[Normal]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

It seems to me, if you want to retire in a warm-climate retirement community with things to do, you'd be hard pressed to find one more affordable than The Villages.

4.4 Million people in the USA will turn 65 next year. The largest number in history. As long as they keep making old people, The Villages will be a prime area for retirement.

They won’t and aren’t continuing to make old people the way your paradigm suggests.

Less children, larger socioeconomic gaps, climate changes and new desires defy the thought.

[Michael 61]

Lots of speculation of what The Villages will become after most of us are long gone - not something most of us need to waste a lot of time focusing on - get out there and enjoy what we have now!

[crash]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

I thought they cancelled the hospital because of the possible impact fees on the construction.

Young doctors want new facilities, what young doctor wouldn’t want a brand new hospital, in a warm, no tax state, with literally hundreds of thousands of aging patients?
If I ran an orthopedics practice, I would open 10 offices around TV.

No if you remember the impact fees were not approved. They have trouble getting doctors for the existing hospitals so why build more under staffed hospitals. Medical care will be the bursting point when 250,000 live in The Villages with the existing medical infrastructure.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

Huh, after high noon it's pretty easy to find loads of empty courts. Before noon you might have to wait in line up to 15 minutes before getting in a game.

Exactly right!! My wife and her friend are beginners and practice about 1pm at Lake Miona rec center. Courts have never been full. Same with Odell rec center

[Justputt]

Originally Posted by skippy05

The villages will implode in 15 years. Next generations with no savings or pensions. No interest in golf, only video games.

They have video games in some rec centers now, lol

[Robnlaura]

Certainly it’s really feasible when you can buy 18 acres from leesburg for example In 2021, the city approved the sale of an additional 18 acres to The Villages for $366,800, each acre can handle 4 homes (.25) add the $40k impact fee at 5% interest that alone is over $100k x 4 for 20 years.. just don’t tell anyone its a HOA fee and everyone will believe you.

[Sbrothnj]

Originally Posted by PersonOfInterest

Its hard to predict the future, but the Villages has maintained a lead position in retirement communities for many years and will probably continue to do so for some years to come. I think it will depend on where the builder takes the Villages and whether they can rectify some of the creeping problems such as overcrowding and the lack of commercial establishments in the newer sections. After a few years here you begin to realize that having over 100 pickleball courts that are full constantly is no better than 8 courts in a smaller community with more availability. Anticipated Commercial business is not keeping up with the Villages expansion. With the premium price we pay to live in the Villages the comparisons to other, smaller communities may begin to be not as favorable.

Can't agree with you regarding size of TV relative to smaller communities. Pickleball courts, golf courses, rec centers, softball fields, Town Squares, etc. These are often full at some locations at certain times. Like during scheduled or reserved/preferred times. Busier in season of course. Of course, fewer courts or courses gives also means fewer people to play with. Similar to rec centers, golf courses and the like. One huge benefit is that there are always multiple activities available near you, and at all levels and ages of play. Indoors or out. Exercise classes, dancing, mah jong, creative arts, cards, bocce, and on and on. Beginner? NP. Experienced? Improve your skills? NP. People to meet from all over the country, and elsewhere? Same. Continually maintained to be clean and beautiful. And there is always a softness in commercial development until demographics are promising to new businesses.
Im not saying TV is perfect or ideal for everyone. If you want a quieter life, perhaps less expensive, maybe the size of one of the Villages here- if you find one set of PB courts, and a pool, one rec hall with occasional activities or classes, maybe a golf course or maybe not, a more comfortable lifestyle, I can understand that. Not being cynical, I mean that. People sometimes leave here for exactly those reasons. The Del Webb's are really nice and very successful.
Just saying there is a huge difference between us and them. Thats all.

[Justputt]

Originally Posted by Robnlaura

Certainly it’s really feasible when you can buy 18 acres from leesburg for example In 2021, the city approved the sale of an additional 18 acres to The Villages for $366,800, each acre can handle 4 homes (.25) add the $40k impact fee at 5% interest that alone is over $100k x 4 for 20 years.. just don’t tell anyone its a HOA fee and everyone will believe you.

The $40k has nothing to do with an HOA. Every state I've ever lived in required developers to install infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, electric, etc.) for a development. That USUALLY gets factored/added into the base price of the house. In TV, it is debt attached to the land that you don't have to finance or pay up front. One way or another, EVERY homeowner always pays the cost of the infrastructure. Here it's just split out into a bond. I prefer this way, since I don't need to pay up front for it.

[Robnlaura]

Looking at the planned areas is gonna one big big place The Villages Land Co. has submitted master plans for three areas totaling 1,620 acres of the Villages of Southern Oaks development to the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board. The plans for three areas were recommended for approval and will likely be taken up by the city commission alter this month.

Wildwood added 5,664 acres to the Southern Oaks area last year, nearly doubling the number of permitted homes to 49,339. The number of permitted homes often is higher than the number actually built. Condominiums and apartments also are allowed in Southern Oaks.

If all permitted homes are built, Southern Oaks would nearly double the size of The Villages, which currently has about 65,000 homes.

[Robnlaura]

Originally Posted by Justputt

The $40k has nothing to do with an HOA. Every state I've ever lived in required developers to install infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, electric, etc.) for a development. That USUALLY gets factored/added into the base price of the house. In TV, it is debt attached to the land that you don't have to finance or pay up front. One way or another, EVERY homeowner always pays the cost of the infrastructure. Here it's just split out into a bond. I prefer this way, since I don't need to pay up front for it.

And ?? You’re still paying a fee like I said just tell them it’s not a HOA and they will believe.. see how happy you are to pay..

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Robnlaura

Certainly it’s really feasible when you can buy 18 acres from leesburg for example In 2021, the city approved the sale of an additional 18 acres to The Villages for $366,800, each acre can handle 4 homes (.25) add the $40k impact fee at 5% interest that alone is over $100k x 4 for 20 years.. just don’t tell anyone its a HOA fee and everyone will believe you.

Are you a Villager??

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Sbrothnj

Can't agree with you regarding size of TV relative to smaller communities. Pickleball courts, golf courses, rec centers, softball fields, Town Squares, etc. These are often full at some locations at certain times. Like during scheduled or reserved/preferred times. Busier in season of course. Of course, fewer courts or courses gives also means fewer people to play with. Similar to rec centers, golf courses and the like. One huge benefit is that there are always multiple activities available near you, and at all levels and ages of play. Indoors or out. Exercise classes, dancing, mah jong, creative arts, cards, bocce, and on and on. Beginner? NP. Experienced? Improve your skills? NP. People to meet from all over the country, and elsewhere? Same. Continually maintained to be clean and beautiful. And there is always a softness in commercial development until demographics are promising to new businesses.
Im not saying TV is perfect or ideal for everyone. If you want a quieter life, perhaps less expensive, maybe the size of one of the Villages here- if you find one set of PB courts, and a pool, one rec hall with occasional activities or classes, maybe a golf course or maybe not, a more comfortable lifestyle, I can understand that. Not being cynical, I mean that. People sometimes leave here for exactly those reasons. The Del Webb's are really nice and very successful.
Just saying there is a huge difference between us and them. Thats all.

Very well said!! TV isn't for everyone. My wifes sister lives in Del Webb in Ocala. They like it, but we thought it was boring as h*ll there. Not a lot going on compared to here.

We're still amazed at all the things you can do here to stay active and have fun everyday.

As far as the op asking about it being sustainable? I think it is for sure.
Who knows what the next generation will do when they retire. Our thinking sure changed as we hit our late 50's and starting thinking about what we wanted to do when we retired.
Before that TV wasn't even on our radar. We were having too much fun as empty nesters.

Imo, there will always be people wanting to move here for the active lifestyle it provides.

[margaretmattson]

I would say the Villages is sustainable until we get hit by a hurricane. The last one was a close call. Many of you will say "it will never happen." Tell that to the 1300 residents whose homes were destroyed by the tornado in 2007. IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

I would say the Villages is sustainable until we get hit by a hurricane. The last one was a close call. Many of you will say "it will never happen." Tell that to the 1300 residents whose homes were destroyed by the tornado in 2007. IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.

And after the tornado……The Villages moved on.
What is your point?

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

And after the tornado……The Villages moved on.
What is your point?

we certainly did move on with the villages help . That had crews cleaning up the debris in my yard as soon as it got light , they had security at the entrance to my street , they made sure there was a place for all the insurance claims people. , there were counselors if you wanted to speak to one , a food truck came by everyday and had all kinds of cleaning equipment if you needed it and my home was rebuilt in a timely fashion with no cost to me at all . I realize fema and my insurance company were responsible for much of it but the villages had a big role in keeping everything going and my insurance claim guy told me that the villages was on top of them to get these claims paid promptly , so when you needed them they were there. I was in the big hurricane that hit Punta Gorda , I was lucky and had little damage but many around me did ,you were on your own with little help . I realize that that was massive damage but I have a feeling if we had a bad hurricane the villages would perform much better to our needs then other places , yes it good business for them but so what