The numbered CDDs have ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL over guest passes!

I haven't seen the written policy that governs guest passes. It might be something legal or it might be simply a Recreation Dept. policy. The Recreation Dept. falls under the VCCDD.

Be careful what you wish for when you ask for a ban or to make guest passes more difficult to acquire. Many Villagers enjoy having friends, family, and grandchildren come to visit and would be highly annoyed if they could no longer take their families to the family pools.

Every home pays for the use of the amenities whether it is occupied 12 months of the year, six months of the year, or only one month. Every ID card and guest pass is distributed against a home in the Villages that pays amenity fees year round.

As for "retirement lifestyle," that sounds a lot like "best pizza:" everyone who uses the phrase has a completely different concept of what it means.

If you see something, say something.... just make a call if you think outsiders are using our facility. They will send someone over to check ID's.... simple

Is this a veiled confirmation? 👍

BTW Top Of The World Communities uses the fact that the Villages allows short term rentals as a marketing tool for themselves.

The Airbnb’s are certainly problematic for those next door to them and I believe the CDD’s can do something about this issue. Non-residents using our facilities is just a matter of monitoring and IMHO less than some residents think. Fore.

There's a huge difference between a family member or friend visiting your home as a guest and someone paying rent to an Airbnb to stay for 2 days

Absolutely. When we moved here 15 months ago I thought it is what I could live with (not necessarily what I wanted). But now I cannot leave fast enough even though we plan to stick it out 2 more years. All we can hope for now is houses keep appreciating in value for the next 2 years. Thank goodness we have a "lake lot".

Happily, I kept my land in MN. I can travel back there as much as possible to get out of here and maintain my sanity.

We've started the shopping process for an acreage back in MN (20 - 40 acres ideally).

I can see how for many this is heaven for them. I can also see how for many this is hell. We all have different expectations and preferences.

If you don't mind, which aspects of The Villages lifestyle have you wanting to run for the exit????

Not when you're writing regulations for the issuance of guest passes: at that point every non-resident looks the same and every short-duration visit looks the same.

I have to disagree. A person (family or friend) staying in a home FOR FREE is a guest. The person who PAYS RENT is a renter. There should be no problem distinguishing between the two in terms of issuing "guest" passes.

The Villages specifically. The postage stamp lots. Having such a small garage. The people up in your business. The HOA fees. The HOA rule dictators. The mismanagement of ponds and "wild lands" (specifically the poisoning and toxic chemicals).

I'm not even talking about painting my house pink. But the HOA dictators sending warning letters out about weeds and whatnot. Seems petty. I haven't gotten them, but I know neighbors who have.

And I'm not ****ting on The Villages. Yes the Developers and their rampant destruction of wild lands disgusts me. But the lifestyle. My parents love it here. My brother loves it here. Me, I'm not sure I could dislike it more. I mean all other things being equal, I think I'd be happier living on a 1 acre lot in the town of Sumterville or Floral City or even Bushnell. But we'd still be in FL in that scenario.

Honestly for me it's not just The Villages. I don't like FL in general. But I'm sure tight living in The Villages is compounding my feelings.

Sounds like zero due diligence.

Opinions are like ********. Spent 8 years researching FL and The Villages. Thanks for your useless opinion though.

Not everybody has other options.

"The Villages specifically. The postage stamp lots. Having such a small garage. The people up in your business. The HOA fees. The HOA rule dictators. The mismanagement of ponds and "wild lands" (specifically the poisoning and toxic chemicals)."

Thae lots can be small, some aren't. I don't know what a "small garage" is, but I have 2 cars, 2 golf carts and plenty of shelving and storage in mine. My neighbors are great, but not "up in my business". The HOA fees are chump change in comparison to other communities in Florida, and there is no need to worry about "rule dictators" if one follows the rules that they agreed to when the bought. And the developer provided a lot more environmental area than elsewhere. If you have MDSA sheets on the "poison and toxic" chemicals, and how they are different from those used throughout the state, please post them.

"I'm not even talking about painting my house pink. But the HOA dictators sending warning letters out about weeds and whatnot. Seems petty. I haven't gotten them, but I know neighbors who have."

Those "HOA dictators" are enforcing the deed restrictions and community standards that owners agreed to. There is no reason to have a property overgrown with weeds. There is no reason to have a pink house or a pink flamingo on your lawn. And by the way, the only reason you have neighbors that received those letters is because somebody filed a complaint.

And I'm not ****ting on The Villages. Yes the Developers and their rampant destruction of wild lands disgusts me. But the lifestyle. My parents love it here. My brother loves it here. Me, I'm not sure I could dislike it more. I mean all other things being equal, I think I'd be happier living on a 1 acre lot in the town of Sumterville or Floral City or even Bushnell. But we'd still be in FL in that scenario.

And if The Villages didn't develop this land, you don't think another developer wouldn't??? At least here the developer has maintained a presence and is involved. There are plenty of areas of environmental conservation that could have built upon but weren't. Sound like you just don't like Florida, and that's OK. The are also plenty of 1 acre lots in Sumterville, Floral City and Bushnell.