[Dabatts]

I have been out and about more than usual lately and I love to talk to people. May I offer one piece of advice to all residents of The Villages. If you want Spanish Springs and Eastport/Middleton and everything in between to continue to be a wonderful place to live, please stop comparing north to south. Recently I was at an establishment north of 466, as soon as I said “Hi” to an individual, the usual question was asked. What Village do you live in? My answer “ South of 44”. Immediately I get the lecture: I would never live south. There is nothing there, no trees, no golf courses, no rec centers, no pools. And the best one is all the roads are straight. I've had this conversation before and my answer is always the same, “everyone has their preferences.”
I don't want to get into that debate. But, the questions continue, how much did you pay for your house, how much is the bond, you guys are destroying our lifestyle.

These conversation are what will destroy our Lifestlye! Why can't everyone just have their preferences and be happy!
Let me hear your opinions.

[jrref]

This discussion has been going on for years. Everyone feels where they live is the best and that's fine.

But, I can say that the newer areas in the South definetly have a huge difference in the "look and feel" than homes north of and including Fenney.

Also, you have to remember as time goes on, costs increase and the developer can't provide as much as they used to for a given price so it's left to the homeowners to add the upgrades that use to come with new homes at their cost.

Finally, I "hear", many purchasing new homes "in the south" are flipping them after a year anyway so to them it doesn't matter. Or they are corporate purchases being used for rentals, etc... I also "hear" many of these homes are just sitting and not being sold as fast as in prior years. Many have done no upgrades and are trying to sell a year later at a profit. Not as easy as it used to be.

Just the way it is now.

[vintageogauge]

The conversations won't destroy anything. The fact remains if you want a new build you will buy south of 44, far south now. If you are happy with a re-sale take your pick. South is not barren as your conversation noted, Fenney for example has 3 pools, along with a rec center, 2 golf courses, bar and grille, fire pit, pickle ball, walking trails, putt putt, lawn bowling, croquet, and all the other goodies. How many northern villages have all of that?

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Dabatts

I have been out and about more than usual lately and I love to talk to people. May I offer one piece of advice to all residents of The Villages. If you want Spanish Springs and Eastport/Middleton and everything in between to continue to be a wonderful place to live, please stop comparing north to south. Recently I was at an establishment north of 466, as soon as I said “Hi” to an individual, the usual question was asked. What Village do you live in? My answer “ South of 44”. Immediately I get the lecture: I would never live south. There is nothing there, no trees, no golf courses, no rec centers, no pools. And the best one is all the roads are straight. I've had this conversation before and my answer is always the same, “everyone has their preferences.”
I don't want to get into that debate. But, the questions continue, how much did you pay for your house, how much is the bond, you guys are destroying our lifestyle.

These conversation are what will destroy our Lifestlye! Why can't everyone just have their preferences and be happy!
Let me hear your opinions.

My opinion is sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Dabatts

I have been out and about more than usual lately and I love to talk to people. May I offer one piece of advice to all residents of The Villages. If you want Spanish Springs and Eastport/Middleton and everything in between to continue to be a wonderful place to live, please stop comparing north to south. Recently I was at an establishment north of 466, as soon as I said “Hi” to an individual, the usual question was asked. What Village do you live in? My answer “ South of 44”. Immediately I get the lecture: I would never live south. There is nothing there, no trees, no golf courses, no rec centers, no pools. And the best one is all the roads are straight. I've had this conversation before and my answer is always the same, “everyone has their preferences.”
I don't want to get into that debate. But, the questions continue, how much did you pay for your house, how much is the bond, you guys are destroying our lifestyle.

These conversation are what will destroy our Lifestlye! Why can't everyone just have their preferences and be happy!
Let me hear your opinions.

All the roads are straight? Really? I knew south is not as pretty as what we have here in the northern area (between the 6s) but I didn't realize that you don't have nice windy roads to add to the lovely atmosphere we have. I do also know that down south, there are not as many lovely plantings as we have in the more established areas.

You are correct, it is more a matter of preference.

[MrFlorida]

Everybody likes where they live the best...it's human nature.

[ElDiabloJoe]

IBTL !!! In Before The Lock!

P.S. The answer is south. No seriously, the answer is depends on what you're looking for. New area that will grow as you spend your years there, with a younger population and easier to join social groups, or an established area with mature landscaping and an aging commercial zone and population (in general, not an absolute truism).

As for the unsolicited advice / conversations / opinions / declarations regarding the north's superiority, I pretty much tell the Yankee to GFYS and the horse he rode in on. I'm easy going, until you're an Adam Henry.

[Arctic Fox]

I live on the east, and I would NEVER live on the west

East is east and west is west but where I live is still the best

[villagetinker]

When we purchased, we were in the South, we are now much closer to the center, and it appears to be actually slightly North of the center, and the house never moved and neither did we!! Actually, we like this area, about an hour maximum (by golf cart) to the far North or far South, and very close to Brownwood.

[jimhoward]

Most villagers who have been here for even a short time already know all the attributes and drawbacks of every region. So when people pontificate they are really not informing, they are just calling somebodies baby ugly and/or rationalizing their own preferences. There is really no upside or point to it.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

Everybody likes where they live the best...it's human nature.

But mine is different, IT IS THE BEST.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by jrref

This discussion has been going on for years. Everyone feels where they live is the best and that's fine.

But, I can say that the newer areas in the South definetly have a huge difference in the "look and feel" than homes north of and including Fenney.

Also, you have to remember as time goes on, costs increase and the developer can't provide as much as they used to for a given price so it's left to the homeowners to add the upgrades that use to come with new homes at their cost.

Finally, I "hear", many purchasing new homes "in the south" are flipping them after a year anyway so to them it doesn't matter. Or they are corporate purchases being used for rentals, etc... I also "hear" many of these homes are just sitting and not being sold as fast as in prior years. Many have done no upgrades and are trying to sell a year later at a profit. Not as easy as it used to be.

Just the way it is now.

Did you "hear" those things on TOTV? Because I certainly disagree with them.

[Topspinmo]

When I got here that was no south of 44 or even a Rohan. Even then traffic was doubled down by 466A. Most want new home, so be it buy what want and don’t get in my area better than yours conversations.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

I live on the east, and I would NEVER live on the west

East is east and west is west but where I live is still the best

There were three high schools in the school district I attended. They were called XXX East, XXX West, and XXX North, built in the listed order as the population grew. There was a meme back in the 70's:

East is least and West is best, but North has air conditioning (East and West did not have A/C at the time).

[tophcfa]

44 has become the Mason-Dixon Line?