Want to travel for groceries, house needs, Dr appts., other shopping, banks, gas, golf, etc. Then buy new.
Be smart. Buy "old "

Do a Life Style stay 7 days. Get an idea what we are about. Many singles living here and clubs. What activities are you interested in? Pickle ball, golf, dancing…. South is setup different from other areas. Check all town squares, Sawgrass and Edna’s in Green for entertainment and shops. Down load The Village appt will help. I’m single but like North of 466 then a good friend lived in Fenney she loves it there. My TV realtor Chris Smith , he very helpful, I lived out of town gave him information what I was looking for. Reach him 352-391-3587.
MLS listing you would need outside realtor from TV ones. Very different here. Turn key home is with furniture. There are Bonds in home you need to look at too. My had none left since older home. The TV app. you start looking at homes too.

New vs Old
 

New appearance and emotional attachment to a home only lasts so long, but the house needs little maintenance if you buy new. My question is why even buy? Rent for a while, house prices are almost at their implosion point in the market. Pick something up for 20% less in six months?

I cannot believe that three pages into this thread, and no one has suggested the OP watch Rusty Nelson's YouTube videos - specifically the one linked below (and it's part II) about being single in The Villages. Rusty is in your same shoes, a single guy in The Villages. The singles club is less about making matches into couples and more about singles getting together to do things where they don't feel like a third wheel. Hope this helps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKGmRdMzvCg

I am 58 and live in the far north (Woodbury). I have natural gas. I don't at all feel like an outcast in my neighborhood (although I am younger than most here). Within a couple weeks of moving here I got invited to coffee with a some of the neighbors and everybody I've met so far has been super friendly. Maybe I got lucky.

The houses are older up here but mine was built in 2002. The only people I've ever heard who think that's "old" for a house are people from The villages. It's actually the newest house I've ever owned. My pervious houses were built in the 1930s, 1917, and 1986 respectively.

As for traffic, I find traffic gets worse as you go south of me. North of 466 it's nothing. Hwy 441 has its busy times but it's nothing like Orlando or other major metropolitan/suburban areas. After 7 PM it's practically empty. It's only bad down by Leesburg because of all the construction. That said, all the stores are north of that anyway.

I guess it's all a matter of preference but I much prefer it north of 466. Less traffic, a ton of mature oak trees that shade the multimodal paths, fewer airbnb's and rentals (from what I understand), and it is much quieter up here.

Opinions on this are gonna be all over the map. There are just way too many variables at play.

My husband and I moved to a new development in Oct. of 2001. I was 51 years old and wanted to meet the neighbors. We got the house together and in Dec., I put an invitation on the door of each neighbor inviting them to a, "Meet your new neighbors" gathering. It was just supposed to be appetizers and drinks. So many of the neighbors brought wine and food. We had a great time getting to know each other. It was the best way to meet your neighbors. My husband passed away and I couldn't ask for better neighbors. They were there for his service and to help me in any way that they could. If you move into a new development everyone is looking to meet their neighbors.

1500 homes for sale
 

There are currently about 1500 new and used homes for sale. There are also many, many, many rentals. Take your time moving through the weeds to find the perfect nest. Temporary stays in rentals should give you a good idea of your place here.

north verses south
 

You can meet people anywhere you live. After joining a few activities you will probably be running around the Villages. Does it have a bond payment with the house? Inferstructure down south is alot higher. Have heard sometimes the bond is almost as much as the morgauge. Add in insurance and amedities. Some people moving south are moving again because they can't afford it.

Living south of 44, you have to travel north for most of your shopping and eating. Living up by the historical side or around 466 or 466A you have more shopping and eating places closer by to choose from. South of 44 it seems more like the houses are rubber stamped, track housing, no varity. North off 44 more vegatation around the houses, more space between the house in certain areas. Broaden your horizon in what your looking for, for now and the future.

We moved into Lake Deaton when it was a new neighborhood and got to meet others like outselves new to the area. We moved a couple of years ago to St. John's but have still kept in touch with our "old" friends while we've met new ones in our neighborhood.
Amenities are important to many especially those younger. It appears to me that there are few in the area of Lake Denham and Dabney. On the other hand, eventually there will be a number of choices below the turnpike. That area may be best for you.

:1rotfl:

Wow that is some crystal ball you must have. Can you also predict the weather?

In going to be boldly honest about our FIRST HAND experience. We bought btw 466 &466a because we liked the house, the street, the Rec Ctrs and other established Amenities.

Here's what we have found with old and established... as opposed to New Construction, which we are very familiar with, from our past:

We had a $$$Home Inspection done, which was recommended by a Village Top Seller salesperson.

Now, we get it, he wasn't going to be a DEAL BREAKER, so he told us everything was A-OK, almost perfect!
Not at all true.

Were going on our 3rd year...
•Roof had to be replaced to get Insurance
•Hot water tank had to be replaced, as others all around us were beginning to fail.
• HVAC REPLACED after several service calls, due to system fails

The neighbors are just okay...but we've adjusted right from the start.

They are older, have been there and done it all, so the proverbial statements prevail...
Ohhh, it's so____, so we don't do that anymore. (FILL in the blanks.) Etc.

Here's what we've found with established neighbors in OUR otherwise lovely established neighborhood, to be truthful.

They're old, and REALLY act like it.
Please don't shoot the truth teller.
NOW, does it matter to us?
Not really, but we'd much rather place ourselves around vibrant, happy people.

We join the neighbors in their driveway to sit out and the social time is spent talking about their medical conditions and frailities.
I world much rather hear about a nice club, a good restaurant, recent experience, a Florida treasure, a fun town, than stories about doctors. OMG.

Now, we take Full Responsibility because we've been coming to TV to visit friends for many years, so we saw this pattern with people, as they age out of doing Fun Stuff.
I'd Buy a New Constuction in a N.Y. Minute, If I had it to do over again. The Village Developers are so Awesome, they will catch it up with Shopping, dining, Amenities. You have the time to be in the ground floor. YOU'LL love it!!
Good Luck to you!!
* I waited...to write this to you because the established TOTV readers usually read this site with their morning coffee... so we're past that period.
I didn't want to hear a lot of... well, if you dislike your neighbors so much- move statements.
It's not 'dislike', it's more that we're where they were 10-20 years ago... enjoying early retirement and having fun.
(Don't mean to insult anyone. )

Choosing neighbors/neighborhoods is not easy anywhere. There’s enough on here for you to digest so I guess my only constructive advice is....if you can identify them, stay away from those that tell you not to move to a neighborhood who’s 20 year neighbor (USP Coleman) has been housed long before TV developed their side of the acreage. Your a younger guy, I think you understand my point!

You certainly have lucked into a lousy neighborhood, and that is why you should get to know your neighbors before you move in. When you have an emergency or need something it isn’t your pickleball club etc from the rec center that is going to come and help you. It’s going to be the people next door. You better get to know them.

Go to the area where you enjoy your surroundings, the “atmosphere.” We don’t own there but have been renting for years. We always rent in the Lake Sumter area bc we love the beauty of the mature trees and other vegetation. Spanish Springs is lovely too. Last year we took a tour south of Brownwood and it was like a different world. I’m sure you have or will see what I am talking about.You will make friends wherever you settle.