[PENGUINLOVER919]

Hi all..Im new to this so please bear with me. My husband, myself and 1 year old daughter are looking to relocate to florida within the next 6 months (we are from long island, NY). We want to live in a family community with amenties like a pool or playground. I really want to be close to where my mother lives..she's in The Villages. I have sent for info about fore ranch-saddlebrook but would like to know if anyone out there has other ideas of communities near by.
Thank you very much!!!
christine

[faithfulFrank]

Hi. And Welcome!
I too am from NY, and have just bought a house 11 miles south of "The Villages".
I bought in an age restricted gated community.........but there are many nice places down there.
I suggest you go down there and visit and shop around.......stil many rural places, as well as many newer communities......

How close is "close"?? 2 miles, 10 miles, 20 miles?

the Villages is so big, that you almost have to know WHERE in the villages your mom is, so you know which direction to look towards.

Much is up to what you want to spend, etc.......Good luck!!

Frank D.

[PENGUINLOVER919]

Wow, there are alot of New Yorkers moving down there! My mom lives in Tall Trees not too far from Sumter Landing. My family (husband and baby and myself) are looking to spend no more than 250,000 on a single family house in a family community.
We are planning a trip the week of April 2 but would love to make a few appointments with places that cater to families. Im finding it very hard to find places that are not age restricted.
Good luck to you and your new home!!! christine

[faithfulFrank]

Thank you Christine....!
You may want to consider hooking up with a realtor.....at least that would get you started....you have no obligation to stay with one if it does not work out.

For that amount you should have no problem finding something that you like.....I paid A LOT under $200k for what we bought....there are pics on here already of our new house. It is onlt 2 Bd 2 full bath, smaller then what you would want probably, but we are done with the child-raising thing.....

you still do not say how close you want to be......if we know that, you could be "steered" to perhaps the right communities......

Frank D.

[PENGUINLOVER919]

Hi Frank,
I really would like to be no more than 20-30 minute drive from the Villages.
Do you think a realtor will be aware of "communiities" or just regular homes for sale.?

[faithfulFrank]

Christine,
I would think a GOOD realtor would very much know the different communities, etc........that is their job. Of course, nothing compares to looking and seeing yourself.
If possible, I would visit for a week or two, and go "hunting" yourself.....

For instance, we looked at a few comunities....we liked one, and asked the seller "How are the neighbors??" They replied, "I don't know, we never met them".......they lived there for a few years.......that told us there was little sense of community there.......we kept looking.

As much as we love our new house and activities there, the best part is our AWESOME neighbors.

You need to know that unlike everything else southern, real estate transactions in Florida seem to be pushy and go at lightning speed. now is a buyers market, so when you find the house you want, and the sellers are desprite for a sale, MAKE SURE you sign the purchase offer giving you enough time to close on YOUR house and mortgage......we were very stressed because NY mortgages, etc, and real estate take usually well over a month or two, or three..........in Florida, they are SCREAMING at you if you are not ready to close in 3 weeks........MAKE SURE TO LEGALLY GIVE YOURSELF BREATHING ROOM......

There are many nice communities around there........Leesburg, Mt Dora, Treveres, etc,etc......I do not know very well the towns above the villages....sounds like you may be looking more in that direction.....

Keep us posted!!

Frank D.

[somehwere]

Hi, i just moved close to the villages also from pa, here is a website you can look at. You said ur mother lives in tall trees this family community is located right down the street and by the charter private schools. It is a family community, private w/ gates, many things for kids to do pool, gym, basketball courts tennis courts, etc. Very affordable. Here is the website for you to check it www. Villagesofparkwood.com hopes this helps you out.

Originally Posted by penguinlover919

hi all..im new to this so please bear with me. My husband, myself and 1 year old daughter are looking to relocate to florida within the next 6 months (we are from long island, ny). We want to live in a family community with amenties like a pool or playground. I really want to be close to where my mother lives..she's in the villages. I have sent for info about fore ranch-saddlebrook but would like to know if anyone out there has other ideas of communities near by.
Thank you very much!!!
Christine

[Broker Dave]

A good Realtor keeps up with communities by researching areas, getting on email list with the builder/developer and making a personal visit.
I personal take 1 or 2 days a week and go on trips to take video of new and established communities for clients and to keep up with on the real estate market.

[2goldens]

Where is The Villages?

[doggiebus]

The Villages are North of Orlando, South of Ocala. Map of The Villages, Florida by MapQuest