I seriously doubt that the Villages and surrounding areas would have anywhere near the same number of restaurants if they did not have the great support during the winter months. You can golf on the Champion Ship courses in July for 5 bucks. Try that in February.

Wow, I have no reason not to believe you, but would like to know your strategy about golf. my group of 8 has been shut out numerous times-each person has fewer than 3 points each, and the leaders put their requests in at the first possible moment. I have had so many people tell me that their groups are getting shut out also. So what do you do differently than most of the golfers I know? I would be very interested, seriously.

As far as other comments on the threads.....

As far as crowds in Publix at Colony, we are there at least 3-4 times a week at all different times. I can think of very few times we have gone when trying to find a parking space was easy. The parking lot is frequently at near capacity in the 6-7 lanes in front of Publix, and I would consider the parking to be fairly crowded year round anymore. However, even though it is frequently crowded in the store aisles, we never have a long wait in the stores checking out. I have seen every lane full and extending into the store, but never waited more than 15-25 mins checking out.

My last comment is that not only have I (and other friends) noticed, but have also had both restaurant servers and store clerks say that they never noticed much of a "down time" for the past 2 years-and especially last year. For every snowbird that has come and gone there have been many other residents who have moved into the Villages in the past years. We recently has some construction done and our contractor (who works for the Village) told us that for some time TV was selling approx 500 houses /month. you take that times 12 months which gives you 6000 houses in a year. Figuring on 2 people per house that adds up to 12,000 new people in a year. BTW, these are his figures, not mine. And anymore, it is common for both people in a household to golf. That's going to make it pretty difficult to get a tee time . Now obviously there are all kinds of variables and guessing as far as the numbers go-the actual number of houses sold, and the num. of actual golfers. Even with the new courses that will open, that is going to make it very, very hard to get tee times.


Even with problems, I still enjoy living here and would not want to live anywhere else. But just because you love the place, you can't ignore there are problems that we all need to work to correct, i.e. respect and consideration when driving your car or golf cart, and respecting other peoples opinions. Sorry to have gone on for so long..

We shop generally in the AM and for the most part use Walmart and Sweetbay. No problems for us. Perhaps it is the GROUPS OF EIGHT that is the problem. We golf by ourselves and meet a lit of great people. Anything you want to do ANYWHERE in GROUPS OF EIGHT can decrease your opportunities.

They have NOT sold 6000 new homes last year. Closer to 2500-3000. We also have new Championship course and 2-3 Execs, new rec centers, Regional Rec Center and a New Town.

Another piece of information for you to consider it is that it is the a Snowbirds who are buying a large percentage of homes in spite of the fact that they are the ones who come here only during the times when everyone else says it is crowded. Apparently,they don't feel the same way.

If you want to golf for free 3x a week at 9AM with 8 friends, food shop in the early afternoon when everyone else has the same idea, walk up to a spot at the driving range after a month of rain and cold weather, you can probably do it somewhere, but not for $150 a month.

The Villages sold 3900 new homes last year. Being new homes, most are sputh of 466A (if not all). Plenty of inventory to keep the numbers high this year as well.

Just driving around Brownwood it is very obvious that they anticipate dramatic growth there. The Town Square buildings are beautiful and it looks like more store fronts will be available than st Sumter Landing. Until the infrastructure catches up with the growth, yes things will be busy during the high season. Taht is just a fact. The price we pay to live in such a fantastic community.

We actually think that in 4-5 yrs that the section between 466A and Brownwwod will be less crowded than the areas north. There is more more green space, Evans Prairie, Lake Deaton, ponds etc. The density will be lower. Which we like just fine. A big plus for the area south of 466 A. But seriously, there are so many great sections in TV. This place is huge and beautiful!! No complaints here!

Geez. Keith, it's an old joke. I think originally from Groucho Max.

We live south of 466A and really haven't seen the big crowds the OP is talking about. Yes, Publix can be busy but nothing in the Villages is as busy as it is in upstate NY. Hubby actually dreads going to Target or the stores along 441, as that road seems to be bumper to bumper traffic all the time. Sams is always crowded. So to label south of 466A as too crowded doesn't seem correct to us. Besides, we're retired so a little wait in the grocery line (never 10 people) doesn't seem like a big thing! New people buying South of 466A shouldn't be scared off by this thread!

I hope the addition of all the new homes being sold (some as rentals ) and the very crowded conditions everywhere --- does not effect the price of the rentals as i have just bought my third rental. As i will have to lower my standard of the people who i rent to

...

Where are you getting your numbers? I am pretty sure they are way over 3,000 a year. When we bought two years ago, I asked my closing agent how many she did a day. She gave me some number and then I asked how many closing agents they had. I figured out they were doing apx. 300 closings a week...that alone would be 3,600 a year...two years ago. For sure they are selling more than 3,600 a year. But what is the number?

If someone is about to close, when they go for their closing, they should just ask how many closings they are doing a day to their closing agent. And then how many agents are working on closings. Voila! It woudl be interesting to know.

3,254 new homes sold in the last 12 months. This was in yesterday's newspaper.

YOGI BERRA "Nobody goes there anymore, it is too crowded"

Thanks..I was close...but 3254 is about half of what the OP said to make her case. Big difference.