[dizz42]

We rented a home here in TV just to relax and check things out. For fun we attended a couple open houses and, of course, found a home we both thought was amazing. After talking with an agent, the bank and each other (all night!) we just now decided not to purchase. While we discussed lots of reasons, the two main ones are a) we didn't have a clue that we would love TV this much and b) just got cold feet faced with the prospect of selling our home, packing up, leaving family and friends, etc.

Did this happen to anyone else and did you come back more prepared and buy a home? Or were you glad/sad you did/didn't buy? We still unsure because now we're kinda down.

[Russ_Boston]

Plenty of time to reconsider - Take it one step at a time - Maybe rent for 6 months in a home/villa that you'd like something similar to and then decide.

TV won't be built out for at least 5 more years and there will always be hundreds of resales on the market.

We won't be there for a couple of years but we rent every year just to keep in touch with our new friends until the time comes.

[hdh1470]

My brother has lived in tv for 7 yrs,we have been visiting for 7 yrs and always loved it but when we got back home we were never sure tv would be are home, In aug. we are renting a home just to try it with out visiting my brother but i think we will make tv are home and our fountain of youth.

[JoeB1]

We stooped in TV on our way to Northern Florida to visit relatves last year. Just really a stop over and to see what the place looked like. We did a three night stay and looked at homes more for something to do than to really think about buying. So no pressure and the sales people where so layed back we laughed all the way home to CA. But we found our selves talking more and more about 'what if' and 'where are we going now that I'm retired'. So the next thing either of us knew we were on a plane going back to TV to really look at the area and spend some time there. We stayed in Fl. for a month and looked around with more seroius thoughts to leaving CA and moving to TV.
Then we put money down on the property, went home and put our home on the market. That's when the cold feet start. House won't sell, neighbors and friends start laughing when you say the word "retirement community", your son looks at you like "what".

But hey, we have an offer and are hoping for the best now. Don't do anyhting until you have spent some time in TV. Meet some people, go on a lifestyle stay or two. Tour around the area and make sure you like what you see. Research this web site and read up on this community and others in Fl. Knolwedge will make you feel better about the decision you make, what ever you decide.

Good luck and maybe we'll see you in The Villages.

[Indy-Guy]

My wife and I had been down several times. Were going to buy then not buy then going to buy then not buy. Then we came down weren't going to buy didn't even bring a check book.

Got to our rental and checked in with the person we were renting from. She asked if we were going to purchase (she isn't in sales) and we said no that we decided that we would rent and keep our home in Indianapolis as we wanted only one home. She said that many people do the opposite and live in The Villages full time then go back North and rent for a couple of months or so in the Summer. It is cheaper to rent a place up north in the Summer than to rent in The Villages in the Winter. We purchased 3 days later. This was 5 years ago and we moved here full time 3 years ago.

We have talked to several people about house sitting up North while they take extended vacations and don't like leaving their home unattended.

Only problem is after you move here you don't want to leave for an extended time. I am going back to Indy for 10 days next week but don't want to stay any longer than that.

[NancyLou]

Originally Posted by dizz42

We rented a home here in TV just to relax and check things out. For fun we attended a couple open houses and, of course, found a home we both thought was amazing. After talking with an agent, the bank and each other (all night!) we just now decided not to purchase. While we discussed lots of reasons, the two main ones are a) we didn't have a clue that we would love TV this much and b) just got cold feet faced with the prospect of selling our home, packing up, leaving family and friends, etc.

Did this happen to anyone else and did you come back more prepared and buy a home? Or were you glad/sad you did/didn't buy? We still unsure because now we're kinda down.

We have been visiting TV for 4 years now because my brother lives there. DH has been in love with the place since he first saw it and I am the big hold out. We visited again 2 weeks ago and I am no longer holding out, time is a fleeting. We have been Bradenton, Fl. Snowbirds for past 5 years in a resort park with many activities, now we don't have that in our condo here in Ohio and poor dh is missing that big time. I have read and reread everything I can get my hands on. This is a major decision to move away from family & friends but they are big kids now and they can come south and enjoy. July 25 is our Lifestyle visit, wanted ugly ugly weather. If I can handle the heat we will go from there. Every day my emotions are in a different place and I think this whole process is good, means you are sorting things out and not jumping in with your heart.

Wishing you well,
Nanc

[dizz42]

Thanks, all, for your stories. We are leaving to go home on Tuesday and tonight, we had a wonderful evening at the square, dancing and listening to the band. It was great and we talked some more about putting in that bid on the house. But we are sticking to our decision to go home, clean up, clear out and generally get ready to move. We will be scheduling a Lifestyle Preview for sometime in January and at that time, we'll see how we feel. Glad to know cold feet is normal.

[Army Guy]

Yes, getting cold feet is normal. We had been looking for a place to retire for the past 5 years, TV was the last placed we looked. At the time of our first visit we were actually sold on buying at Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach. WE came saw TV and were so blown away, we went home and said heck with Myrtle Beach! Started doing on-line research about TV, found TOTV, and really starting reading asking questions and decided this was the place. Came down and bought. After we bought and right before the clsoing is when we had our "cold feet" moment. But we still felt TV was "right" for us, and now that we are owners, could not be happier.

Army Guy

[kittylecroix]

We have rented twice for a month. I asked everyone I met how they ended up in TV. I couldn't believe how many told me "I wasnt planning on moving anywhere, but we loved it so much we went back home, sold out house and bought down here." "you still like it?" "Oh yeah, it's wonderful. " "Do you miss the grandchildren? "Oh sure, but we visit them a few times a year"
We didn't want to Jump into anything so quickly, so we took out time and decided. It wasn't hard. We're already 50 miles away from the grand childredn, the weather in NY is cold or raining a lot of the time ( I'd say 10 months out of the year) and the taxes are horrendous. Seems like a no brainer. We plan on being in TV in Sept. and possibly having an apt. for the summer in NY. See how that goes for awhile. I'm sure we'll have trepedations, but it's always like that with a big decidion. All the rest have worked out.

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by dizz42

We rented a home here in TV just to relax and check things out. For fun we attended a couple open houses and, of course, found a home we both thought was amazing. After talking with an agent, the bank and each other (all night!) we just now decided not to purchase. While we discussed lots of reasons, the two main ones are a) we didn't have a clue that we would love TV this much and b) just got cold feet faced with the prospect of selling our home, packing up, leaving family and friends, etc.

Did this happen to anyone else and did you come back more prepared and buy a home? Or were you glad/sad you did/didn't buy? We still unsure because now we're kinda down.

Yes... I actually tried to get out of my home sale in Pa... it sold immediately, after signing the agreement I panicked and tried to wiggle out of it. (there is no '3 day cooling of period in Pa). I got over it. The transition is very stressful but, in retrospect, was worth it.

[hlanders]

Like many others, we came for the lifestyle visit and fell in love, found a house, went to the Villages bank, got approved for a loan and ready to make an offer when our better senses took over. We had high hopes the sale of our current home would not take too long but alas....unless we just give it away a sale has not occurred. In the meantime, although we did love the home we found we have now had time to research more and have a better perspective on where/what we ultimately want to buy so very glad we did not give in to "getting caught up" in the fun and make a purchase too early.
Good luck!

[dizz42]

Originally Posted by hlanders

Like many others, we came for the lifestyle visit and fell in love, found a house, went to the Villages bank, got approved for a loan and ready to make an offer when our better senses took over. We had high hopes the sale of our current home would not take too long but alas....unless we just give it away a sale has not occurred. In the meantime, although we did love the home we found we have now had time to research more and have a better perspective on where/what we ultimately want to buy so very glad we did not give in to "getting caught up" in the fun and make a purchase too early.
Good luck!

We were "this close" too, hlanders! I think we made the right decision but it still is so hard to leave this place! We head for home tomorrow and, of course, that is what we want to see...how we feel when we get home. First order of business: 1) talk to a realtor; 2) get an appraisal; 3) start to clean out; 4) do more research on TV; and finally, 5) get in touch with where we want to be. Sounds like a plan. Hey...we got a plan!

[villages07]

We bought in TV in July 2006, at the very end of the peak of the market frenzy. We bought before selling our primary house, but, crunched the numbers to make sure the financial burden and possibility of carrying two houses for an unpredictable period of time was do-able.

It ended up taking 18 months to sell our house and, in the end, a fairly significant financial difference between keeping both for 18 months vs selling up there first and buying here later. But, it was manageable. The upside was the 18 months of living here vs sitting North waiting to get here.

In hindsight, it would have made more financial sense to have bought a small villa back then and after the house sold buy the designer model we wanted and perhaps keep the villa as an investment. I have no regrets for taking the path that we did -- love the house, the location, and the neighbors and all the fun we had in those first 18 months here.

However, in today's market, if the numbers don't crunch, one is advised to sell first then come here to buy. There is always a good selection of new homes to pick from and between April and December plenty of rentals to camp out in until you find the right home.

[Army Guy]

Villages07, you are correct again. The number crunching made all the sense for us to. Although we can not actually start living at TV for 3 more years till the wife retires, we bought now cause we saw from research, that the housing market IMO has hit the bottom, espeically it seems in TV. We got the last CYV with a 15,000+ discount on it, in an absolutely great location. So we bought but now have two homes. The good thing is our primary in AL is paid for and "cheap to keep" so carrying costs are nothing. Want to cry? My AL property tax......$319.00.......not a month, A YEAR!!!!

Army Guy

[hlanders]

You are on your way dizz42 - You have a plan! Don't get me wrong, when we came home we agonized over the decision and it quickly became a mute point when we saw "our home" go under contract so we could not even change our mind- that hurt worse! Time has proven that for us it was the right decision and what I have in mind when we get there with money in hand ready to buy will be different than that home I thought was perfect. Good luck on the sale of your home!