Does anyone know where they are putting the Lifestyle visitors?

Last I heard it was near Sawgrass?

If you want a real feel of the villages, take that golf car out for 8 hours and tour the Villages on the ground, not in your car. It is a different view of reality and areas.

Great way to do it.
 

We did a Lifestyle Visit last September for 7 days. We went to open houses but was really there to visit good friends and see what it was really all about.
Then we did the entire month of January in DeLuna to see how bad the crowds were. It's not as bad as they make it out to be. But then we are originally from Jersey. Here again, it was more a get away and a chance to visit good friends. Now, the wife would like to go in August for a month to experience the HEAT. We're in NC now and I can tell you it will be HOT! Just like it is in NC.
As for me, I have almost no intention of moving there. Too much $$ for me and a little too crowded as far as house spacing. Also, being somewhat disabled I can't jump in on a lot of the activities. Now, my wife would probably be selling off all our stuff tomorrow and have a sign on the house by the end of the week.
Over all, I think you're definitely on the right track. Don't rush, stay at different times of the year for more than a week if you can. Don't fall for the story that new builds are cheaper either. They may be cheaper, but does the comparable preowned already have landscaping upgrades, epoxy garage floors, plantation shutters or upgragded counter tops and backsplash etc? Add all that up and you may find a preowned that is comparable to a new build.
I will admit, since we have been back here in NC, I do miss the pristine landscaping and the lack of trash along the roads. Out here in the country, you definitely have to do that for yourself because no one else will. Good luck with your search!

You are on the right track with multiple visits to different areas. If you are not golfers, that opens up a lot of opportunities. The South is somewhat starved for real golf courses (18 hole), cart rides to real golf courses are long, and tee times are challenging with a population of 151k. Living near Town Squares can be nice for a quick ride to hear music at night, but I suspect you'd be more in the "rental zone" where your neighbors would be random rotating groups depending on the season. While our area of Dabney is a haul to Brownwood, it will be quick by car to Eastport, and Sawgrass is an easy cart ride. We have neighbors my wife loves to chat with, they have gatherings, exchange contact information like old friends, etc. Maybe that comes with being in an area less likely to be rental heavy. We back up to preserve, so even a small lot feels bigger.

As far a "cleaner air" - if you go to .....weatherbug. Lady Lake Fl. , you will find that POLLEN from oak trees and other plants is in their RED ZONE for extremely high. Also, pollen is a year around problem in central Florida. That may be why a lot of population prefers the coasts - just my opinion. In the Villages over 60% of the golf carts are gasoline, not electric and you can smell the pollution that most give off after they pass where you are standing.
........I also like to mention that if people INTEND to be year around residents, they need to visit during the worst part of the year (the summer). Inland Florida is HOT during the summer months. HEAT bothers some people and not others. Just be aware.

Nonsense. They most certainly do have to abide by State Laws...

Yes, Harper Villas.

We did one 2 years ago and the put us in Alden Bungalos right by Brownwood.

Oh Rats! I thought not having for follow state laws might be fun. :loco:

Get out and talk to as many residents as you can. Making a good connection will help you navigate the do's and don'ts. We lucked out and met an agent and someone that had done what we were in the process of doing, after starting the design phase and helped us turn everything around.

Good point, everyone here has an interesting story.

Visiting open houses is a good meet to meet Rep's and find one you click with.