Stay away from all new areas. No shopping, no medical services, poor recreation services, few golf courses. Will take years to build.

South of 44.

LSL can get congested in the square, but Spanish Springs does not get congested like LSL...it's a mistake to compare them. We live just south of Spanish Springs and enjoy being within 4 minute golf cart ride to all the shopping we need, and 10 minutes to Lowes, and 15 to WalMart by golf cart. Can't beat that convenience, plus our neighborhood is very quiet because it has no thru streets...just sayin'

Just stay away from busy highways...people now buy houses site-un-seen..go there and listen......

Good advice, and an extension to that would be: Go to a prospective property at night and listen. You might be amazed at how much more noticeable noise from the turnpike is at night, versus in the day when there are other sounds competing for your attention.

We came down, are renting for several months and found a great lot in St Catherine to build on. We were prepared to wait longer until we found exactly the lot we wanted. The new areas may not be as developed with golf courses and activities now but in a couple of years, it will probably be the more desirable place. I have met several people who have been here for years and are considering moving because it has gotten to hectic in the older villages.

Everyone has a different opinion about this and what bothers them. However if it bothers anyone it impacts value and resale. So being next to the turnpike does not bother those that bought there, they will tell you the noise isn’t bad. For them it isn’t. But if you grew up in the country where you never heard traffic it would bother you. But if anything bother some folks it impacts value. So my response is what bothers others and therefor impacts value.

Being close or backing to a busy street, turn[ike, Morse, Stillwater, Buena Vista, etc.
Being next to or close to a treatment plant.
Being close to the power lines
Being close to the railraod tracks
Being close to a golf cart path
Being on the water. There are more bugs and critters.
Backing to another house. Kissing Lanai’s.
Being close to prior sinkholes.
Being close to the prisons and quarries.
Backing to a rec center
Being on a golf course next to a tee box
Backing to land not owned by the villages
Backing to any shopping venue.

Not all these things bother everyone. Some even seek some of these things out. But if you look at a pool of 100 buyers, some of them will not buy because of those items. And that impacts value. At one time I built spread sheets with resale value impact based on sales data. Just as an example, being next to the power line will impact your sale price by 9%. Now lots of folks near the XXXX will argue that they love being next to the XXXX. And I am sure they do. But not everyone does. And that is how you have to think about finding the best location.

Any area near sewage treatment plant, gets very gross at times ( depends on wind direction and, speed. Unless you routinely go to bed before 9 pm, we have not seen any issues with traffic noise even from Bueno... and Morse. TV is pretty dead after 9 pm. As for sinkholes, the map of historical sink holes shows all the previous ones to be on earth elevations between 65 and 85 feet. We are in a location higher then 110 feet which doesn’t give me any real concern. Still suggest you get sinkhole protection coverage.

Blasts maybe once every other month. But be wary of turnpike noise.

BS! There is everything within 15 minutes journey.

O'Dell Circle has some big hills. Could be a problem driving after a big snow storm.:1rotfl:

More myths about Southern Oaks that will not die.

It really depends on your live style. If you like night life you may want to live near the town squares. You can buy properties where you can actually walk to them or just a one or two minute golf cart ride. If you prefer a slower life you may like it a little further out. One thing you do mot want to do is buy a house neat a pickle ball court. It will drive you nuts.

Wow...all that you mentioned are a short drive away.

The new areas are less than 10 minutes from The Villages Health Brownwood Specialty Care Center, less than 10 minutes from the new 24 hours UF Villages Health Emergency Room, 15 minutes from UF Leesburg Hospital, at least a dozen restaurants within 20 minutes, there are all recreation amenities there including the new softball fields, soccer and basketball, beach volley ball, air rifle, archery, 5 executive golf courses, a pitch and putt course, and a 27 hole course under construction. located in the new area is Everglade, the largest of all regional recreation centers sitting on 50 acres with all the old and new amenities. The village of Fenney is the most populous of all villages and has it's own rec. center with coffee shop, sports pool, adult pool, family pool, pickle ball, bocce, corn toss, shuffleboard, putt and play, croquet, lawn bowling, walking and nature trails, and is the only village that has a bar and grill next to the rec. center. Magnolia shopping plaza will be open within the next 60 to 90 days as will the turnpike bridge connecting the new areas to the north. Sawgrass indoor market place with restaurant and entertainment is now under construction and a new 400 acre UF hospital and medical facility is under construction. It is also less than 10 minutes to Paddock Square in Brownwood. South of 44 is the happening place and a lot less traffic. If you want traffic and a bunch of retail stores the new area is not for you. If you want everything else within easy reach in a more relaxed environment then you want south of 44.