[cmadc]

We are from Dallas. We have been here almost 18 years. My husband is an avid golfer and I like the weather. The Villages is and has been getting too big. Lots of activities, friendly people, housing runs the full spectrum (depends on how much time you want to spend at home) and descent healthcare. No freeways. It takes between an hour to hour and a half to get to either Tampa (better airport) or Orlando. Gainesville is about 30-45 minutes North.
Overall life is good here. Safe, clean and friendly. Miss Texas but Florida has lots of fun and sun to offer. Best of luck.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Everyone is different. Some need hours to make up their mind, some need months. Do whatever makes you comfortable.

The Villages is not for everyone, but it has a LONG track record of growth and happy residents. Not perfect, not heaven on earth, but a lot of people like it.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by Mortal1

Do your thing. Ignore all replies and base your decision on what you see and what can be done here compared to anywhere else.

We were here two days, but my wife already had perused all the homes/layouts and decided her ideal. She found it the 2nd day and we signed/moved in two days later.

I golf...a lot...my wife quilts/moves stuff around the house constantly...even have her mowing the lawn... :-).

Re: wife mowing lawn.
We've been married roughly 50 years. My dad night before our wedding said, you will never understand your wife.

I am shocked once again. We do have a guy to mow the lawn. Weeding. We used to do it together. Hum, what is that noise? She is out pulling weeds.

As to moving stuff. I think it is genetics. What happened to my xxxx that I left xxxxxxx.
I put it............

You will not win. As dad said, if you are right, it will change shortly. I DO NOT DO MARRIAGE COUNSELING-obviously. It is a universal truth not related to social upbringing, race creed, religion.

ENJOY THE ADVENTURE.

[Ajiveson]

Welcome to the Villages. There is so much to do. We are a friendly bunch in general and it is easy to make friends.

[stebooo]

You might do yourself a favor and contact a non village realtor as well to review used property's. It will round out your visit with a realtor interested in taking care of YOU

[LarryRCTexas]

Wow, thank you for all the wonderful notes above - I really do appreciate it. So much to consider!!

[tedquick]

Larry, as you can tell this place is filled with advice. I will only tell you this: I was a Realtor in Omaha for 41 years and partly because of that experience my wife and I visited TV 5 or 6 times before we purchased. We wanted to see how we would live. It was important to us to be close to The Sharon and The Savannah Center as we enjoy entertainment. We wanted to be reasonably golf-cart close to shopping I.E. Lowes and the other shopping north of 441 so we ended up purchasing a 12 year-old-home and completely redid it. We had built a couple homes and liked the idea of new but a complete redo gives you the same result. In the end, it was the perfect thing to do for the two or us. We actually bought off of Morse Blvd between Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs. As others have said, don't rush: decide first how you think you'll be living. Best of luck to you, Larry. You'll love it here.

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by tedquick

Larry, as you can tell this place is filled with advice. I will only tell you this: I was a Realtor in Omaha for 41 years and partly because of that experience my wife and I visited TV 5 or 6 times before we purchased. We wanted to see how we would live. It was important to us to be close to The Sharon and The Savannah Center as we enjoy entertainment. We wanted to be reasonably golf-cart close to shopping I.E. Lowes and the other shopping north of 441 so we ended up purchasing a 12 year-old-home and completely redid it. We had built a couple homes and liked the idea of new but a complete redo gives you the same result. In the end, it was the perfect thing to do for the two or us. We actually bought off of Morse Blvd between Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs. As others have said, don't rush: decide first how you think you'll be living. Best of luck to you, Larry. You'll love it here.

Ditto - you'll love it here.

And you absolutely, positively, will get a LOT of opinions and advice if you ask a question, as you've seen !!!

Don't be too afraid about diving in as well - I think the statistic (someone correct me if I am wrong) is that the average person moves 4 times when they live here.

I'm just happy to be here. And I love it!

[LucyP]

I would download The Village appt and start looking at homes and have some to see. Write down a list what you are looking for like near squares, type of lawn, no bond ect.. there are single groups for TV on Facebook to join and many activities.

[Tsalla Apopka]

The Villages is a huge megalopolis of many different places and communities.
If you don't like crowds and long lines at the best restaurants it may not be right for you.
There are many other places in the area that are just as nice and much less costly, mostly because "The Villages" is currently the place to be and that costs extra.......
Some examples in nearby Ocala. If you are into radio control then OTOW has huge flying fields and tracks and if Pickleball is your thing then "Stone Creek" is special and golf and friendly folks can also be found at Oak Run.
Folks from these places go to The Villages to shop or eat but then go home for peace and quiet........

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Tsalla Apopka

The Villages is a huge megalopolis of many different places and communities.
If you don't like crowds and long lines at the best restaurants it may not be right for you.
There are many other places in the area that are just as nice and much less costly, mostly because "The Villages" is currently the place to be and that costs extra.......
Some examples in nearby Ocala. If you are into radio control then OTOW has huge flying fields and tracks and if Pickleball is your thing then "Stone Creek" is special and golf and friendly folks can also be found at Oak Run.
Folks from these places go to The Villages to shop or eat but then go home for peace and quiet........

We can call this West coast input from afar..right? Oh wait, maybe its Apopka.

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by Tsalla Apopka

The Villages is a huge megalopolis of many different places and communities.
If you don't like crowds and long lines at the best restaurants it may not be right for you.
There are many other places in the area that are just as nice and much less costly, mostly because "The Villages" is currently the place to be and that costs extra.......
Some examples in nearby Ocala. If you are into radio control then OTOW has huge flying fields and tracks and if Pickleball is your thing then "Stone Creek" is special and golf and friendly folks can also be found at Oak Run.
Folks from these places go to The Villages to shop or eat but then go home for peace and quiet........

And every place you look at outside of The Villages tell you how far they are from The Villages, because this is where you'll be.

[eddie888]

I have been here for 13 years. I was here for the tornado not hurricane tornado that hit the villages February 2, 2007 . I was in a sided at home at the time. I lived in the duval that was about 4 miles away and blew off my siding. The homes in the villages were blown apart. Except the concrete homes only a little bit of the roof blew off. The sided homes were destroyed. A tornado or probably never hit again in our lifetime. But, be aware the side of homes are cheaper. But, the concrete homes or Bloc homes are safer. That’s all I have to say about that.

[rmd2]

I would rent for a month or so to decide what area you are spending most of your time in. I think convenience and location are important so I bought a resale in an area that I was most active in and am very happy I did.

[aallbrand]

If I had to do it over I would move nearby . The villages is way to crowed and it will only get worse. Its also way to political .