gives new meaning to shaded back yard

We just bought a home in Collier and the back of the home faces woods. The real estate agent told us she thought it was a nature preserve and could not be developed. I didn't believe that for a second, but we took a risk and bought there anyway. All we can do is hope that it remains woods for a few years. Only time will tell.

We also had to sign papers acknowledging our home site is adjacent to undeveloped land and The Villages has no control of future development.

Nature preserves are clearly marked 'Preserve - No Trespassing', as these preserves have endangered species living there and cannot be disturbed. Your real estate agent should know this.

And they are all clearly marked on the $5 map.

Go to this site Sumter County Property Appraiser - Joey Hooten - Bushnell, Florida - 352-569-6800 do a search on your address, then click on the property behind yours and you will get the property tax information for that property including the owner.

Don't know where your house is but Andrew Blechman in "Leisureville" on page 151 mentions an old cemetery located on a peninsula of land jutting into the village of Caroline. Apparently Morse planted dense rows of bushes on berms on its three sides to hide it from view.

Don't believe everything that Blechman writes.

There IS a cemetery:

Thank you Mary Ann! That fits Blechman's description. He mentions a new (at that time) rec center behind the cemetery. That must be part of the parking lot of the Caroline rec center at the left of the photo on the west side of the cemetery.

I just checked my "official" map of The Villages. The site of the cemetery is left as blank as Morse's property in the middle of TV.

Yes, I've read the same thing about the cemetery which he describes in his book.........

Why on earth would someone lie about a cemetery?

Thanks for sharing that.............

A few weeks ago I went to an open house at a home on Olanta Drive in Caroline that backs onto a large open field. I asked the showing agent whether the land was likely to be developed and she assured me that it was a preserve that could never be developed. (This was an MLS agent, not a Villages listing). I was looking for a friend and was skeptical -- the Sumter County assessor's site showed a private owner. I asked an MLS agent I know to check and see if there was any reason to believe that this land could not be developed and her answer was NO -- the land is currently for sale. So, once again -- buyer beware.

There is several private lands that back up to caroline....If you are talking behind the fence alond cherry road then who knows....If you are talking of the setaside land between the 2 patio villa neighborhoods that has an old negro cemetary in it and won't be touched if you are talking about the land next to the mailbox area that has electric lines on it and won't be developed...

Actually, Bogie, I know Andy and I know him to be a very trustworthy guy. He did a big favor for me for which he could have charged a pretty penny, but he declined payment. He's always been like that.

You know Andrew Blechman? I think he wrote a book full of a lot of a lot of correct information but I also thought his story line was a bit contrived.

Like...I was pretty sure that Mr. Midnight was a composite of a lot of gentlemen. And he played a few notes of the STD song if I remember.

And....it seemed to me to be a social commentary that I did not, could not agree with, that seniors should stay in place and be responsible to do good work for all of their life and not retire to places like The Villages.

We will see how Andy feels when Andy get's older.

How do you know him, Steve?

Are you talking about the property off Olanta Dr in Caroline?