[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I drove through the historic area once briefly during my lifestyle visit last summer. I need to return and check out the area more thoroughly now that I live here. I have only taken my golf cart as far north as Lake Sumter - I’m seeing a long golf cart day trip in my future up to Spanish Springs and then over the bridge to the historic side. I want to check out Orange Blossom CC for lunch or dinner, since I generally enjoy the other FMK restaurants.

Question - as a Villages resident, do I have access to all the pools over on the historic side?

Yes, except for the Country Club pool since it's not an amenity, it's a feature that comes with paid membership. Use of the pool actually costs extra now, there's no umbrella membership package anymore, it's a la carte. My husband is a member of the Country Club, and I just have the pool add-on for myself, since I don't play golf.

The restaurant is open to the public.

[Michael 61]

So OK - I decided to get myself over and check out Orange Blossom (I’m writing this from the Orange Blossom CC bar- I drove over since I have tickets later on for Bernadette Peters at the Sharon .) Drove the village - stunning beautiful landscaping - lakes and hills - has a much different feeling from the rest of TV. The pool is definitely a resort- style pool - talked with gentleman at gate - I can join for about $200 per year - I’m really thinking of doing so — food and drink service at pool — food is A+ and great bartenders at restaurant - homes on huge lots, many with million dollar views - most homes well kept - however there are quite a few homes in utter disrepair that are eye sores - don’t understand how they are allowed to continue without being sighted - I guess no CDC here to enforce - that would be the reason I wouldn’t buy here - but that’s just me - as those that are here seem very happy - so good for them! Looking forward to occasionally hanging out here and making new friends in this part of town.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

Awesome explanation!!! Remember, there are a very few constant complainers on this site and most of them are judgmental to boot. If something doesn't fit their narrative (or location), it must be BAD.

Be proud of your neighborhood. Those who "really know" are the residents to listen to.

Just another "Bravo" and "Amen", thankfully from someone who knows, and remembers the TRUE FACTS, not their personal version of "the facts". Everything you stated is true. We sometimes wonder if we made a mistake when we passed on a home near O.B. Country club, but, what is done is done. I can tell you this "I'm better than YOU" attitude is something that evolved over a period of time. When we purchased our lot (yes, at one time you could purchase your lot and delay building), we spent a lot of time at O.B. C. Club, talking to residents, playing golf together, and we expected all the new villages to have similar. Well, we all know how that turned out, and the next nicest and most impressive country club, Hacienda Hills is now history, so those in OBH, S. Lake, etc. are very fortunate, as time marched on corners were definitely cut, so to speak. If we ever move, it would be to downsize to a villa. IF they ever build courtyard villa neighborhoods in the original area, that would definitely be our choice... as long as they don't decide to tear that country club and pool down in favor of high rise apartments ! That would sure spoil the beautiful location on the "hill" !

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

So OK - I decided to get myself over and check out Orange Blossom (I’m writing this from the Orange Blossom CC bar- I drove over since I have tickets later on for Bernadette Peters at the Sharon .) Drove the village - stunning beautiful landscaping - lakes and hills - has a much different feeling from the rest of TV. The pool is definitely a resort- style pool - talked with gentleman at gate - I can join for about $200 per year - I’m really thinking of doing so — food and drink service at pool — food is A+ and great bartenders at restaurant - homes on huge lots, many with million dollar views - most homes well kept - however there are quite a few homes in utter disrepair that are eye sores - don’t understand how they are allowed to continue without being sighted - I guess no CDC here to enforce - that would be the reason I wouldn’t buy here - but that’s just me - as those that are here seem very happy - so good for them! Looking forward to occasionally hanging out here and making new friends in this part of town.

We live near Lake Sumter area, but one point about the OB Hills area, and yes, we have seen the few really neglected properties, but what has been obvious to us (and this is a very GOOD thing !) is the TREND is definitely toward more "upscale" homes, not trending downward to more and more neglect. Not sure why CDD would determine if a property was not kept to standards... we've lived in a variety of "ordinary" towns, no CDD, but the towns all had standards; no weeds or over grown lots, no "eyesores" (such as "gaudy" multi-colored homes) roofs in disrepair, or "junk" in yards (such as non working autos, riding mowers, etc.)... so don't know how all that works but would think someone does have authority over the properties that are "run down"... of course, there are plenty of those in ALL the areas of the villages, have you seen some of those sights ! Unbelievable, and it goes on for months, years, due to legal battles ! So one could say, most things here, and everywhere, are not confined to certain areas. Many like to think they are, but drug deals and killings go on in some of the most expensive mansions in Florida... might as well live where wants to, rather than try to figure out where one is 100% "safe"....LOL !

[MrChip72]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

The bond is a financial obligation over and above the cost of the home. So if you see a house listed in the new construction section for $300,000, that doesn't include a bond that could be $20,000 on top of that. You can pay it all off at once, OR you can pay it monthly, with insane interest, and not be allowed to pay it off early if you change your mind.

I live in a "newer" section south of 44. Bought my home last June.

I've never heard of anyone paying insane interest on a bond. Mine is ridiculously low (around 3.3% if you include the admin fee) and so is everyone that I've talked to that have bought in the past few years. I've also NEVER heard of anyone not being allowed to pay their bond off early. It's literally an option that's been presented to us from the beginning that it can be paid off anytime.

[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

I haven't seen the pool in Orange Blossom area. Is it a neighborhood pool or a sports pool?

Family pool

[vintageogauge]

Another one made the news today, 47 year old stepson knocks his 75 year old step father to the floor in the historic district. Assault on the elderly, a big no no.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

Another one made the news today, 47 year old stepson knocks his 75 year old step father to the floor in the historic district. Assault on the elderly, a big no no.

Probably never would have happened in the newer areas.

[Pairadocs]

[QUOTE=Jayhawk;2204485]Probably never would have happened in the newer areas.

No doubt, I heard all crime is banned in the newer villages, maybe ONLY banned past the Brownwood area ? I know the latest child molester and child porn fan is in our area between 466 and 466A, we're the area with a number of DUI habitual s and a couple wife beaters, and oh, yea, one grocery store thief, and a couple with an adult son who hit and killed a person on OBT. I guess our only choice would be to move to one of the new areas as you commented ! But then, what IF some of the people there turned out to have the same percentage of human failures ?

[DiviAruba]

So sad.

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

Another one made the news today, 47 year old stepson knocks his 75 year old step father to the floor in the historic district. Assault on the elderly, a big no no.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star

Family pool

Thanks.

[Gigi3000]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I'm looking on spotcrime (dot) com and plugged in my address. I zoomed in, then out, and found ZERO crime reports within the properties on the east side of 441 belonging to The Villages. None at all.

However, there are quite a few between 466A and 466 off Buena Vista and Morse.

A couple dozen reports of theft and some categorized as "other" around Lake Deaton.

Another couple dozen various reports (including one burglary) south of Fl. Turnpike in the "new-new" area.

I am so confused. When i look at Realtor.com, the outline of the villages, only a small Northeast corner seems to be inside the villages east of 441?

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

snipped
If we ever move, it would be to downsize to a villa. IF they ever build courtyard villa neighborhoods in the original area, that would definitely be our choice... as long as they don't decide to tear that country club and pool down in favor of high rise apartments ! That would sure spoil the beautiful location on the "hill" !

I doubt there will ever be a 'courtyard villa neighborhood' built on the historic side - how would the Developer get all of the current residents out of their homes in order to do that?

But - the Developer did buy some manufactured homes when they had been for sale, cleared the lot and built patio villas in their place. That's an attractive thing about the historic side - no room for major development that comes with commercial traffic and noise. One new house at a time style of gentrification is enjoyed. And no bonds to be paid on new builds there either - to go along with the larger lots and mature landscaping and walkability/bikeability - and one of the few hot tubs in all of the Villages!

It's no wonder some new residents have seen the possibilities and potential of buying there. What with the younger folks and the heirs of original owners, if it weren't for the Nancy Lopez complex the historic Villages could be referred to as the Legacy side rather than the Historic side!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Gigi3000

I am so confused. When i look at Realtor.com, the outline of the villages, only a small Northeast corner seems to be inside the villages east of 441?

That is correct. On Realtor.com's map, start at 441 from the southwestern corner, of Griffin Avenue. Make sure you're looking at the correct one, there are a few Griffin (somethings). I guess some guy named Griffin was famous once upon a time eh? You can tell it's the correct one because it crosses 441 and becomes Avenida Central.

You'll see Legrande veering off Griffin. That's more like a "back road driveway" for a Lady Lake police satellite office, a tire store, the Lady Lake post office, a few banks, and a mexican restaurant on one side, and a bunch of small medical offices including a veterinarian on the other end.

That connects with an MMP (multi-modal path) that runs parallel to 441, which then connects to Paradise Drive. Follow that to Lauren Ln and west to West Schwartz. That is the other "inner perimeter" road and everything contained beneath it will be The Villages. West Schwartz curves around and becomes East Schwartz. East Schwartz curves yet again at the lower right via Jason and Mark roads, into Tarrson. Tarrson is the southern-most road in the area, and runs parallel to Griffin with two gates exiting onto Griffin.

Everything contained within these roads I've mentioned are the "Historic Section" of the Villages, the original three neighborhoods of the original trailer park and extensions.

It is actually a VERY large section of The Villages, the largest in fact, and has more homes in it (over 5000) than any other section.

FYI the Dowling Circle area, east of Boone Park and East Schwartz Blvd - is not the Villages and has no access from their neighborhood. That community's entrance is off Rte. 25.