Reminds me of the Rockford files episode where when he was in trouble and people were looking for him he just moved the his trailer from Malibu to a park somewhere, LOL

We lived in a big house just outside Nashville, TN before moving here. It was beautiful, 12000+ SF living space, pool, tennis court, golf simulator room 2.5 acre lot. Worth much more than $1M. The maintenance, however, was incredible and draining. It is more than a full time job even if you hire help. It is stressful and not worth it.

Having a small house in an idyllic setting with a majestic view is really appealing. But I also need some level of civilization nearby. The villages is a great compromise.

The villages is easy. The houses are small, but plenty big enough for us. Most of the areas are common, and somebody else is maintaining them. The views are not exactly majestic and don't rival some of the incredible locations mentioned in this thread, but if you get a view lot you get a golf course, pond or preserve view. Its nice.

$1M gets you a lot in the villages. I can't think of any other place in the US where one could get the same combination of nice house, convenience and view for <$1M. Of course you can also do great for <$500K here, but this post is discussing the $1M figure.

My question wasn't about re-sale value or which was a better investment, but strictly about which would you prefer to live in--an amazing house on a so-so piece of property, or a so-so house on a beautiful piece of property with an amazing view.

What??

If you buy at the wrong time it definitely can. Ask me how I know!

Life isn't safe for old people. My goal isn't to live as long as possible, but to live the most enjoyable, fulfilling life as possible. I may change my mind as I grow older, but anecdotally, I don't think I want to live much past 80 or 85...

Why would anyone need to choose between the two? And why would an amazing house have to cost a million dollars? If you're over 60 years old, with just yourself and your spouse, all the kids grown up with families of their own, and you're in reasonably good health for your age but know that "health issues" are a thing for older folks -

You could have a modest SIZED house - maybe 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2-car garage, just 1400sf under heat and air, but with all upgraded materials and options - for around $400k. You put that on a couple of acres of land with an insulated outbuilding in the back for landscaping, gardening, tools, a workshop, with an apartment on top for overflow if all the kids and the grands are there at the same time, and you can have BOTH for under a million bucks.

I was not addressing resale or investment value. When I wrote "Location, location, location." I intended the location I desired aesthetically, for its convenience to what I wanted near me, how pleasant I found my neighborhood, considering matters such as noise from aircraft and road traffic and its fumes, nearness to grocery stores, nice restaurants, good medical facilities and so on. I like to reside in a cheerful home in which I feel comfortable and safe. It can be large and fancy or modest in size and amenities. Either is fine with me.

If you reach those years and you do not have some dire medical condition, you will.
Wife and I are past both those numbers, and still plan ahead and act as if we will be here forever.
Never give up!

1 million dollar piece of land. Get me out of this suburban hell!

I assume that you are quite a few years away from that age. As you get closer (and if you are in good health), you will probably change your mind.

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When doing a home search, I always skipped to pics of the exterior living and view space. If view/setting was nice, I'd pass the listing on to my wife as she was mostly only interested in the interior. Clearly, for me, view/setting was priority 1.

Would depend on your age if I was 30 or even 40 I would take your offer on a beautiful home on a lake. But I’m 80 and most people here in the villages are over 55 and some quite over 55 as I am so The Villages the perfect retirement spot plenty to do plenty to see if you’re in The golfing plenty of golf. We have good restaurants good shows live and movie theaters. So for $400,000 you can have a beautiful place I happen to be on a lake here in The Villages but I am the lucky one but there’s plenty of opportunity for a good property here and they’re building new things for south all the time. I live in the north near Polo Ridge and you can’t beat it

When you reach 80, I guarantee that you will change your mind.:spoken:

Give us a tiny home on a larger plot with room for barns.
Gotta be just remote enough so I can ‘go’ off the porch without offending anyone.
In TV we have a small cottage style ( Austin)and a larger older (‘99) premiere (New Orleans)and prefer the cottage since we don’t entertain