[billethkid]

My ONLY complaint about TV is those who continually complain about TV.

Built our home here when TV was around 30,000......now that it is 130,000 I can honestly say our lifestyle has not been negatively affected.

On the positive side as the population reached critical mass more outside businesses have been attracted to TV and surrounding area.

In 17 years have never not been able to play golf when we wanted to play.....flexibility of courses and times is all it takes.

Those who thought they were buying into a gated community had/have no idea what a real gated community is and how it operates.

If we were coming in for the first time today we would make the same decision to live here.....it is ONLY better than it was 17 years ago......in our very humble opinion.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by bowlingal

don't forget.....there are cameras at all gates

stop some people who may be up to no good , over the years people have been caught here doing the wrong thing because there pictures came up on cameras . I’ve had a home here since 2002 I’ve gone other places stayed for awhile and then would come back , I followed the growth with homes from Springdale to Fenny I love the villages and there plans for the future. I go out most nights for dinner around 7pm maybe when it’s crowded you have to wait a little, but so what , have a drink at the bar. As far as crime goes it seems mostly alcohol DUI or domestic and crimes of opportunity ie garage doors open . I have friends at Dell Webb big deal they have a gate they also have big nothing to do . I will tell you if the villages was still that sleepy little town it was when I first came here , I certainly wouldn’t still be here at 82 it would be soooooo BORING

[tophcfa]

I don’t find any problems with the size or growth rate of the Villages, but I am disappointed that the growth of new sports pools, golf (both Executive and Championship), and other recreational activities has not kept up with historic numbers per home. There has clearly been a change in the type/mix of recreational activities in the newer areas, but we live north of 466 so it has little to no effect on us. As other posters have mentioned, and unfortunately I have personally experienced, the health care system in and around the Villages is seriously lacking (far worse than the rest of the country). Also, it sucks for those living in the northern sections of the Villages that certain things we once enjoyed are being relocated to areas closer to where new homes are being sold, such as the wonderful weekly farmers market we used to enjoy in Spanish Springs. And don’t get me going on riding the Villages Airport Van ( which we will never do again) when you live in the northern sections of the Villages, being the first to be picked up and last to be dropped off is now close to a half day excursion.

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Chitown

I do love living here in The Villages, but I want all Villagers to stop and think for a minute. The Villages currently has a population of approximately 140,000 people. Considering the amount of land The Villages still owns that has not been developed, by the time the future villages are developed our population will be well over 200,000 people. Remember, The Villages is not a gated community but a community with gates. On any given day at any time of the day anyone from outside the villages has full access to every road every street every business and all the town squares. If for some reason a person or persons with Less than honorable intentions approach a gate at 3 AM in one of our villages and you do not live in the villages you simply press the red button the gate goes up and you enter. The 20% of the villages that have gate attendants are not allowed to ask you what your businesses is and are not allowed to stop you from entering any village at any time of the day or night. Also keep in mind that many of our seniors who live here in the villages are allowing their grand children and children to live with them. Everything I mentioned above including a community future population with over 200,000 people is bound to see a significant increase in crime and traffic. Go to On Top of the World, Dell Web, Margaritaville, or Stone Crest. Try entering the property without authorization and see what happens. You will not only be stopped but you will be asked to leave. I’m just saying.

This is just me but the ones that I knew that moved from TV said this was the biggest reason why they moved. People now already say they can’t get a decent Tee Time or do anything without being so crowded. If you think 200,000 would be to many people, try where we moved to Dallas/Ft.Worth there’s millions that’s just in these 2 cities not counting the cities surrounding them, Justin, Argyle, Bartonville, Flower Mound, ect. ect. This adds another million or 2 & if this isn’t big enough try Houston it’s 8 to 10 million. Yea, TV is getting big but If I had a choice I would like to be back in TV! So if TV is getting to big for anyone, nobody put a ball & chain around your leg. Believe me there’s worse places to live. I
like Dallas/Ft. Worth area because people basically are nice & you don’t have to worry about someone robbing or beating you up because just about everyone here carry’s some kind of protection. People here I really think they would jump in & help you. Not real sure about TV.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by bowlingal

don't forget.....there are cameras at all gates

And Community Watch drives by EVERY house 3x/day at random, very hard for a criminal to "case" a house.

[MrFlorida]

We're here till we croak...no place like this.

[kkingston57]

Said this 3 years ago when we bought that TV was TOO Big. Biggest problem that I fear is the lack of people who are still working who will be able to provide services to us. Appears we know have a shortage of people in the service industry now(after un employment COVID subsidies have ended) and it it not gong to get better as most of the new development is for >55 communities.

Have lived in Florida all of my life and TV is one of the hardest areas to get medical attention.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

The lack of people to perform services needed by the villlages is happening everywhere , Cape Cod , ski areas , Branson and others ,the workers are being priced out of the area and it’s not just low level workers but cops, teachers, EMT’S, we are somewhat lucky that many apartments are being built in the surrounding areas , good clean places to live, work and raise families which will keep workers here , those who complain about the growth of apartments are mostly same ones who probably complain about slow service

[cbmerl]

Originally Posted by Chitown

I do love living here in The Villages, but I want all Villagers to stop and think for a minute. The Villages currently has a population of approximately 140,000 people. Considering the amount of land The Villages still owns that has not been developed, by the time the future villages are developed our population will be well over 200,000 people. Remember, The Villages is not a gated community but a community with gates. On any given day at any time of the day anyone from outside the villages has full access to every road every street every business and all the town squares. If for some reason a person or persons with Less than honorable intentions approach a gate at 3 AM in one of our villages and you do not live in the villages you simply press the red button the gate goes up and you enter. The 20% of the villages that have gate attendants are not allowed to ask you what your businesses is and are not allowed to stop you from entering any village at any time of the day or night. Also keep in mind that many of our seniors who live here in the villages are allowing their grand children and children to live with them. Everything I mentioned above including a community future population with over 200,000 people is bound to see a significant increase in crime and traffic. Go to On Top of the World, Dell Web, Margaritaville, or Stone Crest. Try entering the property without authorization and see what happens. You will not only be stopped but you will be asked to leave. I’m just saying.

Wow! Somebody got up on the negative side of the bed. I personally love it in The Villages and don't think I would ever consider moving away. But, that's just me and 140,000 other people!!! Any one of us is free to move and relocate. Why don't you look into that?

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

I don’t find any problems with the size or growth rate of the Villages, but I am disappointed that the growth of new sports pools, golf (both Executive and Championship), and other recreational activities has not kept up with historic numbers per home. There has clearly been a change in the type/mix of recreational activities in the newer areas, but we live north of 466 so it has little to no effect on us. As other posters have mentioned, and unfortunately I have personally experienced, the health care system in and around the Villages is seriously lacking (far worse than the rest of the country). Also, it sucks for those living in the northern sections of the Villages that certain things we once enjoyed are being relocated to areas closer to where new homes are being sold, such as the wonderful weekly farmers market we used to enjoy in Spanish Springs. And don’t get me going on riding the Villages Airport Van ( which we will never do again) when you live in the northern sections of the Villages, being the first to be picked up and last to be dropped off is now close to a half day excursion.

are car services

[waynehal55]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I don't see much difference between The Villages and Del Webb and Stonecrest. At Del Webb and Stonecrest, you just tell the gate guy that you are going to the restaurant, and you drive right in. I think Top of the World is the same way. Maybe they have different rules when the restaurants are closed, but I don't think the security is really better than The Villages.

You can't be serious!!! I live in Del Webb and this community of 3250 homes is
surrounded by fencing and 2 gated guard shacks. These PRIVATE roads are patrolled 24/7 by residents in marked trucks. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but after living here for almost 2 decades we feel very safe. There are no buttons to press to gain entry.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by waynehal55

I live in Del Webb and

Obviously ToTV is not a gate website.

[Koapaka]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

The development model here in The Villages works extremely well. That is, no doubt, why we continue to be a popular and sought after place to retire. Some have mentioned Stonecrest and Del Webb as having better security. But...have you been to Stonecrest? We played golf there a few weeks ago, and I will not go back. It was painfully obvious that place has run out of money. The lack of maintenance on their golf course was glaring...bordering on ridiculous. Stonecrest and Del Webb communities share one important trait: Once the development is completed, the developer exits and turns everything over to an HOA. Sometimes that works out, and sometimes it does not. Here, with the developer having a vested interest in the overall quality of life, things simply work out better.

Yes, there is no shortage of people here whose main "activity" seems to be complaining about anything and everything. Not me...I'm a happy guy. The Villages will continue to grow, until it doesn't. I doubt that most of us will be around to witness that end date, so just enjoy life and dig the ride while you're able.

Good points. As well, in these gated communities, the HOA is responsible for all road repair and maintenance needs.

I understand some of the frustration with Brownwood crowds, but as they build out more and more facilities to go with the housing still being built to the south, you will find most folks now driving the bridges to come north will probably find their favorite stomping grounds a little closer to home. There will come a time when people farthest south talk about how crazy it would be to take the golf cart all the way up to Brownwood the way people in Brownwood area talk about driving all the way up to Spanish Springs now....

While Brownwood will someday be the center (or close to it), at our ages a lot of us won't be around to see it. Main reason we did not buy new...why wait for infrastructure if already available.


Crime? I subscribe to the "spot crime" reports....getting an email once a week which lists a animal noise disturbance call and an accident with injuries sure beats the "gated community" we moved here from 5 mile radius stats....

Yep, no where else we would rather live. Not perfect, but dang close.

[ML Smith]

Agree totally

[Garywt]

Bigger equals more golf cart paths to drive on so I am good.