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Village Advice Please

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Old 06-14-2013, 10:15 PM
Polar Bear Polar Bear is offline
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Default Village Advice Please

This might be a little tough, because I would not expect anyone to speak poorly about any village in TV. But my wife and I are in the midst of trying to pick a home to buy, and of course location is an issue. This often presents a dilemma. So I'm looking for some advice from those who have been here a while...

We'd like to take advantage of the village squares...do you think we might regret a purchase in the northwest area up near SR 42? How about passing up a slightly nicer home (very vague criterion I know) for something in a centralized location?

Or how about a more general question...are there some villages that just standout as being extra good for all the many intangibles? Is Brownwood coming into its own...or is there a downside to moving into such a new/still under construction area?

Again...I'm not looking for any bad-mouthing of any village or area. And my wife and I have our ideas already. But I would still love to hear your positive thoughts about your favorite areas and villages in TV.
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Old 06-14-2013, 11:21 PM
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We had rented twice near Spanish Springs and liked it so well we just knew we would buy in that area when we moved here two years ago. We rented for 6 months, giving us ample time to search for a home and neighborhood. With Brownwood being developed we determined that we might prefer to be more "centrally" located so ended up buying in Largo and loving its central location. It's also conveniently located off of Canal Street where we are more comfortable on the cart lanes than those N of 466. It takes us 30 minutes to go to Spanish Springs or Brownwood and about 5 min to Lake Sumter (by cart).

The area between El Camino and SR 42 seems to be a bit out of the way to us and pretty far from the squares! After being here two years, it seems that we rarely meet anyone who lives in that area.

We really like Spanish Springs so South if 466a doesn't appeal to us either but if you want a new home that would be your only choice at this time.

Once you get in and meet your neighbors you will be happy in either Village! Good luck!
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Old 06-15-2013, 04:50 AM
queasy27 queasy27 is offline
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Are you looking for a new build, PolarBear?

It comes down to personal preference of course, and everyone is partial to their own Village, but a consideration for me was closeness to shopping. I pop out a lot and wouldn't want to drive for miles just to get groceries or go to the drugstore.
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Old 06-15-2013, 05:57 AM
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We made a decision to be central to everything in TV. We bought in Sunset Pointe. 5 minutes to LSL and 20 minutes to SS or BW. A slightly better location IMHO would be Winified. Only because it is 10 minutes closer to the 466 shopping corridor. If buying again I would consider Winified, Belvedere, Tall Trees, Bonneybrook, Ashland, Lynnhaven, Bridgeport, Virginia Trace, Sabal Chase, Sunset Pointe, parts of Liberty Park and Mallory, and that general circle.

Stay away from the power lines, train tracks, and backing to a busy street. All have a negative impact on value. And now we will hear all the exceptions to that, and I am sure there are some.
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Old 06-15-2013, 06:10 AM
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It's nice to be near places you might need to go like grocery stores, restaurants,gas station, the local pub and the square. As for a new area here's what we found as we moved into an area that was well under construction. There's noise as they start work early, there's tons of traffic and congestion, flat tires,and TONS of dust and dirt. The good thing about a new area you'll meet other great neighbors and friends because you will all be starting lives new journey together. Also I use my golf cart for ALL my transportation in TV regardless of where it is and have no trouble with it . I just leave a little earlier. Hope this helps somewhat.
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Old 06-15-2013, 06:30 AM
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Location of course was one of our criteria, but we also had to love the look of the neighborhood we would be coming home to everyday. And eventhough the homes are mostly the same here the difference in what extras people do to enhance the exterior are striking and part of what helped us make our decision. We are in Hadley.
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Old 06-15-2013, 06:41 AM
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When we first moved here in 2000 we lived in Santiago, the last Village being built then. We moved to BonnyBrook in 2004 and love it. It really is centrally located to everything. Even Brownwood we are a straight shot down Buena Vista. Location really does make a difference. But, it's all good !
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Old 06-15-2013, 06:45 AM
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My choice was an established area for a resale home. We saw exactly what we got. No surprises of what will be built next to you. Landscaping is mature. Lots of great extras were built in the house that we would have to added on later at extra cost. Even things like gutters are an add-on that you think of as normally being on a house.

No construction noise or dirt or rubbish or nails.

The new neighborhood does have a closer knit feeling since all move in at the same time - but sometimes that goes too far and everyone knows exactly what is happening within a couple of hours.

I almost forgot - you can negotiate price with a resale but NOT with a new home. That can save lots of money!

Don't forget one big thing about resales vs new builds. The Bond. The older the home, the lower the bond. My bond 4 years ago on my resale was only $1500. Friends of mine who bought new in St. Charles at that time had bonds of $20,000. Now, bonds are higher at around $25,000 and up to $50,000. That makes a pretty significant difference at tax time. Some posters have said, "Only about and extra $1500." Personally, I will take that extra $1500 per year and use it on some outstanding fun for myself.

My advice - get a sales agent from BOTH Villages Properties and an MLS agent - since neither can show each other's listings - and concentrate on resales. Look for your dream home be it with a golf view, water view, or whatever you want.
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Old 06-15-2013, 06:58 AM
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When I visited I looked at new and pre-owned, finally deciding on new build south of 466A. I am in my 50's, single so the newer neighborhoods appealed to me as most of the people are new retirees and have not formed close attachments in groups. I live close to Colony for shopping and not far from Sumter Landing or Brownwood. My sister lives north of 466 and it's different, but she's happy where she is living and fits her lifestyle. I think anywhere would be friendly in The Villages, but for me living south in the new neighborhoods was my best fit.
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Old 06-15-2013, 07:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by l2ridehd View Post
We made a decision to be central to everything in TV. We bought in Sunset Pointe. 5 minutes to LSL and 20 minutes to SS or BW. A slightly better location IMHO would be Winified. Only because it is 10 minutes closer to the 466 shopping corridor. If buying again I would consider Winified, Belvedere, Tall Trees, Bonneybrook, Ashland, Lynnhaven, Bridgeport, Virginia Trace, Sabal Chase, Sunset Pointe, parts of Liberty Park and Mallory, and that general circle.

Stay away from the power lines, train tracks, and backing to a busy street. All have a negative impact on value. And now we will hear all the exceptions to that, and I am sure there are some.
Chris you know I respect anything you say mightily but on the issue of a busy street I have to disagree. We live in a new village right off of 466 and three houses have resold...immediately. We couldn't be "centraler" and we love going right out onto 466 and heading right to the grocery store, many restaurants and doctors and shopping. We can get right to Buena Vista and Morse and go north or south.

The grocery is where I go most often and I love being close. Some folks I know have never turned on their oven and restaurants are hugely important.

I think that you cannot go wrong ANYWHERE. My favorite village second to the one we now live in is Hadley. We owned a home there and I loved it. We lived right against Odell rec center and could go right out the back door and walk to the swimming pool.

I love Sanibel too. It is all filled in now and the folks are getting things all finished looking and I have not met anyone from there who wasn't so enjoyable.

Of course I love Caroline and Sabel Chase, and I love where you live PTurner and Bonita and Hemingway is nice...and anything off of Canal.

Well my dears, it is so hard to go wrong.

Do NOT live next to a grouch. It ruins everything. But I don't know where he lives. Or she.
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Old 06-15-2013, 07:31 AM
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We are in De La Vista West which is equally distant between Lake Sumter and Spanish Springs,which makes it very convenient.And Bonny is from Bonnybrook-Wow,c'mon Bonny admit it,that's why you moved there-LOL
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Old 06-15-2013, 07:32 AM
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We rented three times before we bought...its hard to say what one person loves and another one does not...but here is my 2 cents...we do not go to the squares often, so our cart ride is about 20 minutes to two of them...grocery is not a big deal either since i use a car for that and prefer fresh market....golf, that is everywhere so not an issue...yep we are in fernandina and not sure if that will stick, but found in the cart we could get where we wanted...we have a kissing lanai and now have a landscape buffer..said no to a busy road but i know at night sound goes down greatly...chris is right if we look again it will be sable, virginia,maybe stjames or duval
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Old 06-15-2013, 07:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gatherer47 View Post
We are in De La Vista West which is equally distant between Lake Sumter and Spanish Springs,which makes it very convenient.And Bonny is from Bonnybrook-Wow,c'mon Bonny admit it,that's why you moved there-LOL
LOL, it definitely worked out that way.
Actually, we were the very first house built south of 466. The villas were in, but we were the first house.
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Old 06-15-2013, 07:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by graciegirl View Post
Chris you know I respect anything you say mightily but on the issue of a busy street I have to disagree. We live in a new village right off of 466 and three houses have resold...immediately. We couldn't be "centraler" and we love going right out onto 466 and heading right to the grocery store, many restaurants and doctors and shopping. We can get right to Buena Vista and Morse and go north or south.

The grocery is where I go most often and I love being close. Some folks I know have never turned on their oven and restaurants are hugely important.

I think that you cannot go wrong ANYWHERE. My favorite village second to the one we now live in is Hadley. We owned a home there and I loved it. We lived right against Odell rec center and could go right out the back door and walk to the swimming pool.

I love Sanibel too. It is all filled in now and the folks are getting things all finished looking and I have not met anyone from there who wasn't so enjoyable.

Of course I love Caroline and Sabel Chase, and I love where you live PTurner and Bonita and Hemingway is nice...and anything off of Canal.

Well my dears, it is so hard to go wrong.

Do NOT live next to a grouch. It ruins everything. But I don't know where he lives. Or she.
But I get what l2ride is saying, Gracie, when it comes to some streets. You have a buffer where you are--466 is not directly in your backyard. There is a cart path and a lot of landscaping between 466 and your neighborhood. I don't think there are any houses whose backyards sit directly on 466 in your neighborhood. I may be mistaken? Some houses back right up to a busy street--Bailey Trail and St. Charles come to mind--and the privacy is nil.

As for the grouch... he isn't anywhere near us either. The grouch police kept him away.
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Old 06-15-2013, 08:20 AM
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Quote:
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But I get what l2ride is saying, Gracie, when it comes to some streets. You have a buffer where you are--466 is not directly in your backyard. There is a cart path and a lot of landscaping between 466 and your neighborhood. I don't think there are any houses whose backyards sit directly on 466 in your neighborhood. I may be mistaken? Some houses back right up to a busy street--Bailey Trail and St. Charles come to mind--and the privacy is nil.

As for the grouch... he isn't anywhere near us either. The grouch police kept him away.
Houses back up directly on Belvedere as well. Definitely a busy street.
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