[Gammonoid]

The Villages is an extremely low crime area. The surrounding areas are as well. The developers of The Villages were smart by locating The Villages literally in the middle of nowhere. The nearest ghettos are far enough away to keep criminal activity at a minimum. The Villages offers plenty of security and gated communities. Many of the main roads that cut through The Villages are gated also, so you have to go through a live security guard or pass through a gate that has video record of you and your license plate when you enter the community.

I wouldn't think twice of walking alone down the street @ 3AM. The area is rural and it shuts down early. This rule applies for Summerfield, Wildwood, Lady Lake, Dallas, Weirsdale and Oxford. While no area is completely crime free, it is a quiet and safe area in which to reside.

You can check the Lake County Sheriff's Office web site and see how many people a day are getting arrested. [LCSO] - Online Only a handful in a day. Chump change compared to how many are getting processed in larger closeby markets like Tampa, Orlando, Ocala, Gainesville.

My father is looking into moving to The Villages. You can find a nice house anywhere from $150k - $500k. Mostly $150k - $325k. Very much an Edward Scissorhands cookie cutter community. A majority of price difference is the view. Like most new developments, they put these houses right on top of eachother.

In the $150k range you can count of looking out of your back lenai right into someone else's lenai and hear the wind whistle between the houses. $150-$200k you can count on having a security wall extremely close to your lenai. $200k and up include pondview, lakeview, golf course view, or Buffalo range view....all of these of course yielding a more spacious back yard. The larger the yard, the better the view, the more the house will cost. Your most desireable spaces will be corner lots with a view...also the most pricey.

Golf cart is the way to go! You can get anywhere in The Villages in 15 mins. By using golf carts, you have tunnels to go under main roads and you can cut through developments in ways cars do not have access. Buy and electric one and you'll never buy gas again.

I'm 38, work in The Villages, sold my car, only own a golf cart, and couldn't be happier. You can get reconditioned golf carts starting around $1500 or buy a brand new custom for $30k +. Gas and street legal models are available also.

[GSpeed]

Hello all,
Would anyone have information regarding the community, Bison Valley? It's part of The Villages located on CR 301 across from The Village of Fernandina Villas. Your time is appreciated.
Thank you.

[ROCK ROGERS]

What is the situation with residents that have pets that bark non stop or are just a plain pest. I'm an animal lover but prefer to live somewhere where your neighbour is respectful of your privacy and your rights and expects the same in return. Are the rules strict here in regards to loud music, kids and pets and then on the other hand is there areas which don't allow kids and pets to live in. Not meaning to sound like a grump but I have inconsiderate neighbours that have no respect for other peoples rights and you just get fed up with disrespect.

[Lilybeans]

Most people I have met in the Villages are retired and decent people. It is an over 55 community. Not cheap either, so it's unlikely you will have loud music or barking dogs or kids.

You have to handle problems like anywhere else though. These are private homes though. If you don't want neighbors, you should live elsewhere.

[GSpeed]

Gammonoid, with regard to the following statement, "You can check the Lake County Sheriff's Office web site and see how many people a day are getting arrested. [LCSO] - Online Only a handful in a day. Chump change compared to how many are getting processed in larger closeby markets like Tampa, Orlando, Ocala, Gainesville." Are those areas more populated compared to The Villages and what crimes are being commited?

[golferman]

Originally Posted by jenrein

So it isnt a myth after all? Thank you! My kids already attend the school as I work IN the Villages...I just want to make sure at enrollment time each year we dont have to worry about sending them back to the public schools. When my second grader came home saying she did nothing but color and play for a week I was slightly worried. When my 6th grader came home late because they had to arrest 2 kids on her bus and escort them away in cuffs, I was like yah...great school! I knew NY schools were harder and we were lucky to be in a great district there, but I had no clue FL schools were so far behind.

There are more kids than is reported getting into much worse trouble at the n harter schools. Most kids come from Wildwood, have you driven through there. JUst because you work for or in the Villages McDonals, Wal-Mart, ditch digger,does not make you a better person or your kids smarter. It's all part of the propaganda mill....

[faithfulFrank]

We were up there last night.......strolled around Lake Sumpter landing.
Many nice restaurants.....we ate at "Up the Creek", nice place, good seafood.

It was fun walking around, going through the shops, seeing all the cool golfcarts, etc. All in all a nice evening.

It's a one of a kind place.....

Frank D.

[villager967]

There are a lot of homes for sale in the Villages and prices vary widely. You can buy a smaller new home or villa in the $150,000's or go on up to $1 million if that's your ilk. There are a lot of things here that are very positive, things to do for both couples and singles, clubs, activities, entertainment. Country club resturants are all very good and reasonably priced and the club courses are lovely. The executive 9 hole courses are fun and not as difficult, par 3 or 4. The weather so far has been exceptional. Most people are more active for their age than other places we lived.

The one thing people need to know is that is costs a lot more to live here than you think. The CDD bond can run over $20,000 payable over about 10 years and added to your taxes which will be near $2000.00 per year. The ammenities fee we pay is $130 per month and although they advertise FREE golf it is VERY difficult to get a tee time from Oct - Mar unless you upgrade to priority membershiop for about $800 per year and that doesn't guarentee anything but that you will be out $800.00. Utilities are high, esp Water. It's very crowded here from Dec to I don't know when because we moved here is Sept and haven't seen a spring here. The Villages control everything here and own it all, even the bank which is why you rarely see anything negative about the development. it is HUGE, about 70,000 homes and will be over 100,000 homes when complete although building has slowed down recently due to the ecomony. If you buy a house here, plan on a additional $20,000 spent in things you will want, nice landscaping, interior paint, window trearments, exterior finishes, attic fans and stairs etc, etc. We dropped $10,000 in our first week. Most everyone we talked to were shocked at how much you spend and how quick.

The Villages are known for having a high STD rate among the population, way more female than males here. However femailes will find a lot to do and friends to do it with in group activities.

[villager967]

Forgot to say that "The Villages" also owns the newspaper (Republican) and the radio station here which also controls any negative publicity including crime stats. It's gated but mostly ungarded, the gates are mostly for show. Jobs are very difficult to get and pay really low since there is a ready and williing retirement age population willing to work cheap and part time.

[faithfulFrank]

While the above two posts are true, there are nice things about living in The Villages also. When you speak to those living there, they almost all seem to LOVE it......

Many do not own a car, preferring to go everywhere, (and you can!) by golf cart. It's pretty amazing. One really has to visit there to see what I mean. The Villages is BIG.....covering parts of 3 counties.

That being said, I choose to buy our retirement home about 13 miles south of The Villages. There are Dozens, probably hundreds of nice 55+ gated communities in the central Florida area. It is just a short drive up to The Villages for us, so we can still enjoy many of the nice things about it. In contrast, our 55+ gated golf community has only 2800 homes divided into about 30 smaller neighborhoods. We have two full length PGA golf courses, and there is no CDD bond, (saving me thousands), and our HOA fee is only $85.00 a month, and we have MANY nice amenities.

To those interested in the area, there are many good choices to choose from, all just a bit different....best to check them out.....one will just feel right. Good luck!

Frank D.