[ChicagoNative]

We live in Lakeside Landings and love it! It’s a beautiful gated community with well-built homes, condos, and townhouses. Our location is “between the sixes” one mile west of Buena Vista & Rainey Trail. We share a border with the Village of Bridgeport at Miona Shores. The Villages of Lynnhaven and Ashland are across the street.

We have younger families as there is only one section of townhouses that are 55+. I would say most of the families have employment with the Villages and most of our kids attend the Villages Charter and High School. Since the HS just moved, we’ve seen a few families move to Middleton to avoid the long commute. Among our residents are owners of some of the most popular restaurants in the Villages, several doctors with Villages Health, and many former Villages residents.

We have two pools, one of which is a resort style pool that is nicer than anything in the Villages; Orange Blossom’s pool is the only thing that comes close. There are two hot tubs, a beautiful cabana area and clubhouse, and several activities in which you can participate. We don’t have “3000 clubs”, so if you’re a joiner or need an activity or club meeting everyday, or if you’re a golfer who’s out there several times a week, this community may not be your cup of tea. Only you can decide.

We are equidistant from Brownwood and Lake Sumter Landing at about 10-15 minutes by car, and about 20 minutes to Spanish Springs. Time in the golf cart is about the same for Sumter and Spanish, but nearly an hour to Brownwood. Yes, you would need a street legal cart to enjoy golf cart access, which will cost about $1000 up front, depending on what your cart needs. (24-Hr Cart Club can handle everything for you and they are fantastic to work with).

Landscape maintenance is included in our assessments, which covers edging, mowing, trimming, weeding, mulch, fertilization, and irrigation. I wouldn’t call it totally maintenance free, but low maintenance. For example, I do extra weed spraying and sometimes do extra bush trimming on my own.

We have multiple HOAs here, which I don’t like, but it’s manageable. Between our Master Association and individual neighborhood association we pay just under $1000 per quarter, or about $330 per month. We are covered by the Villages Fire and Ambulance service, ( the one that just increased), Wildwood Police and Water, and pay Sumter county taxes.

The community is sold out, so there are no more brand new builds, but there is always some inventory on the market. We have no bonds and no CDD fees.

We’re 7 years in, and we still love this community. Im glad we found it because when we were looking, the Villages kept pushing Fenney and points south, which we did not want. If anyone wants to see the community for themselves, send me a PM. I’d be happy to show you around.

[DrHitch]

Originally Posted by krash

Lakeside Landings is on Rainey Trail (CR472) which is off Buena Vista (near Palmer's Country Club) It is not part of TV.

Well, it would help to state that those areas are NOT in The Villages....

That said, you will need to setup TWO real estate searches. One via villages.com for VLS properties and another on the MLS (eg with Realty Executives)

[Northwoods]

Lakeside Landings is a very nice community. It is a truly gated community - not like the Villages. Lawn and landscaping is part of HOA, and their resort pool is nicer than anything in the Villages. No bond. If you don’t golf it’s a very nice option.

[jimkerr]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

You don’t know where Lakeside Landing or Stonecrest are? Do you live in The Villages? I’m guessing not.

I’ve lived in the villages for years and don’t know where they are either. Perhaps if I needed to go there I’d know where they were.

[sowilts]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

You don’t know where Lakeside Landing or Stonecrest are? Do you live in The Villages? I’m guessing not.

We live at Linden. I didn’t know where those places were either. Thanks for the info. I know where all ok the Golf Courses are.

[Bogie Shooter]

OP was looking for pros and cons of Lakeside Landing.
Mostly getting replies “I don’t know where it is”. How does that help?

[jacqueline larsen]

Lakeside Landing is very nice and sports a new assisted living facility, Hearthstone. But be aware that a huge development in under construction just west of it

[sdm1222]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

OP was looking for pros and cons of Lakeside Landing.
Mostly getting replies “I don’t know where it is”. How does that help?

I know, it's ridiculous.
Does anyone read the question?

[phousel]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

You don’t know where Lakeside Landing or Stonecrest are? Do you live in The Villages? I’m guessing not.

Why would NOT knowing where a community outside of TV require a sparky response from you?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by phousel

Why would NOT knowing where a community outside of TV require a sparky response from you?

Did you mean snarky?

[mtdjed]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

You don’t know where Lakeside Landing or Stonecrest are? Do you live in The Villages? I’m guessing not.

And also if they are unaware of where the communities are, the OP cannot get good answers to his questions.

[Bonanza]

Krash . . . . . It would be helpful to mention where the family members are located that you will need to visit because then -- possible recommendations could be made for you. Keep in mind that if you are interested in Lakeside Landings you will have to travel through part of The villages to get out of there, and don't forget the annoying traffic circles you will have to deal with on a daily basis! You say that Stonecrest is too far north. Well, at least it is located on 441 with easy access to most places and only a mile north of The Villages. There's also Spruce Creek South, a 55+ community that actually borders The Villages (by a fence). It is across from Stonecrest, and is a moderately priced (by today's standards) gated community. With all your uncertainty I can recommend a well-qualified Realtor who is very familiar with the area. Please PM me and I will pass the information on to you. I wish you good luck!

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

OP was looking for pros and cons of Lakeside Landing.
Mostly getting replies “I don’t know where it is”. How does that help?

and you’re post helps how?

[Moderator]

Please keep posts on topic for OPs request of information.

[SIRE1]

After reading many of the replies, I'm convinced that The Villages is WAY TOO BIG.

It seems like most of the new southern residents have no idea what is north of 466A, and most of the northern residents have no idea what is south of 44. Maybe they should have broken The Villages into 2 communities - Villages North and Villages South.