Hmmm, I'm wondering
 

I'm wondering if once TV finishes building new homes, if some of the "tourist resort" feeling will subside some. The lifestyle visits will end as there will be no more new homes to sale. I realize everyone will not live here full-time, and some homes were purchased for investment and for rental.

The only downside we found out after several years of visiting, was the residential areas aren't truly gated. We fell in love with TV in April 2005. Our week down in 2006 was to ask, in person, just what you are asking here. We found one gentleman who said, "it's getting too big".

We soon will be "FROGS"! From TOTV and our many visits, we have seen and learned some the annoyances, which some have posted here already. Even knowing that, they are things we are prepared to deal with. No matter where you live, there are things that drive you crazy (loud music from the car next to you, inconsiderate people, people driving too fast, etc.) I don't think you will find any "surprises" that you haven't already experienced.

Make sure you understand what living in a Community Development District means and what additional expenses you'll have. If you find them acceptable, then get rid of your junk (like we are doing) and COME JOIN US in lower paradise!!

We are absolutely GIDDY ABOUT BECOMING FROGS! :a040::MOJE_whot::pepper2:

If TV feels like a "tourist area", it is because everyone comes from somewhere else.....none of us was born and raised here. "Tourist" communities I've lived near are termed "tourist" towns because the majority of people go there to vacation, spend their money, and leave. Tourists do not care about taking care of the properties they are using for lodging, recreation, golfing on, etc. That is not the case with TV.

Here in TV, people come here to live.......on a permanent vacation. We've worked like animals for 40 years to finally be able to take a vacation that does not end in a week or two, and that does not require us to "clean out and empty the condo completely" (translation: Mom spends the last 48 hours of "vacation" cleaning and doing 15 loads of laundry so the car/van trunk is not full of stinky, moldy beach towels, t-shirts, etc. upon arriving home after driving for 20 hours). It's also a permanent vacation because we go places and do things without getting a babysitter or listening to little kids crying, fussing and running around wearing us out.

I really don't see how comparisons can be made between TV and, let's say, Minneapolis. The reasons for locating in TV or the other location are like night and day, starting with the weather.

we're another couple who finds that the biggest thing wrong with the villages is that it is too far from new jersey! ;)

and as for being snowbirds rather than frogs - not a problem - we love our winter reunions with our frog friends - i don't think we eat home for a week! we spend the summer at the jersey shore so we know all about the reputations of part-time residents [we call them bennies because they come here for the benefits of sun, sand and surf!] - we are invaded between memorial day and labor day - problem is we don't get to meet a lot of them and the ones we do meet are rarely here for more than a two week vacation. i have NO qualms about returning to my florida real estate and adapting my life to its wintertime cycle! and to those that DO complain about us snowbirds returning i simply reply "pfft!" or suggest that they find another community.

Well, we have tried The Villages and have found that it is not for us. We will be buying property outside and building instead. Now, I must admit, we are much younger than most here and that is part of the issue. Another issue is that we just can't justify the cost. We can build a better home on more property for less costs. I figure I can have my own pool and still pay to golf in TV for what I am saving. This is a personal thing for us. We came, we tried and will be leaving.

TV is terrific,but i could never be a frog.I need to have the second home so i can travel back and forth and be close to family and friends,and enjoy the best of both worlds.I just wish the airports were closer to TV, need the Morse's to build one in TV, i would be one happy dude.

I had, and still have a big problem with the small building lots. Even the larger lots are tiny compared to what we're used to. It's something we discussed at length prior to buying in TV. We figured we could tolerate it since we never plan to be full time TV residents.
The first two winters in TV were quite a bit colder that we expected. I talked with a lot of locals and they assured me that those winters were colder than usual. Last winter the weather was fantastic. I hope the mild winters continue. The only thing we were trying to escape in buying in Florida was the cold, snowy New York winters. Another stretch of cold winters will mean a for sale sign on the TV house.
Other than those two issues we're very happy in TV. We've made a lot of friends and are probably busier than we want to be but it's fun. We're active in our church and in several local organizations, both within TV and out of the bubble.
When we visit friends in Stonecrest and Spruce Creek it's interesting that they seem just as happy in their new digs as we are in ours. I guess home really is where you hang your hat.

As for the lot sizes, I for one am ready for a small lot. We have had several homes with 3 to 8 acre lots, and currently have a 2/3 acre lake lot that is as much work as a small farm. Time to play more and work less.

We too have met people from both Stonecrest and Spruce Creek, and they say they are happy, and from all appearences, are. However, when you dig into their thinking they have, without exception, at least one of the couple who is extemely non-social. I don't mean that as a negative, but one or both simply don't like mixing with strangers, and don't really like a lot of outside activities. One man we met who used to live in TV, and now lives in Stonecrest was just furious about the mail situation in TV, having clustered mailboxes where everyone went at 4:30 and about ran each other over. I am not exaggerating, that is why he left the Villages and moved to Stonecrest. Everyone has different ideas about what life should be about, and most definitely not everyone is cut out for The Villages. One reason TV is so great for most that are there is because they are among like-minded, active, outgoing people. The people who are not probably don't buy there for the most part, and in most cases probably shouldn't.

I haven't met any introverts in Stonecrest or Spruce Creek. Granted, I only know a few couples in each place but they're just as friendly and outgoing as anyone I know in TV. They just found the other areas more to their liking. We're close friends with another couple from Lake Panasoffkee and they think we're all nuts in TV, in a nice way. Like most of us, they're from up north and are extremely busy in their Florida home. They're both friendly and likable and I'm sure would bored silly in TV. They just have a different lifestyle. I'm fortunate to have met them through a lodge I belong to in Leesburg.

I was not speaking negatively when I said I though TV is like a tourist area. I like those kind of towns because things stay vibrant and it is fun to live where other people come to visit and are happy being there and enjoying life. We have a half acre in Seattle and are happy to be transitioning to a beautiful backyard with little upkeep, we pay a lot now for weekly landscaping in Seattle as we do not have time to look after property this size with so much lush greenery and flowers. There are lots of places to buy less expensive and bigger more palatial homes in Florida-it is a foreclosure paradise except in TV, though there are some there too. You are paying for the lifestyle, the beauty and maintenance of everywhere you turn; the activties, entertainment, golf cart roads, etc. If you love it, live it. If you don't, choose somewhere else. It seems so simple to me. When you make your choice of where to go, you do so because it fulfills you. If you find a lot wrong with a place, look elsewhere. My husband would never have considered retirement before we found TV. He always says when his clients retire, and then he meets with them a few months later, they tell him how they fell off the roof cleaning the gutters or are not doing anything because of the rainy weather....it was not attractive to him. Then he saw everyone living life with retirement, and now we will too! Thank you The Villages!

I enjoy living here, except for one reason. I hear of blocks that are very close and people go out for lunch, dinner or just sit in someone's house and spend a nice evening. The block I live on is not all that friendly. We say hello and that is about as far as it does. No body seems to want to get together as a group. So I have found friends in other villages and they are very friendly and you can always count on them and we do alot of things together.

I am neither a grandparent nor a dog owner but I wish that TV had:

1. A large playground with age-specific play structures that are fun and interesting.

2. A true passive park with several acres of open space and shaded areas.

3. A modern dog park.

I agree

gmcneill: if there are such areas available I assure you the Developer will put a house on it. "The Village Lifestyle" is what the Developer sells and so that "Lifestyle" costs people a hefty premium. But what you discover is that people who purchased outside TV benefit from that "Lifestyle"..They have access and utilize the golf cartpaths, golf courses, town squares, etc without paying amenities, fees , etc. What I hear in defense of this is "well they can't use our rec centers or pools, etc. I'll make book that they can and do. If I am wrong the cost of amenities still don't justify what is given in return. I have met folks who left TV and moved down the road for that reason.
Finally "Selling the Lifestyle" is so profitable that is my understanding the Developer has developed a seminar for other Developers on how to sell "The Lifestyle" concept and getting a hefty price for it.

Do not like
 

Do not like: Sinkholes, Winter Crowds, Chair Saving at the squares, Speeding Golf Carts and Roundabouts. As for the quailty of the house, it is "track housing" nothing better, nothing worse. But as long as it DOES NOT SNOW here, I like it.:pepper2:

negatives
 

Warning I love leaving my windows open in nice weather so does back door neighbor. If your going to have some HOT SEX involving sceaming, they can hear you. ha Homes are that close!! And we have an extra deep lot. can't imagine if we didn't.

Really does everyone go get their mail at 4:30? i guess i am not in the loop of mail pickup

The only thing I can think of is there are not enough time in the day to get everything done that you would like to do. :pepper2:

Your understanding of a seminar for other developers sounds pretty far fetched to me Rubicon. I respectfully disagree about the developer "putting a house" on ALL available property. First, the area was all planned out at the beginning. AND there are acres and acres and acrea of nothing but beautifully maintained green space along the roadways, my favorite being the area around Buena Vista and Stillwater. To me that area reminds me of my vision of heaven, the other one.

I grant we could have a lot of things that we don't have, many have mentioned indoor pools, more dog parks, charging stations for golf carts, separate golf cart paths all over, separate walking paths all over, separate bike paths all over,someone to police the saving seats, etc. etc. etc. We have so many things here for our $135 a month and yet we want more, more, more. We could have more but someone has to pay for them.

We have things so nice that others come into our campus and try to use them. I think our ambassadors do a fairly good job of checking pool passes and definitely checking ID's on the golf courses. They are told not to be challenging or rude to anyone and I haven't run into those behaviors from the ID checkers at all.

I do agree Rubicon that you can get bigger homes and larger lots for the same money outside The Villages. But. Not many choose to do that. And if they do they want a different set of things for themselves that brought me here to Florida that I said I would NEVER live in and brought me to the happiest part of my life.

I am still trying to understand why there is anger about certain things? I said it before, it is a choice to live anywhere, so if you do not like what is at TV or anywhere else, why focus on moving or living there? I am not referring to people who wish for certain things, more about the animosity of what TV is. It is what it is, so choose accordingly where you want to live, what you want to pay, what type of home you want, what you will sacrifice to be somewhere, and whether or not what the developer does, who he supports, how he lives his life, what plans he executes, and what he does for his wealth building is so distasteful to you that there is no way you can enjoy TV without being mad! Come to TV if you will enjoy it. There are so many other places to live too, it is a big country and big world. I think "just smile and be happy" should define retirement. I hope I am right about that.

:agree: :BigApplause:

Ah, what you forget-some people just like to hear themselves whine.
I agree with you, if it ain't what you thought just move on.

If you look at the number of almost new homes for sale, fully furnished, golf cart included, quick close possible, it would seem people are taking your advice.

the downsides seem to be few and far between, for a place so large i think we chose well

There are slightly more than 40 million seniors (over 65) in the U.S.
There will be approximately 110,000 residents in TV by build out
That means that the villages needs to appeal to .00275% of the senior citizens of the U.S. (and of course, many are under 65
The Villages sold approximately 1% of the new homes built in 2011 in the U.S.

Looking at these figures I would assume; a.) That everyone eligible does not need or even have the opportunity to live in TV for it to be a success b.) That the Villages must be more appealing than the average community for seniors, by a long shot

There are currently 39,890,000 seniors that cannot fit into TV, so I hope, for their sake, TV isn't their dream destination.

For the 110,000 that ultimately make it - they are fortunate indeed.

After looking at dozens of resale homes in TV over the last three years, and always asking why the owners are leaving, I have found....

The majority seem to be buying a newer, bigger, or smaller home in The Villages.
Many are leaving because of illness or death of a spouse
A few want to move back to be closer to family
A very few seem to be moving in with a child to save on expenses

In other words, most are staying in TV, and most who are not, don't seem to be leaving because they don't like TV.

You sound like our kind of people. We also enjoy our home and would definitely put in our own pool with birdcage off the lanai. Our adult children and grandchildren would love it and say they would visit often.

Since I agree with another poster that the airport is too far away and quite HUGE, we are happy to host family and friends in our own home.

We are not bar / saloon people......so that wouldn't be a draw for us.
Neither would be the nightly entertainment in the town squares, although originally I thought it would be.

However, the entire area is beautifully landscaped and was very pleasant; the homes we stayed in were finely built.......so nothing to complain about there...........like you, we are used to having all of our small town services close by....within a few minute....meaning couple of minute drive or walk........so I do "hear you" re the distances to get places.

We were there during perfectly gorgeous weather..........such as we are experiencing now in Vermont. However, each time we drive north in our state, through the central portion that was totally devasted by the floods from Irene, landslides, bridges and roads destroyed (and just now being repaired).........even with our beautiful weather, we do realize that as we "age in place" we'd be better off in The Villages......in a flat home, with no steps.......and in a warmer climate........although the humidity is not a favorite of ours........so far, it's the middle atlantic states that have had the worst weather.......and Florida seems to be quite peaceful for now.

This book I am reading , "Evil in Paradise" portrays the Villages as people with lots of "past lives" and I'm not talking reincarnation.......plus some of the characters are now showing more violent natures........not all live in The Villages, but do interact with them (in the plot of the book)....but the ones who own businesses on the highways on the perimeter of TV, seem to have very criminal natures..........whomever that author is who wrote the book.......does have his or her "area down pat". I wonder how much of this new book is factual........and how much is just written for sensationalism?? Who is this author that knows so much about TV?

As far as density, the book is almost comical in how the "neighbors" keep track of other neighbors' comings and goings.......maybe the houses are too close? Also, in the book, what you see in the retired folks isn't necessarily what they were "before" they came to TV. Again, past lives.

The book claims the population is 90,000 in THE VILLAGES.
We had thought it was 70,000. Still huge....considering we live in a totally self contained town of 16,000 which has everything, including two colleges, a great hospital and every service one needs without leaving town.

We saw no snakes or other creepy things, except one coyote.......which obviously you can't say.......but we saw it for sure. Have them here as well.........

My husband is always talking about TV........whereas, originally, I was the one who thought it would be great. I think he misses the heated inground pool under the birdcage and off the lanai.......

We had one in our other home (still in Vermont) which took a lot more work as far as cleaning, uncovering, covering, etc..........

We are slowly coming to terms with the fact that TV would be good for us, irregardless of the traffic and the summer heat. It's a very pretty place........for sure.

We love all of our grandchildren (six of them) but as they grow we can see they are super busy with extracurricular and school / church activities.........so being in close proximity is not necessary; if you build it they will come !!!!!!!!!!!!!

The book "Evils in Paradise" you are reading and ask who the author is? Help!

Maybe this will help, from Amazon;

book description.
Cathy Roberts has it all-an exciting life in a fabulous retirement community, a beautiful home, an expensive automobile, a doting husband, and five wonderful grandchildren. But it isn't enough for the attractive, well-spoken Cathy. Filled with an insatiable desire for self-gratification, she wants more. Then, as fate would have it, she meets a handsome and single ex-truck driver, Eric Lowe, and the sparks begin to fly. Captivated by the exciting and much younger Lowe, she wants to spend the rest of her life with him, free from the constraints of her marriage. During a chance meeting with a troubled Harley rider at a local bar, Cathy finds her ticket to freedom. The resulting story takes the reader on a gripping journey filled with broken promises, forbidden liaisons, violent confrontations, and finally, murder.

About the Author:
In his fifth novel, R B Conroy uses the setting of his winter home in central Florida to create yet another murder-mystery thriller. The Villages, Florida, a diverse and exciting community, provides the backdrop for this spine tingling tale of greed, deception, and murder. As this book goes to print, Conroy is hard at work on the outline for his next exciting novel.
R B Conroy's other novels include: Devil Rising, Return of the Gun, In My Father's Image and Deadly Game.

Sure sounds like fiction to me.

The book is based on events in Naples Fl and the author is Renee Relf.

If you don't like it here there is absolutely no problem selling your home. We listed our home last month, had an offer in 2 days, a contract the next day for about 97-98% of the listing price which was 10% higher than we paid a year earlier. We closed 3 weeks later. We are building a home in one of the new areas with a larger garage and better view and look forward to full time residency although it won't be for a few years. If you don't like it in TV there are plenty ready to take your place.

Good points, let's not forget our residents from Canada and the UK as well.

I'm sure you are right. I found the same information above last week after the original poster mentioned the book she was reading, giving the title and saying it was set in THE VILLAGES...........saying that it was really good.

I believe I also copied and pasted same above info.....after I ordered the book on my Kindle. But thanks anyway...............

My first impression of the book was that it was kind of immature writing.

I put it aside for awhile........picked it up and decided to continue on as it was mentioning a lot of places we saw or roads we drove on or villages we passed through..............now, like I said, it is becoming comical .

I'll keep reading for awhile...........

But, who is this author? I know the name. I mean who is he or she?

Do they actually live in TV? THANK YOU.

Thanks Jack! There are a lot of Canucks and Brits in TV. However we all have to maintain residences in our home countries since we are limited (by the U.S. Government) to spending less than 182 days in the USA in any calendar year. I think our outlook is a little different than Frogs. We always get really excited when it is our time to travel to The Villages. It's always a welcome destination to avoid the ice, snow and rotten winter weather. We would stay longer than six months if the US Government would let us. And as Bluedog said, having a small lot isn't a problem if you have a second home up north.

It always amazes me how many resale homes are available in NEWER areas. Some with pools and summer kitchens and many improvements. Obviously people intended to spend a lot of time there and poured a lot of money into improvements. I doubt all the owners could be selling for medical reasons. I always wonder at the back stories of these homes.

Larger Theater Venue
 

I am really surprised with the present and future size of TV that a larger, more modern facility for concerts, plays, etc. is not in the offing.

Savannah only has a capacity of about 800 and is getting a bit long in tooth.

I guess the developer has no incentive for building a new facility and given the governmental structure that route isn't possible either.

:wave:

People talk about a new and beautiful facility to house performances....and that would be wonderful...but those kinds of businesses are struggling all across the U.S.

Bottom line...it has to pay for itself.

We stayed there twice for a month and really liked it a lot. The reason we may not live there is that it is too expensive for us to purchase. I would not purchase a manufactured home for full time because of insurance issues when it gets older and also values will decline so that leaves stick built homes. The area where the manufactured homes are is a really nice mature area with all the trees and winding roads though. We live on SS and a small pension and can not afford what the homes cost in The Villages so we are looking elsewhere. That would be the only reason for not purchasing there.

The homes are beautiful that are listed for resale. TV is lovely to visit.
Everything is available for a senior citizen's needs.

In my humble opinion, I think that many can't tolerate the summer heat and humidity.

Although not perhaps as intense a sun as on the beach on either coast, the sun is still very powerful. Combine that with the humidity and the heat index is out of this world. Even up north, people just cannot tolerate the heat. We've been lucky to have a cooler dryer summer up here compared to the rest of the country.

My one fear would be if there was a massive hurricane or otherwise caused POWER OUTAGE. I would hate to be in Florida (anywhere) in the summertime.......without airconditioning. I still have memories of those people standing in line for water after Hurricane Andrew hit the coast....20 or so years ago.

If an outdoor generator isn't allowed..........what would the average resident of TV do when the temps and humidity are excruciatingly high and there is no central "air".

I'm sure those who come from the southern states can tolerate the heat and humidity much more so than the New Englanders or northerners.

Just from a wannabee's perspective...this woman may not be giving TV a fair shot. If all she does is stay at home all day and night without trying to get involved in something -- club, class, volunteer project, golf lessons, pickleball, etc. I believe some people "choose" to be unhappy. I hope she finds some happiness here. Just my 2 cents.

During my 3 times renting in TV, I spent a fair amount of time at the pools in the different villages I rented in. I was able to observe residents coming and going from the mail stations in 3 different villages -- now this was not at high season, but I never noticed anyone running over each other at the mail stations. Wow, moving because he had to go to a mail station to get his mail. I am just happy when my mail carrier closes the lid on my mailbox so my mail doesn't get wet on a rainy day! Actually I like the idea of common mail stations as I know my mail won't get wet or taken from my mailbox.

Neither did we Schaumburger. My husband even ordered something for our grandbaby and it was delivered to a larger box at the clustered mailbox area..........however, you are MUCH YOUNGER than us and most retirees to TV....plus, we ourselves, would prefer if our mail was delivered to our door, especially as we get older into our 80's and beyond. Walking in the heat to the clustered mailbox station or even riding in the golf cart, may not be comfy in the summertime. We like to think ahead for our own golden years.........

Heck.......even now, after having our mailbox down on our road for the past twenty years, having to walk up and down a slightly steep driveway to fetch said mail every day........is NOT as convenient as when we had the mailbox right on our front porch.........same neighborhood; they just figure this street is on the outskirts of the village and everyone got roadside mail boxes..........on a post. We put our own in obviously, but do miss the convenience of having it delivered right to the front door.

Rain, snow, sleet, ice, etc......are good reasons for up here.
Perhaps heat and humidity for down there. Or, just old age.
Even the "young at heart" and "spry" villagers of today will grow old in the future.

Our rental home was in fairly close proximity to the mailboxes...but still not the same. NO REASON TO MOVE THOUGH.......just talking convenience.

The lifestyle visit home was also very close to the mailboxes.

However, as we drove through various villages, not all the residents would be so fortunate........what if they were ill or not feeling well?
Their bills and such just would not be "at hand".......

I can understand the reasoning behind why they moved. Many folks today have major knee replacement surgeries and find it hard to walk distances.
To each his own..........

So, those developements (a realtor keeps sending me info on them) have mailboxes at their front doors????????????