We purchased a 2Bd 2 Bath Home that backs up to 4 CYVs giving us privacy and a decent yard. We sat down before meeting with a realtor and made our list of "Must haves". We got more than we bargained for. Best of all was garage size, it is HUGE. Keep in mind that space, CYV's for the most part the garage is very small - no room for toys.

We also have 1 rental that is extremely welled cared for. The landlords put in more work than some owner occupied. Not having friendly neighbors, or those that different interest is not a problem. We have made many many friends all over the Villages.

Try any club according to your interest. We golf 3X a week, play shuffleboard, petanque, samba, cards, Mexican Train, and a marble based/card board game.

While you are new you may need to reach out (maybe over your comfort level) but the effort is well worth it. Don't be shy about posting on TTY or Nextdoor for like minded individuals. In no time you will find your "dance card" all filled up.

If you would like, save my number and call when you are settled.

Pam & Greg Maroney
651.208.1008

Buy what makes you happy. There are pros and cons to everything. Landscapers are cheap, so don't worry about lawn care, 45.00 a month. There are rentals on every street. If you're looking at an established neighborhood go back and knock on neighbors doors and ask what the street/neighborhood is like, most will be honest with you. Then find a home that you like and buy it. You live inside the house, neighbors come and go.
You'll love it here once you move in. Welcome home.

Don’t listen to her— she’s trying to sell a home— I live in a courtyard villa - not many rentals but have snow birds. One neighbor rents to doctor for jan and feb. all people who we have met are wonderful even for short time here. Still in contact with a renter from Canada. Courtyard villas are wonderful don’t let any renters or new faces stop you - we’re here In Bonita full time

Have you taken a Lifestyle Visit? If you haven't, have you considered doing so? You arrange it through TV and can stay from 4 to 14 days and it's $99 to $149 a day depending on the season and living most likely in a courtyard villa (CYV). I took one in 2011 for 7 days and I got to know my way around TV fairly quickly. The villa neighborhood will have others on a LSV so you won't get the feel of a real neighborhood, but you can see if you like a courtyard villa. Here's a link to the site to make arrangements.

The Villages Lifestyle Preview Plan

While you're on a visit, you can contact a Villages agent or go to open houses on your own and see the differences. Patio Villas, Courtyard Villas, Cottages and Designer Homes. This what you'll probably be staying in, a fairly new CYV near Brownwood Square.

https://image.thevillages.com/api/ul...pg?w=648&h=400

I love having the privacy with courtyard wall and having a dog. Also, with 120 homes in our Greenbriar villas of Briar Meadow South neighborhood we have more social activities arranged. Neighbors look out for each other's safety and concern.

We moved here positive that we wanted a CYV because of our dogs. We rented to make sure of location before purchasing. I am so happy we rented. I hated that every window I looked out of I saw a wall except for a small kitchen window over the sink. It was claustrophobic to me. We landed up buying a good size designer on a 9800 sq ft lot. Added a pool and bird cage and the dogs have plenty of room to run around. We have privacy landscaping and can not see any lanais. Love my home.

I have a patio villa for sale in buttonwood. Turn key. Great area mostly full time residents

Thank you. I have done a Lifestyle visit and loved it. Except getting lost, it was a fantastic visit. I found several homes I liked but not the just right one. I will though! Thank you.

You will have a one car garage and if you get a golf cart that can also fit in there. People park in their driveways. There is an area for guest parking. You are not supposed to park on the street.
I like the villa because 1) we have dogs and 2) privacy.

Wherever you move, just go introduce yourself to your neighbors.
There are some snowbirds but I like the quiet.

Good luck in winding your new home

Obviously you’ve never lived in a Villa,
because what you imagined it would be like,
just isn’t so!

I have a 2/2 and I love it!
 

My 2/2 ranch home is only 1100 sq ft with a 1 1/2 car garage. Are you looking at villa's for a maintenance free yard?

We live in a Villa. We are not there much but neighbors on both sides are there all the time. If you do not want to be bothered you can go days or weeks without seeing anyone. The side of our house that has windows faces a solid wall of our neighbors and the back yard is fenced in with a 6 foot wall. Totally private. We looked a designer homes first but are extremely happy with our Villa. Very easy to keep clean and do maintenance on.

Villas versus Other Homes
 

We've lived in our CYV for 4 years and loving it. The Villa next door is a rental and stays vacant mostly. I've never had a problem with any of the tenants. There are less than 90 homes in our little neighborhood. It is always clean, quiet, and best of all filled with friendly people who are kept informed with a neighborhood newsletter, meetings and social events. We had 3 criteria to be met when we moved here. Home must be built of cement blocks (because of hurricanes), must have a pool, and low maintenance yard with fence for dog(had walls). Our home met all three and its 20 years old so it came with bonuses: the bond was paid, it had a new roof with wind mitigation and new ac, gutters and downspouts and no carpet or grass to cut!!
Don't let your real estate person talk you into a property. Know what you want and stick to your wants and needs until they find it! The perfect property is waiting just for you.:welcome:

Hello I am from KC also
Have lived in villa for 20 years, there are renters but also people just move around so not really different