[Papa]

We are interested in what amenities we can expect for our Lifestyle Visit the last 10 days of Sept. I suspect that there might be some 2-for-1 meals, shows, etc. but we see mention of how great it is. What else could they be offering?
We just sold our house in Massachusetts, and will be closing while we are down at TV enjoying the Lifestyle Visit. We hope to get the lay-of-the-land before we head over to a rental we found in the Village of Duval for the month of October. We hope to find a pre-loved, or perhaps build a new home over the next couple of months. Having spent 4 days at TV in April, we are just curious what to expect.

[Mudder]

They do different things at different times. I have friends here now on a lifestyle visit. They got free golf a few times, free movie tickets, free tennis on the soft courts and a discount coupon book for some restaurants. Friends who were in June also got tickets to a show at Savannah Center, a pickleball lesson for all the lifestyle people and I think a line dance lesson too.

[buggyone]

PeteDZ-

I strongly suggest that you use both a Villages Property agent and a MLS Realtor. Neither can show each other's listings.

Pre-owned is the way to go. There are a couple of great homes for sale in the Village of Glenbrook on the Glenview Fox Run golf course with great views of water and the golf course with no one in back of you. The homes are on Talley Ridge Drive.

With buying a pre-owned, you can negotiate with the buyer on price. New homes, you pay list price. Bond is very low on the Talley Ridge homes ($2,500) vs around $23,000 on a new home. You will find upgrades already in the houses that you would pay a lot extra for in a new home.

Hope this helps.

I don't have the answers you are looking for but I'd like to welcome a fellow baystater to the Talk of The Villages! Hope this place exceeds all the expectations you've ever had .I know it continually amazes us!!

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by PeteDz

We are interested in what amenities we can expect for our Lifestyle Visit the last 10 days of Sept. I suspect that there might be some 2-for-1 meals, shows, etc. but we see mention of how great it is. What else could they be offering?
We just sold our house in Massachusetts, and will be closing while we are down at TV enjoying the Lifestyle Visit. We hope to get the lay-of-the-land before we head over to a rental we found in the Village of Duval for the month of October. We hope to find a pre-loved, or perhaps build a new home over the next couple of months. Having spent 4 days at TV in April, we are just curious what to expect.

PeteDz, Welcome to TOTV. This forum is a wealth of info. about buying and living in TV. Enjoy your lifestyle visit and your rental in Duval. And good luck in your home search.

[Papa]

Thanks everyone for the info. I didn't think about organized group activities for all the Lifestyle guests, but I guess it makes sense.

[bkcunningham1]

Originally Posted by PeteDz

We are interested in what amenities we can expect for our Lifestyle Visit the last 10 days of Sept. I suspect that there might be some 2-for-1 meals, shows, etc. but we see mention of how great it is. What else could they be offering?
We just sold our house in Massachusetts, and will be closing while we are down at TV enjoying the Lifestyle Visit. We hope to get the lay-of-the-land before we head over to a rental we found in the Village of Duval for the month of October. We hope to find a pre-loved, or perhaps build a new home over the next couple of months. Having spent 4 days at TV in April, we are just curious what to expect.

Hi PeteDz, welcome to TOTV. Congratulations on selling your home. You can call back and ask the person who booked the Lifestyle Preview Visit what perks you are getting.

When we did your visit two years ago this December (wow, was it that long ago?) before we bought, we were given: guest passes to access any and all the facilities; two rounds of golf at two different championship courses (I actually asked to change one course to Cane Gardens. It looked good in the information I read and I was right); movie passes; breakfast at the Veranda (which is now closed); a cash voucher, I can't remember the amount, for lunch or dinner at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Lake Sumter and lunch or dinner at Arnold Palmer Country Club; a voucher for a discount at The Villages Banner Mercantile; ... I think that is what we received back then.

We stayed in a beautiful fully furnished Creekside Cabana which was equipped with a golf cart and bicycles. We were near a pool, shuffle board and pickleball.

Have fun during your time in the rental and good luck with whatever you decide on: building or buying a preowned.

[PatandBob]

We did a lifestyle preview this past February "just to look around." (wound up buying a lot in St James and will close on our house November 17! )

We didn't receive much - free round of golf, 10% off at some restaurants, free movie passes. We could, of course, check out all the amenities (you're given ID cards to access rec centers, katiebelle's, etc.) Our sales agent also gave us tickets to a show at the Savannah Center which was great. I believe in the past the "extras" were much more. Villages just doesn't have to "entice" people anymore. One visit and most of us are hooked.

I did zumba, line dancing, enjoyed the pools. My husband golfed. We stayed in a lovely home. Had access to a golf cart and bikes. The "Recreation News" that comes out on Thursday lists the activities/clubs you'll be able to check out while on your preview. So much to choose from. I ran out of time!

Have a wonderful visit. I know you will love everything about the Villages.

[ilovetv]

Enjoy it and don't let people make it too complicated. Here in TV, "what you see is what you get"......and what you get is BLISS.

[Sweet Caroline]

I did not understand the remark about having 2 agents. We are doing this on our own, visited friends who live in TV and are renting a Courtyard Villa for a couple months to give ourselves plenty of time to find just the right "forever home". I thought that when you made a commitment to an agent they could show you whatever you want to see. So what is wrong with this picture? Are you saying that an independent agent can NOT show houses listed by TV? Seems to me that the TV agent is working for the seller not the buyer?? I need an agent whose interest is in me not the seller and will work hard to get me a good deal. Enlighten me please.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Sweet Caroline

I did not understand the remark about having 2 agents. We are doing this on our own, visited friends who live in TV and are renting a Courtyard Villa for a couple months to give ourselves plenty of time to find just the right "forever home". I thought that when you made a commitment to an agent they could show you whatever you want to see. So what is wrong with this picture? Are you saying that an independent agent can NOT show houses listed by TV? Seems to me that the TV agent is working for the seller not the buyer?? I need an agent whose interest is in me not the seller and will work hard to get me a good deal. Enlighten me please.

You are right. The Villages agent is working for The Villages. The other one can show you all of the houses not listed by The Villages. That is the way it is.

The new homes are listed at a certain price if they are built already, no negotiation there. Not switching out appliances, not offering less than sale price. The resales are negotiable.

Allow me to welcome you to this forum and to this wonderful place called The Villages. It is what it is, and I hope that you will grow to love it like most of us do.

The selling of homes and the building of homes is different here than any other place I have known.

I hope that once this difference is absorbed that you will find a lovely place to live and find all kinds of fun things to do and that you will enjoy every second of every day for a thousand years here in Lower Paradise!

[redjpang]

How much does one of these lifestyle visits cost? Is there a mininum/maximum nights per stay?

Found my answer...$125 per night. 4 - 10 night stay.

[obxgal]

http://www.thevillages.com/comevisit/lpp.asp
Looks like the rates are $125 a night from Oct 1 through December 31, 2011.
They changes depending on the time of the year. You can read about it at the above link.

[Papa]

Thanks everyone for the info...

I can't believe how everyone is willing to provide so much valuable info on these TOTV threads.

BTW - We are paying $100 per night in Sept, 2011 and were offered an option to stay 4 - 14 nights. We were originally booked for 14 nights, but had to change to 11 nights due to the timing of our house sale.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by PeteDz

Thanks everyone for the info...

I can't believe how everyone is willing to provide so much valuable info on these TOTV threads.

BTW - We are paying $100 per night in Sept, 2011 and were offered an option to stay 4 - 14 nights. We were originally booked for 14 nights, but had to change to 11 nights due to the timing of our house sale.

PetzDz, TOTV is a wealth of information about buying and living in TV. Making a long distance move can be a daunting task, but someday if I do move to TV, I will feel more comfortable about my decision with all of the information I've gotten that has been posted by the TV veterans. FYI: sounds like you got a very good rate on your Lifestyle Preview Visit. Hope your visit is a great one!