Be especially aware of the major stretch options that are offered with some home plan and lot combinations. One unique approach is to use an in-ground vault and an above-ground spa dropped down below grade into the vault. Good project planning, organizing, and project management skills are lacking. #1 will be cut before #2, and so forth. With a more rural, small-town feel, Brownwood is reminiscent of an early 19th century Florida cattle town. repeat 0. bookmark_border. Restaurants like Bravo Pizza, Subway, Johnny Rockets, Guy Fieris American Kitchen & Bar, Starbucks, and Panera Bread occupy this town square. 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. There are seven types of homes you may purchase: Patio Villas, Cottage Villas, Courtyard Villas, Cottage Homes, The Verandas, Designer Homes, and Premier Homes. 23. But Nina Hollander, Broker the lizard type of creature eats bugs, I hate bugs more than cute little geckos! This is great. You might find The Villages a little overpowering after living in the quiet "boonies". Quality time is possible throughout the year with planning and motivation. 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. Many of us baby boomers grew up in a social climate that valued volunteerism and public service. Flagpole taken off a house and broken. It defies logic; you paid maybe $125 to $150 a square foot for your home new so why does a simple building addition price out at multiples of this new home unit cost. thanks for the info! If the golf cart has used the turn signals and/or hand signals, and they are merging well in advance of the approaching car traffic, then cars must slow down and let the carts enter. Other residents subscribe to the Orlando Sentinel, which can be more expensive. Still, everyone needs to take the time to participate. Note that pools can often hurt rather than help a resale. For many first time visitors to The Villages they are so impressed that they feel an urge to buy property quickly they dont want to miss out, and they want to quickly become part of the phenomena. Make the trips to the grocery store in your rental golf cart, join in activities at the local rec center, head down to the closest town square a few evenings, etc. Its a welcoming environment with live entertainment and professionals around the vicinity. Thank you so much for the entertaining and informative article regarding the Villages. 1. It all depends on personal taste, your decorating biases, home style, etc. Congratulations, you have successful unlocked our "Home Sellers Masterclass". Dont retire focus on a 1st career extension or pursue a 2nd career live where you must Move to a mid-sized university town Sell everything; rent when/where you want; travel; be a free spirit Stay where you are in the same home, staying connected to the community; enhance with volunteerism if appropriate If medical needs dictate retire close to a world-class hospital Retire to Costa Rica, a Caribbean island, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Australia, etc Buy a downsize home in your current community in a non-age-targeted neighborhood Move close to other friends that have retired and adopt their lifestyle Live most or all of the year on a cruise ship set up for retirees Move to an age-targeted (or age restricted) community in your current local Move to a secluded, quiet location in the mountains, on a lake, etc Retire on a boat and sail the world or cruise the rivers and waterways Move close to one or more kids pick whatever housing is available and convenient Move to a quaint small town close to a resort, back in the area where you were born, etc Maintain some sort of small home base and spend most of the time traveling the world Move to an age-targeted or age-restricted community within a short drive from family Live on the beach, or close to one Create a retirement scenario focused heavily on your hobby passion (cars, painting, boating, golf, etc) Move to an upscale traditional country club development Buy a small farm, orchard, winery, bed-and-breakfast, etc. Hybrid formula based on seasonal/snowbird migration patterns Live in the big city Sell the house/buy a RV/move with the seasons Move to a sunbelt active-adult/age-restricted community, Terminology and phrases sometimes used to describe The Villages (both positive and negative connotations): Age Restricted (over 55 restricted rather than simply age targeted) Master Planned Active Adult Community Deed Restricted Over 55 Retirement Community Disney for Adults Fantasyland Gateway to Disneyworld Adult Playground Living in a bubble on the reservation in the compound on campus Clustered CDDs not a town/city/municipality Build a hometown where your dreams come true Benevolent Dictatorship (Developer Dominant) Company Town (Developer/Friends/Family ownership and control) Golf Cart Community Buy the lifestyle, not the house Live like a millionaire on a ________ (fill in tight budget, pension, fixed income, limited resources, social security check, etc) Dont necessarily like Florida but love The Villages Gated Community (gates in The Villages are primarily for traffic control, not security) Leisureville (note book by this name) The Stepford Wives, Pleasantville, The Truman Show (movies) Retirement Utopia Living like being on permanent vacation The fastest growing and largest community of its type in the world. Whats the lesson here? Ask lots of questions before you close, not after. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, "The Villages Word of Mouth," was revealing. Obviously this is a matter of personal choice, but in general folks seem to only need one car and one, or even two golf carts. 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. Sorry, I cant remember where so I cant give credit to the author. better get them the plan, flower information, pictures, etc. You dont want water moving towards the foundation and/or overloading the perimeter drainage system surrounding your homes footings and basement. Its a golfing and recreational activity mecca for very active 55+ people. It holds more than 100,000 residents in an area bigger than Manhattan. Some folks coming to The Villages start to resent the local Daily Sun newspaper. Others may look at it like an infringement on their personal space. If you sell down the road youre selling against other resales and new homes, and if you are pricing your home above the market to recoup your bond pay-off investment you have to count on the buyer giving you full credit for the bond payoff amount. It appears to most authorities that it cannot be treated as a deduction for tax purposes, but its best to talk to your own tax expert. There are plenty of lessons learned from other communities, Europe, etc., as to how to properly mark traffic lanes PRIOR to entering the roundabouts. 6. Install a wireless router and do your computer oriented work anywhere in the house or on the Lanai. North side areas dont have exactly the same rules as the newer neighborhoods because the Developer learned along the way that a tightening of the rules was needed. Forgive them for wanting to enjoy a little peace in their final years. Now, add in all of the restrictions on water and you now have limitations based on both cold hardiness and drought resistance. Others using insulated glass window/door systems and mini-split heat pump wall or ceiling mounted systems will get good flexible use of the space while still preserving a lot of the outdoor Lanai space look and feel. All they talk about is lifestyle, not any of the numerous restrictions that are just ridiculous and , as far as I am concerned, take away from the lifestyle. Note that new neighborhoods often attract other new retirees of similar ages with a like motivation to meet new neighbors. etc. Utilities bleed off the largest portion of these high energy lightning strikes, but sometimes a voltage spike less than the bleed-off threshold can get through their system and damage sensitive electronic devices in your home. It seems to infringe on their free will. 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. Browse photos, see new properties, get open house info, and research neighborhoods on Trulia. Neither approach is helpful. I moved to Central Florida 40 years ago from the frozen North. Sometimes people self-limit almost to the point of being rude - they feel theyve reached their maximum number of friends and want no more. Open-play, tournaments, and clinics are available throughout the community. This option gives you a premium spa with substantial energy conserving and performance enhancing features. Think about separating the business aspect of taking your dog outside from the exercise part of the outdoor adventure. The reality is that we have to deal with mixed traffic, especially at intersections. Personally, I would not waste my time reading the hate items of disenchanted youths who are working at menial jobs in The Villages. 10. Rock with weed-mats underneath can and should be the lowest maintenance option over the long run. Resales may be less burdensome if the previous homeowner has already completed a number of these projects to your liking. A clue to The Villages' uniqueness, and why so many of its residents adore it, can be found in its facilities. Would you ever come up to an intersection on a four lane road in the left lane and then turn right? Re The Nihilism of the Golden Years, by Michelle Cottle (Sunday Review, March 6): Ms. Cottle, your opinion piece about the Villages is one-sided and biased. ISoldMyHouse.com has 3 ways for you to sell your house and, An Honest Review About Living In the Villages Florida. The pine straw used by The Villages is environmentally friendly and easy on the plants, but it will require renewal at least twice annually. Why do a lot of the lists leave out The Villages? Required fields are marked *. Do think twice about getting a petition together. This one can be frustrating. Florida not only has bugs but insects too that may put your home at risk, such as termites. This consideration is often forgotten until its too late be alert! We actually prefer this Lifestyle to remain physically and mentally active as we age. Not really, but you will be surprised by how much it does cost to add a small room addition, summer kitchen, bathroom, etc. He covers all the bases for you to start thinking about. The primary source of voltage surges occurs when an overhead line is struck by lightning somewhere upstream of your home and a voltage surge goes through the local transformers and distribution network, ultimately reaching your home. There are three movies theaters at the Villages: The Villages Polo Club is fast-paced entertainment for residents to watch, as polo players provide exciting, heart-pumping action. Downloaded instantly, thank goodness. Also in 2011 they partnered with USF (University of South Florida) Health to help educate residents on a variety of healthcare issues. He actively writes about real estate related topics such as buying and selling homes, how-to guides for around the house and home product recommendations. The Villages has one of the lowest crime rates in the state. As vehicles turn, the headlights sweep the houses in their path. Yes, many are politically conservative and exercise their right to express their views no matter how abhorrent they are to some in the media. Be aware that depending on the prevailing winds on any given day you may notice this noise to a greater or lesser extent. This form of government should provide a sustainable way to fund all of the necessary maintenance expenditures in the years to come. Normally the worst location is 150 to 200 yards from the mens tees on the right side of the fairway (further for the big hitters). Some might consider it a great benefit of living in The Villages. Estimates are around $50 to $75 a month. But she shouldnt judge the Villagers for their envious decision to move to Shangri-La. The Villages management will not mandate masks for indoors; restaurants with young servers, pro shops employed by older people, recreation centers where activities are at full capacity. This will only be successful if someone takes the lead and aggressively deals with quality and service issues for the benefit of all. After the approvals the contractor may in fact move onto the job and start a little work. Everyone is motivated at this stage to meet new people and make friends. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 All Rights Reserved. Just accept that the fact that most of you will have to personalize your home to some extent to make it livable. As mentioned, natural light is at a premium so be careful that your fabric choices dont excessively block valuable natural light. Please note, some resales will be listed with the Villages sales associates and will not be in the MLS either. Boasting 100,000 residents over the age of 55, The Villages may be the fastest growing city in America. On the topic of scale, if The Villages was actually an incorporated city or town, the population of The Villages would rank number 28 out of the 411 municipalities in the state of Florida (2011). I know its tough to make a costly decision like choosing plantation shutters or expensive drapery arrangements early. Learn how your comment data is processed. Threatening letter sent to husband to control his wife.. Odors can be a problem if you purchase downwind from one of the sewage treatment facilities interior to The Villages. However, children cannot live in the community as there is an age restriction of 55, but there are exemptions. This size and scale wasnt accomplished by accident. They have good light control characteristics plus they block less light when open as compared to blinds. It is probably just an even more complex web of financial arrangements that will still allow us to vote with our pocketbook if we are individually dissatisfied with some commercial business operation going forward. These are actual things that have happened to friends and acquaintances in The Villages, aka, Florida's Friendliest Hometown, because of a difference of beliefs. In some peoples opinion there are fairly narrow socio-economic population boundaries existing in The Villages. If you actually get your medium to larger projects completed in 60 to 90 days consider yourself to be very lucky. The way questions are asked, and how theyre worded, can bias the results a bit. 27. Phase III prioritizes being close to or part of an advanced age-friendly environment, especially from a health care perspective. 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. 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. Confederate flags on cars, carts and homes, and worse, nazi flags in stores around The Villages. Edging and curbing, or decorative approaches like Hacienda block, flagstone, stone, etc. Large, pesky bugs are common in Florida, especially during the summer, and many residents pay $80 to $100 for pest control. Yelled at to go home while peacefully marching (newsflash, this is my home). County roads carry truck traffic in addition to cars. There are too many restaurants that seem to serve all of the comfort food people enjoy. They were tired of maintaining a big home and yard and they had no need for the room required by an expanded family. This statute is known as the "hate crime statute," which increases the minimum and maximum penalties that a judge could impose. I could not possibly live without a fence that would allow me to let my dogs out. Insurance is much higher than the 20 mph carts, even if you dont license the vehicle. I am looking forward to the library and charter school. Living in the Villages Florida means more than likely purchasing a golf cart, which can be $2,000 or more. This is obviously open to debate and there is no single answer. Also, periodic renewal will still be necessary. Your project will be completed in a quality manner in 60 to 90 days dont bet on it! Where To Get Free Moving Boxes? 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. If the revisions youve made are out of line you could find yourself in the middle of an appeal, letter writing exercise, legal action, or non-compliance negotiations with the powers that be. Corrective actions may be taken to assure this doesnt happen. Many people fail to consider the orientation of their homes relative to how they intend to use the outdoor areas. Theres also a local hazardous waste drop-off option for Lake and Marion counties. Ceramic vase on the driveway broken. Most identity . Waterfront parks, fitness trails, fishing lakes, Free golf on all executive courses (additional costs for golf carts), Pickleball, tennis, swimming, and other facilities throughout the community. Maybe they later experience buyers remorse due to more affordable or possibly more upscale homes being offered elsewhere at what they perceive to be a better value. Are you coming to The Villages for the lifestyle, activities, social engagement, etc? Would you come up to the intersection in the right lane if you planned to turn left? This is not a traditional Construction Developer scenario where the Developer is in business to purchase land, build and sell homes in a development of limited scale, and then move on. Spanish Springs Town Square includes MVP Athletic Club, health insurance services, bowling, a barbershop, clothing stores such as Chicos, Bermuda Bay, and Sparks Jewelers. So, some people actually like the upgrade options offered by The Villages, dont want the mess and inconvenience of the retrofit project(s) after the closing, or are just fearful of managing all of the coordination, time delay, and contractor hassles after the fact.

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