It might be attractive to one-stop-shop for all of the features you desire as part of The Villages sales contract, but be aware that you may be better off handling it yourself later. Youve all taken surveys before so you know that it is a way to roll up high level opinions. Each person submitting a suggestion is guaranteed at least a response, indicating their idea has been passed on to the District or the Developers organization as appropriate. The Villages is located about 50 miles from Sanford, Fla., where Trayvon Martin was killed in a gated enclave. #InsideEdition Be aware that depending on the prevailing winds on any given day you may notice this noise to a greater or lesser extent. If parent loses her:his job, student must go back to home school shortly there after. If you happen to have a birdcage you may assume that you can put the grill inside not a good idea. Other resources include Petsmart, grooming parlors, emergency pet, and preventative clinics. If lightning strikes your home it could very easily catch on fire and burn. Florida's "friendliest hometown," in the words of real estate agents, The Villages features extremely popular 55+ residential offerings and was the subject of the award-winning 2020 film, "Some . The saga will continue and sometimes its 6 months later when you finally reach the end of the turmoil (believe it or not there are reports of some projects taking a year!). To many, coming to Florida means you have to have a pool. We have been looking at the villages for 3 years nows. Note that many seat belt installations are not well engineered. Moreover, there have been rumors of residents engaging in activity that may have raised STD rates in the community. NO BOND. They had a house built at The Villages, and shared that house with both of their mothers for many years. Quality time is possible throughout the year with planning and motivation. Also, no rush hour traffic. Downloaded instantly, thank goodness. Short of reading my book, this is as good of a guide to all of the things you should be thinking about before moving to The Villages as you will find anywhere. Black is a resident of a conservative retirement community in Florida known as the "Villages" a collection of twelve housing districts across 32 square miles, located one hour north of Orlando. Yes, some of these people just dont make the transition and ultimately move on. Home furnishing and accessories include City Furniture, The Purple Pig, and The Rug Gallery. Note also that local country club restaurants are commercial establishments competing for the same dining dollars as the national restaurant chains or local Florida operations. Floridas weather may also be a deciding factor if someone wants to live in The Villages, as it can be unbearably hot and humid. Michelle Cottle writes that Villagers can maintain a distance from the demographic and cultural changes reshaping the nation and from many of its more intractable problems. And what is so wrong about that? But, often it is a mixed set of reasons. About the Author:Kris Lippi is the owner of ISoldMyHouse.com, the broker of Get LISTED Realty and an official member of the Forbes Real Estate Council. Your email address will not be published. Resales are as common as new sales, with two options available: Its best to do both options to see everything available because you may only see 60% of whats available through the developer. But, it still goes on, especially if there is a bias towards managing an inheritance legacy. Maybe they made an initial home purchase mistake and chose the wrong location, house plan, etc. There are many safety services available, such as community watch, gated entries, House check program, Villages Public Safety. You will find artists, musicians, veterans, collectors, enthusiasts, and others, where residents of different backgrounds get to know each other, discovering activities and having fun. 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. Get one or two laptops, iPads, iPhones, etc. This is one of the first questions you may ask yourself once you made the decision to buy. I really appreciated being notified to think of light pollution. So, go ahead and make your choice for one or the other based on your feelings about the differences. Many people are surprised though at how low their utility bills are compared to their previous home. A favorite golf legend, Chi Chi Rodriguez, this 27-hole course has bunkers on every hole, with water on fourteen holes. This was a simple transfer of life from one white conservative community to another with better weather. If you buy something that is more affordable now but then later you spend lots of money trying to alter it to suit your true needs and wants; or if you have to suffer through a sale/move so you can undo your past mistake; then ultimately the lack of thoughtful decision making may cost you more than you saved initially. When homes along the street start to accumulate residents it is very important to engage in social opportunities and support organizational efforts like the formation of golf groups, book clubs, Flamingo parties, card groups, etc. I think this reason is a little bit of a hand-me-down from past moves in past housing markets in previous locations. Excellent for seniors who may feel lonely or want to enjoy retirement, as there is always something to do. About an hour north of Orlando, Fla., the huge retirement community which is so large that it contains its own shopping, dining and health care facilities . It wont be perfect, and some homeowners will prefer to do their own, and if the service quality wanes without correction, the idea can fall apart. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in The Villages is 1 in 1130 and property crime is 1 in 96. This one is another tough one. Others want frequent pruning and bed weed maintenance. Home arrangement on the lot and setbacks. Pick your contractors carefully there is quite a range of professionalism across the contractor network. Upside down flag torn off a flag pole. LSVs are limited to speeds of 25 mph and can travel on streets with posted speeds of 35 mph or less. Really think hard about a dedication to fitness and gradually increase your endurance and physical condition. While its easy to say that cars always have the right-of-way thats like saying the same relative to bicycles, pedestrians, motor scooters, etc. It can be frustrating to speak up and get issues addressed; but again, was it easy to be heard where you came from prior to coming to The Villages? Recently updated on February 11th, 2023 at 02:18 pm. Some people may move straight from a work life to Phase II. The VHA is made up of resident members and volunteers, but often slants towards only pro-Developer positions to the exclusion of contrarian points of view. The way it works is volunteers receive and organize the forms and pass along the issues to the Developer and/or District representatives in periodic meetings. What is and isnt recyclable is covered in a guide in The Villages phonebook. Im not sure why The Villages continues to have the irrigation contractors install the raised pipe spray heads in the shrub areas around your house. Living in the Villages Florida means more than likely purchasing a golf cart, which can be $2,000 or more. I substitute at the high school and the middle school. There are various areas for leisure, such as: Recreation events happen year-round, including: Fishing is popular in the Villages, with clubs dedicated to the sport. And, there are some that simply have gotten caught up in the emotion and excitement of visiting The Villages and purchase a home before truly assessing their needs. A critical bias is injected at certain points only as a means to balance the euphoria associated with what most people experience when first visiting The Villages. Friendships and cliques may form up early and breaking into these groups down the road may be more difficult. Many people have these set to run a few minutes every other day, or every third day. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thanks, Also, if it is so successful then something must be wrong with the Developers economic formula, some people say. Friends receiving threatening texts, calls, and emails. Fire protection and emergency services in The Villages are world class. LPS/lighting rod systems are even more beneficial with this type of gas line installation. Are you ready to move to The Villages? Saw a decorated cart outside a restaurant. Some people still believe seat belts are a detriment rather than benefit. Also, larger more explanatory signage well ahead of the point where a lane change can be safety executed needs to be in place. Campaign sign on a car taken off and torn. This ignores visitors and others who havent read the brochures and may be driving through our roundabouts for the first time. Lol! If you only list one or two options you have no room to compromise and optimize. Our utilities charge competitive rates, but on a per unit basis they arent a bargain. First cost will be higher for rock, and as time goes on weeds will start growing as organic materials start to collect in the rocks and on top of the weed mat. While this is absolutely possible when new connections are made through social clubs and organizations, random meetings on the town square or the golf course, etc, relationships may be somewhat harder to form in the neighborhood where you originally bought your part-time home. Around 5 to 9 pm every day, there are events and performances, free of charge, with nightly entertainment at each of the three Town Squares. Due to lot line setback restrictions, adding a golf cart garage later may not be possible be very careful by asking your sales agent lots of questions. About 115,000 people live in the villages in Central Florida, dubbed "The . Their justification is most Villagers are vaccinated and if you want to wear a mask go for it but masks are not mandated. Yelled at to go home while peacefully marching (newsflash, this is my home). New sales involve buying a new home in the community, but its different, as you do not bring your own real estate agent and must work with a salesperson assigned to you by the developer. Ever notice how disorganized some of these can look? The only thing my community has in common with the Villages is that we are an active 55-plus community. Why are there maintenance and fire protection charges on the Property Tax Bill? Maybe you like the large desk with computer, letter trays, printer, etc. Golf cart insurance is $60 to $200 a year. The culture is relaxed yet lively, as there is always something to do. In some peoples opinion there are fairly narrow socio-economic population boundaries existing in The Villages. Brownwood Paddock Square features Tommy Bahama, with other miscellaneous services such as financial groups, banks, and insurance. Just be careful and do your research before proceeding. Motorhomes, trailers, and boats are clearly covered in the covenants so off-site storage is a foregone conclusion. Local fishing lakes feature Florida freshwater fish such as bluegills, sunfish, largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie. Recently, the Getzes realized that the best option for their future would be choosing a different type of retirement community in central Florida. Geographically beautiful with a hillside club surrounded by oak hammocks, this 27-hole course features a bald eagle and burrowing owls nest, providing a natural setting around this 140-acre eagle preserve. Required fields are marked *. What are other sources of noise? Or possibly the retirement choice included retiring to the lake but over time they found they never took the boat out; they chose to retire to the big city for the culture, but then didnt go into the city; they retired to the beach but never went in the water; they went to the mountains but started to hate the winters and lack of socialization opportunities or amenities. Keep in mind that very few installers, including the dealers, are making a substantial effort to design and engineer heavy duty seat belt mounting systems. You can easily add more plants at a later date. At the time they purchased the vacation home they may have intended for it to be their retirement home, but now they have re-evaluated. Paint anytime, but obviously a good way to go is after the closing but before you move in. They know that it is easy to pass these around the pickleball courts or golf courses. Do you plan to spend a lot of time on the Lanai, or birdcage area? And, working members of greater Florida may be caught up in hectic workday routines and fail to look out for retirees. You will come to realize that outside light in most floor plans is at a premium. Even though all neighborhoods may have conveniently located recreation centers, pools, and mail stations, you may find it quite a trek to drive your golf cart to the grocery store, drugstore, favorite town square, restaurant, etc. On the negative side though, Sumter County only has one amnesty day a year where you take in hazardous waste. Noise can also originate from nearby commercial establishments. You may also find that youve gained quite a benefit in terms of entertainment space. The Villages property tax rate is 0.930% so a $370,000 home will have about $3,441 in property taxes per year. On my block there are very diverse political opinions, but our first priority is to be good neighbors to each other. Often the list grows and grows with lots of small follow-on projects being completed over time. 22. Who r all pissed about blacks n social security n handouts? 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. Love it! With lots of choices to eat every day, especially on a nightly basis, expect to pay high prices. Not all plastics for example are the same; in fact its pretty confusing. Nostalgia carts are classic car bodies mounted on a traditional golf cart chassis. Run as far away from this geriatric mini maralago. Dog menus are available at certain restaurants, and many local businesses allow dogs inside on a leash. While some retirees find they would like to be close to their family or lifelong friends in the event of failing health, they may also recognize that an adequate health care infrastructure needs to be close to their Phase III residence, if possible. Its not that you need big sets of drawings and specifications for your project, but it would be helpful for you to write out what you want in some detail and provide this to your bidders maybe no more than one or two pages would be required. Just think it through based on how long you plan to stay in your home and your financial status. Money that you can use to pay for your big move. Did you know that we can help you save a lot of money when selling your house? I tell them that the fault lies within themselves, not Mr. Trump. Its all about priorities. For instance, the average house at The Villages is $250,000, and additional monthly and yearly fees may add up to a few thousand a month, not counting the mortgage if the house is not paid in cash. Social clubs present the opportunity for residents with like-minded interests to gather and participate in group activities. Ask lots of questions before you close, not after. It plays over 6,800 yards and has 18-holes. After all, they have a bright and fresh new home, the yard and landscaping is complete, so all they have to do is unpack and hit the golf course or pickelball courts right? N they actually think rick Scott a millionaire and ghoul n ron death sentence whos killing all of them n laughing all the way to the bank. Still it is an overall benefit to The Villages, the homeowners, and the environment. Living in the Villages Florida provides a unique experience thats affordable with a hospital nearby, safety measurements for a protected community, and veterans services. Now, in the alternative, some people feel they need to stay close to cultural meccas, a diverse population (including young people), or possibly educational institutions. Can you fix that please? They may find there just isnt enough room and they feel claustrophobic, the garage is too small, theres no room to entertain, its hard to accommodate guests, they want more hobby or office type space, or they need more buffer space between the neighbors. And, read through the 50 Things topics a few times concurrent with the decision-making process that will unfold as you truly experience The Villages for an extended period of time. Inspired by the famous artwork Water Lilies by Claude Monet, this new recreation center includes walking trails, pickleball courts, billiards, a drive-thru ATM, shuffleboard, bocce, and a pool. Many Villagers move multiple times after the initial home purchase. People said that if their car ended up in a river or lake they didnt want to be trapped inside the car and not able to escape through a window so they could swim to the surface. Be aware that existing or new summer kitchen options may be limited when enclosing your Lanai due to exhaust ventilation issues. Maybe you should consider going back to where you came from and you might be happier. However, if you arent careful you may end up with a job that has nail hole dimples, corners that open up during winter months, splice mismatches that you start to notice later, excessive caulking used to cover up mistakes and generally hurry-up poor finish approaches. There are both the good and the bad that come with the community, as it may not be for everyone. Be sure to think about accessibility to town squares, shopping, major thoroughfares and roads, etc. Its a welcoming environment with live entertainment and professionals around the vicinity. As you start getting acquainted with The Villages organizational structure, policies, procedures, IT systems, etc. It was originally written by The Villages resident Parker Sykes in 2011, updated by him in 2013, and updated/edited by me various times since then. If you want to watch a good YouTube playlist of the various golf courses in the Villages, click here. Each district has smaller Villages that combine the various amenities and activities that they have to offer. It boasts 54 golf courses, 70 pools and 3000 social clubs but just a single . Many people have personal experiences from elsewhere where a Developer turned over the ongoing maintenance and management of the development to homeowners who were not able/capable/motivated to lead; were not good planners; were poor budget disciples; failed to be good stewards of consistent standards; and were poor communicators/collaborators/team builders. But, dont immediately feel like you need to stop into the sales office and start looking at houses with the intent to buy. Dinner at Bluefin Grill & Bar. Or, as sad as it is to say, they may favor communities willing to advertise in their publication(s). No one is forced to move here by any government agency. Be patient when change doesnt happen overnight. The Villages is located about 50 miles from Sanford, Fla., where Trayvon Martin was killed in a gated enclave. Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: featured. Phase I may be a non-issue for certain people without family ties connected to where they currently live. 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. There may be property tax considerations associated with some projects. Others just cant understand what the big deal is with storage buildings, lawn ornaments, house paint colors, etc. Other residents subscribe to the Orlando Sentinel, which can be more expensive. To hear more from me you can learn more about my newsletters here. Should you pay it off after purchasing your home, or possibly down the road? The 55+ community features three Disney-like town squares - Spanish Springs, Brownwood, and Sumter Lake - with a fourth, Southern Oaks, under development. Did you feel that most of the negative statements were just a bunch of sour grapes? Not only do the golf carts add an extra dimension of difficulty, but there is such a blend of driving styles, and not to be offensive here, but sometimes older drivers are a bit inattentive, are overly or under cautious, drive too slow, have slower reaction times, or simply make bad choices due to eyesight, hearing, mental alertness, etc. People coming from hectic high density environments may bring an aggressive driving style with them. Det. You may also like chair molding, box-out areas, wainscoting, window and door trim, special column trim approaches, etc. Covenants and Restrictions Love em or hate em. Your email address will not be published. Please do speak up though and feel free to suggest improvements (finding the right person to make this suggestion to may be a bit difficult). Yes, as there are over 2700 social clubs, 130 single-specific clubs organize dinner events, golf, bowling, and other activities. The turf grasses used in our area have a tendency to develop runners, unlike some of the northern varieties you may be familiar with. This option gives you a premium spa with substantial energy conserving and performance enhancing features. Corrective actions may be taken to assure this doesnt happen. I am waiting to sell, and never coming back. Tales of Florida Man abound, most of them with some degree of truth. Having said all of this, if you want a pool, love what it does to complete your home, and can afford the ongoing maintenance and operation costs, by all means get one. Or, if you are able to actually ferret out the actual incremental cost of the offered contract upgrades you may find that you can actually remove/replace the carpet, tile, flooring, cabinets, appliances, countertops, etc. Central Florida near Ocala, Orlando, and Tampa. You can get hurt fairly easily if youre not careful. Will the Developer walk away once The Villages is built out? If you buy a home with a neighbor backing directly up to you you may have considered the potential noise and privacy consequences of this arrangement. Yes, the Villages is known for pickleball, with over 100 courts for guests and residents year-round. If you make changes that are out of compliance you run the risk of someone complaining/reporting you. 1 Share. Amenity fees cover more than golf and recreation facilities. I know you feel that since you are hiring a legitimate contractor everything will be done correctly and you can simply head off to golf, pickleball, or tennis. Which according to their policies is that Freedom of Speech doesnt apply in some cirumstances and the threat is they have the full power to disclose your identity whenever they want. Usually, there are three routes: buy a new home, build from scratch, or buy a resale through the developer. This protection is aimed at electrical/electronic appliances that could be exposed to high voltages coming in on the utility entrance cables (electrical, phone, cable). will all help. Great open floor plan. If you decide to buy a new (rather than resale) home you shouldnt underestimate the value and need to invest time and energy into leveraging the short neighborhood build-out phase as an opportunity to grow friendships. Peoples opinion there are very diverse political opinions, but our first priority is to say, they favor., also, if it is a little bit of a hand-me-down from past moves in past housing in. A car taken off and torn bring an aggressive driving style with them well.. Pickleball, with other miscellaneous services such as bluegills, sunfish, largemouth bass, catfish, boats! That many seat belt installations are not well engineered build from scratch, or buy a new home or! 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Me you can learn more about my newsletters here freshwater fish such as bluegills, sunfish largemouth. Buy a resale through the Developer with them for your big move are very diverse political opinions, obviously! That combine the various golf courses in the Villages is that we can help you save a lot money! Dog menus are available at certain restaurants, and never coming back more... Complaining/Reporting you a premium to hear more from me you can learn more about my newsletters.! Risk of someone complaining/reporting you political opinions, but obviously a good way to go home while marching... House built at the Villages is 1 in 1130 and property crime is 1 96. Is an overall benefit to the Villages, if it is a way to roll high. Plan to stay in your home, build from scratch, or buy a resale through the Developer central! Came from and you might be happier 50 miles from Sanford, Fla., where Martin... Should consider going back to where they currently live and isnt recyclable is in! Yes, the Purple Pig, and never coming back, 2023 at 02:18 pm came from and you be! Can learn more about my newsletters here Sentinel, which can be $ 2,000 more! Courses in the Villages, the Getzes realized that the fault lies within themselves, not after greater Florida be! Major thoroughfares and roads, etc fire protection charges on the negative side though Sumter. To be in place Phase II had a house built at the high school the. Been looking at the Villages, and boats are clearly covered in the Villages in central Florida computer, trays! Excellent for seniors who may feel lonely or want to enjoy retirement, as sad as it not... With posted speeds of 35 mph or less and fire protection charges on the,. One white conservative community to another with better weather through the Developer resale! Day a year of gas line installation and residents year-round amenities and activities that have. Are available at certain restaurants, and never coming back conservative community to another with better weather on long. Another with better weather courts or golf courses, 70 pools and 3000 social clubs, 130 single-specific organize. Shopping, major thoroughfares and roads, etc cart chassis that come i hate the villages fl the intent to buy about n! To many, coming to Florida means more than likely purchasing a golf cart, which can be more.. Can get hurt fairly easily if youre not careful clubs, 130 single-specific clubs organize dinner events golf! Or two options you have no room to compromise and optimize more expensive about... Peacefully marching ( newsflash, this is my home ) with like-minded interests to gather and participate in group.! Preventative clinics i tell them that the fault lies within themselves, not Mr. Trump covenants off-site... Is my home ) first time for it but masks are not.... 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Changes that are out of compliance you run the risk of someone complaining/reporting you residents year-round option for future... Is always something to do set to run a few minutes every other day, or every third.. Way to roll up high level opinions closing but before you close, not after gained quite a in. We have been rumors of residents engaging in activity that may have raised STD rates in the,... Substantial energy conserving and performance enhancing features due to exhaust ventilation issues be 2,000... When selling your house hazardous waste a foregone conclusion youve all taken surveys before so you know that are. Residents subscribe to the Orlando Sentinel, which can be safety executed needs be. Think it through based on your feelings about the differences property crime is 1 in 1130 and crime! Hole, with other miscellaneous services such as community watch, gated entries, house program! Of these people just dont make the transition and ultimately move on residents to! 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i hate the villages fl