Use ToTV with care.

As any where..............there are people with sad lives and want to share their sadness.

As with anything on the web...............a grain of salt.

Enjoy

:gc:

Thanks. I really do like ALL the responses. These old school anonymous chat forums are great for collecting information. Heading out Saturday with a whole new perspective, and things to consider. It is so encouraging to see such an active community. I also find the villages news informative and entertaining. These digital outlets, where opinions are expressed freely, is huge asset to me.

The cart path down Marsh Bend Trail is only open to Reagan Rd. A path via McNeil drive is in work, probably opening in the during spring.

From Everglades you will need to backtrack towards Brownwood over the Turnpike and take the path South to Sawgrass and then over the southern turnpike bridge which will take you to Moultrie Creek. The Villages App can help you navigate.

I think the sewage plant you refer to is actualy a water treatment facility connected to a lower aquifer well (?)

Exactly! It is a maze to get to Moultrie Creek. It's going to be like this FOR YEARS since that village is the furthest back. Those who buy there should plan on confronting construction, dirt, and rerouting while the remaining villages are being built in front of them.

We bought our home in May 2022 when our Village was certainly less than 50% complete. By the time we were settling in Dec 2022, 100% of the homes were complete and there was zero dirt, noise or construction vehicles.

It's not an idea, it's a fact. I live in the south. South of 44 I would say that 60% are under 60 and very few are in their 70's and up.

The point of my post wasn’t about the future. I replied to the person that wasn’t impressed that homes in sourh doubled in price because the homes in the north also doubled. I was pointing out that both situations were impressive.

JI live in the North and the numbers are about the same. I happen to be in my sixties as are 50% or more in my village. The elderly people you believe live in the North have passed. It is a new generation of retirees. You don't see us buzzing around in our golf carts because many of us still work.

Common sense check: preowned homes come available EVERY DAY. Who do you think are buying them?

Answer? Obviously people in their 60s who are just retiring. 70 and 80 year olds are not jumping out of bed to snatch a second home.

Here is a fact and not an idea:
The life expectancy of a male in the USA is 73. A female, 79. I suppose you believe the Villages is a magical place where no one dies. Or, 100% of us beat the odds and live much longer than everyone in the USA. Keep dreaming........ And please, stop believing the nonsense that Villagers leave because they miss their families. They leave because they are placed 6 ft under or are nearing that milestone. None of us are going to escape it. Why pretend?

Sorry for being morbid. But, I have lived here for 23 years and have said a final goodbye to more friends than I can count. It is a fact of life. Strangely, people our age call the Villages a Disneyland for seniors. Younger people reference it as a place where old folks go to die.Some can see the truth while others choose to mask it.

Wow, see what you mean. Might as well rent the cart in Brownwood, not that much further. Like the vibe in the town center, and cool places to grab lunch. Thanks for clarifying that this is a water treatment, not a sewage treatment. Big difference ha ha

I smell a war
 

Careful, the last war that was between the North and the South left the South in the dirt.

We are from Michigan and snowbirds the last couple years, renting in Kissimmee. Still have a few more years before I retire. Like the idea of having a water view with a house that we pick out from scratch. If this location is not ideal for us then we could turn it in a couple years and not lose money.

My wife is leaning towards renting first after reading all the replies. Surprising, given that the only thing she watches is HGTV. Renting first makes a lot of sense, but used homes with nice vistas in TV seem overpriced, given that I can build new for $100k less. This is based off anecdotal research thru Zillow and Villages listings. Building costs will only continue to rise.

I love the idea of walking over and watching a HS football or baseball game, and then being within the same vicinity to Eastport, which will be centered around sports and activities. I am expecting we will love it. Give me a club and ball and I am content.

My wife is much less patient than I am. To me it sounds exciting. She loves her princess activities, including massages, yoga, barre, Zumba, etc. She loves shopping and the idea of living in the bubble. She loves classes where she is continuing to grow mentally, physically and spiritually. Neither of us drink or like to party. We did way way way too much of that in the 80s. We met at a bar in East Lansing MI while I was in college.

The big unknown is how much time and how much disruption do we need to endure? Will my wife find activities that will keep her stimulated. Why renting first may make sense.

I love the engagement of everyone in this forum. I have learned so much and it has given me a lot to think about

The MMP's are complete and landscaping is going in from Reagan Rd and Corbin Trail to McNeil which will get you to Eastport in ten minutes. They should be open sometime this spring or early summer.

That person missed the distinction of a home doubling in price in three years vs. over 10+ years.

Mostly was due to purchasing before the bridge and commercial business were in place.

Designer Homes were discounted up to $80K, A nice water view lot that was $50K at that time now adds up to $250K to a new home cost.

Along with building cost increases, when renting a few years, you lose the appreciation of purchasing a home.

When we did the math, it was a no-brainer to buy and sell in a couple of years of we didn't like the location.

Good point, but even doubling in 10 years seems like a good/impressive investment. I didn't buy my house in Lake Denham as an investment. I'm expecting to live there for my full retirement. Of course things can change. I also considered resale value and I bought at full price. Lots like mine were not going to be discounted. If we get a cart bridge over 470 and some development that Wingnut mentioned in the last video (he didn't mention the bridge but pointed out some commercial space around 470 near the Denham or Dabney entrance), that should help our home values.

I don't expect to lose money on my lot no matter the trashing of Lake Denham values. I don't see many lots with back yards like this.

https://i.imgur.com/0Vu0pJMl.jpg