[Annie66]

We purchased a mid-sized designer 9 years ago between the 6's. I recall talking with friends on the driveway about a year after moving in. I said to my wife, "we were really behind the power curve. Most Villagers were already looking for their second or third home by now." She looked at me with those steely eyes that she sometimes uses, and said, "look, our next move is to Forest Lawn Cemetary. I'm not moving!" Guess that ended the discussion for us.

[VApeople]

Do you remember this song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txTEhgReZUA

[EatthMama]

Something to consider first off is whether or not you need a fenced yard,. If you have a dog and don’t want to be out walking him 4 times a day, you will need to narrow your choices to either a courtyard villa or veranda, since you can’t erect your own fence here.

[La lamy]

I found my ideal water view home with my first purchase. I rented for 2 years before that, so I knew what I wanted. Hopefully it sticks for life in my case!

[dtennent]

Renting for a while is good advice. How are you going to use your home?
1) If you are still working, do you need an office?
2) How many vehicles will you have? Most people that have 2 car + golf cart garage are pretty happy.
3) How much storage do you think you need? Use the attic space above the garage for only the most heat tolerant items. I would suggest the no mercy clean out approach in viewing what you really need to bring here.
4) Be honest and ask yourself how much do you plan to cook going forward. For us, we are cooks so the kitchen design is important.
5) Will you want your own pool or will the local pool work for you?
6) Do you have a hobby that will need a room? My wife is an ardent scrap booker/card maker so we have a dedicated room for her.

We are in our second home - this one we had built and then modified to meet our needs. If I had been more thorough in thinking about the questions above, I would have saved some money. However, we are happy in our present home.

[gorillarick]

"There are some who buy/sell every 2-3 years and pocket the profit."

Not sure how you calculate, but with real estate commission, closing costs, taxes, moving expenses, all kinds of upgrades and customizing you will desire, fix stuff you didn't know needing fixed, , ,
You probably just blew $10 grand or more easily. $20 $30 ?

I'd suggest coming here many times, and renting for a month or so each time.

[JustJack]

"Purchased and don't see a reason to move unless someone moves in that irritates me, but that should be 10-15 years given age of neighbors and by then my hearing probably will be gone."

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

We had ruled out courtyard villas, and new construction. We also ruled out pre-owned homes that were carpeted in all the rooms, because we'd need to rip them out and install plank flooring which would've been expensive and time-consuming. Then we ruled out anything over our budget. Then we discovered how bonds worked, and ruled out homes with large remaining bonds.

Then - looking at everything left over, we looked at properties we would WANT to be in, when we were 80 years old. Not the dwelling - the property as a whole. The real estate, the lot and neighborhood and proximity to things. We ruled out newER homes that we'd need to wait 5 or 10 years for the landscaping to become mature.

We ended up narrowing it down to the Historic Section. It has everything we needed, and nothing that was a deal-breaker. At some point, our house will need replacing. And then, we'll have our old house moved out and a new one put in. We love our neighborhood, our part of The Villages, and the proximity to everything we need, especially by golf cart.

The biggest downside we see to the historic section whenever we’re up there is the condition of the streets. They’re in terrible shape and never seem to be repaired where needed, or repaved. That would be a huge deal breaker for us despite the natural beauty up there.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Coop63

We were ready to build a new home in Moultrie Creek after our first visit. I am so thankful we waited and rented for a month, the following winter. We did this based on advice from TOTV. Renting for a month the second time, changed our entire perspective. Once you find your location fit, you will find the home that is right for you. Not throwing shade on Moultrie Creek, it's a great location.

We are closing on a home in the Village of DeSoto next week. We liked the Fenny area (nature and golf), the theme of the homes, and it's proximity to everything we wanted, without the busyness. Personal preference is different for everyone and there is a wide variety of options to choose from.

Also, make sure you get a sense of the value of the homes you are looking at. Most people pay cash for their homes so it doesn't have to go through the normal appraisal process required by the a mortgage lender. You can look at sold prices on Zillow to come up with your own comps. Also, good to call an insurance company and see how much they will cover the home for. We found that many of the pre-owned homes listed by the Villages were over priced, for the value.

Good luck.

Very smart! We love that area and would choose it now after living here 2.5 yrs. Thankfully we can get there pretty fast by cart, and even faster by car, so we enjoy it often. Best of luck on your closing, and enjoy your beautiful location!

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by gorillarick

"There are some who buy/sell every 2-3 years and pocket the profit."

Not sure how you calculate, but with real estate commission, closing costs, taxes, moving expenses, all kinds of upgrades and customizing you will desire, fix stuff you didn't know needing fixed, , ,
You probably just blew $10 grand or more easily. $20 $30 ?

I'd suggest coming here many times, and renting for a month or so each time.

TV is probably the cheapest movers we have found in any state. Five moves, the least $475 from PV, in 2010. The highest $900 in 2022, 2300sf Designer.

End profit from $120,000 -$350,000 and higher every 2-9 years has everything to do with model, and view. There are many who sell by owner, or in conjunction with agent with 2-3% commissions.

We personally know a few couples the buy/sell, has fully funded their retirement.
Not sure if 2025 will be as profitable, but most can afford to just sit awhile if it’s not. We have always bought then sold houses after moving

[margaretmattson]

There are many reasons residents move. This is an aging population. With that comes death of a spouse, illness, responsible for the care of elderly parents, home too large to maintain due to older age, divorce, needs have changed, child (over age 19) moves in to help their aging parent, or child moves in because they need assistance, (In both cases, a larger home may be needed), downsizing, moving closer to relatives/friends, need to be closer to medical facilities...the list goes on and on.

After 17 yrs in the same home in the Villlages, we moved because many of the homes in the neighborhood became rentals. Dealing with strangers (renters) day in and day out became too much for us.

[Villagesgal]

The lot is very important as you'll have that view for a long time. Take your time, we took years while our kids grew up. We got lucky, the realtor called just as our youngest turned 18 with a lot on a championship golf course with a beautiful water view. We then built the house we had been making changes to the floorplan for 4 years. Been here over 20 years now and love the house, the view and the location. Neighbors come and go, location, view and house are forever.
Take your time and you'll be one and done too.

[MicRoDrafting]

Upon reading thru nearly all of the
comments, I am Feeling as though

my Wife and I are Quite
Blessed to have “HIT GOLD”
with our pre-owned 22 yr old 3/2/2 modest Cypress Designer Model in Piedmont Village …

… that is after spending quite a few months bouncing around with a few RE Agents seeing dozens of homes.

Our Next door Neighbors were one of
the the First Home Built on the Block,
and are an absolute pleasure with Hospitality, Tips Galore, and Even Riding Shotgun with the Wife in her Golf Cart to Get Nearly Everywhere necessary.

AND Turned out to be a Fantastic Location as we can easily make a 10-15 minute trip to Mulberry Grove Shopping Center, Spanish Plaines Shopping Center, and 5 mins further to Spanish Springs.

Needless to Mention that All Major Shopping and Chain Restaurants are conveniently Lined Up Right Past Spanish Planes on 441.

Our other Favorite Hot Spot, Lake Sumpter Landing is a mere 10 min car Ride or a very enjoyable 25-30 min Buggy Ride.

AND BEST of ALL for us, is that the Savannah Center is literally a stone throw buggy ride - which gives us the opportunity to see Gifted Cover Bands Constantly (Sometimes 2 or 3 times a week).

Honestly, at first the lack of a Back Yard in nearly all neighborhoods struck us at first, but after Decorating our “Home” just Right and Realizing that nearly 9 Months out of the Year the Heat and Humidity can be quite Uncomfortable, we have adapted to the Charming Shared Landscape with our rear yard neighbors.

DEFINITELY NOT GOING
ANYWHERE ELSE SOON

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

The biggest downside we see to the historic section whenever we’re up there is the condition of the streets. They’re in terrible shape and never seem to be repaired where needed, or repaved. That would be a huge deal breaker for us despite the natural beauty up there.

I don't know which streets you're referring to. My area was repaved last year and the year before (it was repaved in a few different phases). There was one section near the pond down on Silver Oak that got washed out by flooding, and had to be dug out, filled back in, and then repaved. It took awhile but it's fine now.

I went through the entire Historic Section between late February, March, and April via golf cart and on foot, and found nothing unusual. A couple of bumps in the road on Tarrson but if you're going the speed limit or lower, it wouldn't have any affect on your progress down the street.

Magnolia and "the flower" streets is all fine, so are all the "golf course" streets off St. Andrews.

These roads are maintained by the city of Lady Lake, in Lake County.

[Djgeisel]

Originally Posted by BackintheVillage

Howdy,

First time post. Been to TV 1x and plan on buying a house in the next year or so. Possibly resale, possible spec or build.

The question I have is a broad one but based on a reference to something I have heard repeated many times.
“The average villager moves ‘x’ number of times”.

Just wondering if it’s upgrading, downgrading, area, etc.

My wife and I are in our late 50’s and are ‘struggling’ with shopping for the right sized house.

Do most newbies upsize from a courtyard or patio or do they do a lateral? Do ppl regret the large designer purchase and are happy in a modest home?

I known this is an absurdly open ended question but perhaps I’m looking to spark a convo with others who changed their minds after living there a while.
Thanks

We bought PV and moved due to mentally unstable neighbors and close proximity. #2 designer mid sized with more property between. #3 downsized to courtyard for health reasons so cheaper but a privacy not had in PV.