The only exceptions are the part-time homeowners that are seasonal residents where their personalization satisfaction quotient has been satisfied at their permanent home (or 2nd home) elsewhere. Edging and curbing, or decorative approaches like Hacienda block, flagstone, stone, etc. They may not be retirement age and may have outdated ideas and opinions about what is important to potential retirees. Further Reading: Looking For More Moving To Florida Resources? The Villages Map. The largest retirement community in Florida is billed as a playground for seniors, but according to some residents, its not all that meets the eye. Dont assume that you will always be able to stay inside and avoid these and other noises. Just hitting the market, property for sale at 772 Hammond Pl, The Villages, FL 32162, USA. Note that tire designs must be approved for golf course use. Campaign sign on a car taken off and torn. 13. Success is impeded by individuals who refuse to comply. I wish I could learn to hold onto that feeling every minute instead of when I hear of someone leaving TV . The Community Development District approach can be a bit convoluted, but all in all its a good system that should serve us well in the years ahead. As you know, there are plenty of articles published in magazines covering the topic of where to retire, including relevant decision-making criteria and data. Of course, privacy is at a premium in The Villages and the lot premium will often substantially increase your home purchase price. Now, add in all of the restrictions on water and you now have limitations based on both cold hardiness and drought resistance. Maybe the Phase I draw of the family and friends hampered their evaluation of Phase II/Phase III alternatives? Yes, many are politically conservative and exercise their right to express their views no matter how abhorrent they are to some in the media. just moved into the villages about 1 month ago. Because we are a Covid hot spot, hospitals are full, elective procedures canceled, long lines for tests, cannot get treatment because providers are overwhelmed, every county in Florida is red. Its a welcoming environment with live entertainment and professionals around the vicinity. You can purchase small fountains with integral pumps or have custom ones designed and built to fit your desires. Read more about ushere. In rare cases I suppose some may have a very difficult health care need that would carry them to the backyard of some major health care facility but this is probably the exception. Living in the Villages Florida means more than likely purchasing a golf cart, which can be $2,000 or more. It seemed odd to me that so many people in the Villages would have an interest in birds. Are you sure youre really ready to leave your home place and/or the kids/grandkids (move from Phase I to Phase II)? Id rather be close to the water, or the mountains, the big city, my favorite NFL team, a cultural mecca, or ? The Villages is just TOO MUCH, people get overwhelmed with all there is to do The Villages is too large and too crowded. There are so many people here during the peak season that you cant get a tee time. There is too much traffic at peak (golf cart traffic in particular). You can get a lot more home for your money elsewhere. The production home build/high density lot arrangement doesnt allow for enough home uniqueness, individuality, or privacy. Its too cold in the winter (by south Florida standards) and too hot in the summer (actually seldom over 95). There are too many rude people (comment more prevalent during the peak season). Theres not enough snob appeal (not really stated this way; the point is that some folks would rather have a higher price-of-admission community). I dont like being told what color I can paint my house or how I must landscape, i.e. While some may feel threatened, it is the commercial infrastructure of The Villages that should serve us well into the future if things deteriorate businesses will suffer; therefore, there is motivation to maintain and/or improve. You need to be aware of this severe weather reality as contrasted with where you last lived. the covenants and restrictions are too restrictive. Im scared of what will happen when The Villages is built out will it deteriorate like other planned communities Ive heard about? I resent the Developer (too successful, makes too much money, individuals cant have a say in how things are run, too dictatorial, etc). Most of the businesses seem to lead back to the Developer in some way, surely this cant be right? I dont like that the Country Clubs dont function like the Country Club where I used to live (they are simply separate commercially operated golf course and restaurant operations, not social organizations benefiting the residents/members). I dont play golf so why do I want to live in The Villages? But, dont immediately feel like you need to stop into the sales office and start looking at houses with the intent to buy. We need something better, but for now, definitely check out Seniors vs. Crime, get multiple references, check out other jobs performed by the same contractor, etc. The noise can start quite early. If the fairway is narrow and the homes are fairly close to the fairway, be cautious of living anywhere within range of shots off of the tee. You can easily add more plants at a later date. 27. The multi-modal paths are major golf cart arteries. The builders and subs dont want to do anything that jeopardizes their ability to be on the qualified (low price plus Developer trusted friend) bidder list. Without new, younger residents moving in and keeping the community active, amenities fell into disrepair, new social clubs werent organized, restaurants closed or restricted hours, golf course maintenance suffered, etc. Located in The Village of Hawkins, Aviary Village Recreation Center gets its inspiration from the eagle and other birds around Florida. Retirees zip along in colorful golf carts through the perfectly landscaped grounds on paths that were designed for the vehicles. What you have to keep in mind is that in our situation the cost to develop your particular neighborhood/lot is broken out separately rather than being rolled up inside your lot/home cost. 8. The Villages is doing a good job of providing some basic drought resistance/cold hardy landscaping with the homes, but the look may be a bit repetitive and boring. I am waiting to sell, and never coming back. Many small contractors do little work themselves so they are always at the mercy of other subcontractors, who are also probably spreading themselves too thin. Designed in consultation with golf pros such as Tommy Aaron, Hubert Green, and John Mahaffey, this 27-hole course features scenic views, bunks, and challenging elevation. With choices such as Publix, Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie, and other smaller stores, groceries can be decent depending on how many people are in the home. We looked for local theater, restaurants and educational opportunities, all of which abound in the Villages. I may have to locate a church out of the village for a multi-generational atmosphere. Seven out of none holes have water hazards, making this course extremely tough. For example, first they need to truly understand that age-restricted is also age-segregated. One way to think about it is to think of some small family-owned business youve dealt with in that past that started to grow and get big. Union workers, working 30 years for large factory plants like Remington and GM. Golf carts and cars have to co-exist in The Villages. Pick your contractors carefully there is quite a range of professionalism across the contractor network. People coming from hectic high density environments may bring an aggressive driving style with them. But dont you sometimes wonder about what motivates and biases the authors of these articles? Remember the early argument against seat belt use in cars? What actually works so well for The Villages simply rubs some people the wrong way. The trial run rental or extended vacation approach will help you firm these up. Typically if you carried a mortgage on your lot/home, you were simply paying principle and interest over say a 15 or 30 year time period. Do we love our restaurants, hate them, or simply tolerate them? It seems the story plays out over and over. But a benefit of buying an existing home is that you dont have to live with months of dust, dirt, and inconvenience, and the cost of finishing your new home. Also, the Villages is approximately 40 miles from the west coast and 70 miles from Floridas east coast, enough for a weekend trip or beach day. When people retired to diverse locations with lots of younger people they may have initially felt it would help keep them feeling (and acting) young but what some realized is that many of the younger people had kids to raise and friends their own age that dominated their time. A better way to go is to have a dedicated drip system. Now, some allowances can be made for the construction traffic during new neighborhood construction, as most of this should go away or move to a maintenance-only mode in the future. One reviewer on Yelp mentions that the Villages is more diverse than it lets on and that there is an activity for everyone, keeping residents occupied. It should be noted that a lot of people assume that a standard garage is OK, but many prefer having the additional golf cart garage. The dcor inside the Everglades Recreation Complex is inspired by the swamp, with a natural feel, built with wood. The second phase of retirement takes on more of a me emphasis: travel, recreation, hobbies, lifelong learning, pursuing more agreeable weather etc, etc. Read his Letter to the Editor. Charlotte, NC. You already know about these things or are willing to find these answers through publications such as Inside the Bubble. Use something like 5 inch for 8 foot ceilings and 6 inch to 7 inch sizes (or double arrangements) where you have 10 foot ceilings. Make sure youve written down a full range of alternatives, of which The Villages is one. Odors can be a problem if you purchase downwind from one of the sewage treatment facilities interior to The Villages. They waste water, can stain the walls of the house, blow mist onto the windows, etc. The term messy can mean different things to different people: not necessarily litter on the side of the road but contentious city council meetings; urban sprawl; strip malls on every corner; crime; traffic congestion (OK, I know in the winter months the golf cart traffic jams can be extreme); unpredictable real estate market dynamics; state, local, and even neighborhood politics negatively impacting your life; areas held hostage to the success of the industries and businesses prominent in the area; homeowners having the freedom to do what they want with their home and property; and living in a widely diverse socio-economic/political/cultural environment. We probably pay a slight premium over what the same home would cost us elsewhere, but we dont really have a choice if you want The Villages lifestyle, you buy a home designed and built by the Developers organization and contractor network. Possible expenses of $200 to $500 a month. Every time The Villages makes the national news, people I know from around the country call to find out if we are OK. At least it gets my children to call. Two special types of golf carts are in use around The Villages in addition to the normal golf carts: Street Legal LSV (Low Speed Vehicles) and Nostalgia carts. One of the ways that this is being done is to publish criticisms of whole communities like the Villages. Keep in mind that we are all resistant to change, but try and maintain a positive continuous improvement attitude and do your part to offer good solutions to any problems you see. Life in The Villages is much different. Quality time is possible throughout the year with planning and motivation. You want to plant some annuals? Its really best if newcomers think this through carefully. Its a golfing and recreational activity mecca for very active 55+ people. Are you ready to move to The Villages? A possibly more significant noise issue has to do with the pickelball courts adjacent to the rec centers. It seems to infringe on their free will. Global Warming and Rising Sea Levels. After creating your own personalized list of options youll have to apply your own decision-making criteria and weighting factors to narrow down the choices. There are three types of recreational centers: Other activities include theater, air guns, archery ranges, RC cars, and boats, pickleball, and more. LSVs are limited to speeds of 25 mph and can travel on streets with posted speeds of 35 mph or less. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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