is quite a few options as well.

For basic needs, I think you are covered. The rest I do not think it's a major issue, based on your post.

Saludos !!!

[joelfmi]

Very Important! when you buy a home!

[Dlbonivich]

My house is S of 466A and N of 44. It is 10 years old. People are saying that it will be a year or two before shopping is S. It took until last year for a lot of things to open N of 44. So I think the time frame will be longer. I use my car for shopping. I never use my cart. I will say when there is one store close and they keep building it can get crowded

[MSGirl]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Looking to buy very soon south of 44. I know shopping is limited (for now), but outside of a weekly grocery run, that is usually the extent of my shopping (buy everything else almost exclusively online). I only shop with a purpose, do not enjoying just casual, browsing and window shopping. To me, being near the Big Box stores just creates more traffic and congestion. Are you OK being a bit away from major shopping plazas, as long as you are close to a grocery store?

That’s really a personal question only you can answer. Personally, I want to be close to the squares and restaurants and medical. It’s going to be awhile before the area south of 44 will built up with these amenities. Who knows how long I have for that to happen. Right now I’m a golf cart ride away from all the squares.

[Fun in the sun 2]

From south of 44, travel time to Home Depot in Lady Lake was 24 minutes at 8:26 a.m. and 26 minute to Home Depot in Leesburg. We go to Ocala for some doctor’s appointments, shopping, and a mall and it’s 30 minutes. We go to Orlando for some doctors, a hospital, some shopping, and it’s 55 minutes. It is working out very well for us! And we have a new house that no one has lived in with more energy efficiency and items that may not have to be replaced as quickly. That Includes a new roof which is important for insurance purposes.

[Vermilion Villager]

I live in Marsh Bend and even with traffic cat get to Kohls in Lady Lake in about 30 minutes. When I lived in the burbs of Minneapolis it would take roughly the same time to get to MOA or any of the other large malls. With online shopping such a convenience it pretty much does not matter anymore.

[sallyg]

Originally Posted by Lisanp@aol.com

I live in the “south” and I don’t hear the turnpike or the prison or the quarry. I don’t see the allure of putting perishables in a golf cart and driving around for 15/20 minutes, so I don’t have any issue with the proximity to the grocery stores by car. I am 4 minutes from Magnolia Plaza (if I get the red light) and 7 minutes from Lake Deaton Plaza by car. Magnolia Plaza will have a CVS and gas station very soon. Lake Deaton already has a gas station (with car wash) and Walgreens. I go to the grocery store nearly every afternoon for dinner items and never see an inconvenience. I am happy to patronize the independently owned ACE hardware on 301 when I need a hardware item over the Lowes, but Lowes is still only 15 minutes away. I have had no trouble finding a doctor (Lake Deaton), dentist (Magnolia), or nail salon. The only provider that I “travel” to is the vet twice a year 15 minutes away but my vet has always been 15 minutes away. The south is closer to the “better” hospital in Leesburg (15 minutes which will go way down when Meggison connects to the turnpike) and there is an emergency room 7 minutes away by Brownwood. The south is much much closer to the airport and Orlando and will be an even shorter distance when the Meggison connection opens which again should be very soon. I have zero desire to wait on the checkout lines at Walmart, but I do wish a Target was closer (and I’m fairly certain one will come with the Middleton construction). We have 1 car and 1 cart. We go to dinner by cart all the time and there are many restaurants within a 20 minute cart ride and more to come soon too. The TOTV posters always south bash because they are worried how great it’s going to be down here very very soon!

Yes!

[wolfie]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

Looking to buy very soon south of 44. I know shopping is limited (for now), but outside of a weekly grocery run, that is usually the extent of my shopping (buy everything else almost exclusively online). I only shop with a purpose, do not enjoying just casual, browsing and window shopping. To me, being near the Big Box stores just creates more traffic and congestion. Are you OK being a bit away from major shopping plazas, as long as you are close to a grocery store?

north of 446 is less taxes closer to all doctors and stores, but harder to find a house that you want, they go fast, also some homes need update, I would rent for awhile and look around

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by wolfie

north of 446 is less taxes closer to all doctors and stores, but harder to find a house that you want, they go fast, also some homes need update, I would rent for awhile and look around

Do not understand why some people buy without spending the time to understand the area and figure out what is really important to them.

[Fun in the sun 2]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Do not understand why some people buy without spending the time to understand the area and figure out what is really important to them.

For us, we bought when a lot became available that we didn’t loose to someone else. We built. The driving factors were that we were daily watching, for 10 months, as the prices were increasing a lot. Also, we didn’t want to chance having to pay a higher interest rate which would mean we could buy less house and fewer upgrades and extensions. I found out my body could not bend in the direction to put dishes in the dishwasher, without pain. The design was so inconvenient. I needed a straight not angled counter, sink, and dishwasher so we bought a new house with a straight island. We are fortunate to have more space behind our house. I guess what I’m saying is you can make an informed decision if you drive to and from the locations from the various areas, do your due diligence about the surrounding area, looking at where the water treatment plants are, the highways including the turnpike, read this website and next door for comments about the prison, find the limestone quarries, and read about the areas impacted by this and keep an eye out for the distance to high tension wires. We moved 17 times in 27 years as we were in the USAF so we were used to having to evaluate living areas quickly. One time I chose our area based on reading the properties for rent on the drive from Denver to Sacramento. It was confirmed when we got there. I picked the perfect house in a few hours. But I don’t take the credit for this. A lot had to happen, including a war, for us to get this house.

[Garywt]

For me the further the store the more golf cart driving I have.

[fsusix]

It's a personal choice - my choice was to live very close to the store and the doctors. As we age - we are less able to get around. My husband has Parkinson's. So living within walking distance allows me to leave for short trips (only have 1 vehicle and a golf cart) and also you'd be surprised how often you do need things - and you don't have to plan for your trip to the stores. Many of our neighbors walk every day to the shopping plaza (WD- PUBLIX) to get exercise and/or shop. Target is close by and SAMS just a hop away. I get SAMS fuel between 7-8 at night especially during the busy season with no lines. I doubt I would plan this if I had a longer way to go. Most of the houses are older over here - so that plays into your decisions too. Just a few thoughts....

[JeanPultorak]

Yes, I am fine with being near a grocery store.
QUOTE=Michael 61;2123171]Looking to buy very soon south of 44. I know shopping is limited (for now), but outside of a weekly grocery run, that is usually the extent of my shopping (buy everything else almost exclusively online). I only shop with a purpose, do not enjoying just casual, browsing and window shopping. To me, being near the Big Box stores just creates more traffic and congestion. Are you OK being a bit away from major shopping plazas, as long as you are close to a grocery store?[/QUOTE]

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Fun in the sun 2

For us, we bought when a lot became available that we didn’t loose to someone else. We built. The driving factors were that we were daily watching, for 10 months, as the prices were increasing a lot. Also, we didn’t want to chance having to pay a higher interest rate which would mean we could buy less house and fewer upgrades and extensions. I found out my body could not bend in the direction to put dishes in the dishwasher, without pain. The design was so inconvenient. I needed a straight not angled counter, sink, and dishwasher so we bought a new house with a straight island. We are fortunate to have more space behind our house. I guess what I’m saying is you can make an informed decision if you drive to and from the locations from the various areas, do your due diligence about the surrounding area, looking at where the water treatment plants are, the highways including the turnpike, read this website and next door for comments about the prison, find the limestone quarries, and read about the areas impacted by this and keep an eye out for the distance to high tension wires. We moved 17 times in 27 years as we were in the USAF so we were used to having to evaluate living areas quickly. One time I chose our area based on reading the properties for rent on the drive from Denver to Sacramento. It was confirmed when we got there. I picked the perfect house in a few hours. But I don’t take the credit for this. A lot had to happen, including a war, for us to get this house.

Thank you for your service.

I am sure you are better at finding a good location for a home after doing so many times than we would be.

[44Apple]

Living by the Arnold Palmer area, most shopping done by us is by golf cart to the Southern Trace/Buffalo Ridge areas. Not that big a deal.