[Markus]

Originally Posted by coleprice

Golfers shopping for homes in The Villages should NOT purchase a New Home in the Southern Areas, which lack enough Executive Golf Courses. Rather, they should buy a pre-owned home in the Middle or Northern areas which have plenty of Executive golf courses nearby. Also, the Bond is usually paid off on homes in the North and Middle areas, plus you are MUCH CLOSER to Shopping & Restaurants and the landscaping, along with other improvements have been added. Make sure that you include the cost of the BOND when shopping for a home in The Villages, because it is DEBT that you will be assuming that is over and above the purchase price when you buy your home.

Three new golf courses will be opening up in the South very soon.

[skippy05]

Finding friends here is not a problem in either situation. Best focus on all the other pros and cons that will be mentioned in the replies here and decide which of those are important to you. It boils down to the North side being convenient to everything as well as buying an overpriced resale will need extensive and costly renovations while the south side is the reverse on both of those while also having turn Pike noise and high power transmissions lines to experience on a daily basis.

[virtualcynthia]

Keep in mind it’s easy to move within The Villages. It’s not as if this has to be your forever home. I would probably rent for a year in an area where you think you would want to buy. You don’t have to worry about maintenance or insurance and you have an opportunity to really get a feel for the Villages, what It’s like owning here, Which areas have the highest cost, and maybe even find a good deal. Good luck.������

[Mistymom]

I would like to give you a tale of two stories.
My sister moved to TV 16 years ago into a new neighborhood. Their whole street made instant friends and a social club and most were in their early to mid sixties. Of course, my sister and her husband "weeded out" a few people, but overall they have retained their friendships. This has really been helpful having a support group as there were several deaths during COVID.
Now the second story. My husband and myself moved here 3 years ago into an established community between 466a and 44 of residents younger than us. Our community is very active socially, with a golf league and driveway parties throughout the year. We have attempted to join in, but although the people are very nice, we can't seem to break into any the established circles of "friends". We have been able to make friends outside of our neighborhood through meeting people on the golf courses.

[Justputt]

Originally Posted by TommyBoy9

I will likely be moving to TV within the year. I'm an active, single (divorced) man in my upper 50s. I am going back and forth between the idea of buying in the more established areas (in/around the 466/466A areas), or the newer areas down South. I'm wondering how many of you find/found that getting in with new neighbors, where everyone is likely to be more interested in establishing new friendships, is/was a great experience; vs. finding friends through the various clubs and going out, wherever they might live.

The first method is a bit more random but extremely convenient, but I just wonder if on average the excitement of the new neighborhood friendships tends to diminish after a year or two. Also please comment on what you see happening down south regarding development of activity centers (pools, pickle ball courts, golf course, Bocce ball, restaurants, pubs, etc) - does it appear that the activity center density will be as high down south as it is up north? Thanks

I would focus on the house as much as the location. Some homes up north were built before the last round of building code changes and may be problematic to insure. Factor in age of the roof and HVAC too. The upper area has more mature growth and looks nice, but, IMO, designs (footprints, finishes, etc.) are somewhat dated, but there are many pretty areas. We purchased well south, since we wanted newer floorplans and that's the direction TV is growing. Golf is sparser atm and golfcart accessible shopping is more limited, but we all spent most of our lives without a golfcart, so not a big deal IMO. I don't think it matters much where you live when it comes to meeting people. We've found that you almost have to be hiding to not meet people. There are so many clubs, pools, activities, Town Squares, etc.! As for the Squares, I think you'll have many more rental homes near them, so consistent fulltime neighbors were a concern for us. Good luck, and meeting people shouldn't be high on your concerns.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Mistymom

I would like to give you a tale of two stories.
My sister moved to TV 16 years ago into a new neighborhood. Their whole street made instant friends and a social club and most were in their early to mid sixties. Of course, my sister and her husband "weeded out" a few people, but overall they have retained their friendships. This has really been helpful having a support group as there were several deaths during COVID.
Now the second story. My husband and myself moved here 3 years ago into an established community between 466a and 44 of residents younger than us. Our community is very active socially, with a golf league and driveway parties throughout the year. We have attempted to join in, but although the people are very nice, we can't seem to break into any the established circles of "friends". We have been able to make friends outside of our neighborhood through meeting people on the golf courses.

I’m sorry to hear you were not invited into your neighborhood social circles. That is exactly why I checked to see if I fit in with my neighbors before I moved in. If they are in a newer area, that sounds good too. Wherever your tribe is, it’s good. I find people use the word “friends” quite loosely, where I would use the term “acquaintances”. It takes a minimum of 200 hours of people interacting mostly with each other, same interests, same place, etc to make friends according to a Wall Street Journal article, 1000 plus hours to make “best friends” for most people. But you can see people all the time and if your values and interests are different it’s never going to work.

Real estate people aren’t going to comment on your neighbors, “This one is a drunk, that one is a snob” etc. The only things they can say, location of place, number of rooms, type of kitchen counter - like that is going to matter when you need help which you will as we are older.

When you are young the rule of real estate is; “location, location, location”. When you are old it should be; “people, people, people”. Why do you suppose they advertise TV as the “friendliest” home town, instead of the most value of your money, the safest location or …?

[Marmaduke]

Originally Posted by Velvet

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.

WE DID MEET M before we moved in and we DO know them, so sorry not to clarify that.
We like them okay, but they're all ready for "Assisted Living", so we're helping them and acutely aware of their medical conditions.
That is what I was alerting the OP to be aware of, because we as new retirees have already taken care of 2 sets of aging parents, 2 Aunts and are ready to enjoy a relaxed retirement, which we believe we Earned.

We're very good neighbors, but a LOT can happen in 3 years. People were in great health when we moved in, but are NOT now, due to their age and lifestyle choices.
Half of our family and Good friends are here and very nearby, so don't worry, we're A-OK.
I think the OP realized that New Neighborhoods slow you to age GRACEFULLY together. That's All.
When a neighborhood turns over, new people move in... and that is the cycle of life.
We're newly retired, and have things of friends

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

And how exactly do you do that?

When you see them, walk over and introduce yourself. Take walks in the neighborhood and say hello to anyone you meet along the way. Have an open house, wine & cheese party. Join your village FB page (most have them) or get on the social email list...

We did all of those things and have a nice group of friends, despite only being "snowflakes"... Every time we come back they ask when we'll be "Frogs"...

"As soon as possible!", I tell them...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Proximity to the Turnpike can be a game changer, if you do a lot of travelling, or if you have family in other parts of Florida. In the Dabney area, you'll be just a few minutes from the highway entry. Where I am (in the Historic section) it takes me almost an hour to get to the Turnpike for travel south, mostly because traffic between us and Leesburg on 441 is horrendous.

That can be a problem. Going south, I can be on the turnpike (by 470) in 10 minutes. Going north on 75, I shoot out 44 and get on just past 301, maybe 10-15 minutes...

It's one of the reasons I like my location so much... That, and there is only one gate/road in/out. No "pass thru traffic", very few "Lookie Lous"...

I do remember one time, when I was working an a sprinkler head in the front yard, a couple in a rental golf cart stopped and asked "How do we get to Brownwood Square?'" I asked them, "How the hell did you end up in here?"

They replied, "We have no idea!?

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Velvet

I spent time at the neighborhood pool talking to the residents. Talked to people walking around with or without their dogs, in the neighborhood. Asked around. Watched and observed. I got a good sense of what kind of people lived around, and their politics (I don’t take sides) the kind of work they retired from, and a bit of their values, their favorite activities etc. For example, we have almost no “swingers”. We do have one couple but they are super discreet. We have singles but “not looking” types and mostly happily married couples.

The pools are another great way to meet people. Just strike up a conversation with some questions, telling them you're new. 99% of the people will be more than happy to give you their opinions... Which MAY be a double edged sword...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Markus

Three new golf courses will be opening up in the South very soon.

Ignore the poster to whom you responded. He posts the -exact- same post in every thread about buying in the villages south of 44...

[Birdrm]

Originally Posted by TommyBoy9

I will likely be moving to TV within the year. I'm an active, single (divorced) man in my upper 50s. I am going back and forth between the idea of buying in the more established areas (in/around the 466/466A areas), or the newer areas down South. I'm wondering how many of you find/found that getting in with new neighbors, where everyone is likely to be more interested in establishing new friendships, is/was a great experience; vs. finding friends through the various clubs and going out, wherever they might live.

The first method is a bit more random but extremely convenient, but I just wonder if on average the excitement of the new neighborhood friendships tends to diminish after a year or two. Also please comment on what you see happening down south regarding development of activity centers (pools, pickle ball courts, golf course, Bocce ball, restaurants, pubs, etc) - does it appear that the activity center density will be as high down south as it is up north? Thanks

I moved here 2 years ago as a 61 year old divorced man and I decided to move to a new area down south (Hammock at Fenney). I enjoyed being in a new neighborhood and meeting new people as they were moving in and also met new friends at the many block parties that were held that first year.

[Lanieb]

I like my courtyard villa in the old section near Chula Vista rec center and Spanish springs.
It will be for sale in July. You can connect with me at necks2new@gmail.com.
Lanie

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Proximity to the Turnpike can be a game changer, if you do a lot of travelling, or if you have family in other parts of Florida. In the Dabney area, you'll be just a few minutes from the highway entry. Where I am (in the Historic section) it takes me almost an hour to get to the Turnpike for travel south, mostly because traffic between us and Leesburg on 441 is horrendous.

As Disney passholders we are thankful to have the turnpike onramp on 301 just 5 minutes or so from our home in DeLuna. Great also for trips to MCO to fly back home to California to visit our kids and toddler grandson.

[GoRedSox!]

I am 63, my wife is turning 59 this week. We were looking at new and pre-owned simultaneously. We were consistently told that when buying new, folks are closer to our age and all moving in at the same time, so it is easier to meet people.

We eventually opted for pre-owned near Brownwood. Familiarity with the area, proximity to the town square, and other stores and amenities guided our choice. But we didn't know what to expect regarding meeting people.

The day we closed on our house, neighbors appeared on the Welcome Wagon with a basket of cookies and other goodies. We were given a list of everyone who lived in our village with their emails and phone numbers, at least the folks who consented to be on a distribution list. We were given a handout with the address for the website for our village, the Facebook page, and the groups available on Whats App. We were happy to donate to the fund to buy another AED for the village and will get training in the future to know how to use one. We could not have been more warmly welcomed to The Villages and are very appreciative of our neighbors for having such a community spirit.

Good luck, I am one of the glass 7/8ths full people who think you pretty much can't go wrong no matter what choice you make in The Villages.