[Regorp]

Originally Posted by Sonoftuntavern

I have never visited the Villages but have been looking at homes there. I am trying to find a method to identify the best house within my parameters, all of which havent been set yet. I imagine certain villages might be considered preferable to others, so a good starting point might be to rank various villages, and then search from there. I have only been able to find one article on the internet where villages are ranked. It would be greatly appreciated if those of you who live there could provide some opinions as to what the top 5 or 10 villages to live in are, and even more appreciated if you provide brief reasons why you rank them that way. Alternatively, if you have opinions about other better methods to identify a suitable home, please let me know.

Stay away from DeLuna. Too much fun, close to shopping/Brownwood. You would not like it. LOL!!

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Regorp

Stay away from DeLuna. Too much fun, close to shopping/Brownwood. You would not like it. LOL!!

I would suggest San Francisco

[joelfmi]

Location! location! and due diligence is very important

[Lottoguy]

FYI they just finished installing the new walking trail by the Lake Miona rec ctr.

[Lottoguy]

If I had to pick just ONE VILLAGE with the best location then I would pick TALL TREES. Close to many golf courses, 10 minutes by golf cart to Lake Sumter Square, close to shopping and restaurants, close to the Polo Field where they hold many events, close to the baseball fields. Also has multiple exits you can choose from.

[sowtime444]

Do you like kayaking? Live near Lake Miona since that is one of the only bodies of water that you can take a kayak out on within the Villages. Buy a house with your own dock for only $2 million.

There is a little park called Live Oaks Park right next to the Haciendas of Mission Hills. Haven't been but it looks nice in photos. Having something like that nearby seems like a nice retreat.

We looked at a house right across the street from Spanish Springs town square once. Luckily we went and looked right at 5pm when the music started in the town square (every day at 5pm-9pm) and you could hear it. That was a little too close to the town square for us.

In some neighborhoods every house is painted a gross orange-brown color (for a "southwest" theme) which hurts my head.

I think choosing something between Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter is a good idea. I talked to a realtor and he said this is where he lives, and he chose it for the proximity to either square.

I personally would also choose a neighborhood that has been around long enough to have mature trees growing. My in-laws have a 30 foot high loquat tree in their private courtyard backyard and we eat loquats with them every winter. You won't find that in a new build.

I would also avoid being too close to power lines (easy to see the big wide line in google maps views) or the turnpike.

I personally would also not want to live east of 441 in the older area. The yards are big and the trees are nice (and the pools are bigger I think) but it seems a bit separated from the rest of the Villages, even if just psychologically. And I'm not sure about the "manufactured home" thing.

If you look at the Villages recreation map, you can see that the density of pools is lower in the older (northern) areas. This might be a slight consideration. Also, in the newest section they built a resort-style zero-entry pool which is nice.

[Darield]

Originally Posted by Sonoftuntavern

I have never visited the Villages but have been looking at homes there. I am trying to find a method to identify the best house within my parameters, all of which havent been set yet. I imagine certain villages might be considered preferable to others, so a good starting point might be to rank various villages, and then search from there. I have only been able to find one article on the internet where villages are ranked. It would be greatly appreciated if those of you who live there could provide some opinions as to what the top 5 or 10 villages to live in are, and even more appreciated if you provide brief reasons why you rank them that way. Alternatively, if you have opinions about other better methods to identify a suitable home, please let me know.

I don't have time to read all the responses so I apologize if this is a repeat. We moved here about 5.5 years ago and here is my take. In my opinion there are 3 main areas. Orange Blossom, the first district they built. They are eventually replacing all the pre-fab housing with new builds but there are still a lot. Not as many restrictions so yards aren't as neat, but more reasonably priced with most have no bond fee. I live in the 3rd district built near the Polo fields (north end of the Villages near Buena Vista. about half the bond fees have been paid and many are almost paid off.) Many of the houses have been remodeled are have additions. We enjoy this area.The new builds on the South end are preferred by a lot of people with nice long walking trails and ponds.. Some say they are not build as well as the older areas. I think younger retires are more attracted to the South areas. Bonds are high, make sure to ask the sales people. Personally, (a 4th North area) I am not a fan of the Morse Rd area near 466. Not because it's a bad area but because the traffic is a complete nightmare just North of 466 for about the next mile. Hope this helps.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy

Hi, Not sure why so many people are being snarky, it can be like that here. My thoughts. If you are coming with a fist full of dollars, and can afford it, buy in Bridgeport, or Edgewater. Walking distance to Lake Sumter Landing. The center of the action. If you are buying a regular house, buy close to one of the major roads like Morse Blvd or Buena Vista. If you buy deep into a Village you will wind around forever to get to a major road. I would buy a house with the bond paid. What might be a downfall to bond paid is established neighborhoods are full of cliques, so people have reportedly not been welcoming to newcomers. The good news about the new sections down south is everyone is new, so no established cliques. (Down south is south of 44) If you have a dog, there are some neighborhoods with yards, I know Pine ridge has them, there probably are more. TV and Internet is provided by certain carriers in each area. I use Spectrum cable Internet.... excellent. I stream TV. Sumter taxes are lower than Lake and Marion counties. Different cellphone companies work better some places rather than others. I hope some of that helps.

Don’t all homes have a yard? Some small, some big…………

[sallyg]

Come and visit. Best if you can rent before purchasing. Each village has its advantages and disadvantages. You may prefer to be close to shopping, or golf, or one of the many other offerings. I have lived in the oldest part and the newest and can tell you it is hard to compare. Lots to chooses from. Best of luck.

[DALEPQ]

I agree there is no "Best Village" it is personal choice as to what is important to you.
Suggest renting to start, so you can get a feel for what you might like.
Better to do that than spend many $100k's only to find out it is not what you wanted.

[davefin]

There is no "Best Village"...


Oh yes there is !

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by kenswing

could this be a reincarnated martinse/grumpyoldman? He claimed that he was a former marine. Tun tavern was the birthplace of the marine corps. Ops handle is sonoftuntavern. Hmmmmm

elementary my dear ...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Are you one of the builders??? If not, how do you know this?????

Did you miss the thread about the quality of her new home in St Catherine?

Let's just say she's "less than thrilled" with how it turned out...

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Did you miss the thread about the quality of her new home in St Catherine?

Let's just say she's "less than thrilled" with how it turned out...

Missed it. So, in other words, she extrapolated her one home as representative of thousands. Hmmmm......

And as we all "know", there were never any problems when SS was built out or 466-466A or 466A to 44

[geobar]

We moved to "The Villages} back in 2009 after visiting for 4 to 5 years to learn about the communities as far as where we wanted to live. Our decisions were made as Gary Morse at that time said he would not build South of466A for our first home then a few yrs. later only down to CR-44 only for our 2nd home.

In our 11 years there. We actually moved out of TV due to overcrowds as the Morse Clan is not providing any more town squares, major shopping, and restaurants as their predecessors had to attract buyers. The originator was "Harold Schwartz" and "Gary Morse".
.
2009 is definitely not what "The Villages" is today. Many things were taken away that enticed our move to TV like "Kattie Bells Night Club,/Cattle Baron Restaurant", "The Church on the Square", and 2 rec centers each with restaurants. Plus more are gone forever. They first wanted The Communities to buy one of the Rec Centers with no deal. Then, the building was too old to remodel so the "Morse Clan" decided to knock it down to build more residents.
.
It is hard for people to enjoy their retirement years if living south of CR-44 until if ever the Morse Clan builds. Actually, they are way better off today as it took about 3 years to get their only one Publix store to buy groceries for just how many thousands of people?
.
Today is a totally different story as the 3rd generation of the Morse family is building too many miles south to actually still call it "The Villages" as far as I'm concerned. They are only concerned with building new homes to make even more money that they actually do not need. Perhaps only a money pit for them.
.
When we moved in we had all we needed close by not needing to drive north for our enjoyment as the newbies south of CR-44 needed to do.
.
If we ever decide to move back to The Villages" we would purchase (a resale, only available) between 466 and 466A, nearer 466A.
.
Reading that within the next 3 months, you will see the prices of used homes drop considerably nationwide thanks to the Feds and present high inflation both driving prices down.
.
Read that recently Multiple Listing in TV had no sales for about 6 days showing the beginning of lacking sales in "The Villages". MLS is not affiliated with the Morse Clan. Contact an MLS Broker for their perspective.
.
Sales will continue to grow in TV as the cost to live up North as the costs to reside continues to get out of control bringing thousands of people to Florida.
.
Wish you well in your endeavors.
.

Originally Posted by Sonoftuntavern

I have never visited the Villages but have been looking at homes there. I am trying to find a method to identify the best house within my parameters, all of which havent been set yet. I imagine certain villages might be considered preferable to others, so a good starting point might be to rank various villages, and then search from there. I have only been able to find one article on the internet where villages are ranked. It would be greatly appreciated if those of you who live there could provide some opinions as to what the top 5 or 10 villages to live in are, and even more appreciated if you provide brief reasons why you rank them that way. Alternatively, if you have opinions about other better methods to identify a suitable home, please let me know.