[B & G]

Hi! I am new to TOTV. We are planning a visit to the Villages this July 2012. We are so excited. I have a few questions. Hope I am posting all f this correctly.
1. The model Providence / Cabana Villa is that a new model? I have only been able to find it as a Buy existing new home. I also noticed that is it a Frame home not stucco. I think my husband would prefer a stucco. Is there that much of a difference and what do you'll prefer?
2. When we come in July we will also want to see some pre-owned homes. Do I need to set it up with an outside realtor in order to do this and is this an acceptable practice?
3. I have an adorable princess (Suki- a miniature poodle) that will be moving with us. She loves the outdoors! Any suggestions from current residents about homes? I know about the invisible fences and the CYV (that is why I love the Providence). What do some of you'll do with your doggies? I also am so happy there are dog parks.
My husband retires May 2012! We currently live in a suburb of Chicago - Tinley Park. I love where we live but cannot take another cold winter. I originally grew up in Tampa and cannot believe I want to move back to FL! But I love what I see about the Villages and cannot wait to visit. We also will be staying part of the year in KY as we own some property around Columbia, Ky. I will hopefully have questions about leaving a home in the villages in future post!

[B & G]

Sorry am I suppose to post these question on a different thread?

[Bettiboop]

Hi, I can't really address your question(s) because like you I am not in TV yet, but I did want to welcome you to TOTV.

I'm sure someone will come along who can answer your questions.

[JohnN]

I grew up in SW Chicago then Hickory Hills, and my sister lived in TInley Park.
The Providence if I recall, is a 2-car garage frame courtyard villa, there aren't many of those around at all. If you love it (and it's a fine design), grab it whether new or resale.

I think courtyard villas are best for pets to have outside time, but plenty of people (like a zillion) have homes without fences and walk their dogs.

There is one small neighborhood in Hemingway off Nash Loop that is ranch homes (frame) with fences, you might like those and there are occasional resales.

You can use a standard MLS realtor, no problem, but you can only see homes listed on MLS. If it's a Villages listing (VLS) , then you need a Villages sales rep.
The two don't mix, it's unique.

[B & G]

Hi Betty. Thank you for the welcome.

[B & G]

Hi John. Thank you for the information. We should be visiting in July. I am waiting for TV to call me when they open their July schedule for visitors. I doubt the Providence they have will still be available then. They only show one . We use to live in Burbank - a hop, skip and a jump from Hickory Hills. My brother in law lived there.

[FMF Doc]

Originally Posted by B & G

Hi! I am new to TOTV. We are planning a visit to the Villages this July 2012. We are so excited. I have a few questions. Hope I am posting all f this correctly.
1. The model Providence / Cabana Villa is that a new model? I have only been able to find it as a Buy existing new home. I also noticed that is it a Frame home not stucco. I think my husband would prefer a stucco. Is there that much of a difference and what do you'll prefer?
2. When we come in July we will also want to see some pre-owned homes. Do I need to set it up with an outside realtor in order to do this and is this an acceptable practice?
3. I have an adorable princess (Suki- a miniature poodle) that will be moving with us. She loves the outdoors! Any suggestions from current residents about homes? I know about the invisible fences and the CYV (that is why I love the Providence). What do some of you'll do with your doggies? I also am so happy there are dog parks.
My husband retires May 2012! We currently live in a suburb of Chicago - Tinley Park. I love where we live but cannot take another cold winter. I originally grew up in Tampa and cannot believe I want to move back to FL! But I love what I see about the Villages and cannot wait to visit. We also will be staying part of the year in KY as we own some property around Columbia, Ky. I will hopefully have questions about leaving a home in the villages in future post!

Welcome. We moved from Tinley Park and just returned over the weekend to put our home up for sale across from the Bettenhausen Rec Center. We live in a CYV and a lot of our neighbors have dog(s) and seem to like the fenced in back yard. You can have your sales agent here in The Villages show you resales as well as new homes. You can also contact an outside realtor that would have the MLS homes and also look on here for homes for sale by owner.

Good luck.

George

[B & G]

Hi George. We live within walking distance of the Rec center. We had our home listed for 6 months just took it off the market. It is very slow. I love Tinley Park but cannot take another winter even though this winter was very mild. We really like the CYV but really want a 2 car garage and it appears most have only a 1 car/golf cart garage. Best of luck with selling your home.

[Uptown Girl]

Hi B&G, welcome to the forum!
You will find that your Villages Sales rep will be attentive to your questions and honest with answers. You're gonna love your visit and you can set your own pace.

In answer to your stucco question, I would suspect that stucco is a wee bit more soundproof, as the walls are thicker. You lose a few inches in the interior floor plan because of that, but it's minor.
Stucco requires a bit more maintenance, as it must be painted every so often, and could require crack mending occasionally. Siding is vinyl, so it does not get painted.

Both stucco and siding require washing once or twice a year. (Don't know if one is harder to clean than another.... most of us use an outside service for that. Termite control is used on both kinds of homes.)
Stucco is a little higher in price.... for equal sized CYV's for example, expect it to be maybe 10 grand more. And, of course stucco looks elegant.

I LOVED stucco and hoped we would end up with it. It felt Floridian to me.
The home we chose had all the things on our wish list EXCEPT for stucco.

I am happy with our selection and now that we're in here, our home reminds me of a Michegan beach cottage.... and both FMF DOC and I love it just the way it is.... so you can't go wrong either way.
Happy hunting!

[tainsley]

I am in a cement block CYV. I love it! Welcome to TOTV!

[B & G]

Uptown Girl,
Thank you! I can not wait to get to TV and see how it is. We are both excited. We were real excited when we discovered that they have a Trap Club. I don't think my Husband would be happy there if we were not able to continue the sport he loves best. LOL

[B & G]

Tainsley,

Thank you! I thought the stucco homes were cement block and just sprayed with the stucco.

[graciegirl]

Hi there new person. Welcome to this forum and welcome to The Villages. I feel in my heart you will soon be one of us. You will be so surprised and delighted as what you find here.

There are many little furry children who live here and your pup will love to ride in your golf cart and enjoy watching and chasing those little geckos.

Just ask away to your heart's content and you don't have to answer each of us personally. Soon you will be familiar with the forum and this beautiful place.

I am so happy that you are coming down. Try to make it near the third Friday so we can meet and greet you at the monthly get together TOTV posters have at the little restaurant called Crispers on 466 which is a main road near the middle of The Villages and easy to find. If you are coming at another time, please PM me and tell me which posters you would like to meet and I will arrange a way for us to get together.

You have NO idea how much fun awaits you!