Ocala: Is Stone Creek the best 55+? (The Villages, Golf: home, to buy, to live)

[Vikings]

Stonecreeker: We already have a post down below, but can you tell us how SC may compare to The Villages (cost of living, fees, taxes, insurance ameneties, clubs, shopping, etc.) We're living in Minneapolis area for 10 years, but originally from New York.

[Jewelz]

We are heading down to OTOTW in 3 weeks to visit for a few days. Also plan to go thru Stone Creek and Lake Ashton (south)

[sam4451]

We are new residence of Stone Creek, Ocala, Florida and even though it is a nice community there is a lot of dissention within the community. There is a real big issue going on at this time with regards to children (grand children) and the times they are allowed at the pool. Also, the age limit for an unsupervised child at the pool is older then 19. That is totally ridiculous. Our daughters, sons and to some of our grand children to go to war at 18 and die for our freedom but Stone Creek will not let them go to the pool unsupervised. After we went to the HOA (Home Owners Association) and had them approve our landscaping project, to make our home and their community look better, we then spent over a $1000 to have the landscaping done only to have the HOA contact us a month later and tell us it was not in accordance with the rules and regulations. They approved it and we spent the money and then they tell us it did not comply. Instead of having the HOA person sit on their A_ _ in and office and look at plans that I drew up with our property line and then approve it according to my plans they should of gotten off their A _ _ and came out to my property with the plans and told me if it would comply or not and if not what I would have to do to be in compliance. They should not have waited until I spent all of this money to make the area look nice. The HOA at Stone Creek is absolutely ridiculous. It is made up of employees that are not residences and do not have to live by the rules that they enforce on the residence. They sit in their air conditioned offices all day and expect people like us, who have never lived in a community setting, to understand what it is about. They should have a course in professionalism and patience. Even the clubs and organizations within the community are nothing but cliques. If you are not part of the elite community then you are nothing. We have to be a resident for one year before we can put our beautiful home up for sale. So we now have to go through a year of agony living under these god for saken rules. It is as if you are a prisoner within the community. Even the board of directors is made up of the elite residence of Stone Creek. So you do the math and figure out who the rules of the community are going to benefit. I would not recommend buying in Stone Creek to anyone, especially if you have grand children. If you are looking for a beautiful home in February of 2008 I am sure we will have a great buy for you.

[mutoscope]

As usual, some people just don't have their facts right. Candler Hills in OTOW is NOT the only section that is owned by the resident. Indigo East (where I had a house built 2 yrs ago) property is owned by us, not leased from OTOW! I also believe a couple newer divisions of OTOW are also owned by the buyer, not leased. I think our homes are beautiful for the price, but i have heard from many people, 1st-hand, that Stone Creek's homes are built with nicer "upgrades" at the base price, than ours. Also, I went to the Summerglen website & their homes do seem nicer than ours, but more expensive. As for the DCM cable & the water authority, thats correct-they are owned by OTOW, which I am not too happy about. Our water bill is possibly the highest in the entire world!, or at least that's the way it feels. Our electricity & gas are public companies & those utilities seem to be very reasonable. Our homes, in the newer sections here at OTOW are all "Energy Star" homes, so are very effecient. I don't know about Stone Creek & Sumer glen but I would assume their's are also.

[Charleysmom]

One thing you might want to keep in mind is that the Stone Creek community will be owned by the residents at no additional expense when it is built out. There are very few 55+ communities that are resident owned. The rest have an owner (who can sell at any time) and have to live with what that owner wants to do with the community.

[chrisp160]

Stone creek golf is a pay as you play course. Every time you want to play you have to pay the daily fee. No golf memberships as of now.

[JohnN]

Hello JohnG,
Well, we visited Stone Creek and were impressed, but we bought in The Villages.

Depends on what you're looking for, I'd guess. I thought Stone Creeks montly amenity fee was VERY high for what you get for it. However the homes are fairly priced and it's a good community. If I wanted peace and quiet and a bit of leisure, I'd look there.

Chose The Villages because it's a complete golf cart accessible community that feels like a resort - and the homes are also fairly priced, I believe.
To take the golf cart to live music (every night), shopping, medical, restaurants, pools, etc. is a big big perk. The amenity fees are reasonable ($130/month) and it's very clean and very friendly.

Just another option. Good luck.

[newell1969]

Originally Posted by chrisp160

could be that there are plans for additional 30000 omes in the future. Otow owner does own a vast expanse of land over there. Stone Creek land was sold by him. Plans for OTOW are the expansion of Candler Hills west which together with Candler Hills East will total 1600 homes Roads elec sewers are being put in now.The Master Association which oversees the HOA at OTOW includes Stone Creek For some strangr reason. Could be the owner of OTOW has an interest in Stone Creek also since he sells them water from OTOW and shares the golf course with them also.Plans are to connect the two with a golf cart path.

Both Stone Creek (where I live) and Candler Hills at OTOW are very nice communities. That is not to say that Summerglen and the other developments aren't also fine. You really have to look at homes in each and understand the costs/ammenities to make a decision that is best for you.

Let me better explain the relationship between OTOW and Stone Creek. Del Webb (Pulte) bought about 1600 acres from OTOW to build Stone Creek. Stone Creek is the follow-up communitiy to the Spruce Creek Country Club in Marion County just north of The Villages.

When OTOW was built the owners obtained funding for the utilities and other infrastructure including the water supply system (Bay Laurel CCD). Stone Creek also uses this water. The underlying community association applies to all the properties of OTOW and Stone Creek (Del Webb), however it is the individual HOA's of OTOW (Candler, OTOW, etc) and Stone Creek that pay to the underlying community association. There is NO ownership interest by the owners of OTOW in the Stone Creek development.

The owners of OTOW also developed the Circle Square Ranch community facilities that include a outside square, shops, and entertainment venue. All residents of OTOW and Stone Creek get resident rates to the entertainment and educational programs conducted there.

OTOW has its own golf courses "inside the gate" that is only for OTOW residents. Stone Creek residents do not have access. Outside the gate is Candler Hills golf course which is public. There are OTOW resident rates that are lower than the public. Stone Creek residents also get a minimal discount.

At Stone Creek a new course (Stone Creek Golf Club) just opened that has a grille (dining) and is open to the public. Stone Creek residents have the lowest resident rate. OTOW residents pay the public rates. This is a great course with significant play from all the other communities in the area.

I would certainly suggest visiting Stone Creek with a stay at the vacation villas to get a good idea of what's its like.

Good luck on your search.

[newell1969]

In response to the resident regarding pool hours..., Stone Creek does restrict the hours that children can be in the pool to from 10:00am to 1:30pm every day. Around the key holiday weekends there is no restriction. The great majority of residents are quite happy with the development and the recreational facilities, although, not every one can always be satisfied.

Once a second pool is built (probably a couple of years off), then one of the pools will be designated a "family pool" with expanded children's hours.

[chrisp160]

stone creek golf course is up for sale and the clubhouse may also be up for sale they are behind on some payments