[huge-pigeons]

There are definite's here in the villages:
North of 466 has the older, smaller houses, more congested, outdated houses, more mature trees/ landscaping, no separate app for golf carts and walkers, and older adults, and now you will probably have to start putting new roofs on your home to get insurance.
We wanted a new house, more PB courts, younger crowd, separate paths for golf carts and bikes/walkers, gas for furnace and cooking, newer house designs, etc.. so we moved south of 44 and glad we did. We golf a lot and this year, the courses in the south have been maintained better than northern courses (Truman is terrible, Rosevelt is bad, and others around the 466a area are pretty bad.

We play in a lot of groups and over a big area within the villages. we got lucky because most of the groups we play in are in our area. I would hate to move here then find out a few of my groups that we enjoy playing in are in a village up in Spanish springs, in the winter the traffic is bad up north.

[dtennent]

One other point that was touched on in one post is how much do you want to go to places outside The Villages. For us, we find the restaurants on campus to be average. Rarely, do we have a meal that we find outstanding. So we go to Prime 3 or McCrackens in Leesburg or head towards Orlando. My wife is also a big Disney fan so we are there 4 to 5 times a year. I understand that Ocala has some interesting restaurants as well so being North would be closer.

Golf on 18 hole courses is cheaper and easier to schedule outside TV.

As for heat and humidity, I adjusted my lifestyle during those months much like I adjusted my lifestyle up north during the winters. Truthfully, I can’t take the cold like I did 50 years ago so I take the heat and humidity today.

Good luck and enjoy your retirement.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by blueash

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.

Blueash, I can rarely disagree with you, but, as most of the time, I surely do admire your insights.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

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?

OP, don’t worry too much. Figure out what’s important to you, eg wife, or house etc. Then go ahead do what you want, buy what you think will please you guys. If you later find you can make a better choice, it’s really easy to change houses here.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Bhighley

Each point of advice is legit. The south is nicer, newer and younger. North is more established, more chain restaurants and shopping, but older homes. I was up in Spanish Springs yesterday - depressing. I live close to Brownwood - much nicer. The contrast between north and south reminds of Lowell, MA vs Boston, MA.

Choosing the right neighborhood is an important factor like any move. Choosing a location based on bond costs will disappoint. Remember, you get what you pay for.

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"...

As Simba learned in "The Lion King", the "Circle of Life" goes on...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by MikeN

Well, there are other employment opportunities than Publix. There’s Winn Dixie and newspaper delivery. But you’re spot on with what section you choose to live in. If you use a village salesperson rather than a realtor you will be lead to a new section and never be told about resales in the more established areas. That is why so many people have moved once they fall for the sales pitch and find what they want elsewhere, mostly within TV. Good luck. Take your time. Use a realtor

All we had to do was tell our sales person ONCE that we had no interest in homes underneath or within sight lines of power lines (which eliminated all of the ne construction at the time) and we were shown nothing but resales between 44 and 466A...

[DDToto41]

I came here in 2005. I was 64 and my wife was 58. I had gotten AARP Medicare coverage sometime before moving here. I had to get a job to get insurance for my wife. I got a job with Walmart and got their insurance. I went to my Doctor and he sent me to a Cardiologist for a stress test. The Cardiologist said I needed an ablation. I went to get the procedure. The procedure cost over $20,000.00. Walmart Insurance only covered $1000.00 and AARP Insurance covered the rest. I would suggest getting the AARP Insurance until you turn 65. I later got a job at Publix That their insurance was better than Walmart's. There are no good paying jobs here in Florida. Publix is a very good company they start you out at about $15.00 per hour and you can purchase their stock.

[psjordan]

I think the setup here in TV (retirement community, ammenities, golf car life, condensed housing, developmental districts, bonds, etc.) maybe leads to advice covering (or partly based on) a lot of those areas, which we found valuable because they were new to us.

The rest - what kind of house do you want, how old, what upgrades, location, location, etc. to us were pretty much the same as buying anywhere else. In other words, we had our list of wants, did our homework on what was where in TV, shared our list with the sales agent and made our decision accordingly.

We purchased after a lifestyle visit (we covered a lot of ground then) a few years ago and have been very happy as six-month snowbirds. The advice here allowed us to ask better questions, but really did not influence the core values we’d have buying a house anywhere else. Or the process we’d need to get there (i.e., renting for a month, more than one visit, etc.). We typically don’t need a lot of time to make “couples decisions”.

Other folks need a month or more to get comfortable with such a big decision. Decision time could be influenced by whether one is buying their “dream retirement home” or just looking for something great to get out of the snow annually. No right or wrong answers.

We are early 60’s and live near the things in TV that are important to us day-to-day. Same with the home up north. At some point our list of “important things” may change, and we’ll address the situation(s) then.

Good luck!

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

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.

Awesome, thoughtful response as always, Michael. We pretty much ditto your experience except we closed in DeLuna in December 2022 rather than Richmond. We love it more and more with each passing month. We are older at 70/71, and have neighbors our age and younger, and have fun with all of them. 😊

[GoRedSox!]

Originally Posted by DDToto41

I came here in 2005. I was 64 and my wife was 58. I had gotten AARP Medicare coverage sometime before moving here. I had to get a job to get insurance for my wife. I got a job with Walmart and got their insurance. I went to my Doctor and he sent me to a Cardiologist for a stress test. The Cardiologist said I needed an ablation. I went to get the procedure. The procedure cost over $20,000.00. Walmart Insurance only covered $1000.00 and AARP Insurance covered the rest. I would suggest getting the AARP Insurance until you turn 65. I later got a job at Publix That their insurance was better than Walmart's. There are no good paying jobs here in Florida. Publix is a very good company they start you out at about $15.00 per hour and you can purchase their stock.

Pretty much the only way to get on Medicare prior to age 65 is if you are disabled, have End Stage Renal Disease, or ALS. Medicare is not an option before 65 for healthy individuals. There are not many options for those not covered by health insurance at a job. COBRA from a previous job, and the Affordable Care Act are probably the two most traveled routes. Good luck to everyone with health insurance before age 65.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by coleprice

Golfers shopping for homes in The Villages should NOT purchase a New Home in the Southern Areas, which lack enough Executive Golf Courses. Rather, they should buy a pre-owned home in the Middle or Northern areas which have plenty of Executive golf courses nearby. Also, the Bond is usually paid off and you are MUCH CLOSER to shopping & restaurants.

That's why the average number of days of the market for used homes up north is 68 days instead of 45. Many more homes are being sold in the south vs the north and there is a reason.

[MSGirl]

Originally Posted by Laurawilcox

A couple of other differences not mentioned. Where will your working wife best find other people her age to interact with?

I am in De Luna, we are both still working, and late 50s and early 60s are a common age.

I work in Leesburg and my husband remote so medical work could be possible in the newest facilities down south as well. Are there things you want to do outside of the bubble?

We are in Orlando area, Ocala, Tarpon Springs, Costco, wherever about every other weekend. Highway access was crucial to us. Adding the difference from up north to get to a wonderful brunch at Winter Park wasn’t a consideration.

Of course we wish there was more shopping and golf cart access within our location but the items above were more important.

You can live anywhere. Why didn’t you just go to Winter Park or Orlando, Tampa or Tarpon Springs if that’s what is most important! Living in the heart of The Villages, with everything The Villages has to offer including golf cart access anywhere, and golf cart country club crawls, golf, swimming, pickleball, polo, etc.
OP there are full time jobs available with The Villages, if not healthcare and insurance is pretty decent.

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by GoRedSox!

Pretty much the only way to get on Medicare prior to age 65 is if you are disabled, have End Stage Renal Disease, or ALS. Medicare is not an option before 65 for healthy individuals. There are not many options for those not covered by health insurance at a job. COBRA from a previous job, and the Affordable Care Act are probably the two most traveled routes. Good luck to everyone with health insurance before age 65.

I’m not Medicare age yet, and didn’t find it too difficult to secure medical insurance here. I’m with Florida Blue and am established through Villages Health. When I turn 65, I will more than likely have to leave Villages Health, as I’m not going on Medicare Advantage, which is a requirement for those over 65 at Villages Health.

[Heartnsoul]

Originally Posted by MplsPete

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?

Your WISE. FROM SUMTER TO NORTH IS WAY to go. Nothing out south

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

We got very lucky, when we bought (2013) we were at the southern end of the villages between 466a and 44, we did not look at other neighborhoods just looked at house designs. We found a design we liked and then found a lot and had our house built for us. I understand this is no longer an option. In any case we ended up with great neighbors and we are just North of the center of TV. We did like the layout of the area.
OP, your points are well taken. As for your wife, health care could be better, if you move before she turns 65 she will need to find suitable coverage, and you might want to start looking early. Also, be very careful about traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage there is an organization SHINE (Senior Health Infromation Network) SHINE - Home that provides unbiased information, that saved us from making a big mistake.
There are some areas that some people regard as less desirable but this is a matter of opinion. I am sure you can find an area you will like and a home you will like.

There are some very good resources here on Talk of the Villages.



Village Tinker is one of the best of them.

There have been many others over the years as well even though many of the excellent posters have gone onto unknown pastures.