Originally Posted by MplsPete (Post 2323848)

I'm planning on moving to TV in 3-12 months. We did a Lifestyle Visit last December for 3-4 days, in Newell.
There are two bits of advice I frequently see touted here, which I wonder about . . .

1. Many, many times I see advice from people on TOTV, you must rent in TV for a week, a month, 3 months, 6 months, a year, multiple years! to see if it's really what you want. Seriously? I figure another visit for two weeks in July, to see if I can live with the heat. That's it. The rest: you deal with.

2. The Village you choose is really important. Seriously? I think I have the idea: up NORTH: more golf, more businesses. some areas may have road noise, or electrical lines nearby, NEW homes are pretty much only south of Newell, or W of the turnpike, in a dusty area of new construction, with quarries, prisons, and noisy high schools nearby. Otherwise it's preowned. Then there's this wisdom that the people are fundamentally different in, say, Santiago versus Fernandina, I guess some Villages don't live up to the "friendliest hometown" standard.
I lean toward the north myself: I don't like the bond costs, and up N they are likely lower.
My Wife is only 60; she's thinking retire at 62, then draw her SS (a pittance) Don't tell her but I want to see her keep working until 65 (Medicare) and I hope she could find suitable employment as a non-professional in a big healthcare facility, those are usually good jobs and benefits, and benevolent employers, else it will likely be Publix. I think I saw some big healthcare facilities in TV near the middle and in the NE areas. A - - - LONG - - - drive from where the NEW houses are, which is what my wife thinks she needs. Well, what did Mick Jagger say about that? (You can't always get what you want.) TLDR: Is all this hype about village X vs Y mostly BS?

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2324140)

Unless you're south of 44, you're now considered "The North"...

And a funny thing about TV... People do leave and are replaced by younger people... That is exactly what is happening in those 20+ yo neighborhoods right now... And in 20 years, those living south of 44 along Morse, those in Fenney, Marsh Creek, and DeSoto will be considered to be "old"...

Originally Posted by MplsPete (Post 2323848)

I'm planning on moving to TV in 3-12 months. We did a Lifestyle Visit last December for 3-4 days, in Newell.
There are two bits of advice I frequently see touted here, which I wonder about . . .

1. Many, many times I see advice from people on TOTV, you must rent in TV for a week, a month, 3 months, 6 months, a year, multiple years! to see if it's really what you want. Seriously? I figure another visit for two weeks in July, to see if I can live with the heat. That's it. The rest: you deal with.

2. The Village you choose is really important. Seriously? I think I have the idea: up NORTH: more golf, more businesses. some areas may have road noise, or electrical lines nearby, NEW homes are pretty much only south of Newell, or W of the turnpike, in a dusty area of new construction, with quarries, prisons, and noisy high schools nearby. Otherwise it's preowned. Then there's this wisdom that the people are fundamentally different in, say, Santiago versus Fernandina, I guess some Villages don't live up to the "friendliest hometown" standard.
I lean toward the north myself: I don't like the bond costs, and up N they are likely lower.
My Wife is only 60; she's thinking retire at 62, then draw her SS (a pittance) Don't tell her but I want to see her keep working until 65 (Medicare) and I hope she could find suitable employment as a non-professional in a big healthcare facility, those are usually good jobs and benefits, and benevolent employers, else it will likely be Publix. I think I saw some big healthcare facilities in TV near the middle and in the NE areas. A - - - LONG - - - drive from where the NEW houses are, which is what my wife thinks she needs. Well, what did Mick Jagger say about that? (You can't always get what you want.) TLDR: Is all this hype about village X vs Y mostly BS?

Originally Posted by Michael 61 (Post 2324022)

No one can really tell someone else they don’t know what area of The Villages is best for them. Most people are understandably biased. For some, golf is king, and is the number one amenity here for them. For others, shopping is extremely important. Some absolutely want a new home, with more modern options (higher ceilings, island kitchens, golf cart garages, etc). Some want to live in area where most residents are in their 50s and early 60s. Others want a home with no bond. Some want to be within minutes of the town squares, as the nightly entertainment is a huge draw for them.

The only advice I would give to someone - do your homework ahead of time. I spent five years almost “obsessed” with The Villages before I retired at age 59. Every day I would be on the new home sites. I also watched probably almost every you tube on The Villages during those years. I came for a lifestyle visit in July 2022, my first visit to The Villages. I felt I already knew The Villages and had a very good feel for the “lay of the land”. Decided during that visit I would be moving here, and decided I wanted a new build, wanted to be in the “future” center of The Villages, and wanted neighbors around my age. Shopping is not important to me at all, outside of groceries. I returned the next month in August 2022 for a second lifestyle visit, and then returned a third time in October 2022 and rented for a few weeks. I won the Richmond lottery in November 2022 and closed in December 2022. Best decision I’ve ever made. People told me then the “newness” will wear off, having drank the “kool-aid”. Well, I’ve been here now 16 months, and my enthusiasm and gratitude being able to live in such a marvelous community only grows deeper each day.

OP, it sounds as though you have done your homework and research. If you are able to tolerate the heat during your summer visit, I think you’re in a position to make the decision which village is right for you.

Originally Posted by blueash (Post 2323883)

Dear TOTV advice people,

My 60 year old wife wants to retire at 62 but I think she needs to work until 65 when she gets Medicare. My wife wants a new house but I think we should get an older home nearer to the place she is going to have to work to save her a LONG drive. My wife doesn't know I am telling everyone about this.

She should know that she can't always get what she wants.

Signed
Mpls Pete

Dear Pete,

I am not in the marital advice business, but sometimes you might consider what your wife wants or eventually she might not want you. If your income stream is so tight you can't make it without her working a minimum wage job and hoping it includes health insurance, maybe you're not financially ready to live here.

Originally Posted by Bonnien (Post 2324334)

I would only buy in a bran new village…everyone is in good spirits and eager to do things and join clubs…we did buy our first home in an older neighborhood…first problem was how much older our neighbors were and we could tell that everyone already had their golf groups and picklegroup,,,everyone was nice but when we moved into a new village the energy was much better….

Originally Posted by MplsPete (Post 2323848)

I'm planning on moving to TV in 3-12 months. We did a Lifestyle Visit last December for 3-4 days, in Newell.
There are two bits of advice I frequently see touted here, which I wonder about . . .

1. Many, many times I see advice from people on TOTV, you must rent in TV for a week, a month, 3 months, 6 months, a year, multiple years! to see if it's really what you want. Seriously? I figure another visit for two weeks in July, to see if I can live with the heat. That's it. The rest: you deal with.

2. The Village you choose is really important. Seriously? I think I have the idea: up NORTH: more golf, more businesses. some areas may have road noise, or electrical lines nearby, NEW homes are pretty much only south of Newell, or W of the turnpike, in a dusty area of new construction, with quarries, prisons, and noisy high schools nearby. Otherwise it's preowned. Then there's this wisdom that the people are fundamentally different in, say, Santiago versus Fernandina, I guess some Villages don't live up to the "friendliest hometown" standard.
I lean toward the north myself: I don't like the bond costs, and up N they are likely lower.
My Wife is only 60; she's thinking retire at 62, then draw her SS (a pittance) Don't tell her but I want to see her keep working until 65 (Medicare) and I hope she could find suitable employment as a non-professional in a big healthcare facility, those are usually good jobs and benefits, and benevolent employers, else it will likely be Publix. I think I saw some big healthcare facilities in TV near the middle and in the NE areas. A - - - LONG - - - drive from where the NEW houses are, which is what my wife thinks she needs. Well, what did Mick Jagger say about that? (You can't always get what you want.) TLDR: Is all this hype about village X vs Y mostly BS?

Originally Posted by Bonnien (Post 2324334)

I would only buy in a bran new village…everyone is in good spirits and eager to do things and join clubs…we did buy our first home in an older neighborhood…first problem was how much older our neighbors were and we could tell that everyone already had their golf groups and picklegroup,,,everyone was nice but when we moved into a new village the energy was much better….