I considered OTOW before buying in The Villages this year. There are nice houses. However, Talk of the Villages has a list here of around 2,000 clubs or activities of various sorts. I went through that and found a hundred I’d like to at least try once. That’s what drew me to The Villages. (Of course, most of those aren’t functioning during the pandemic, but someday they will.)

By contrast, I didn’t see that OTOW had much of anything of that sort. As soon as I figured that out, I lost interest.

Do u use everything? 90% don't even swim!! Sometimes less is more .

We recently looked at OTOW, but honestly the cost of golf changed our minds. When you compare apples to apples if you are a golfer OTOW is significantly more expensive even considering the bond.

When we visited OTOW there was nobody outside doing anything, literally saw 4 women walking separately and that was it.

We have been to Latitudes Margaritaville several times in both Daytona Beach and South Carolina. The grass is not always greener elsewhere. No comparison to TV.
NO GOLF
1 POOL FOR 6000 homes
1 PUBLIX
NO SHOPPING IN DEVELOPMENT

ITS BASICALLY A SUBDIVISION FOR RETIREES.

IM SURE SOCIALIZING IS FINE BUT THATS ALL THEY OFFER.

NOWHERE IN THE WORLD EVEN CLOSE TO THE GREAT AMENITIES IN THE VILLAGES.

NO COMPARISON

Where are Lake Sumpter Apartments located??

We almost bought in OTOTW
 

My wife and I were ready to sign for OTOW, but last moment considerations stopped it and we bought in the Villages.
We went there three times. It is nice, it is smaller and very quiet. There is far less to do but there is more peace. You get a LOT more house for your money and they do a lot of the maintenance for you.
The HOA fees were 2-3 times more per month than here which was a big downfall. Less now and more payed out over time is not good.
The property ownership is not a big deal, you get a 99 year lease.
The big thing and the straw that broke the deal was the golf costs. In the end, if my wife and I want to join all three courses, it would cost us almost $10,000 per year.
Then think about how there are really only about five places to eat with golf cart access, it is a different lifestyle.

Lake Sumter Apt
 

There are not any apt in Lake Sumter. There is a new apt complex opening on 466 past Haciendas of Mission Hills. They are not owned or developed by TV.

My two pennies worth. We have been coming to Central Florida/Ocala since 1994 when my wife's parents moved to Oak Run off SR200 Ocala, a year later an aunt and uncle moved to OTOW. We are a small family so eventually when all the family passed we inherited a home in Oak Run and one in OTOW. We lived in both homes at different times but for a number reasons we sold both. In 2018 we rented in TV drank the kook aid then bought a CYV and enjoyed it. We are now selling the CYV and this week moved to OTOW. We are not golfers so that did not play into any decision, nor were we involved in a lot of clubs or outside activities. If we were golfers may have stayed at TV because golfing here in OTOW is more money. From the years we were coming to Ocala both my wife and I made a number of friends in Ocala so that played into a decision to move to OTOW. Our dollar for dollar purchase of a home went further in OTOW. Lease hold? It's a 100 year lease from the time the home was built in our case 2017 so at our age that would make us 165 years old. We have no children so leaving it to them isn't a factor.

For our monthly HOA we get 30 Mbs internet, lawn maintenance/bush trimming, exterior home painting every 5 years, repairs to roof damage and the exterior of the home being insured ( we have HO6 insurance for our interior ) . We purchased a home the same size as our CYV ( 2 bed/2 bath 2 car garage vs 1.5 on the CYV) on a corner lot with plenty of windows and a view of the 17th tee of one of the golf courses. The same house at TV would have cost many thousands more.

For us it will work. We will miss the long golf cart rides we've taken from the north end of TV near Rt42 to Brownwood or to other town squares and Culvers. We can however still go to Publix, WalMart Food Store, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell, Italian, Chinese and an ice cream shop all on our golf cart. As far as SR200 being extremely busy we found that going to stores/restaurants on 27/441 was just a busy. I would still give and edge to TV but for our tastes and lifestyle OTOW will work for us.

Thank you for the info. Do you know how a person can find out about availability and prices for these places?

Here is a link to homes now available. The amenity fee seems to be in the high 300's and is it based on cost of living or can it be raised? Also, I see some mighty bright colors of homes there. Do they have community standards?

9249 Sw 97th Circle, Ocala, 34481

Also. What does "private sewer" mean?

If you click on this link, you have to sign in with a Facebook. I was immediately texted by a realtor or sales rep. So if you don’t want that, don’t open this link.

Before we bought our home in Monarch Grove, we toured OTOW, convinced we'd buy a home there. While we loved the homes (we felt better built than TV homes), the wait for a new build was longer than we wanted to wait. They also bill it as a golf cart community; however, we saw very few golf carts. There is NO access to businesses by golf cart. They have one "town square" with a sandwich shop only for restaurants. As we toured the area inside OTOW, it seemed like a ghost town to us. We like the activity and vibe of TV. Yes, there is no bond at OTOW, a plus. Yes, internet is included in the amenities fee, a plus, but we felt the overall amenities fees were higher. Also, we were told that they do NOT allow gas-powered golf carts on their courses. Battery operated or electric only. It's an ecological thing apparently. The house we were looking at, being built at that time, was next to an ugly power station which would have been our daily view. The landscaping wasn't nearly as pretty as TV. We opted for TV and, so far, love our decision!!

If you can afford the prices at Lofts of Brownwood and the other ones coming at Hacienda & the very few at Spanish Spgs, you will most certainly not be riff raff to be worried about. And the apartments are quite attractive. Some people just don't want the maintenance hassle of owning property. At Spanish Spgs. you won't even know they are there as will be tucked into 2nd floor behind facade already there. I'm moving nowhere.

OR...just pop the address into Zillow and view without strings.

Why not consider Harbor Hills CC? Just built a custom home on large golf course lot. Truly gated (2 gates for us), country club activities plus 8 minutes from all 441 shopping. And, we can still utilize what TV offers except par 3 golf, clubs or pickleball.

I have a friend that moved to OTOW a few years ago and now is moving back.

Their activities are limited. I'm a ballroom dancer and they had dancing on Friday. Houses are nicer with more land but my incentive is hobbies.

I have been following this development since I first saw it mentioned. I was planning to go look at it but then covid hit. I like the access to the beach and I like the idea of being closer to more variety of shopping, etc. what would hold me back is the lack of any fenced yards for those of us who own pets. having a courtyard villa is a blessing for my dogs. Also, I have to remind myself what it was like living close to the beach. While I'm sure the houses have been built up to the more stringent code, there would always be a hurricane threat. I live 3 miles from the beach in PInellas County and the rising cost of home insurance every year was a major problem as was the threat of having to evacuate. still may go look at Margaritaville sometime. Did you ask about the cost and availability of home owners insurance?

Just move south to the newer section of The Villages. We did after 18 years living in TV and love it down here. This is house # 3.

They are not in The Villages nor part of The Villages. They have nothing to do with The Villages.

I would definitely look elsewhere. Not only is the emphasis south of 44 but the emphasis is all on MONEY!! TV have every right to make money and lots of it however the endless south of 44 construction, dump trucks, road built then torn up and very little as far as the beautiful golf cart trails down Morse Boulevard and Buena Vista, compared to riding in the street south of 44 which is very dangerous since we drive on a 2 way street, 2 lanes, cars and golf carts = very dangerous situation. Be smart and move.

I don’t like Ocala. The outskirts are ok but not a fan of the City.

You evidently haven't seen much of what is south of 44. The beautiful golf car trails along Morse south of 44 are more inland where it is quiet and safe leading to and from the Chitty Chatty bridge. There are areas where golf cars drive along 2 lane roads both south and north of 44, no more dangerous in the south than up north. Do you consider the golf car lane north of 466 along Morse safe???. Buyers be smart and move south of 44 where it is peaceful and safe.

much safer north of 44

I believe TOTW is fairly large with a wide range of housing prices and styles to choose from. It is kind of a golf cart community but if you need to go to the doctor, grocery shopping, church or need anything, you must go by car. They have no stores of any kind, nor medical, nor restaurants nor places of worship in the community. I find myself being more and more grateful to be able to drive the golf cart practically wherever I need to go. My eye sight isn’t what it used to be and I don’t think it will improve with age.

We looked at Tow. We are moving from TV. Take a look at Terra Vista at Citrus Hills. Much better construction than Tow..and you can customize

It all depends on what you want to do with the rest of your life. If you are moving because of what you read & hear....its the wrong reason.

I lived in Top of the World for 10 years moved to the villages in 2013, Yes they have many home options and it a well built community. You'll find you will get a lot of home for the money, also all the roads are private and gated with 24 hour guards. Also with all the build up you have a lot more places you can go on a golf cart. But like most places their are good and bad points. I thought of moving back a couple years ago for some of the reasons you have stated, but circumstances have kept me here

OTOW has a resales division and a new construction division. We used a resale agent named Tammy Coughlin, she was great. I took my first bicycle ride since we moved here this week. Lots of growth since we sold the original home we had here in 2015.

Tammy Coughlin - , Real Estate Agent - realtor.com(R)

You could also go to this web site and fill out the contact form:

Visit On Top of the World Ocala, Florida. Experience Retirement!

Yes, we looked at homes there as well. Very small. You get more for your money here. There are more activities and stores locally to use your golf cart here in the villages. Margaritaville only has one stage, no room for golf cart, unless you are buying a 3 car garage. But if you like small it’s good for you. But, I wasn’t thrilled living so close to Daytona Beach. Crime is getting worse there. And I would question why so many resales? They have only been opened couple years. We moved from a development in St Cloud Florida. They started in 2016, so many resales because the builder isn’t doing what he said, St Cloud is old and run down city, crime is worse over there. Kississimee is right next store. It was a small development and they are still building new but people are desperate to get out. We got lucky selling. Good Luck there.

I would go there because you don’t really own the land your house is built on. Move on listen to your husband the place is changing targeting younger buyers with more money ! I’m leaving and never looking back ! Will always warn prospective buyers they don’t own their house. Wish the IRS would do a deep dive and force the owners to sell the owners their house and land. Probably won’t happen they own all the politicians

When we inherited my uncle's home in 2015 the HOA fees were approximately $350 they are about the same now. I think the difference then to now was basic cable TV was included, now it's the internet instead.

Are you taking your own advice?

Exactly what we found when we were checking out different retirement communities in North and South Carolina and Florida - there was a DEAD, SAD feeling in most of them. Almost like a nursing home vibe. Folk just sitting around waiting to check out. We have been in TV for only a year and a half and are happier with every passing month. We don’t play golf but love seeing all the activity associated with that sport. So much to do if you want to be active. So many clubs. So many volunteer activities. So many churches. We decided early on we’re too old to worry about hurricanes. We were evacuated twice from our timeshare on Hilton Head Island so no coastal retirement communities for us. I think folk have to be careful at our age about looking for that “geographical cure” to fix what ails them.
I can’t imagine picking up and moving again. You can call it adventure seeking but I’m fond of the old adage, “Bloom where you are planted.” Find contentment by being grateful and feeling blessed for all your good fortune in life.

My friend and I are going to visit this place. It sounds very nice.

Last I heard, there is a Latitude Margaritaville that is newly under construction outside of Panama City. I have not seen a great deal of information about it but, given that we are a couple of years out from making a move anyway, this is definitely an area worth checking out to us. Both the PC location and the Daytona location would be prone to hurricane damage just like any other coastal neighborhood is.

TV is high on the list simply because of the wide variety of activities and the fact that it is more inland but also within a reasonable drive of some nice coastal vacation areas. I have not looked into OTOW, yet, but I've heard it's nice. I just think that you get a lot of bang for the buck at TV.

I will admit that I don't quite get the reasoning behind the apartments that they are putting up in TV. I'm going to be keeping an eye on that.

Latitude Margaritaville has one large pool, a bar, a restaurant, a rec center, various courts, trails. It has a shuttle over to a private beach area/beach club. There is nearby shopping and, of course, you are close to all of the attractions in Daytona, including the raceway. We haven't visited, yet, but it seems to be attracting a fun crowd. Of course, one person's fun might be another person's obnoxious, so we definitely need to visit all of our options. Things that look fantastic on paper and in theory may not actually be right for you when you visit. From what I understand, Jimmy Buffet, himself, owns a home in the Daytona location which he visits from time to time.

OTOW, on paper, seems nice but maybe a bit...sedate... not enough to do? Not sure.

TV has a ton to do. I am really not worried about fitting in at all simply because there are so many options there that you will find something if you look for it. And you will be happy if you want to be happy. Just my impression.

We did the OTOW version of lifestyle before buying here. While I agree the houses are nice the amenities stink. Their town center closes at 4, they don't have the amount of golf or pools we do. Basically I felt like I spent the weekend in a nursing home.

Appartments
 

The developers are looking for a sustained cash revenue; appartments. wHY, THEY PLAN TO SELL THE PROPERTIES AND NEED TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE TO THE POTENTIAL BUYER.