[ValerieJo]

As I watch the prices of homes in The Villages skyrocket, it appears we are rapidly being priced out of the market. We have a few years before we can consider buying and I'm afraid we will not be able to afford a home there when the time comes.

Are there any other communities you could suggest we look in to? What/Where would be your second choice if you could not afford to buy a home in The Villages?

We are trying to keep our options open at this point.

I would love to hear your suggestions.

Thanks.

[quirky3]

One place you can do endless research is the following site:
Ideal Active Adult Communities | 55 Places

You can search by location, as well as many other parameters, then get a list of communities.

You can click on one community at a time, and look at how many homes, the price range, the age of the community, their amenities, lifestyle, homes for sale, etc.

[billethkid]

as the baby boom effect continues you will fine the same effect on almost all the communities of the quality of TV.

The best time to buy was yesterday. The second best time to buy is today. And the most expensive option is waiting!!!

[Chi-Town]

This may be helpful.


http://www.55places.com/blog/100-mos...ities-for-2014

[Sable99]

You could consider doing what I did. I am retired now but my 90 year old mother doesn't want to move to TV full time. She loves the four seasons in Michigan and her friends, family and church. I'm hoping I can change her mind after this past winter!

We had our TV home built in 2012. We have have rented our home in a long-term rental program since day 1. As a rental, most updates I do are a tax write-off. My first renter wanted a custom master closet and I am now looking for plantation shutters for my current tenant.

it breaks my heart that i'm not in our home but it works for now.

[cquick]

Originally Posted by ValerieJo

Are there any other communities you could suggest we look in to? What/Where would be your second choice if you could not afford to buy a home in The Villages?

Thanks.

There are so many decisions to make as you look to retirement. One good thing about Florida is the huge number of places to live! Have you stayed in TV for 3 months in the winter time yet? I mean rented a home and actually immersed yourself into the lifestyle? If you haven't that's the first thing I would do. Then you can stay somewhere else in a different part of the country the next year, and go from there. My cousins spent a winter staying at about 5 different communities during a 4 month "retirement investigation". They had a lot of fun, but they loved The Villages the most.

Have fun!

[slipcovers]

It depends on the homes you are looking to purchase, villas are in demand and currently there are under 30 for sale with TheVillages.com. However, there are over 500 designers for sale, some for over a year. I would think you could get a designer for a good price, supply and demand thing.

I too have downsized, in my dreams, from a ranch to a villa and even at that I may not be able to afford the maintenance of 2 homes as I would have to be a snowbird. Continuing to rent seems like it may be the best option, pay and go, no worries.

Also, if you are selling your home up north, you will probably get a higher price than a year ago, so factor in that.

[senior citizen]

WHAT ??????????????

""Move over, Arizona and Florida: When it comes to your golden years, these 10 states are tops. ""

""Once again, such popular retirement states as Arizona (No. 16) and Florida (No. 39) didn't make the top 10. Yes, they're lovely places to visit, especially when it's cold everywhere else. But retirees must consider more than sunshine before making a move.""

http://money.msn.com/retirement/the-10-best-states-for-retirement-in-2014-1
Click on hyperlink for photos & state details. Follow top arrow to advance photos.....

Having been in every state listed, except for Idaho & Utah, I can attest to their natural beauty. I guess many folks are rethinking their original plans..........we, ourselves, know many who are thinking of North Carolina so they can retain the four seasons.....PLUS have the mountains as well as the seashore, but mostly those who are staying put at "home" only to "winter" away....changing the location as the whim strikes.......this way, keeping the family home* for holidays & special occasions......especially when there is nice acreage involved plus dear old friends, creating continuity for the grandchildren........*comfy like an old pair of shoes.

""Here, in ascending order, is our 2014 list of 10 unexpectedly great states for retirement.""
No. 10 Virginia
No. 9 Iowa
No. 8 Idaho
No. 7 Montana
No. 6 Nebraska
No. 5 Wyoming
No. 4 North Dakota
No. 3 Utah
No. 2 Colorado
No. 1 South Dakota

""Living your golden years ""

""In the center of the country, there's a patchwork of states that's tough to describe without a map. They're north of the Sun Belt, east of California, west of Appalachia. Some are in the Midwest, a couple of states are in the West and one is ensconced in the South. While collectively they have no geographic identity, perhaps there's now a reason to give them one.""

""They're the best states in the country for retirement.""

""Bankrate's 2014 ranking found that these predominantly interior states would be the best choices for your golden years.""

""Just like last year, Bankrate considered a variety of factors in creating this ranking: the local weather, access to health care, cost of living, crime rate and tax burden. This year we fine-tuned the process by evaluating government statistics on health care quality, and we improved our measurement of weather to include levels of sunshine and humidity.""

""Finally, this year's ranking adds a broad standard-of-living measurement from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, a comprehensive survey gauging people's satisfaction with their surroundings.""

[NotGolfer]

We considered these things....our budget, criteria for things to do (and the costs they entailed), weather and more that are personal to post.

[slipcovers]

senior citizen, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE TV, PERIOD

[quirky3]

Originally Posted by slipcovers

senior citizen, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE TV, PERIOD

Those ten states that Senior listed.....other than Virginia, are quite a hike for family members - I would feel extremely isolated. Virginia's a bit too snowy for me now.

[justjim]

First, TV has a variety of priced homes. Recently I've seen homes at 115,000 that certainly could make a retirement home. Without knowing your price range I will take a shot outside of TV you might find more house for your money. Stonecrest, Arlington Ridge, Plantation at Leesburg, Spruce Creek----all relatively close to TV and from there you could still visit TV Squares, restaurants and shopping.

Best of luck---I think you will love this area of Florida.

[OBXNana]

There are so many options available for seniors. Snow, change of seasons, warm year round, cultural activities, beach......But, I have to agree with slipcovers that there is no place like The Villages.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is there any retirement community that is warm year round, has numerous activities, and housing is affordable for many budgets?

We found ourselves in a similar position as the poster a year ago. We watched as housing in The Villages was going up in price, but we had a couple years until retirement. Once we were certain we wanted to be in The Villages (it's what is right for us, but not everyone) we purchased a villa. We rent the property to defray some of the expenses. An option mentioned by Sable99 and something that the poster may want to consider once they are certain The Villages is the right fit.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

WHAT ??????????????

""Move over, Arizona and Florida: When it comes to your golden years, these 10 states are tops. ""

""Once again, such popular retirement states as Arizona (No. 16) and Florida (No. 39) didn't make the top 10. Yes, they're lovely places to visit, especially when it's cold everywhere else. But retirees must consider more than sunshine before making a move.""

http://money.msn.com/retirement/the-10-best-states-for-retirement-in-2014-1
Click on hyperlink for photos & state details. Follow top arrow to advance photos.....

Having been in every state listed, except for Idaho & Utah, I can attest to their natural beauty. I guess many folks are rethinking their original plans..........we, ourselves, know many who are thinking of North Carolina so they can retain the four seasons.....PLUS have the mountains as well as the seashore, but mostly those who are staying put at "home" only to "winter" away....changing the location as the whim strikes.......this way, keeping the family home* for holidays & special occasions......especially when there is nice acreage involved plus dear old friends, creating continuity for the grandchildren........*comfy like an old pair of shoes.

""Here, in ascending order, is our 2014 list of 10 unexpectedly great states for retirement.""
No. 10 Virginia
No. 9 Iowa
No. 8 Idaho
No. 7 Montana
No. 6 Nebraska
No. 5 Wyoming
No. 4 North Dakota
No. 3 Utah
No. 2 Colorado
No. 1 South Dakota

""Living your golden years ""

""In the center of the country, there's a patchwork of states that's tough to describe without a map. They're north of the Sun Belt, east of California, west of Appalachia. Some are in the Midwest, a couple of states are in the West and one is ensconced in the South. While collectively they have no geographic identity, perhaps there's now a reason to give them one.""

""They're the best states in the country for retirement.""

""Bankrate's 2014 ranking found that these predominantly interior states would be the best choices for your golden years.""

""Just like last year, Bankrate considered a variety of factors in creating this ranking: the local weather, access to health care, cost of living, crime rate and tax burden. This year we fine-tuned the process by evaluating government statistics on health care quality, and we improved our measurement of weather to include levels of sunshine and humidity.""

""Finally, this year's ranking adds a broad standard-of-living measurement from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, a comprehensive survey gauging people's satisfaction with their surroundings.""

SNOW must have had a high points factor for any of these to be Top 10.

[slipcovers]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

SNOW must have had a high points factor for any of these to be Top 10.

They are not the top ten that retires pick. The article was about top ten CHEAPER places to retire.