[tekcormn]

I am coming there Nov 10 thru the 14th from Minnesota to look at properties to buy.
Where is the ideal location that is close to all the attractions and activities.
Also do Lakeside Landings residents have access to the Villages and the shops, restaurants, etc. Would appreciate any advice I can get. I will be staying at
the Waterfront Inn. I am 64 , male and single ! THANKS !!!

[tomwed]

Do your homework. There is a lot to learn. Read books about The Villages.

click here

Activities are all over.

Contact the Villages sales department and try to get into a Life Style house [program]. It may cost more than the hotel but it's well worth it. They will give you a cart but rent a car too if you are flying in. The golf is amazing all over but I wouldn't spend too much time on the course during a visit. Bring a camera that shoots video and narrate as you shoot. Later this will make a difference. It's so big it can be overwhelming.

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by tekcormn

I am coming there Nov 10 thru the 14th from Minnesota to look at properties to buy.
Where is the ideal location that is close to all the attractions and activities.
Also do Lakeside Landings residents have access to the Villages and the shops, restaurants, etc. Would appreciate any advice I can get. I will be staying at
the Waterfront Inn. I am 64 , male and single ! THANKS !!!

To answer your question, Lakeside Landing homes are not golf cart accessible to the villages, although its very close to TV. Anyone can have access to restaurants (except Katie Belles), shops, entertainment at the squares and any country club entertainment or food. When you arrive, pick up a map of TV and it will show you all the different villages and its a personal thing as to where you might want to buy.

Best advice, your coming from Monday to Friday. Waterfront has entertainment every night in the week and some nights are singles dances. Walk around, talk to a lot of people and they will be happy to answer your questions. Look for me, LOL, I'm there 4 nights a week.

Good luck!!

[Villager Dude]

I really like South of 466 ; North of 466A; and East of Buena Vista.

I can get to Lake Sumter Landing in 10 minutes and get to Spanish Springs or Brownwood in 25. All by golf cart.

[VT2TV]

Originally Posted by tekcormn

I am coming there Nov 10 thru the 14th from Minnesota to look at properties to buy.
Where is the ideal location that is close to all the attractions and activities.
Also do Lakeside Landings residents have access to the Villages and the shops, restaurants, etc. Would appreciate any advice I can get. I will be staying at
the Waterfront Inn. I am 64 , male and single ! THANKS !!!

You are looking at properties-(Plural???) to buy? The Village shops and retaurants are open by car to anyone. The golf cart pathways (multimodal paths), the Rec. enters, golf courses, pools are restricted to use only by people living in the Villages. Actually all outdoor activities are only for use by the people living in the Villages. I would not say that TV is close to any "attractions". Disney World is 1 hour+ depending where in the parks you want to go, basically the same for Universal, and Sea World. Ocala has Silver Springs which is a nice relaxing day outside with the glass bottom boat ride for a pretty view of the fish. If you are looking for night life, you would be better off closer to Orlando. We have some very nice restaurants, but if you are looking for a really big choice in dining "experiences", we aren't there yet.

Now, i am not trying to be negative, because in spite of what I have said, I love it here. But just trying to be helpful, because if you are looking for lots to do in the evenings, you will be disappointed. There is plenty to do in the daytime however.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by tekcormn

I am coming there Nov 10 thru the 14th from Minnesota to look at properties to buy.
Where is the ideal location that is close to all the attractions and activities.
Also do Lakeside Landings residents have access to the Villages and the shops, restaurants, etc. Would appreciate any advice I can get. I will be staying at
the Waterfront Inn. I am 64 , male and single ! THANKS !!!

One poster suggested bringing along a camera that shoots video which is a very good idea. Another poster suggested contacting The Villages' sales office to arrange a lifestyle visit, and if you want to do that, I would call the sales office ASAP if you want to do a lifestyle visit in November. If you end up staying at the Waterfront Inn it is very nice, and you will be right at Lake Sumter Landing which is one of the three squares (Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing and Brownwood) in The Villages. If you do end up staying at the Waterfront Inn, consider renting a golf cart to get the experience of driving one.

I would also recommend taking the trolley tour of The Villages which leaves from the sales offices at either Lake Sumter Landing or Brownwood. The trolley tour lasts about one hour, and it is narrated by a resident of The Villages. You won't get to see all of The Villages, but it will give you a taste of what the newer areas of The Villages are like. If you stop (or call) the sales office, they can tell you what time the trolley tours are scheduled for.

Visit the squares at night. There is free entertainment (music and dancing) at each square 7 nights a week (unless the weather is bad) from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Some of the country clubs also have entertainment at night; Bonifay Country Club on the south side of The Villages comes to mind for entertainment at night.

As far as location goes, that is a personal preference, depending on how close one wants to be to shopping, a particular golf course, rec. center, etc.
The Villages' population is now over 100,000 people, so it is not a small town. From north end to south end of The Villages is about 12 miles (maybe more), and from east to west is about 7 miles (someone correct me if those distances are not right).

While you are in The Villages, don't hesitate to ask people questions. Most people are very glad to share their experiences with you.

This wannabee hopes you have a great visit; in four days you won't get to see everything, but hopefully you will get a taste of what The Villages lifestyle is all about.

[2BNTV]

Everywhere is the short answer.

You need to ask your what is most important to you. Do you want to be near the squares, doctors, shopping, rec centers, or golf courses. I think it's important to make a list of what you want/need in a house that you want to purchase.

Most people don't go to the squares that often, after they have been here, for several months. A newbie might tend to think they will live at the squares, but that doesn't turn out to be the rule.

If the squares are so important to you, then get a map and select a section, that is equal distance, to all of the squares.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

The area that starts around Mulberry where Buena Vista meet 42 continuing down to Brownwood where Buena Vista Meets 44 is very nice. Especially both side of Buena Vista easy and west. Also the area from Schwartz Blvd just northeast of 441 down to the end of Morse at route 44 is very nice. Again, both east and west are equally nice.

[Bogie Shooter]

Here are some sites to learn more about The Villages. Enjoy!
The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Retirement Hometown - New Home Sales, Home Resales, Build Your Dream Home, Brownwood Paddock Square
Village Community Development Districts
http://www.districtgov.org/images/ClubsListing.pdf
*VIRGINIA TRACE,* THE VILLAGES,* FLORIDA
http://www.golfthevillages.com/golf-...heVillages.pdf
Golf The Villages
Carting The Villages -Home
The Villages Shopping Guide
The Villages Homeowners Association Home Page - The Villages Homeowners Association

[tomwed]

I agree with the tour bus as an excellent place to start after you read the books. I have been on the tour bus a couple of times after I moved here and learned something new every time. If I had to do it over I would go on the bus the first thing every morning. I remember trying to get a feeling for the Villages using maps and getting lost on cart paths for hours.

Go to Google maps and practice getting to places down here from your hotel especially the north end the town. The bus is for sales so it takes you to where the new houses are and talks about the Villages along the way. The north end of town has much more to offer; softball fields, bowling, archery, lawn bowling, croquet, air guns, woodshop, Polo fields, hospital and the learning center.

I wanted to be a mile from a square. I'm not so sure why, resale value, a short walk? I don't go to Brownwood very often. It does have a Disney like theme look about it just like the other squares.

I like new and new neighborhoods. It's like an easy, fun right of passage being in a neighborhood with other newbies figuring things out. Older neighborhoods may be more practical and maybe a better buy, but for me, I didn't want to be so practical this time.

I’m still not sure I picked the best part of town but that’s me. I have trouble picking out sneakers.

[Marlo]

I definately agree with taking the tour bus. Each time we came down I scoffed @ doing the bus but finally I did it and I should have done it earlier if only to find out the different Villages and having the tour guide tell you different tidbits. That being said the really helpful thing is going to the open houses. To go to the different villages, seeing the houses and how they sit and are laid out is very helpful. Take alot of pictures ALOT of pictures so you remember what you like and don't like. We had come down to TV for apprx 5 years before we decided on which house we wanted, whether we wanted to build or buy used and where more importantly we wanted to live. One of the deciding factors was not wanting to look into our neighbors lanai so we built on a great lot where we have privacy. You need to go to open houses so you can see the privacy of houses, the no privacy of other houses, golf front or water view.............you only see that by going into the house and not by pictures. Hope this helps and good luck in your search. PS: When you go to the open houses ask questions and talk to the other people that are there looking. They could already own a home and are looking for a new one for a specific reason that might help you in your decision. We live in Collier and we're not far from Brownwood or Colony Plaza.......it's a great location!

[Schaumburger]

I agree with the previous poster about going to some open houses if you have the time. There are open houses held every day of the week by The Villages sales office for both new and preowned homes. If you look on The Villages' web site click on "Today's Open Houses" for both new and preowned homes. Open houses for preowned homes that are for sale by non-Village (MLS) agents are something else you may want to check out also. If you look in the classified ad section of the Daily Sun (the local newspaper in The Villages) you can find open houses held by non-Village (MLS) agents.

[tekcormn]

Thanks everyone for the advice.
I am lucky I came back in to to check for responses because I expected to be notified via email. Not true. This is a tricky website to maneuver.
I do have a rental car. No golf car and not in the Lifestyle program.
They said I could stay in a 2 bedroom Villa or at the Waterfront. When I said I wanted a Lake view, they said I could contact the hotel directly for that which I did at a rate of $111 per night as opposed to the $150 a nite they wanted. I told them I booked it and when I would be there and they said I had to book the hotel thru their office to participate in the Lifestyle program and they never told me that and they won't give me the free golf car and whatever else was free. I am ticked off at them to be honest.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by tekcormn

Thanks everyone for the advice.
I am lucky I came back in to to check for responses because I expected to be notified via email. Not true. This is a tricky website to maneuver.
I do have a rental car. No golf car and not in the Lifestyle program.
They said I could stay in a 2 bedroom Villa or at the Waterfront. When I said I wanted a Lake view, they said I could contact the hotel directly for that which I did at a rate of $111 per night as opposed to the $150 a nite they wanted. I told them I booked it and when I would be there and they said I had to book the hotel thru their office to participate in the Lifestyle program and they never told me that and they won't give me the free golf car and whatever else was free. I am ticked off at them to be honest.

You can rent a golf cart on your own. And other than golf there is not much that is free.

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by tekcormn

Thanks everyone for the advice.
I am lucky I came back in to to check for responses because I expected to be notified via email. Not true. This is a tricky website to maneuver.
I do have a rental car. No golf car and not in the Lifestyle program.
They said I could stay in a 2 bedroom Villa or at the Waterfront. When I said I wanted a Lake view, they said I could contact the hotel directly for that which I did at a rate of $111 per night as opposed to the $150 a nite they wanted. I told them I booked it and when I would be there and they said I had to book the hotel thru their office to participate in the Lifestyle program and they never told me that and they won't give me the free golf car and whatever else was free. I am ticked off at them to be honest.

Stay in a 2 bedroom villa and get a cart if you want to know slightly what it's like to live here. It's like trying to figure out the best way to see Disneyworld on your own. Listen to the good people on this site that have been in your shoes.