[tedquick]

My wife and I visited half a dozen times before we bought and made our “area” decision based on how we would live here. We are theater people and frequent The Savannah Center, the black box at Tierra del Sol and The Sharon often. We also like being near shopping so we purchased about half way between Spanish Springs and Sumter Landing, have developed close personal friends who we golf, play cards and socialize with a number of times weekly. Therefore we wouldn’t consider moving and love our location and “rebuilt” home. Although our weekly trek to New Covenant United Methodist Church is a 20 minute golf-cart ride we wouldn’t change that either. IMO, make your decision based on how you will live in our great community, the neighbors and friends will materialize from there. Best of luck to you.

ted

[sallyg]

Originally Posted by westernrider75

We bought south of 44 for several reasons.

We wanted a courtyard villa, but also wanted a 2 car garage, which the newer areas offer.

We prefer a new home, slightly different layout than the older ones.

We did not want to deal with all the traffic in the more northern areas that is associated with all that shopping.

If we want to shop, we can head up north and shop then head home to our less crowded roads.

The turnpike does not effect us.

Turnpike is not a problem at all.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by billethkid

I always think comparing "younger" to "older"......whether people or neighborhoods or homes to be an inaccurate measure here in TV.

There are 50 year olds who act and live older than they are with just as many 75++ who are more active than 50 year olds.

Homes 15-20 years old? Most having had only a couple of 55+ people in them most all those years......the homes tend to be like new.

We think our 18 year old home (that we had built) is better than new........probably true for most resale homes in TV.

Forget the old vs new measurement and look for the right home.....everything else will fall into place.

In my opinion!

Also don't compare young vs. old in terms of resident ages either.

All those people who were 55 when they moved in here in the 1960's when they first opened? They're all dead. Replaced by people who were 55 in the 1990's. All THOSE people? They're around 80 now. And will be replaced within the next 20 years by the next batch of 55 year olds.

This is not a "retirement" community. It's not an "old age community." When people are no longer able to care for themselves and their spouses (if they have spouses) they move out. That frees up the home for someone else. While older folks do move in and out, it's MORE likely you'll see someone closer to 60 moving in, than you'll see someone who's 90 moving in.

And that is no matter where the home is.

[AnMDy2]

Originally Posted by Fuzzyjourneyfan

I am 56 and love living up north in Chatham. Yes, the neighbors are mostly older, but I enjoy them and some younger couples are starting to move in. I have some younger friends, but most of my best friends are in their 70's and I love them. What I have found is that your personality doesn't change just because you are older. My friends are a hoot and feel like family to me. All of the things that I like to do are up here without all of the traffic found in other areas. Mulberry is great for pickleball and there are two sports pools within five minutes of my house. No bond, mature trees, wonderful neighbors, light traffic--it's perfect for me. Most of my friends I have met through clubs anyway, so they live all over The Villages. For me, the new sections down south just don't feel like The Villages, but everyone is different and you need to live where you feel happy.

I appreciate your appreciation for older folks. I have a tender heart.
I am looking to figure out the best Village for me to buy my first home.
From your experiences living among the older folks in your village, what activities do they like to do?
I'm am an artist and love natural scenery and down to earth people. Which location has this?
I want to be where I have interactions with neighbors and not renters and Airbnb.
Thank you for posting,
Andi

[Hifred]

When you move into a new area you are part of a group that is all relatively new and everyone is building a sense of community together. Therefore, I believe people are more open to friendships, etc. We retired in 2019 in our early 60's and moved into an established area N. of 44 where most residents are in their 70's and have their friends and activities. I reached out and invited neighbors over for game nights, meals, etc. but never got a return invite. We have seen drive way get togethers but we haven't been invited and don't recognize anyone. Most of my friends live south in Fenny, Marsh Bend and Linden. I believe that is because they all retired in 2019 or 2020 moved to TV and were open to new friendships. The people in my neighborhood are nice and say hello if they see us but we haven't been invited to activities with any of them. I like living north because of the shopping and the landscape is nicely developed but for a newer retiree I feel it can be a little isolating your first year until you go to activities on a regular basis and meet people who are open to new friendships.

[Pachine58]

I bought in historic area and love it. My house was built in 2018 on a large lot with lake view. No bond , no ccd, lower taxes. Would of cost 100,000 more for same house in south.

Now I have 2 town squares, one is 5 min by golf cart. All shopping is golf cart accessible within minutes. Easy to get to 75 and turnpike. It really is so convenient to everything, especially my doctors. My community feels like a small town with great neighbors, lots of them, I just love it!

Home is where you feel the most comfortable, the villages has so much to offer and the people are wonderful no matter where you live.

[BigSteph]

I differ. The turnpike is extremely noisy -- at Marsh Bend, Deluna, Linden, Hawkins, St. John's, Citrus Grove, and Casson's Hammock. On certain nights, the sound is minimal, on others, you can hear the hum within your home.

I've walked every foot of Hawkins and you can hear the roar of the interstate at every corner. I've rode across Water Lily and stopped near Hogeye Sink and the noise is deafening.

If you grew up in Brooklyn, this is probably not noisy. If you grew up in the country, this is loud.

My parents live in The Villages also -- they don't hear the road noise. They also don't hear me when I ask "please pass the jelly" at breakfast.

It is fun to agree to disagree about the turnpike noise!

Originally Posted by sallyg

Turnpike is not a problem at all.

[CabFam89]

We bought pre-owned in 2021 in the North end, we are newbies for sure and 51 and 57. So far love the location and our neighborhood or "village". At end of the day we've embraced the stretch between the North to South as "our backyard" and understand that Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter are about 15-18 minute drive vs Brownwood, a little further out, but the drives are scenic.

[coffeebean]

Location, location, location. North vs south are two different animals, so to speak. Purchase your home in the area that you prefer. There are major differences. I prefer being closer to established retail stores and restaurants such as all that is along the 441 corridor. I also prefer to be located near a town square and love my location close to Lake Sumter Landing. Others much prefer to be down south where the traffic is much less than the northern area.

Good luck with your decision.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

North vs. South is more about the age of the homes than the owners.

Yes, North has a little older owners...........but you ain't buying them (not directly).

More established stores up North, but that is a "short-term" difference.

Good Luck.

Will the southern end of The Villages ever have the amount of retail stores, restaurants and medical facilities that the 441 corridor already has to offer? How many years will it take to ever have those offerings? I honestly don't think I will live that long.

I can recall a TOTV thread from a couple of years ago that made me chuckle. The OP of that thread asked about restaurants he could take his visitors to in the Fenney area. The answer was "The Fenney Grill and Edna's on the Green (a food truck)". LOL.

Our first look at The Villages back in 2013 on our lifestyle visit, we took a drive down what has become our "stomping ground" of 441. I made note of all the retail stores, restaurants and medical facilities. I wrote down all those that were familiar to us. After that short run on 441, I said to my husband, "we can live here". Being close to all that 441 has to offer is most important to us. Others do not feel the same way we do and this is why that good old real estate term is so true........"location, location, location".

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Very good points. I would add, consider what recreational activities fit your desired lifestyle. The newer areas have an emphasis on different things than the northern areas. The most obvious difference is that the north has much more golf, especially Championship, while the South has several dedicated walking/ biking trails. Both areas offer each activity, but the emphasis is clearly different. There is clearly a demand for the varied activities and lifestyles of each area, just be sure to select the area that best fits your needs.

The emphasis in the southern area is walking and biking. That is the one reason I prefer the northern area. Golf carts are not allowed on the paths in the southern area because those paths are dedicated to the walkers and bikers. I much prefer to "hop on the path" when I'm driving around in my golf cart. The system of paths and tunnels in the northern end is different than down south.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by mskaggs

Someone mentioned the turnpike… I can imagine that there are areas where that’s an issue. For my house it isn’t. At most, it sounds like a white noise machine with the volume on low.

Our area of Mallory Square sounds like a white noise machine that is OFF. There are those folks who can not stand the quiet. Not me though as I LOVE the quietness of my neighborhood. Location, location, location.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by writerslife

How patient are you? Do you mind schlepping a long distance to shop? If you demand everything be "new," then purchase in the south Villages. I preferred a home with the bond already paid, a lush landscape on a wider street with a larger yard and summer surface temperatures 5 to 8 degrees cooler. I live in the northern Villages (Santiago) and have no regrets. By the way, if a hurricane evacuation is mandated I have a great headstart because 130,000 Villagers live south of me. Good luck with your decision.

Really? I didn't know that it is cooler in northern Villages than in the south. There is that much of a temperature difference?

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by writerslife

To clarify, homes north of 466 do have gas service...unfortunately you didn't look far enough north.

Homes south of 466 also have gas. That was one reason we bought in Mallory Square. I would not have a home without gas appliances and gas heat.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Fuzzyjourneyfan

I am 56 and love living up north in Chatham. Yes, the neighbors are mostly older, but I enjoy them and some younger couples are starting to move in. I have some younger friends, but most of my best friends are in their 70's and I love them. What I have found is that your personality doesn't change just because you are older. My friends are a hoot and feel like family to me. All of the things that I like to do are up here without all of the traffic found in other areas. Mulberry is great for pickleball and there are two sports pools within five minutes of my house. No bond, mature trees, wonderful neighbors, light traffic--it's perfect for me. Most of my friends I have met through clubs anyway, so they live all over The Villages. For me, the new sections down south just don't feel like The Villages, but everyone is different and you need to live where you feel happy.

Oh my goodness.....that is exactly how I feel too. It it difficult to explain why I feel that way, but I do. It is called "The Villages" down south but it does not have the same feel as we have in the northern area.