[Talk Host]

Amity and I thought really thought that we were going to settle in Charleston, South Carolina. We had been there three times to look at houses. We looked at lots of other places too. Then we visited the Villages and did like lots of people do, made the decision in a flash.

I'm curious where else you looked prior to The Villages

[Keedy]

a couple of years old. It began in the Asheville, NC.,and Myrtle Beach,SC. Both were nice but not for us. Last fall, we visited Sedona Arizona, and fell in love with the area. Unfortunately, it was too pricey for us.
That's when we started focusing on communities like The Village. We traded a week time share for Hilton Head. While there, we visited Sun City. It was there that we started to get the feeling for that kind of community. We were aware of The Villages but new very little until I found this forum. I have learned plenty from all the nice people who post here.
To be honest, we are going to schedule a visit to TV before we decide. Regardless of where we purchase, I will always credit this forum as the deciding factor in selecting this form of community.

[NJblue]

We looked at a number of places in NJ and also a number of places between Tampa and Fort Meyers. Many had some desirable traits, but, in comparison to TV they were all dead - nobody seemed to be out and about. When we asked a sales rep about it at one of the places, he said, "This is Florida. No one really gets out too much down here." A few days later we visited TV for just an afternoon visit. We were amazed at all the golf carts scooting about and people outside and active. We were sold.

[BobKat1]

Originally Posted by Keedy

a couple of years old. It began in the Asheville, NC.,and Myrtle Beach,SC. Both were nice but not for us. Last fall, we visited Sedona Arizona, and fell in love with the area. Unfortunately, it was too pricey for us.
That's when we started focusing on communities like The Village. We traded a week time share for Hilton Head. While there, we visited Sun City. It was there that we started to get the feeling for that kind of community. We were aware of The Villages but new very little until I found this forum. I have learned plenty from all the nice people who post here.
To be honest, we are going to schedule a visit to TV before we decide. Regardless of where we purchase, I will always credit this forum as the deciding factor in selecting this form of community.

What was your impression of Sun City Hilton Head? We haven't been there, but do plan on spending some time there soon. We keep getting tempting offers on new construction homes.

We've stayed at TV several times and do like it a lot.

[Sally Jo]

We looked at about ten different communities. Arizona, too far away and we don't like the dry heat, Hilton Head and about six or seven, in this area. All of them were very nice, however, The Villages won hands down. There is just so much to do here.

[Keedy]

Originally Posted by BobKat1

What was your impression of Sun City Hilton Head? We haven't been there, but do plan on spending some time there soon. We keep getting tempting offers on new construction homes.

We've stayed at TV several times and do like it a lot.

Well, A realtor showed us a few homes and I visited the woodworking shop. We might rent there for a few weeks to get a better perspective. They have their own weekly newscast that we looked forward to watching every week. ( Hal Meeks).
To be honest, we are in the early stages of our retirement decisions.

[downeaster]

We are both from the Norteast. Having lived in Jaclsonville for the previous 23 years we knew we wanted to stay in Florida. We also knew we did not want South Florida.
We concentrated our search along the east coast to south of Daytona. It seemed there was nothing but mobile homes on rented lots. They were nice, but we wanted stick built on our on our property. Heard about TV, visited, and the rest, as they say, is history.

[BogeyBoy]

We lived in Naples before moving here. We researched communities around the country on the internet but only visited locations in Florida. Someone told us about The Villages and we came here first. Spent many weekends in the area and checked out Stonecrest, Del Web's Spruce Creek, Spruce Creek South, On Top Of The World, Summer Glen, and Citrus Hills. Took casual looks at others, can't remember them all.

After looking at places in the Ocala area one weekend we decided to stop at The Villages on the way home. The sales representative informed us that it was the last day to buy a lot and design your home. We bought a lot because we wanted that as one of our options. When we went through the street of dreams it already had the new signs - Southern Lifestyles.

[swrinfla]

I specifically looked at: Plantation (just south of Leesburg), Glen Lakes (on US-19 north of SR50, on the west coast), Del Webb's Spruce Creek and Harbor Hills, on the shores of Lake Griffin.

All gorgeous. Lots of friendly people. Nice homes available. I was offered a lot in Harbor Hills with a splendid view of the lake, and any future homes between that lot and the view would be down-hill and below the line of sight. I very nearly plunked down for it, but they wanted $6,000 on the spot, and I was just not prepared.

My image of all was: same country club / clubhouse = same bar staff, same wait staff, same foursome in the same corner playing bridge, etc., etc.

And, you had to get in the car and go quite far for everything!

My brother had shown me TV, and persuaded me to investigate. As downeaster said, "The rest is history!"

SWR

[spk7951]

We had stumbled onto TV some eight years ago before we seriously started looking for retirement places. After that first short visit we visited Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head before checking out places like Stonecrest, Spruce Creek South, On Top Of The World, Summer Glen, Plantation, Summit Green, Arlington Ridge and Solivita. We had some interest in a number of other places along the east coast but only spent time in each of the above communities. None of them came close to what we wanted in retirement that we felt we would get here in TV. So eight years later here we are and loving every minute of it!

[GEORGE J]

We currently live in Charleston, SC. Have visited Sun City Hilton Head several times and we really were interested. Then we visited The Villages. We looked at other communities, but non can compare.

We have purchased an Iris in Amelia and love it, closed on June 4th. The house in Charleston is up for sale and we can't wait to be in TV full time.

Talk Host, you made the right choice not coming to Charleston.

[Yoda]

I was on a 5 year plan to decide where to retire. Nobody retires to Peabody MA. Nobody. I investigated the usual such as AZ, NC, SC, even Costa Rica. I got a TV video and decided it was bull. It couldn't be true but I had to check it out. It wasn't true. It was better. We were sold. We'll be there in about a week, looking for a house.

Yoda

[Bob S]

We looked at Del Web Sun Cities in Hilton Head and Carolina Lakes (near Charlotte, NC). Both were nice but had one main pool and rec center. The best feature was an indoor pool and well equipped fitness center that was included in the amenity fee.

We decided against Carolina Lakes because the one golf course was so hilly and expensive. Residents were grumbling that they had to leave the property to find affordable golf. It was also quite cold there - on our Thanksgiving visit, we woke up to frosted car windows. My wife played a round of golf in her ski jacket. It is a fairly new area without many outside amenities like restaurants in place nearby. There were however many great deals to be had with their housing inventory. It is close by to one of our daughters and 2 grandchildren, so we were disappointed that it was not for us.

Sun City Hilton Head was definitely more established. It is not really on Hilton Head Island but on the main highway approaching the Island. Lots and lots of traffic in season. It is also very difficult finding parking if you drive onto the island for the beach. We were leary of the coastal location for hurricanes and the high cost of hurricane insurance. THe only golf course at the time was a championship course that was definitely more expensive to play than those at TV. I think that they have since added an executive course as well.

[MMC24]

We looked at Pebble Creek in Goodyear, AZ a couple of places in Tucson, AZ, Del Webb in Hilton Head, SC, Robson Ranch out side of Dallas, Tx. My wife saw an ad for TV and wanted to visit. Under protest I agreed to go. I had no intention of ever retiring in FL. BUT after spending 3 days in TV I "drank-the-cool aide and it was the best decision we ever made.

[cglenhar]

We came here first on a lifestyles tour and didn't expect to like it as much as we did. We then figured that places like this existed all over the place and began looking around. We visited several places near Phoenix (to far and dusty), several places further south in Fla (no comparison on amenityies for the price), looked into some places in Mexico (being outside the US is just not convienent). Arkansas, Hilton Head and others sent literature: once you get on the lists for retirement communityes your mailbox fills up. None compared to TV in value or choices. Some had one nice golf course, club house pool but none had the range of activities, housing choices, or entertainment that we enjoy here. Most had monthly fees much higher and delivered much less.