IMO it’s not the type of home that determines whether or not the residents are full time, but the age of the Village. A more established Village would tend to have more full time residents.

there is really no sure way to tell snowbirds vs full timers. Sales happen all the time. At best, go to the neighbors and ask.

Othen less expensive properties are purchased as income producers like Airbnb's.
There's no regulations preventing that. Just something to keep in mind.

If you reference home listed on ****, it’s probably a fair listing of both Designer and Villa homes. I would also consider Villas for safety reasons because they’re always in a closed neighborhoods. Overall, always consider location, location, location. Realtor reports show the Brownwood area still holds a high demand due to its proximity to Brownwood and Sumter, as well as numerous access to grocery, shops, restaurants, and golf courses. Anything south of 44 lacks all of that.

If you have noise concerns an area that has a lot of backyards that are enclosed will draw dog owners and with it the possible noise pollution, I haven't made a study of it but I believe that the higher priced units have more unfenced space between them leaving an escape route for your pet, what would ARC have to say about fencing in your yard?

You want to be in a neighborhood with year round residents but you didn’t state that you will be one. Inquiring mind ….

Year Round versus Snowbirds...
 

If you would hire me as your Realtor, I will send you designer and/or patio homes in neighborhoods where I've researched if your future neighbors are snowbird or year-round. I'll need price range, preferred area, and desires (such as: stucco only, no pool, enclosed lanai versus open birdcage, view, etc.). Paul Ledbetter Realtor with Realty Executives in The Villages. 352 661 5309

We live in a Courtyard Villa, and do have a lot of neighbors who are rentals. Really don't see the difference between living with people who are renters and those who own. Maybe we have just been lucky..our street is very quiet and very friendly.

If you are like where we were from, where your neighbors become your best friends, and are you concerned about that, well don't be. We have great neighbors and enjoy occasional driveway parties, but most of my friends are people I have met at clubs and events. They live all over TV.

We love our Courtyard...we have walls around us and don't have to deal with kissing lanais and noise. The walls are very good at keeping the noise down and offering privacy. We looked Designers and did not care that the people behind us are almost on top of us, and I know people who have to deal with neighbors who LIVE on their lanai, watching loud television for all hours and talking loudly on the phone, etc. That would bother me more than living with rentals. So I would look closely around your surroundings if you go with a designer.

Good luck and welcome! We love the Villages! People are much nicer in person than on social media. :wave:

If you are used to living in a house, get a designer home with a golf cart garage. I would not focus on renters, but on the lot. Get as much privacy as you can afford. There is plenty of inventory right now. Be patient.

We own a courtyard villa and are south of 44 in a village that is about 6 years old now. We have very few rental units in our neighborhood, I believe there are 3 out of a total of 66 in the whole neighborhood. No problems as most are long term and become part of the group. We prefer the privacy of our walled in backyard, the only barking dog comes from the designer behind us but we don’t mind as we have always been dog owners.

We close in May and bought a designer home. It's a second home for us so we will be coming and going through out the year but we won't be renting it. We know people with both patio villas and designer homes that do the same thing so my guess would be there is a mix with both.

Not my experience at all in renting houses when my kids visit. I can always find designer homes - harder to find patio villas! But I live near Sumter landing, and I have hear that in the new construction in some areas well more than half the patio villas immediately become rentals

I’ve only lived here full time for two years now, but we owned for two before that (didn’t rent out - visited every month). Our courtyard villa neighborhood was built in 2006. When we bought, the majority of the residents were original purchasers and had become full time residents. But many started as snow birds. Now we are losing the oldest and a few of those homes have been sold and are being rented. And some of us “youngsters” have become full time.

While the type of house might have some impact, I think the age of the buyers does as well. Therefore you might also want to visit areas other than new construction. Keep in mind there are a lot of “true snowbirds”. Live here in the winter - but home empty in the summer and NEVER rented out. Good luck

Poster, if you are looking for factual information, you are not going to find it here as most comments here are just a matter of opinion.

Its all about the neighbors...
 

We live in Pine Hills on Bell Terrace, a cross street with 21 designer homes. The homes are approximately eight years old. Yes we have a few snowbirds but for the most part the majority are year round residents. Obviously we all have different social/club interest but we gather quite regularly for driveway get togethers as well as holiday dinner and/or pot lucks.
Our street is exceptionally inviting thus the other cross streets and connecting street, Kauska, participate in our get togethers.
BTW, we have two very nice houses for sale at this time due to folks moving back to where their children live.

I bought a designer home in Shady Brook a few months ago. I have made many friends here. One difference no one notices is that designer homes have concrete curbs and drains on the edge of the street.

I am surrounded on 3 sides by one AirBnb and 2 rentals (one is a snowbird that rents half a year). This is shocking to me frankly. The belief you avoid this by upgrading to a designer wasn’t true (at least for me).