Cresswind at Lake Harris
Tavares, Florida
The Villages, Florida
What It Is Like to Retire in The villages
The Villages, located 20 miles south of Ocala, is one of the world's largest active communities, as well as one of the fastest growing communities in the U.S. It had almost 149,000 residents in 2020, and continues to grow. The Villages is proud to be family owned and operated, and benefits from intensive involvement from its residents. There are 3 town squares (Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing and Brownwood) which have shopping, restaurants, and open-air plazas featuring free nightly entertainment. It is in these plazas that all the big holidays are celebrated by the residents: Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, etc. What keeps its residents busy all day - having fun! There are more than 50 golf courses, several country clubs (residents automatically become members), along with plenty of (separate) family and adult recreational areas. The Polo Center and its Pavilion let you take in an international polo match or compete in a BBQ competition. There is virtually every kind of activity and athletic resource: archery, one finger painting, pickle ball, quilting, scrap booking, synchronized swimming, taichi, yoga, etc. Don't miss our article on "Competitors to The Villages". Articles about The The Villages
Where to Retire in The villages and Home Prices
Housing choices have expanded with The Villages which has it roots as a manufactured home community. It offers single family homes as villas, cottages, designer homes and premier homes. The Lofts apartments at Brownwood is a new rental community, and The Villages offers an assisted living component, Homewood, which is across the street from The Villages Hospital, the largest medical facility in this part of Florida. Zillow lists the median home value to be $416,949 in mid-2023.
What Is Special about The villages
If you like big, you will like the fact that The Villages is the largest active adult community in the world, and no one else is even close. Because of that size it has unparalleled opportunities for recreation and socializing. Many people liken the experience as summer camp for adults. Here you can make friends fast and enjoy many fun new pastimes.
What Is Not Special about The villages
The Villages' Community Development Districts had a dispute over tax-free bonds issued to acquire golf courses, parks, and other facilities. See related Topretirements story. Homeowners often have a fractious relationship with the developer over control - the ballot box vs. the suggestion box is one way the relationship is characterized. Depending on your politics, you could view the decidedly conservative emphasis here as a good thing or a bad thing.
Who Will Like Retirement in The villages
Some people don’t like the idea of a HOA (Home Owners Association), or the idea of living in an active adult community. To get a better picture, see our free mini-guide to The Villages. Also, don't miss the profile we 2 wrote in 2012, "Why The Villages is the Best Place to Retire for Len and Ann. The Villages seems to attract many more people with conservative political views than progressive, so if those are your leanings, you will feel more comfortable here. See The Villages: A Political Monoculture ".
Local Economy Is Driven by
Retirement real estate and leisure drive the economy.
Climate and Physical Environment
The Villages is in central Florida about 20 miles south of Ocala. Winters are warm, summers hot and humid.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
The Villages has countless activities and cultural events that are taking place all of the time. Anyone can participate, or you can leave it to the pros. There are hundreds of clubs and organizations from theatre to chorus and everything in between. No one could possibly take part in a fraction of what is going on here.
Crime
There is very little crime in The Villages.
Medical facilities
The Villages Hospital is a well equipped facility.
Transportation
Interstate 75 is not far away. There are locations from The Villages that operate almost non-stop shuttles to Orlando International Airport. Just about everyone uses a golf cart for their everyday transportation, many couples are 2 golf cart families.
Valuable Links
The Villages Guide to Florida retirement communitiesThe Villages Retirement
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