[smsgtdaves]

We feel in love with The Villages and are considering it for retirement, but it is so overwhelming. Which is the best neighborhood to look at? They all seem to look about the same but there is allot of factors that make can make it or break it. Any thoughts out there?

[aln]

It's just like who's got the best pizza or what's the best area of the U.S. to hail from. It's a matter of personal taste & 'where u at'.
I know people from the east side, near Chula & Rio Grande from Duval & from Polo Ridge; They all love where they're at and so do I. Spend 10 days here and move around. I think you'll find your spot.

[graciegirl]

I suggest you choose my neighborhood. It has a mix of all kinds of houses offered and they all have pretty plants in the yard. The neighbors are the very best and they come from all over the country and from Canada. Some are in their early fifties and some are in their sixties and some in their 70's and eighties. The people in our neighborhood have block parties and wave at each other when they are out riding in their golf carts and stop to chat if you meet them walking. There is one grouchy person, but I can't remember who it is. The sunshine is the brightest in my neighborhood and the sky the bluest. The people in my neighborhood in my village have the most beautiful and the smartest children and grandchildren because they told me they did. The people on my street have a wrinkle or too, but boy do they have warm and interesting personalities. We have both both political parties represented in my neighborhood and sometimes people are sick and other people come to visit and bring them meals. The people in my Village are so wonderful and the houses are so lovely and all different inside.

Our neighborhood, our Village is the very best. You will love it.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I suggest you choose my neighborhood. It has a mix of all kinds of houses offered and they all have pretty plants in the yard. The neighbors are the very best and they come from all over the country and from Canada. Some are in their early fifties and some are in their sixties and some in their 70's and eighties. The people in our neighborhood have block parties and wave at each other when they are out riding in their golf carts and stop to chat if you meet them walking. There is one grouchy person, but I can't remember who it is. The sunshine is the brightest in my neighborhood and the sky the bluest. The people in my neighborhood in my village have the most beautiful and the smartest children and grandchildren because they told me they did. The people on my street have a wrinkle or too, but boy do they have warm and interesting personalities. We have both both political parties represented in my neighborhood and sometimes people are sick and other people come to visit and bring them meals. The people in my Village are so wonderful and the houses are so lovely and all different inside.

Our neighborhood, our Village is the very best. You will love it.

This is a very good and oft asked question, and this is best answer I've seen. I think everyone in TV except the grouch agrees with this.

[another Linda]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I suggest you choose my neighborhood. It has a mix of all kinds of houses offered and they all have pretty plants in the yard. The neighbors are the very best and they come from all over the country and from Canada. Some are in their early fifties and some are in their sixties and some in their 70's and eighties. The people in our neighborhood have block parties and wave at each other when they are out riding in their golf carts and stop to chat if you meet them walking. There is one grouchy person, but I can't remember who it is. The sunshine is the brightest in my neighborhood and the sky the bluest. The people in my neighborhood in my village have the most beautiful and the smartest children and grandchildren because they told me they did. The people on my street have a wrinkle or too, but boy do they have warm and interesting personalities. We have both both political parties represented in my neighborhood and sometimes people are sick and other people come to visit and bring them meals. The people in my Village are so wonderful and the houses are so lovely and all different inside.

Our neighborhood, our Village is the very best. You will love it.

Gracie! You just moved to my neighborhood! Welcome. I know you will be very happy here.

[paulandjean]

amelia of course

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by smsgtdaves

We feel in love with The Villages and are considering it for retirement, but it is so overwhelming. Which is the best neighborhood to look at? They all seem to look about the same but there is allot of factors that make can make it or break it. Any thoughts out there?

We hope you make it no matter where you choose.

Talk to ten Villagers, you might get a dozen answers.


Like Gracie says, 'people' usually make the 'neighborhood'.

To us, the whole place is like one huge neighborhood, and with all the 'things you can do' it's not necessarily those across the street or next door.

Some are closer to 'centers' than others if you like walking or biking a shorter distance, but the car or buggy can get you just about anywhere in minutes.

As far as home selection goes, we looked for a week or so and found ours in a listing after we came back home.
We had some TV friends go take a peek along with our agent that sold us a speculative home we bought in Wildwood, and we closed the whole deal on email and telephone. we never even saw the place but had gotten to know TV well in the 4 visits we made to visit.

Because of all our bikes and trikes, we don't always keep the neatest garage, so we ruled out a front garage .
Side garage homes are a little harder to find, but the overall curb appeal, aesthetics, and not subjecting our friends and neighbors to have to look at clutter when we open the door was well worth it for us.

Most homes 'feature' the garage and having a 8'-16' wide tin door as the major architectural element in a six figure investment was not for us.

Of course, some people like the convenience of pull-in/pull-out without having to turn , but we seldom take the buggy, don't use a cart, and just takes the bikes and trikes in and out thru the small cart door. not to mention, you can decorate the driveway into a masterpiece with graphics and paving materials.

Though we are fine neighbors ,having lived in the rural outer suburbs for 22 years we would have a tougher time with a 'kissing' lanai so we opted for a yard that faces one of the retention ponds.
You might see a duck but have heard tell there might be 'gators in them waters.

The 'golf views' appeal to some for many reasons, but since we are nor golfers we left those for those with the appreciation. Some of the views are great, but one day when we were touring one, the guy next door, from his back porch on the course, said "the only thing on this tough hole is them women that miss the shot - they cuss up a storm. The men get over it with an expletive or two, but them women, they keep yapping"


If you don't like traffic, maybe a dead end or cul-de-sac, but on some you get a wedgie front yard shaped like a piece of pie.


If you do like something a bit different, we recently discovered section called Harmeswood while on a group bike ride. Someone mentioned they allowed an interesting variety of builders and models some freedom - and this was 1999-2002.
There are some homes that look like those from outside TV.
We like riding around there now just for the change of scenery.


L&L

[smsgtdaves]

Graciegirl, you forgot to say which Village you were in. We are going to Orlando in May and going to make another trip over to TV and look at some more homes and neighbors. I think ALN said best by spenting some time there and really appreciate The Villages. I would just hate to move in next to the grouch in Graciegirls village.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by smsgtdaves

Graciegirl, you forgot to say which Village you were in. We are going to Orlando in May and going to make another trip over to TV and look at some more homes and neighbors. I think ALN said best by spenting some time there and really appreciate The Villages. I would just hate to move in next to the grouch in Graciegirls village.

Oh what the heck, I'm here. I'll try to answer.

GG lives in Hadley. She loves Hadley. She's Hadley's best cheerleader!

I don't think the omission was an oversight; it was kind of the point. Methinks The Village Grouch was a typecast, rare though he may be.

Glad you're coming for another visit. Know you'll fall in love all over again.

[another Linda]

Hadley? How can that be? She described my neighborhood to a tee! Rio Grande.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by smsgtdaves

Graciegirl, you forgot to say which Village you were in. We are going to Orlando in May and going to make another trip over to TV and look at some more homes and neighbors. I think ALN said best by spenting some time there and really appreciate The Villages. I would just hate to move in next to the grouch in Graciegirls village.

See - that is the cool thing. "My neighborhood" could be any neighborhood. What graciegirl defined could be any neighborhood in the Villages. Hers is a generic answer whether she knows it or not. There is no best neighborhood.

You need to look at locale. What are your sports, hobbies, etc. that you will keep involved it?

Do not get hung up at being close to the squares. After a while they will become a not so great place to go every night. Don't get hung up on being close to certain restaurants. They too will get boring as there are so many restaurants. Don't get hung up on being close to shopping. Except for grocery shopping how many times do you go to Wal-mart, etc?

Find a house that you will like and you will be happy. It is the Villages.

[784caroline]

When we bought I had no idea how much location to the Square would mean. NOt that I go there every night and dance, but fortunately we are so close that after dinner I can just get in the cart and be at LSL in approx 3 minutes depending upon trafffic!!! Sit listen to the music, watch the people or meet with friends.....be it 10 or 60 minutes and then off we are. We use Sweetbay as our 7-11...super convienent. NOt sure I would do this as often if I were buried in a neighborhood......especially on a chilly winter evening or whenever it was dark outside driving the golf cart.

I have to admit..the best village is the neighborhood where you live. You and your neighbors willl make it and provide a character what it is!

[smsgtdaves]

I hate to wish my life away but after reading all your posts I understand and wish I was at retirment age right now so we could make the move south. Oh well 1 1/2 to 2 years will give me the time to zero in on everything. Thank you all for you comments and maybe we will meet someday. This winter has been the worst yet up here in Pennsylvania. I have 2 1/2 to 3 foot of snow in my yard, it goes down to 15 to 22 degrees at night, and my wife is complaining about a $300 gas bill for heat. Does anybody remember those days?

[784caroline]

Where in Pa are you from ?? Sounds like the Philly area!

[yobeano]

I know just how you feel. Were in the Philly burbs, Delaware County. Feels like the Gods are PO'd at us for planning to move to TV and taking it out on us in snow.