OMG! Why Did We Pick THAT Village?
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- Опубліковано 21 лип 2024
- It took us almost a year from the first time we considered The Villages Florida until we made the final decision to buy in December 2021. Back and forth - from North to South - from the East side to the West side - we changed our minds dozens of times until we settled in Hammock at Fenney.
A long and winding road leading to the perfect place for us... God's plan?
Thanks and shout outs to:
Jerry and Linda - The Villages Florida Newcomers
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Dave and Brenda - Exploring The Villages Florida
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Roy & Karen Cooper: To Retirement & Beyond, All Rights Reserved
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#GolfCartLife #thevillages #rvlife
We were looking at RVing in retirement.. but as I watched videos about it, I realized how much goes into all that and the daily expense. I like the idea of finding an inexpensive base to live.. then adventuring out around there
We bought a 3 year old RV w/ 6000 miles for 1/2 price last February. We've been furiously paying it off. We should have it paid off by the end of the year. We can't retire if we have any debt.
You guys seem like such nice people hope you have a long happy life in your beautiful new home
Thank you Tom. :)
Please check out our most recent videos.
Love both of your perspectives on how, why and what your journey entailed for you to get here. Great Videos.....Bobby
Thank you Bobby! WE loved working with you. You were always a straight shooter and so patient with us while we journeyed through the seas of indecision.
Because of your gentle guidance, and competence, we are living the dream with ZERO regrets.
Whenever things come together, it’s just meant to be. So happy for both of you. The two of you are an inspiration, thank you.
Thank you so much!
Great video you two! Very informative. I’m glad to be in Hammock @Fenney with you!
Awww :) We have great neighbors!
Welcome. We moved to TV a year ago and love it! We also enjoy living 45 minutes from the Orlando parks and 90 minutes to both the Gulf and Atlantic beaches.
We appreciate your video as we are going through the same thought processes right now about a move to The Villages. We will be visiting next week!
Best of luck!
So glad you guys are happy!
Thanks again guys for the video!!!
Heading your way next week from Texas hope to meet ya soon!!!
Our pleasure!
Very informative, thank you for taking the time !
Our pleasure!
Of the many vids about the Villages (and there is a lot of them) this is one of the most informative about making a choice on location and how to get the most for your money. Kudos for being flexible on your final decision and sounds like you made a good choice for you!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you!
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond One other thing about your choice to select a new Village ... you would find that when buying pre-owned in a more mature Village, you would immediately feel like an 'outsider' because of the established relationships of your neighbors. In contrast, selecting a new Village creates an immediate bond and common ground of being among many other 'newcomers' to TV.
@@chumbawumba1959 We addressed that in one of our videos. I'd heard that before and discounted it - but it turns out to be very true. We've heard about people that moved up north and then have issues making connections.
Great video! Glad to hear you are so pleased with your choice. I'm still working on getting my "ducks in a row" but hope to be there soon. Thanks for your insight. :)
Best of luck!
Thanks for the video. You folks are good story tellers!
Thank YOU, our pleasure!
We were looking around the same time. We started in September. We liked St. Catherine. We did not like Citrus Grove. Huge power lines and a power station just turned me off. Good thing we didn't wait for Cason Hammock. Nothing in our price range and too noisy from turnpike and Sawgross Grove. Once we drove in the Fenney entrance area I was sold. Love the beautiful trees and golf course. Just felt so right. We are further back by the mail station/pool. It's important to get a feel for the area and home model. We thought we wanted a Emerald but decided on a Moonstone. I love the layout better. Thank you for sharing. I could so relate. Oh and we hear cows and trains in the back. We love it!
Hi neighbor! :)
Please say hi at the next pool gathering.
A great video. Good to know that there are others out there like us trying to figure out if it is even feasible.
.
It's quite the process. Reach out if you have questions. :)
Love the video, be safe, we will pray that everyone in the villages will be ok and no damage will happen to anyone love you guys. Can’t wait to move there.
Thanks :)
I could never move to Florida or anywhere else. I figure places like that are good to visit. Even take extended vacations (6 weeks) if you want to... but I have to stay where I've lived my whole life. There's a feeling of security when you live in a place you're totally familiar with, and where you have a lifetime of memories.
Thanks for watching.
You are so truly blessed. I'm kind of jealous. When parents home sold everyone scattered.. Lucky.
We came to visit and did a lot of the same things you guys did. We ended up down south in DeSoto. After three years we have no regrets. I think you guys made a good choice.
Howdy neighbor!
Great video, such sound logic and reasoning in your approach. I'm about 11 months away from retirement and have many of the same concerns that you had. It was great to hear the why's and how's that brought you to where you are. Thank you!
At 11 months away it's time to come here for a Lifestyle visit. Good luck. :)
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond We did a lifestyle visit last October and we're hooked. Price and budget are becoming our big concerns. We're both pretty sure we want to be in the southern end of the villages, new is nice but preowned is an option if it's a good fit. We need a yard for our fur kids as well. We plan to come back down there for another look in July.
@@frankoley6826 Wishing you guys the best :)
Good video friends. Great to see you
Thanks for the visit
Excellent video. I enjoyed hearing how you made your decision. We just settled in March on a house in Mallory Square (lots of updates going on) and currently live in Naples…after visiting my mom in TV for 6 years, this place has grown on him and I’m thrilled. The light traffic, beautiful neighborhoods, houses vs tall condo/high density living makes The Villages so easy.
It's beautiful over there. :)
Truth is…I don’t think there is a “bad” spot in The Villages, it’s laid out so well. I’ve been a fan, but when my husband expressed and interest in seeing a few pre-owned homes, I just sat back and smiled because I knew I’d be happy anywhere. After settlement we did visit the new southern area and I can definitely see why buying new is attractive. I’ve done that in the past and it’s nice not to have updating or maintenance to do.
Excellent video, very informative, your thought process was very helpful. We are going through the same process but three years out.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video thanks! It is good you didn’t suffer from “paralysis by analysis” and made the move. 👍
We REALLY wanted to move here - if not, that could have happened.
Excellent video! Great useful information.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video showing us your thought process that worked for you. We did a Lifestyle visit in June 2019. My wife talked me into retiring in 2020 instead of 2022. Great move! We found a Mossy Oak floor plan online. We wanted a 3 BR/3BA house due to our 8 kids and 10 siblings and extended families. We flew in from Louisiana that weekend to check out the turnpike noise in Monarch Grove and it was fine. So we put a deposit down in January 2020, closed on Valentines Day 2020 and retired and moved there in May 2020. So glad we did as we could not afford our house today! We love it here. Oh yeah….. Monarch Grove will be the CENTER of The Villages in 20 years! LOL
Great story - thanks for sharing :)
Welcome neighbor, i had all the same concerns and issues and NEVER would have picked HAF but here i am. Lol. Hope to bump into you at some point.
Funny how things turn out.....like it's someone else's plan :)
If you see us, please say HI.
I love it when you guys share with us. it is such valuable information for those of us thinking of moving to TV's. we have our 2nd lifestyle visit in August. wouldn't it be awesome if everybody visiting in August were able to meet each other?
Glad it's helpful! If you do see us please say HI!
I love The Villages. I have worked 4 seasons at the polo club. Adult Disneyland. Every Hobbie you could ever think of is offered. Golf cart community designed so convient and clean. People genuinely happy.. live music on the squares nightly. Beware walking dogs near any ponds.. dental floss for gators...
Hey guys! I just found you. Yay for me! We are very much on the same page, though I'm not ready to move there just yet. I'm 53, live near family but more importantly, have 3 dogs that are 2,4,6 and very active. We hike daily extensively in Georgia. So, I'm planning to move to TV in 6-8 yrs once my babies are older or have passed on. Budget will be my main priority, but I absolutely love mature landscaping, and was considering the northern section for reasons you mentioned. Thank you for sharing your journey and thought process. I subscribed and can't wait to see what your model looks like. Excited to have found you! Congrats on finding your perfect home!! So happy for you both!
Thanks for following along on our journey 😃
keep your dogs where they are I hope you don't live near me in GA.....
@@dennispacelli1007 rude people need love and happiness too! Sending you big happy wishes for both!!
Thank you for the video! Since Texas is hot as well, I know you didn’t move for a better climate necessarily . It would be an interesting video to hear a list of things you have in TV you didn’t have in your area of Texas. Also, are there things you miss about Texas that you may not have expected.
Thank YOU for watching. :)
Great questions - we will answer in upcoming Q&A video.
We were on our lifestyle visit in March. Our real estate agent gave us two detailed maps of the villages which have given us a great overall view of the villages for when new houses come up. We could absolutely relate to EVERYTHING you mentioned in this video. While we were there, we drove to the new sections and drew where all the power lines were located on the maps and highlighted the turnpike. For us this area was an absolute no. We are hoping to put our house on the market this summer and once it is sold, do an extended stay in the Villages or perhaps rent. We are hoping by the time all this transpires we are not priced out of the villages. We really appreciated seeing your video as it voiced all of our concerns and we were happy to see we are not alone in our thinking. We look forward to your next video, Dave and Carolyn current KS residents.
love your show and you two can see the love between you guys
Thank you! :)
We looked at sixteen houses , both new in the south Villages and resale across all areas. We settled on the north end we enjoy the old growth, we had no problems meeting and making friends. We also stayed in the summer and again in the fall o get a feel,of TV. No regrets
Happy for you. Congrats!! :)
LOL! NYC born and raised also. When I moved to Colorado I could not sleep! The quiet was deafening! Used to put the dishwasher on when I went to bed.
Welcome to TV!
I live 1.25 miles from 466 off Morse, back up to a preserve in a home my parents purchased in 96. I hear some 466 traffic in am and pm rush hours only in the winter when there is less foliage and way more traffic. I also can hear, depending on the band and which way the wind is blowing, Spanish Springs Square and Sumter Landing. Each are 2 miles from my house. Otherwise it's peaceful and quiet. I guess you haven't had the sonic boom from the Quarry experience yet. That's quite the jolt! I was at a friend's house in Fenney and thought the house was hit by a plane!
So glad you're happy in your new place. I go down to Fenney for tap dance classes and some singles events at Edna's. I love how the Fenny Recreation Area is designed.
Roy works from home and has not heard the "sonic boom".
We do hear the 301 in the quiet mornings.
Funny how perspectives work. What you hear is dependent on where you're from.
Karen I LOVE your hair style, really nice!
Appreciate your honest opinions on the different villages, noise, new construction verses resale etc….
We don't like it when people "sugarcoat" things and then we have to find out the hard way. Best to be honest.
We live in Palm Coast, FL. We are a quarter of a mile from I-95. BIG mistake! Beautiful new home that we love; near the beach and a lake in our backyard with nice wildlife. The noise and pollution from I-95 is significant. We are thinking about moving back to our home state. For us, we have learned there are many things we do not like about Florida. We have been in FL 5+ years.
@Lyn FL. Hi Lyn, we inherited a condominium in Palm Beach County, would you mind elaborating because we are in the Northeast and are having a difficult time making the decision to move.
@@danacaro-herman3530 The HOA (residents) just took over our HOA after build out of our community. Horrible infighting that is tearing our community apart has occurred. This is an upper middle class neighborhood. Our HOA Rules (we inherited from the builder) are in place. In the rules, you can fly any type of flag you want. We have had Confederate flags flying, Do not tread on me flags, Trump flags, Let's go Brandon flags; these hateful flags have caused a horrible divide in our community. There are other major issues, as well. We never dreamed we would see this kind of hatred we are seeing here. There are a few families of color in our neighborhood and different ethnicities. It is really sad to witness. I would not advise to go into an HOA. We never will again.
Political views should be private, and although I am a hispanic conservative married to a Jewish conservative none of this occurs in the condo association there, our inherited property is in a condominium complex, people wouldn't dream of doing that sort of thing. I wish you the best God bless you, and remember we're on a sojourn here, heaven is our final destination.🙏
This is about The Villages…not Palm Coast 🤦🏼♀️
Thank you for answering my questions. Budget is much #1 priority as well especially as prices have climbed in The Villages so much over the past 18 months. And Turnpike noise...wouldn't want that either. I went to an open house for a home where the Turnpike was very close...you could easily see the Turnpike traffic (semi trucks) from the backyard. The noise on the lanai was awful.
You are so welcome! Did I pronounce your name correctly?
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond yes, you pronounced my name correctly. 👍
We love being Texas natives. It would be hard for us to leave. I guess if I had to move, it would be Florida. Best wishes to you!
Thank you!
Very well spoken likeable couple.Thanks
Thank YOU! :)
Thanks for your vid on how you chose you village and home, it was great. I agree with your analysis of new vs pre-owned homes. There are puts and takes, and your milage may vary based on the condition and improvements done to the pre-owned home you are comparing. For example, the Pre-owned may have some nice landscaping that the new home doesn't. Another big ticket item is the Bond. Many pre-owned homes have little or no bond. I was hearing of large bonds on new homes. Do you know what your bond is?
Our bond is only $18K - the same home in one of the new Villages is now running $30K - and higher. We found that most homes less than 10 years old still had bonds.
I know what you mean by the constant buzz of sound in NYC. Growing up my grandparents and their siblings lived in Brooklyn. We visited often, and all night long dogs barking, people waking on the street talking, cars going up and down the road. Where I live now, I'm blocks from a quarry. In the middle of the night, chug chug chug of the machines and Dulles airport is a few miles away so planes constantly going over. I thought The Villages was so quiet in comparison. We have to downsize from over 4400 sq ft. Its going to be a huge challenge. A mud room and a walk in pantry are musts. I definitely don't want a water-swamp or preserve area view again. Sounds like you found a really good happy medium.
I’m really enjoying your videos. I like the discussion style you use in each video. I have a video topic request. Could you discuss your mortgage closing experience in more detail? How did you sign a contract remotely? How did you transfer your down payment? Did The Villages shepherd you through the process or your mortgage company? Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. You have really helped me and I would assume many others.
We could have signed remotely [via docusign] but we choose to do it in person.
Initial $2500 was via credit card - balance of down via wire transfer.
To make things simple we used Citizens First Bank [owned by The Villages] for the mortgage. They were awesome. But Karen has been in mortgages for decades so we have an expert in the family.
Very informative for people considering a move here. We moved here in 2016. Middleton, the new high school, etc were not thought of back then. We chose Rio Grande, backing up to Morse because we did not want to back up to someone else's lanai and we were 4 minutes from the Hacienda Hills Country Club and 5 minutes from all the stores on 441. Loved that we could hop in the cart and get there in 5 minutes. But then, as you know, the developer, took out the pool and country club restaurant and is now replacing it with townhouses. That did not go over well with the local residents. Still love our location. We bought and did updates on our home. Previous owners had just had the roof replaced. We still feel that we're financially ahead of those moving to the southern Villages. Lots are smaller, homes closer together, and you all have that bond that needs to be paid on your home. We have had younger people buying on our street and making major modifications to the homes. When we moved in we were the younger people here. In the 7 years we've been here, we may now be the older people! There is a huge turnover due to homeowners aging out. Our feeling was the older homes may have been built better than the newer homes. I understand you may have an easier time meeting friends of the same age in the newer sections. Fenney is very pretty! I do miss the change of seasons in upstate NY and do miss a mix of ages in our neighborhoods but not ready to pack it in yet. Thanks for the great video.
Lot's of choices for people to make that suits them best. we understand why people would like to be up north - and we get the desire for new homes too. The best part is we all get to live our best lives in The Villages! :)
Your story sounds just like ours! We live in the Village of Linden, not far from you. You have gained a new subscriber! Yes, I can hear your NY accent, lol. The turnpike noise is something that becomes "a nothing".
Linden is a beautiful village! :)
Older home? Never thought of that for a house in the northern part that is just 15 years old or so. The northern part is the favorite location for real estate agents.
I’m not moving to TV, and yet here I am, watching your uploads. I find the whole development so interesting, something of a phenomenon. It is like a cross between Disney and The Sims, so perfect for us boomers who grew up watching Leave It To Beaver. If I hadn’t already retired here on Maui, in a lovely house surrounded by family, I would love to be there tooling around in a pink golf car, perhaps with Hello Kitty seat covers and a bud vase holding peonies 🌸
say what?
@@dennispacelli1007 Just waxing poetic, Dennis. 😁
@@merrywalsh2809 ok i get it....
Me and my sister both bought 3 year old homes in historic area with new everything.. no bond, 3 min to downtown, lake view, all the shopping by golf carts..
Way to go!
Where is it ?
When we lived in The Villages a few years ago, we lived up in the NW Section that is sometimes known as "The historic section". Just prior to our move away, we used to visit the then very new Fenney and DeSoto areas. Loved the Fenney Springs and the second archery range which is in DeSoto. We moved from The Villages to be back nearer to our family members who are still in California.
We get it. We miss our kids too. Planning a trip to see them soon.
Awesome video. I cried the first night in Hawkins as I didn't expect or think about any noise. Well, two days later, I realized the noise from the compressor of my air conditioner was much louder than any background noise I was obsessing about and I moved on. Wondering if you guys could share any information on pest control. Did you decide to spray your attic? Did you get the coverage for the extra termites not covered... still deciding ourselves and just wondering how necessary it all is...
We're so glad you could get past that issue. :)
People try to sell you everything. We originally signed up for everything through Massey - but very quickly learned enough about what we need, and don't need, and then Massey did not service us well - so we left them and signed up with Dean's Services. they are mowing, fertilizing and pest control. We're happy now.
Watching this video at 5am on 5/2 from our rental patio villa in McClure which we arrived yesterday following a two day journey from R.I. in a rental cargo van with our cats. We departed immediately at noon after the closing on the sale of our home which thankfully went off without a hitch. 😁 Our car was shipped and will land in a terminal in Orlando tomorrow, and most of our worldly possessions are in one large and one small POD which departed the same time as our car and will land around the same time in a storage facility in Gainesville and will remain there until we are ready for shipment to our new home which we will be here for two months renting trying to make that happen. I will admit it was a bit of a tearful departure saying goodbye to our immediate neighbors of 32 years which they were more like family as we were there for each other through the good and bad times that life brought our way. But we and they know this was the right move for us at this time in our lives as does our own family. And we are fortunate we have Rhody friends already living in St. Catherine that are more than willing to help were needed. So it is very possible the next time I comment one of your upcoming videos it will be to let you know that we too are also official TV home owners. 😊
How exciting!!!!!
As fate would have it today we purchased an Avondale model 3 br courtyard villa with a golf cart garage in Boaz & Levi villas in St. John. Needless to say we are grinning from ear to ear. 😁
@@nightengale2123 Congrats!!! How exciting!
@@nightengale2123 Welcome
We visit The Villages often, in fact we will be there in the next week or so. My sister and her husband live closer to Brownwood and I want to be able to get to their house quickly.
I always thought I'd rather live between Brownwood and Sumpter, but the floor plans down south are so nice.
If you were in our neck of the woods you'd be 30 minutes to Brownwood by golf cart - or 15 minutes by car.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond We are going to do the "Southern Tour" with my sister and brother in law when we are there. Last time we went on our own in the cart and got so lost. We had a ball!
Getting lost is a blast!
Helllo Jerry & Linda. Since our Lifestyle stay we watch the Real-estate market in The Villages pretty closely. Curious why there is no development going on above Spanish Springs, why all new development is going south? We have seen some homes for sale on large lots above Spanish Springs & it makes me wonder why The Villages has not purchased these lots for future expansion. Thanks for your show, it's very informative. Becky Kauffman
I'll be happy to pass your question on to Jerry and Linda ;)
We did the same thing, bid on houses in sedona, cave creek, lake LBJ. But nothing, nothing compares to the villages.
Nothing :)
The videos I’ve seen of the Fenney area are beautiful! I don’t think you mentioned the power line visibility from your street. I did ask you about that as it is a concern for us coming from CA where all utilities are underground in our city. Spoiled! 😄
I’m also wondering is your area still growing? Will there be new homes available in a few months in your village or ones nearby that are also farther from the turnpike? We won’t be there for Lifestyle until June, so I’m nervous about future new home availability where you are. We’d be looking for Courtyard Villas or Veranda Homes. Thx for the great videos!
Not many powerlines where we are. That would have been a dealbreaker.
They are currently building in St. Johns [turnpike], DeLuna [some turnpike], Richmond appears will be next [turnpike on south end] and then Newell [south of Citrus Grove along turnpike]. There's lot's of building to happen south of us near Eastport - but that is 2 years away.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond Thanks! We can’t wait two years to buy, so maybe we’ll have to go up north or central. Or maybe a home in your area will come up for resale. 🤞🏻😄
Great video! How is the summer humidity BTW? I live in Arizona now with low humidity but the hot sun with temps over 110 are not fun at all.
It's hot and humid - no doubt about it. But we love driving around in the golf cart with the windshield down - and once the sun sets it's wonderful in the evenings.
My husband now recently deceased & I moved to a gated community in Trinity Florida 22 years ago. It has 1200-1400 homes. Several people living in here now, toured the Villages & said no way houses way too close, way too big 100,000 & the amenities are overbooked… Where we live is beautiful. We live on a lake, really an irrigation pond. There are lots of amenities & clubs + you are close to the ocean, Ruth Eckerd, shopping, restaurants & excellent medical care. We lived & worked in Phoenix for 20 years so know the differences well between the 2 areas. I would suggest to not just look in the giant communities because essentially you are not going to wind up interacting with huge numbers of people but within a small group that you form or join. Jeanne retired RN
Sorry about your hubby. :(
The Villages isn't for everyone, just like the beautiful place you live is not for everyone. We visited a lovely Sun City in Georgetown Texas, but once we saw The Villages we never gave Sun City another thought.
Thanks for watching! :)
I have owned a house in the villages since 2002. These videos by newbies do not give justice to the actual lifestyle in the villages. You have to live here more than 3 years to be an "expert".
I would not buy a house in Sumter County as the real estate taxes have increased substantially in the near past due to costs of new construction infrastructure by the developer.
@@stevestark8785 - does marital status matter? Is it wall to wall couples or singles on scene as well?
We did our lifestyle in 2019 flying out from the UK. Initially, we decided on a Design home in Marsh Bend and put down our deposit in Nov 19. We flew home, & booked our return flights to complete the designs in March 20. The week before we returned TV released Chitty Chatty. It was a tough call. We flipped between Marsh Bend, DeLuna, and Chitty Chatty. We stopped at 8am in the morning to listen to the background noise, we visited every location at 8pm to watch the sunset and again listen to the noises. What we found is that the noises of the insects coming from the preserve is relentless and noisier than the roads. But it's constant, no revving of engines, no sounds of a car accelerating. For us the consistency of nature is better than the sporadic noises of the modern world. Also, nature is the new thing, isn't it? We all want to be green environmentalists - well guess what that means as we move from gas cars to quiet electric we swap the sound of the engine to the sound of the crickets and mother nature.
So cost. You guys think you have it bad with the rising prices. We got hit by Foreign Exchange due to Covid. Our closing price in USD stayed the same but in GBP - we saw a 20% increase - just our bad luck - and bang went our pool to the bankers dealing in FX. Worse still - had TV delayed building our home 2 months we could have closed for less than we budgeted as the FX reversed. And of that wasn't bad enough - the US closed the borders so for 2 years we couldn't even come over to see our home. Thank god for Gold Wing Nuts who came to the rescue and videoed the whole build process. Also to our wonderful neighbors in Chitty Chatty that have been looking out for us and sending photos of how the area has changed (Ours was the 3rd home in Chitty Chatty to be completed - when we were there last the whole estate was nothing but sand with the layout of the roads. The upside though - our house has increased in value over the 3 years by 66%... or way way way out of our budget today, I am so glad we took the gamble when we did... and so look forward to finally seeing it for the first time - 3 years after we started our journey.
OH MY - what a story - whew! Glad it's all working out for you :)
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond We decided to rent our home as it was empty and have been really lucky to have a great couple looking after our home and therefore covering the running costs until we come out in autumn. Oh - should have mentioned - that we also got hit by lightning!!!! Thank god we had tenants who were fantastic and sorted everything out seeing tradesmen who replaced the various breakages/replacing lighting and circuit boards. Oh boy yes, what a story - but stories are what makes life exciting - who wants a boring life?
Another consideration is for the snow birders or non-US residents. Not being American we don't have a car in the states - or a driving license. In fact, we aren't even allowed to stay in the US for more than 90 days at a time (60 with a B1 VISA) so we needed somewhere to live that we could still travel around - mainly by bike - although we love the golf carts. The multi Model paths are a MAJOR plus for us. We don't need to go through all the hoops of driving licenses - mega-expensive insurance, running costs on a car we can't use.
When does the movie come out? ;)
Let me know how that electric car thing works out for you.
what a story!
Everyone has their own needs. Being a 18 hole golfers, north of 44 is the place to be. You have to wonder why the price of the older area homes are skyrocketing? Location, location, location
Maybe it's because of golfers like you? :)
There's only so many homes north of 44.
I think another advantage to a new home is that your neighbors are in the same boat as you. You are all learning the same things at the same time. That gives you and your neighbors something in common.
We agree with you. It's been a great experience.
I also heard it’s a younger crowd buying in the south. More who are closer to 55 than 60+, so more GenX than baby boomers. Though hubby and I would be the boomers if we bought there. We are 1952/1953. We’d love being around a younger crowd though. 😜 My hubs just retired in 2020. He wanted the bigger SS check you get if you don’t collect until age 68-70. 😊
We are downsizing from two bedroom with a lot of storage to a two bedroom with not much storage and we have been doing it for three months.
We like to buy stuff - seems like we're always working on downsizing. ;)
We love living in The Villages, the noise problem is likely going to to be barking dogs here.
We have two barking boys - but our neighbors don't mind. We are blessed. :)
@@ToRetirementAndBeyondThey just tell you they don’t mind
Very pleased you are happy. I'll stay in TX, thanks.
Financing? Wasnt your house in Texas paid for so you could pay cash?
It's not for everyone.
It's good to know when you're in YOUR happy place.
Happily retired among the vineyards of Sonoma County California. I grew up in Florida, but California is my forever home.
There's no one place for everyone. We spent decades living in CA, and though we will go back to visit, we can't envision living there again.
You are living in beautiful surroundings. We have relatives in Petaluma.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond You're correct that no place is for everyone. I lived the first 30 years of my life in Key Biscayne and Coral Gables mostly. But the moment we moved to Sonoma we knew that we found our paradise. To each her/his own.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond I could never even visit CA, let alone live there. USED to like CA, but that was decades ago. Sad to see what it's become since. :-(
-- BR
We went thru the same issues..
But it was all worth it. We're happy here in our village.
Love both of you guys and hope we meet you sometime. We’re thinking of doing a lifetime visit in September. We’re hearing a lot of negatives regarding home insurance, that some insurance companies have folded and prices are tripling. Can you provide some insight on that issue?
Awww :)
Just remember it will still be hot in September.
As for insurance, we used The Villages Insurance, and it was only slightly higher than what we paid in Texas. We have found that even with the new HOA dues that we all have to pay along with property taxes, etc - our overall monthly costs are inline, or maybe even slightly less, than what we paid in Texas.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond thank you for your response. We appreciate it. Like you we want to know what it feels like in high heat so we know if we can tolerate it. I was wondering if you would share the name of your realtor with us? It sounds like she worked well with you. Your video was very informative and I’m going to view it again and take some notes so we have a head start before we come down. God bless you both. ❤️
@@nf2885 Bobby was our VILLAGES sales agent - HE was awesome - www.thevillages.com/sales-reps/99792
Noise seems to be a real hot button issue for retirees. I am 41. Not more than a hop, skip, and a jump away from that age. And still listen to music at a similar volume as I did when I was 15. My brother is 39; he does the same. All my friends, too. I am just fascinated by when does this switch flip over. This entire video felt like a noise discussion to me. You two are lovely; I am not intending to be so judgmental. I just find this topic prevalent on all Villages UA-cam vids (my parents are soon relocating there) I watch and, well, I guess I just haven't passed the age threshold where this is such a...thing.
Jesse, we're not talking music volume. We're talking about freeway/traffic noise. We're not our grandparents - we love loud music and going to the squares and listening to the live music, but we don't want to hear the freeway when we are in our backyards. Where The Villages is building currently that is a problem for some of us, not all.
40. Work. Kids.
@@runiduot, interesting. I’m (now) 42. I have a nine-year-old daughter. And, obviously, I work. I still blast my music and enjoy every second of doing so. This topic is truly intriguing. 🤔
Jess, it's outside noise levels we are talking about. Nobody want's to hear traffic, kids screaming outside, obnoxious dogs barking or loud parties next door. Loud music in your house is totally cool...so long as your neighbors can't hear it in theirs. Heck, they should be able to sit on their back patio and not hear your home concert either. Comprende?
@@chrisglazener3613, I fully understand. And I didn't articulate myself that well in the initial comment, to be fair. It was certainly weighted toward music, you're right. But, I am sorry, I don't mind hearing someone else's music; I don't mind dogs barking, whatsoever; I grew up by a highway, so it's prob. not a fair comparison that I don't mind that at all, either; lawns being mowed/trimmed aren't a big deal to me; etc.; etc. Life is too great and amazing for all those things to be a bother. Unless it's absolutely over-the-top crazy, literally none of what you just mentioned bothers me in the least. And if your statement about not hearing your neighbor's music from your patio bothers you, that is my point. It wouldn't bother me. In fact, they'd have to have some serious upgrades on their insulation for loud music to not be heard 20 ft. or so from where it's being played...even through walls. To me, it livens up the environment, feels like things are going on, and is no big deal. I respect your opinion, and I don't say that in an empty fashion. I genuinely respect your opinion on this, but let me emphasize that we just disagree fundamentally about...noise. Mowing yards; dogs that, to me are certainly not "obnoxious" (they're just being dogs---I mean...man, come on, ha ha)... This all seems to me like the "get off my lawn" stereotype that folks tend to convert to at some particular age. I'm now 42, as I write this, and can say there's zero overlap in the Venn diagram that is our contrasting opinions on this subject. No matter how you slice it, zero of the examples you cited bother me in any way. But, like I said, I'm 42. Maybe that will change. I don't know what I don't know...and I don't know what it's like to be in my 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. I barely know what it's like to be in my 40s, ha ha. So you have more life wisdom than me, and maybe I'll come over to your side of the fence at some point. Until then, I'll not mow my lawn, muzzle my dog, listen to music in my earbuds, buy real estate miles away from busy roadways, and so on & so forth.
Glad you all like TV….myself, after living there 3 years and watching the excessive construction, I have to say no way!
It's not for everyone - but we love it here :)
2:25 he said “omg” out loud..I bet he says “lol” during a comedy
No, but he says WTF a lot. ;)
You cant miss my house, "it is the Yellow one with the white lamp post out front". 5:58
Thanks for watching
We are thinking about buying in the upcoming Richmond area. When you get time can you see how bad the noise is from there? We once lived with a busy highway behind us and don't want to live near major road noise again. What's the other upcoming area you said your near and how's the turnpike noise from there?
We drive by Richmond all the time - have to pass it to get to Brownwood. It's a BIG village - on the south end you'll be near the turnpike [but there are trees in between] - on the north end we think you'll be far enough away that it would be a non-issue. But as I say, sound is subjective and what is nothing for me could be a deal breaker for you.
By moving up north in the villages that money that you save on buying an older home is you can remodel it with the money you saved the way you want it.
What you're saying sounds like it should be true, and we expected it to be true - but it just didn't work out like that.
FIRST: A courtyard villa up north in most cases was even more $ than the brand new one down south.
In the case where the northern home was less, it was less by nowhere near enough to remodel it.
SECOND: But here's the other part of the equation, when you buy a 20 YO home no matter how much upgrading you do you still have a 20 YO home. They are much more energy efficient today - and they are open and spacious.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond open space LESS material costs that is why its cheaper
Good morning. I recall that you purchased new furniture for your home. Can you recommend some furniture stores in your area ?
We bought from Babette's, Haverty's and Family Furniture in Leesburg.
Everything was pretty pricey for moderate quality.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond ok thank you for the information. We will do some more research on this. Have a great day.
It is very quiet in Mallory ! The only thing I hear is the Garbage truck
And that is a beautiful area :)
Thanks for your video. Our needs and questions were all the same as yours in this video. We have small pets and must have is fenced in back yard. Did u sell ur TX house b4 u started ur villages Mort? Don't want to get too personal, just wondering how to start.
Glad it was helpful!
Markets and situations are different for everyone.
We took out a HELOC on our Texas home for the down on the Florida home. We put the Texas home on the MLS the day we left to close on the Florida home. We were under contract for the Texas home upon our return to Texas. 2 week escrow and closed the day we drove the U-Haul to Florida.
Couldn't have gone any smoother. God wants us here in Florida for some reason.
Very smart. Thanks for your input!!!
God is SO good~ how He wants to be in on even the smallest detail, oh I just love that =) This was a great storytime you two, & we thank you for being so generous in sharing your personal experience. ~The Whitson's in AZ
Thank you guys. Check out "Our Story in a Nutshell" to hear our testimony. Merry Christmas
I lived in Florida most of my life. It was great in the 70s and 80s. It was everything everyone said about it. As international money Infiltrated local municipalities things began to go downhill. By the late 90s somehow bird preserves became a sea of condos and public access to the beach reduced at an astronomical rate. The message was clear. Local working class not welcome. Florida became the come down on vacation, go home on probation state. Today, Florida belongs to the rich and those dumb enough to pay 500 bucks and more a night just to be on the beach you can barely access unless you pay that high sum.
And what has this to do with The Villages?
I really like an older home that needs work if the price is right. I can remodel the house to what I like. Problem is many of those older homes have prices that are way out of line.
The Villages is not for everyone.
For us, we were able to downsize into a low maintenance home and walk away with no mortgage.
Hi can you tell me what areas in the villages that are having sinkholes. I know that sinkholes have been a major issue and also are there areas in the villages that experience them more than other areas in the village.
Helen, sinkholes are a Florida thing. Just like earthquakes are a California thing. No one really worries about them, we get insurance for them just in case.
The new homes have the bond.
The pre-owned homes CAN have bonds too. Just depends on how old or if the previous owner paid it off or not.
Our lifestyle visit is June this year.
YAY!!!!
I could not handle the humidity down there. No way. I live in Atlanta but the humidity is nothing like down there.
That's what we thought before moving from Austin area. Seems you get used to it....and it's less than 1/2 the year. We are loving it here.
Merry Christmas
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond Ughhh. Six months of bad humidity. No thanks.
New homes also Have a BOND$$$$
.
Pre-owned homes have bonds too.
it took us well over a year to find the perfect place for us, so many decisions and choices
Our "favorites" kept changing over time. Our Lifestyle Preview visit really helped us to make our final decisions. Welcome to The Villages......
And Merry Christmas
Hi Karen and Roy. What realtor or realty company did you use when you purchased your home at TV ? We already scheduled our lifestyle visit so I’m not sure if we can have a realtor now. Any information you can provide is appreciated.
We did not use a "Realtor". A Realtor can only help you to buy a pre-owned home. We wanted new construction, so we used the Villages Sales Agent assigned to us during our Lifestyle Preview Visit, Bobby Hannon.
Some pre-owned homes are on the MLS and you'll need a Realtor for them. Your Villages Sales Agent can help you with the pre-owned homes on the VLS, Villages Listing Service, besides new construction.
We had lots of conversation with Bobby before we ever got here. So when we did get here he was totally prepared for us.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond thank you both. I truly appreciate your response. It’s very helpful and I get it now. Unfortunately, our sales rep has been much less responsive or helpful. Perhaps I should ask for the rep you were assigned to will inquire tomorrow. It’s frustrating for us right now because this is new to us. I’m rewatching this video with my husband as I write to you and we’re taking notes . Your videos are gems and I cannot not thank you enough for posting them. Otherwise this experience would be even more stressful. God Bless you both for all you do. ❤️
Glad what we are doing is helpful. :)
You should contact Bobby and explain what's going on.
www.thevillages.com/sales-reps/99792
@@nf2885 had the same issue when I rented in the Lifestyle 'program' I got NO service from either of the 2 agents I met I was on my own BUT I know how to navigate and LISTEN to ppl I'm going back in June yep hot as rip BUT I live in rural GA so hotter/more humid yes BUT BEATS the cold any day! I'm orig from upper state NY lol
When you go to sell do you have to use the Village realtors and pay high commission? Are rentals available?
You have the same 2 choices here as you have anywhere - plus one.
You can use a Realtor or a Villages agent or "sell by owner".
I know some people me included may just want to live in a nice place with a mix of people not just all retired but in all stages in life not pigeon holed with this group or that group not that something is wrong with that but everything is not for everyone you know not one size fits all good luck everyone
There's no one place that's perfect for everyone.
I am in Inverness, been here 20 years and know people that are in the Villages. I believe the reason people move 2-3 times is because people were making a lot of money during realestate cycles flipping houses . The money is too enticing and easy to make. But ...whats been happening in the last 10 years is unbelievable. Its starting to get too big. Amenities are getting watered down. I thnk there is still a way to go before it reaches it's tipping point though.
We are coming to visit you soon. We plan to camp at the Holder Mine Campground and then e-bike over to Inverness - and then e-bike along the Withlacoochee Trail.
What I will say is this, "The Villages is too big" has been said ever since it progressed from being a mobile home park. Nothing "is like it used to be".
I lost 100 lbs on that trail 15 years ago, it is very nice. I used to bike alone and would peddle 30 miles a day.Was chased by a few dogs deep in Hernando county but I was faster but had to spray one though. Never crashed thank god. There is plenty of wild life to see on it. Thought one day I might see a bear....but never did. But dont be supprised if a few deer pop out of no where.I think it is patrolled, it is very safe.
Is it possible to take a vacation in the villages.
Yes, we did. It's called a Lifestyle Preview Visit. $99/night and you get a home and golf cart and access to everything.
Sounds like you made the right choice.
It's been almost a year and we still feel like we made the right choice.
Merry Christmas
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond
Merry Christmas.
I built a beautiful 3200 square foot house that I thought was far enough away from the highway.. never heard it through the building process…first night in bed we could hear it …I spent 8 years trying to soundproof it…couldn’t…finally moved and built a ranch in the country..
Do you have a dentist and dr in the Villages?
Doctors: Karen has regular health insurance and goes to The Villages Healthcare. She likes it. They don't take Roy's Medigap Medicare plan, but he found a doc and cardiologist he likes.
Dentist: We both went to a dentist we don't like. We went there because it is very hard to get into a good one. Karen is in the midst of working with a new one, but it's too soon to recommend. Roy is getting ready to move to a new one that is opening right around the corner and would be golf cart accessible.
Need to 1.5x the speed while listening..otherwise a good vlog
Thanks for watching
New homes come with new bonds. Older homes may have it paid off or half paid.
Bonds pay for the infrastructure costs. No mater where in the country you buy you will have to pay for that infrastructure. Either it's built into the cost of the home or you have a bond. Period.
If I can hear the train I'm moving there.
We would guess if you stayed on the west side you'd hear the trains regardless of whether you're north or south.
Where in Texas?
Leander, TX
Do you have issues with alligators?
Everybody of water around here has an alligator in it. I would imagine they have more issues with us than we have with them.
How Long Did You Wait For Your Lifestyle Review, They Most Probably Have So Many People Asking? Love Your Durham Model, Having 2 Dogs That Is A Must Having An Enclosed Back Yard. A Lot Of Things To Take Into Consideration But Budget Is Priority For Sure, Bond And Property Taxes Very Important, Interest Rates Now Up, It's Not Easy. Glad You Are Both Happy There, Enjoy Your Video's, Thank You Roy And Karen
Thank you! :)
When we booked in May and asked for August it was no problem - if we had asked for something in June/July it might have been an issue.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond Will Be Booking Next Week For Our LSV But My Husband Thinks TV Is Way Too Crowded And Over Priced So Although He Has Agreed To Come He Is Not On The Same Page As I Am, Also For Other Folks That Have Pets We Are Bringing Our 2 Dogs,1X Cleaning Fee $150, We Live In Florida So Know The Weather Is Hot/Humid Every Day June Through September. Steamy!
It is only crowded during snowbird season. It's May and it's empty now - no crowds at all - no traffic......and the weather is perfection.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond That's Good To Know 👍 Thank You!
We booked our mid-June LSV in mid-April. 6 nights, but only 5 full days as our flight from SoCal arrives around 8pm. We’ll be comparing SoCal weather to FL weather. I’m sure it’ll be a shock! We are so dry here. But, the downside to low humidity is we’re in a serious drought and wildfires are more frequent. We had to evacuate from a big one in Nov 2018. We’re pretty tired of it and think maybe humidity might be a good thing. 🤔🤷🏼♀️
Oh my goodness its like getting caught by a old uncle who takes two hours to tell you a 10 minute story ....
Just call me Uncle Roy ;)
Yes, but you learn a lot and you can’t help but love their relationship and their thought process. I always knew I was the hare, but the tortoise always was waiting when I arrived anywhere I go.🤫
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond BINGO! No wonder my girl's don't want to be around me I love to tell stories I tell them I spent 11 years in univ/prof school and never opened my mouth BUT now I have something to say lol
I took a look, was nice but I cannot stand Florida in the summer. Its a deal breaker for me. The grumpy and phony people werent for me, even though I did meet very nice people too. Enjoy your new home!
Thanks for sharing!
I just want to say that we have lived in TV since last June. We have not found people to be grumpy and phony at all! I’m sure they’re out there. I’m sorry to hear that was your experience. We are in Hawkins, and we have amazing neighbors.
I said the same thing to a woman working at walmart during my visit recently 'Theses MEN are crotchety?'She said YES they are!' BUT I found the women mostly pleasant well not all of them either lol
Lol, yes Florida in august😝
There's good and bad everywhere. We feel the positives out weigh the humidity.
like the village in tv show The Prisoner
Not exactly - as in not at all like - we're free to live our lives as we please.
OH, and, thanks for watching
Play this on 1.25 speed as it is far easier to watch. Ok 👌
We were beginners at this point - we've learned to edit better.
@@ToRetirementAndBeyond it’s your speed of talking that’s the issue, the next video I watched at 1.5x speed.