[seacoastbargain]

We had a very successful lifestyle visit a few weeks ago. We loved The Villages and want to move. We are still of working age, so figuring this all out feel overwhelming. I know many folks figure this all out.
1) We need to sell our NH home which should happen quickly. Luckily we will make a profit.
2) We need to find jobs in or around The Villages. It is always easier to find a job when one is living in the area than out of state. We both are social workers.
3) We are thinking we would rent first, but wondering if jobs are required to rent.
So we don't know how to make all this work.
Need the job to get a home, but need a home to reside there and obtain a job!
I've even considered that we could sell our home here, rent an RV and live in the RV near The Villages, get the jobs and then buy a home in TV.
Thanks for letting me type all this ...perhaps someone will have some idea I haven't considered!
Bobbi

[tv2016]

You can find a lot of houses to rent on thevillages4rent.com . Some are available long term, some short term. You can read the descriptions and exchange some emails or call the owners of the homes you are interested in.

[lanabanana73]

We have similar desires. Sent you a PM!

[rjm1cc]

I do not know how easy it is to find a job. You have lots of qualified residences who might want to work a little for the social aspects of work. I would apply for jobs from your home and say you are moving to the area and will be here the week of x and you would appreciate the opportunity to interview. I would also think of one of you moving here in a short term rental and start knocking on the doors of business you would like to work for if the first suggestion does not work. Be sure you do not hurt your retirement benefits by quitting your current job.

[buggyone]

Before doing all of your stuff, I would definitely take a couple of steps back and look at reality. In NH, I imagine that social workers get paid pretty good money. Florida is a state with very low pay for most jobs. Check into job possibilities as social workers around The Villages and expand the search up to your comfortable commuting drive each and every day. See if the commute would be worth it with the pay.

You did not say how much longer you have to work. Remember that you will be working and that the lifestyle of The Villages (swimming pools, golf courses, social clubs, etc) would be on during your working time for a great part of it. Would you really like to have to work every day and not have time for all the great lifestyle.

Whatever you choose, best of luck.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by buggyone

Before doing all of your stuff, I would definitely take a couple of steps back and look at reality. In NH, I imagine that social workers get paid pretty good money. Florida is a state with very low pay for most jobs. Check into job possibilities as social workers around The Villages and expand the search up to your comfortable commuting drive each and every day. See if the commute would be worth it with the pay.

You did not say how much longer you have to work. Remember that you will be working and that the lifestyle of The Villages (swimming pools, golf courses, social clubs, etc) would be on during your working time for a great part of it. Would you really like to have to work every day and not have time for all the great lifestyle.

Whatever you choose, best of luck.

I very much agree and I am not sure by whom social workers are paid. Pay scale on most everything is far lower here. If you work with people in social work you must constantly face the bad results of not looking before you leap and not being able to wait for gratification. If that sounds like what an old person will tell you, it is.

It is always a good idea to bloom where you are planted, especially if you need the fertilizer.

AND very selfishly, if we encourage people to move here because it truly is wonderful..........and they are unable to meet their financial obligations and default on their mortgagees and it goes into short sale then it devalues all of our homes.

I wish you happiness, whatever you choose. But THINK and think again.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

I agree you need to be careful but also life is indeed short you never know when your time is up. If you want something bad enough you will find a way to make it happen. Think outside the box, for example what other jobs are related to social work? are there any jobs that are related to social work that allow working remotely from your home, what companies sell products or services to social work field? do they need consultants with experience in social work? The possibilities are endless if you brainstorm.

[2BNTV]

I agree wiith all of the above posters. I would first ask myself the following questions.
1. Will I find a job with salary enough to support TV lifestyle?
2. Will I still have medical benefits?
3. Will I still have the time to enjoy the lifestyle?
4. Will I sacrifice my retirement plan at my present job?
5. Can I buy a home in TV and rent it until I retire?
6. How many years do I have to work to get full SS benefits?

These questions are easy to ask but the answers are up to you. Look before you leap into something that may not be beneficial to both of you. I don't mean to rain on your parade but it's easy to come to TV and fall in love and get excited about moving.

Best of luck in what you decide to do.

[janmcn]

Why don't you take all of your 2013 vacation time, rent a house in TV, and use that time to search for jobs in your field in the area and beyond?

[terrieb]

When we first came to the Villages on the lifestyle visit we wanted to move to the Villages right then. The sales group of the Villages is overwhelming in trying to sell you on living in the Villages but that's their job. That was in June a few years ago. We came back the following year in August for two weeks to see how hot Florida gets and believe me it was hot. We rode bikes in early morning as the heat and humidity was stiffling but it can be that way almost anywhere in the month of August and in any state. We came back again in October and also December 2010 and again this year. I noticed a lot of the novelty stores we were fond of closed up probably due to the economy so other than Bealls and Kirkland (my favorites), once you go through the stores here unless a new one pops up in its place. it's the same as up home. Talking to a few residents in all our visits to the Villages (10 years+ full time people), they are planning on leaving because in their opinion, it has become redundant for them - same stores, same restaurants and they are ready for a change, even a change of seasons again. I come from a town of 13,000 and I find 90,000+ people overwhelming having to plan eating out dinner earlier than we normally do so we don't have to wait to eat. I understand the months of Jan-April are very overwhelming because the snowbirds are back as well as additional renters wanting to get away from their home states up North. We have decided from this trip, that the Villages even though a golfers paradise (we both golf) is not for us. I like diversity in people, I am told grandchildren are only allowed for a certain length of time and are restricted in some areas. The Villages is not for everyone and you need to come down and visit several times before you make your decision. It took us six visits to determine that the Villages was not our cup of tea. Good luck in your search.

[california dreamer]

I am 51, retired Social Worker. Husband's last jobs were also in social field, he's 56. We just made our minds up (before finding out about TV) a few years ago that we were going to sacrifice some things and just save, save, save, til we could financially retire early. My husband had a heart attack this past May, and that really told us that we needed to make some drastic lifestyle changes for the good. Life is shorter than we realize. Just watch the news.
Indeed.com is good webstite for jobs, if you are open to whatever. Also, for networking, I heard that there was a club called Social Workers Club in The Villages. I'm just too burned out to join them!
We just moved in two days ago to TV, and loving every minute of it and our great new neighbors!

[Pturner]

Don't want to dampen your enthusiasm -- I haven't lost mine in my three years as a Villager-- but I agree very much with those who urge slowing down.

If it is necessary for you both to work full-time to afford living here, it would seem quite the roll of dice to move here hoping to find wage-sufficient and benefits-sufficient jobs. I don't know about the availability of jobs but wages are very, very low in this area.

My suggestion: take a deep breath. Make a budget. Have a realistic idea of what all of your expenses would be, add at least a five percent contingency and determine how much you would need to save and how much you would need to earn here. As others have said, consider how much you would be able to enjoy the lifestyle if you both are working full time. If now is not the right time, a budget will help you figure out when is and will help you start saving and planning. You can always vacation here-- there are plenty of homes for rent in TV.

If realistically you need to wait three years, or five or ten, don't worry. Your time will come. And we'll leave the lights on for you.

[MSG@TV]

Originally Posted by seacoastbargain

We had a very successful lifestyle visit a few weeks ago. We loved The Villages and want to move. We are still of working age, so figuring this all out feel overwhelming. I know many folks figure this all out.
1) We need to sell our NH home which should happen quickly. Luckily we will make a profit.
2) We need to find jobs in or around The Villages. It is always easier to find a job when one is living in the area than out of state. We both are social workers.
3) We are thinking we would rent first, but wondering if jobs are required to rent.
So we don't know how to make all this work.
Need the job to get a home, but need a home to reside there and obtain a job!
I've even considered that we could sell our home here, rent an RV and live in the RV near The Villages, get the jobs and then buy a home in TV.
Thanks for letting me type all this ...perhaps someone will have some idea I haven't considered!
Bobbi

Hi, Bobbi. Welcome to falling in love with TV. Will send you a PM.

[Villageshooter]

Originally Posted by seacoastbargain

We had a very successful lifestyle visit a few weeks ago. We loved The Villages and want to move. We are still of working age, so figuring this all out feel overwhelming. I know many folks figure this all out.
1) We need to sell our NH home which should happen quickly. Luckily we will make a profit.
2) We need to find jobs in or around The Villages. It is always easier to find a job when one is living in the area than out of state. We both are social workers.
3) We are thinking we would rent first, but wondering if jobs are required to rent.
So we don't know how to make all this work.
Need the job to get a home, but need a home to reside there and obtain a job!
I've even considered that we could sell our home here, rent an RV and live in the RV near The Villages, get the jobs and then buy a home in TV.
Thanks for letting me type all this ...perhaps someone will have some idea I haven't considered!
Bobbi

becareful,,,, the taste of the koolaide will wear off,,, i have a good friend who loves it here,,, however his motto is ,,, this place is great to come an play but not stay,,,, the person who posted about the 10 year issue is so on top of it,,,, if you stay 10 years,, your most likely to go back,, or you will be dead,,, or go home to die,,,, some folks have no where else to go,, this is it,,, hey come down i dont worry or think it is ANY of my bussiness if you default,, there will always be some else coming along to drink the koolaide

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by Pturner

Don't want to dampen your enthusiasm -- I haven't lost mine in my three years as a Villager-- but I agree very much with those who urge slowing down.

If it is necessary for you both to work full-time to afford living here, it would seem quite the roll of dice to move here hoping to find wage-sufficient and benefits-sufficient jobs. I don't know about the availability of jobs but wages are very, very low in this area.

My suggestion: take a deep breath. Make a budget. Have a realistic idea of what all of your expenses would be, add at least a five percent contingency and determine how much you would need to save and how much you would need to earn here. As others have said, consider how much you would be able to enjoy the lifestyle if you both are working full time. If now is not the right time, a budget will help you figure out when is and will help you start saving and planning. You can always vacation here-- there are plenty of homes for rent in TV.

If realistically you need to wait three years, or five or ten, don't worry. Your time will come. And we'll leave the lights on for you.

Pturner -- Thank you for the excellent post. I have to keep telling myself that my time will come. And thank you for leaving the lights on for us wannabees and gonnabees.