[scrapple]

Hi Everyone:
I'm starting a crash course on TV. My wife and I are coming down mid May, have the visit reserved. Now I'm trying to learn enough in the next weeks to make good use of the time.
We'll probably stay at Top of the World for a few days, and then stay at TV the last part of our week. I'll be reading lots more on the forum to figure out what to once we arrive. We'll have some time for fun, but need to focus on the big decision of what place is "best" for us.

So many choices!
Can I get a few suggestions about OTHER communities to compare and contrast? What was your 2nd choice when you were looking around?


Dan & Carol

[villages07]

We looked at Solivita down near Kissimmee....nice development but not sure how they've fared since the real estate downturn...lots of investor owners.

We were going to look at on top of the world and other communities up near Ocala but never got further North than the Villages.

You can look at other places but, more likely than not, the Villages will far outshine the other communities.

we'll all be curious to hear your post-trip report on how the Villages stacked up in your list of places visited.

[scrapple]

Thanks for your response. We heard about Solivita, don't know much about it. Dan's cousin recommended Polo Park and ORO but he also felt TV would be a good fit for us! Dan's parents lived in Haines City for many years so we are familiar and appreciative of the area vs living on the coast (my parents live in Ft Lauderdale). Carol & Dan

[spk7951]

We had our 1st Lifestyle visit in 2007 and spent 6 nights here. Three of those days we spent visiting other communities. Really had no problem with them other than most had one golf course, one rec center and shopping was not on property but a short drive away. Top of the World is larger than most with adjacent shopping avail. I think Del Webb is now building next to Top of the World.

Other places we did visit were: Solivita, SummerGlen, Arlington Ridge, Stonecrest and a couple of others which I do not remember their names right now.

Bottom line for us was that we did not find any of them to have what we wanted for our retirement. Example: one place had a restaurant that was only open Thurs, Fri & Sat nights. Here we have a multitude of choices for dinner and so many other options for activities that when we visited other places while staying in TV we knew this was where we wanted to be. Happy hunting!

[ctbob]

Just arrived home after 9 days at the villages. After the 2nd day we were looking for homes. All I can say is WOW. Getting ready for the next trip back there.
Dan and Carol....Check the villages out first, then try to find a place that can match everything the The Villages has to offer.

[pzjay]

Originally Posted by scrapple

Hi Everyone:
I'm starting a crash course on TV. My wife and I are coming down mid May, have the visit reserved. Now I'm trying to learn enough in the next weeks to make good use of the time.
We'll probably stay at Top of the World for a few days, and then stay at TV the last part of our week. I'll be reading lots more on the forum to figure out what to once we arrive. We'll have some time for fun, but need to focus on the big decision of what place is "best" for us.

So many choices!
Can I get a few suggestions about OTHER communities to compare and contrast? What was your 2nd choice when you were looking around?


Dan & Carol

Returned from Lifestyle preview in Feb this yr. We also were at TV last yr and hubby fell in love with it - me - not so much (we are in a rural area and houses being so close scared me). This yr we visited Del Webb's Stone Creek and Top of the World before coming for our Lifestyle Preview. Both OK places and probably more house for the money, BUT, very little in the way of amenities and shopping must pretty much be done in Ocala. Though parts of Ocala are lovely (horse country with endless fencing, etc), we were not enamored with some of what we saw there. After the Lifestyle, I am now a total convert also and love TV! It's Disney for adults. Easy to talk to any folks that are around. Just like a little bubble in this crazy world. Nothing is perfect, but they come close. You will learn sooooo much by keeping connected with Talk of the Villages. Everyone seems beyond kind and full of info! Enjoy your visit!
We can't wait to return in winter of 2011 and hopefully purchase then!

[scrapple]

Originally Posted by ctbob

Just arrived home after 9 days at the villages. After the 2nd day we were looking for homes. All I can say is WOW. Getting ready for the next trip back there.
Dan and Carol....Check the villages out first, then try to find a place that can match everything the The Villages has to offer.

We thought we'd "save the best for last"; Today's plan is to visit Top of the World for 3 days and TV for the rest of the week.

I read somewhere that TOW does 99 yr lease on the land..is that good, bad or indifferent?
I was interested in Solivita, but don't get much helpful info from their website.
The best information I've received so far is from all of your posts! Thanks, and I hope to see more ideas and opinions.

Dan

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by scrapple

We thought we'd "save the best for last"; Today's plan is to visit Top of the World for 3 days and TV for the rest of the week.

I read somewhere that TOW does 99 yr lease on the land..is that good, bad or indifferent?
I was interested in Solivita, but don't get much helpful info from their website.
The best information I've received so far is from all of your posts! Thanks, and I hope to see more ideas and opinions.

Dan

Dan Scrapples.

I will tell you this and I know it for sure. If you go anywhere else for the first three days and then come to The Villages, you are going to kick yourself for wasting the first three days.

I will say it again. I said I would NEVER live in Florida. I visited friends in The Villages and just plain fell in love.

You are gonna be so delighted. I just wish I could see it myself.

Please give us an in depth report. I bet you will fall in love just like the rest of the 80,000 of us here in Paradise.

Welcome!!

[jaspal]

I agree....
There is no place like TV. No one can match the variety of things to do as in TV.
I wanted at first to be by the ocean. I gave this up to have all that TV offers.
I'm going back in June for 7 days. We are looking to buy. I'd like to buy an existing home but will probably build.