[JimJoe]

I am considering a home purchase. I would like to know what all of you think are the pros and cons of the village you live. I think it would be very helpful to potential buyers like myself. Thank you.

[jeffy]

Winifred is a great area. 3 minutes to Palmer golf . 5 minutes to shopping at 466. 3 minutes to Laurel Manor. 6 minutes to LSL. Right off Buena Vista. Sits off by itself. Relatively small. Only one car entrance. Only 4 years old.

We feel VERY fortunate to have found TV, Winifred , and our great neighbors on Caryle lane.

jeffy

[bogart]

We are also in Winifred - a courtyard villa. Wonderful location and friendly, active neighbors. I love the easy access to Buena Vista and agree with Jeffy's comments.
However, there are so many great villages - haven't heard of a bad one yet.

[Hawkwind]

JJ, I am here renting for a month checking things out for when I retire or get my pink slip. One of the things that I have noticed and it has been confirmed by all the people that I have talked to and that is location, location, location. I am in the Village of Bonnybrook and it is convenient to both squares. Also 466 is just right around the corner. Golf courses are so close to any home within TV. Everyone is happy and would not change a thing about their choice of location.

Another thing that you will want to look at is the location of the home in relation to the surrounding homes. Is your lanai directly opposite to your neighbors? You will want your private moments and not have to be sharing them with the neighbors. In the newer areas where you can go in and select your lot and have your home built you have no idea what will be going up next door or its orientation.

I was shown one home that I liked but it backed up on Odell Circle and you could hear the constant stream of traffic going by. I would avoid busy streets.

Another tip is if you are looking for a location on a golf course you pick a location at or behind the tee box. No way do you want anything further down the hole. I watched two different groups on two different courses on two different days and someone in each group nailed a house lining the course. One was a slice and the other a duck hook. A golf courses provide a great view but is it worth the much higher cost and the possible damage from missed shots?

Another thing is that in one area down south of LSL on a hill there is some type of treatment plant. It was on one of the major north / south streets and heading south it is on the left hand side. I could smell the place driving by and would not want to be down wind from this place. Not sure what it is like at other times of the year.

You may want to look into the social activities of the village that you are looking into buying. Some villages have very active groups while others may not have anything at all or are to new to have anything organized as yet.

[cabo35]

We retired five years ago and knew that Florida would be part of our retirement plan. For the first two winters, we invested in extended rentals to get a feel for the "lifestyle" of areas we were interested in. They included the Keys, Naples, Jupiter and Singer Island. They are all great places to vacation. During each stay, we visited friends in The Villages. We were so impressed in contrast to the places we were staying, we decided on a 4 month rental in The Villages. During our third month, we purchased a new home near Arnold Palmer Legends.

Our experience taught us that "lifestyle" was a key component or our decision. Nothing we experienced in our previous extended stays compared to life in The Villages. We have owned here 3 years now and the novelty still hasn't worn off. The sense of community here is wonderful. Friends and neighbors the best. No comparison with other places in Florida we looked at. So much to do here it's mind boggling. Location is everthing. We never intended to establish Florida as our primary residence but because we love it here so much, we are now officially Florida residents.

The developer and his family have done a great job. Like all ventures of this scope, you will occasionally hear disagreement or complaints but, when the biggest continuing controversy is the occasional inability to get the tee time you wanted, or, the restaurants being too crowded in season, or, golf cart speeding, it is considered a blessing compared to hometown headlines in other parts of the country. I think we are ahead of the game if these are some of our most serious concerns. Generally, people are too busy enjoying life here to complain.....except on a rare rainy day that keeps you inside. Hope this helps you.

I am not in anyway connected with the developer.

[BarryB]

I'm in St Charles. Close to many pools and rec centers. Short ride to Lake Sumter Landing. It's a new village not many neighbors yet. So come on down

[punkpup]

We have not yet bought our home in The Villages but I do know that there are certain areas which are close to some train tracks. When I say close I mean like right in your backyard close. One of the TOTV admins has trains rolling through his backyard which they were not aware of until after they purchased their home so I agree with everyone's input that it's critical to do as much research as possible.

Have you done a "Lifestyle Preview" yet? When you do make sure to arrange to stay the maximum amount of time and be sure to rent a Golf Cart that way you can spend as much time as you like exploring; even if you have a car to drive. And definitely plan the visit when TOTV has their monthly Luncheon as you will meet a bunch of really great people.

[SABRMnLgs]

Ah yes, location, location. Now everyone will think me crazy but we feel a complete 180 from most of the postings on here.

We want to stay as far away from tthe squares and golf courses as I can. I do not participate in anything that uses a ball or a card table or puck of some sort. And the wife, while a people person, does not want to get involved with 95% of these "clubs" in the area. It took us almost 18 months to find a home way up on the North end of TV just off 42. We live on a cul-de-sac off a dead end street and average maybe 10 cars per day that come down our street. It is like a morgue down here and we absolutely love it. No traffic, no noise, no nosey/noisey neighbors. We got our books, our music and our puter. Just serenity and piece-quiet. We love it!!

[l2ridehd]

If you really want to be away from everything then why move to The Villages? Go to the hills of North Carolina, the mountains of NH, or someplace else where few people live. There are plenty of wide open spaces still available in this country. I do understand needing space and can relate to that lifestyle. But I guess when living in TV I only want to go there if I can take part in all it has to offer. I want to go and dance in the square or listen to music. I want to have the availability of 100 places to eat. The golf, clubs, and everything else it has to offer. And I like the fact I can get to all of it in my golf cart.

There are pro's and con's to every village. Not any one is perfect for everyone. Each one seems a little different from the others. My personal goal was to not be near the trains, not be able to see the power towers, away from a busy street, open golf view from lanai, pool, south of 466, 5 minutes from a town square, and some back yard privacy. Took 3 years and two homes, but I found it.

So list your priorities, establish a price range, utilize all the available tools and you will find the perfect home for you.

[TallerTrees]

So list your priorities, establish a price range, utilize all the available tools and you will find the perfect home for you.

L2:

I think that is what SABR has already done ("...we love it"). To each his own. Everyone is not a gad fly thankfully :x)

[Barefoot]

Your question was .. what do we think of the Village where we live?

Belvedere Village, a very central location.

It is five minutes by golf cart to the library, and ten minutes to:

Southern Trace Plaza with Publix and Crispers
The new Walmart on 466
Bonefish Grill
Bealls
Red Lobster and Olive Garden (not yet opened)
And a lot of new stores opening on Buffalo Ridge

It is fifteen minutes to Lake Sumter Landing by golf cart.

If you have a dog, it is seven minutes to Doggie Doo Run Run.

[Peachie]

Since we have been coming to TV's, we have stayed in Spanish Springs... it was delightful, Lynhaven.... it was delightful, Piedmont.... it was delightful and now own our home in Duval and it is delightful. Either we are very adaptable to our surroundings or there are many great locations in which to live in TV's.

[graciegirl]

Hadley is the best. Two minutes to our front door. Cold beer. Great stories, Good food. First liar has the best chance. Hugs.

[Peachie]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Hadley is the best. Two minutes to our front door. Cold beer. Great stories, Good food. First liar has the best chance. Hugs.

Gracie, you are too funny!

[Sidney Lanier]

Everyone alludes to 'location,' not necessarily for the same reasons. We are in the same village as Barefoot (Belvedere): fairly new and yet settled, centrally located to both town squares, close to Villages Library and Lifetime Learning College, near all the shopping on CR-466 into 301 (west) or 441 (east). One particular thing I like, living in one of the Hurricane/Lightning/Tornado Capitals of the world, is that if we ever have to leave in a hurry, residents of Belvedere can go north on Churchill Downs and out to CR-466, south on Churchill to Lynnhaven and out to CR-472, west on Morven Park Way to Belvedere Blvd. and into Buena Vista Blvd., from which we can go either north or south and, depending on how far, either east or west. Silly maybe....