In the blink of an eye we have now been residents of North Carolina for over a year. Time seems to have sped up these past several months! Or maybe it just does that the older you get. lol.
Now that some time has passed since our move out of The Villages, it seemed like a good time to do (one last?) a wrap up on The Villages with my thoughts on it.
Time has afforded me some perspective, so hopefully I can share my thoughts clearly and leave them for future, potential Villagers to consider.
I want to do this in a comprehensive fashion, kind of a series on “All About the Villages”, at least as far as why someone may or may not want to live there, what are some good ways to check it out, tips for buying a house, etc.
So that’s what we’ll do over the course of a few posts…
Me and The Villages
Some might think that I hate The Villages and am so glad that we’re gone from there. That is not the complete truth.
I actually like The Villages. It offers so much to retirees at such an affordable price that it’s almost mind-blowing. As I said in my series on the Top Seven Retirement Activities, The Villages is a complete, easy answer to the question of how to get all the needed retirement activities into your life.
Plus there’s so much else to like about it…which we’ll cover in this series. So I do like The Villages, though having moved from there it may feel differently to some.
My main beef with The Villages, as we’ll also cover in this series, is that it’s in Florida (too hot and humid for too long) and that it’s too small and isolated (which dictates what services it offers). But we’ll cover these in detail later on.
We actually still have a fairly strong relationship with The Villages because of the following:
- My dad still lives there and we talk to him almost daily.
- We have many friends there either full or part-time.
- The annual Millionaire Money Mentors (MMM) conference is held down there, so it’s at least an annual trip for one or both of us.
- We still watch a couple YouTube channels on The Villages, seeing the progress they are making (Costco is finally coming there!)
So while it’s been some time since we left, in some ways it feels as if we’re still pretty connected to the place.
Reviewing The Villages
So as we approach this series, here’s what we’ll cover:
- Reasons for Moving to The Villages
- Reasons for Not Moving to The Villages
- Why People Leave The Villages (will give everyone some things to consider before they move there)
- Making the Most of a Lifestyle Visit to The Villages (a great way to check it out if you’re interested)
- How to Buy a House in The Villages (and some insider tips)
The series will rely on a combination of web searches and research (to see what others say), personal experience, and thoughts from friends and family who live in the Villages — some who moved there and left and some who have considered/are considering moving there. It’s a good mix.
With that said, let’s get started…
Top Reasons for Moving to The Villages
Here are what I (and much of the internet) feel are the top reasons people move to The Villages, Florida:
1. Active Lifestyle in Retirement
This is the main draw IMO. People move to The Villages (TV) for a gazillion different activities. There is just so much to do there!
The activities could be golf (over 50 courses), pickleball (over 200 courts), or any one of a hundred other things, but this is certainly a reason people move there.
Last I checked, in addition to all the activities offered by TV, there was something like 3,500 clubs…so there are literally many, many options for everyone to be as active as they want to be.
If you are bored and without something to do in TV, there is no hope for you! hahahaha.
2. Social Opportunities and Friendships
It’s incredibly easy to meet others in TV — especially if you move into a new development at the same time as your neighbors do (as it’s being constructed.) In that situation, everyone has left their friends behind back wherever they are from and they need new friends, so new relationships develop quickly.
It’s a bit harder to create social connections if you move into an established area where friend groups have already formed. But in this case you have other options for finding friends — clubs, town square events, shared hobbies, and the like. It’s easy to connect with others because you have similar interests.
If those don’t work, there’s something about 60-year-olds being away from their families (who they usually left up north) that brings out that “first year of college” spirit. I have never been invited to so many get-togethers as I was in TV – everything from birthday parties to Super Bowl parties to “Hey, It’s Wednesday” parties. Hahahaha. So get out there and get your party on!
And finally, there are the tried-and-true built-in connection points like you had back home such as church, the gym, volunteer activities, etc.
In my experience, with all the clubs, nightly live music, and constant community events, it’s incredibly easy to meet people and stay socially active.
3. Warm Weather Year-Round
Sunny days and mild winters mean you can enjoy outdoor activities, patio dinners, and recreation all year long.
Florida is actually the #1 state where people move from to come to TV (they’re moving from another part of the state) but after that the next most popular states are mostly cold-winter states were people are done with managing snow.
I remember so many people saying they never wanted to see snow again in their lives…and they certainly won’t in TV.
4. Low Taxes
Florida has no state income tax, no estate tax, and decent property taxes. These help retirees stretch their savings further than higher-cost “up north” higher taxed states.
Florida in general is fairly low-cost to live in overall – when all expenses are taken into account (not just taxes).
5. Convenience of Golf-Cart Living
The ability to travel almost anywhere in the community via golf cart—shopping, dining, doctors, events—adds freedom, fun, and savings on gas and insurance.
We knew many people who hardly ever drove their car. We never got into that though as we walked to places close enough to take a cart. But so many love their carts so much and they certainly are a key reason people move to TV.
We knew many couples who had as many or more golf carts as they did cars.
6. Resort-Like Amenities
Pools, fitness centers, arts & crafts rooms, tennis courts, and sports fields are located throughout the community and included in the (quite reasonable) amenity fee.
Not everything is new, but it looks new.
The town square closest to us was Brownwood. It was something like 13 years old. It looked like it was built yesterday.
They keep things as clean as Disney (used to) keeps its parks. It looks and feels like a resort in most places.
7. Safe, Well-Maintained Environment
The Villages has very well maintained landscaping, low crime rates, gated entries (though they are not “gated” in the traditional sense – anyone can get in), and consistent home standards.
The entire community is very appealing to the eye as well as quite safe. Your biggest risk is likely being hit by a golf cart when you walk the multi-modal path! Hahahaha.
8. “Forever Vacation” Feel
For many, The Villages feels like being on a permanent vacation—with music, dancing, golf, and sunshine creating a festive daily rhythm.
In fact, I’ve told my wife that I may never need to go on vacation again as I had two straight years of vacation living there.
Even if I vacationed a month a year, that’s 24 years’ worth of vacation I have built up!
9. Ability to “Try Before You Buy”
The Lifestyle Preview Program lets potential residents rent a fully furnished home and golf cart for a few nights to see if the community fits—no pressure, just experience.
I’ll be covering what this is, how to make the most of it, and what questions to ask during it in a future post.
Or, of course, you could always rent a home from someone and stay longer — which is what we did on our first trip there.
Top Reasons for Not Moving to The Villages
Now that we’ve covered the positives, of which there are many, let’s get to the opposite side of the coin — why people may not want to move to The Villages.
Here are some reasons:
1. It’s a 55+ Community
If you’re under 55 or enjoy a more age-diverse environment, the limited age range may feel isolating or monotonous.
This wasn’t a HUGE issue for us, but it is a bit strange to live in a place where every time you see a kid you think “What are they doing here?” It’s just an artificial environment. Some love it and some don’t.
I didn’t mind it, but after living in NC for a while I can say it’s nice to see people of all different ages, nationalities, etc. on a regular basis.
This said, TV has added Middleton recently which is a living area for people who work at TV and their families. There’s a start-of-the-art high school there as well, so in that area you will see younger people all over.
2. High Season Crowds
During the winter months, the population swells with snowbirds, which can lead to crowded restaurants, long tee-time waits, and traffic—especially on golf cart paths.
This is probably true for most of Florida, not just TV.
It’s not a huge issue but it does require some planning. We would simply shop, eat, etc. earlier than normal and this avoided most of the issues. But going to some events (like the annual BBQ cook-off) was nearly impossible because of the crowds.
It does calm down after April though and becomes pretty quiet.
3. Limited Youth & Family Interaction
It’s not the place for intergenerational living—grandchildren can visit, but there’s little for younger families or full-time kids.
This goes along with it being a 55+ community — it’s going to be full of older people.
There are activities and camps for grandkids but seeing younger people and families is not that common there.
4. Golf-Centric Culture Isn’t for Everyone
Golf is a major part of the lifestyle; if you don’t enjoy it, you may feel left out of a big part of the social fabric.
This was a comment I found on the internet and I feel it isn’t completely true. You need to have something if you want to feel “included.” We had pickleball. Others have dragon boat racing, cardio drumming, water volleyball, or something else.
We never felt excluded because we didn’t play golf.
That said, if you do play golf, I imagine TV is even better than I’ve portrayed it above.
5. HOA-Like Restrictions (Without an HOA)
Ok, here’s where I’m going to rant a bit.
Before anyone buys a home in TV, they are given a list of deed restrictions (rules about landscaping, decorations, pets, etc.) that limit what they can do to their property. Everyone, and I do mean every single buyer, sees these rules in advance and signs a document that says they agree to them.
Then, once they have their place, many take actions that are contrary to the restrictions they agreed to and when they are held accountable, they proceed to complain (or worse, throw a massive fit). How could what they want to do not be allowed? (Which is what they usually scream.)
I’ll tell you how it couldn’t be allowed — it was noted in advance and you agreed to it. What’s the problem?
In my experience, the most common problems are:
- People want to put whatever they want in their front yards. But you can’t do that…there are rules that have to be followed in placing yard signs, statues, etc. and many people ignore them.
- People want to change the outside of their homes in some way — paint the house, add landscaping, etc. These things can be done, but they have to be approved in advance. But people don’t want to get prior approval, so many do the work, their neighbors object, and then there’s a big mess. Sometimes TV makes them take out the landscaping and restore the original look (it’s not actually TV that does this but the local governing body, which adopts TV restrictions.)
To make matters even more interesting, anyone can report a restriction violation anonymously. This seems to infuriate the offenders even more! lol.
That said, there is a small group of people who have nothing better to do (apparently) than ride around on their golf carts, take notes of deed restriction infractions, and report them anonymously.
Some villages have eliminated the “anonymous” reporting and, as you can imagine, complaints have gone down dramatically. However that means there are many more violations — because people are scared to report them as they fear retribution from their neighbors.
Personally, I don’t have a problem with the rules or anyone reporting others who don’t follow the rules. We all knew what we signed up for in advance, so what’s the problem with making sure people follow the rules? Plus, there are people with pretty gaudy tastes that you do not want having free rein to decorate their yards!
And if you don’t want to follow the rules, then live somewhere else. It’s that simple.
Ok, rant over.
6. Lack of Urban Amenities
If you thrive on big-city culture, diversity, nightlife, or professional sports, you may find The Villages too quiet or homogeneous.
This was a big reason we left. TV is a small town that has small town restaurants, entertainment options, professionals (like doctors), etc.
And it’s note near anything large. The nearest city is Orlando and it’s an hour away.
I prefer living in a smaller town that’s fairly close to a larger city — like we do now.
7. Political & Cultural Uniformity
The Villages has a reputation for being politically conservative and culturally similar, which may not suit everyone’s values or preferences.
It’s ironic to me that people from generally liberal states move to TV. Maybe all the conservatives in New York wanted out so they came to Florida. Hahahahaha.
Anyway, if you are middle of the road to conservative, you won’t mind TV. If you are liberal, you might not like it (or Florida in general.)
8. Bond and Amenity Fees
In addition to buying a home, you’ll likely pay a long-term bond (infrastructure fee) and monthly amenity fees—expenses that can surprise some buyers.
Yes, somehow people are “shocked” they have to pay these fees, which are, once again, spelled out clearly in advance before any home is purchased.
I don’t understand how people made it this far in life and somehow miss the basics like this…but they certainly do.
9. Extreme Summer Heat and Storms
Here’s what ChatGPT gave me: Florida’s summers are hot, humid, and storm-prone—hurricane threats, bugs, and heat may be a downside for some.
I have a lot of thoughts on these:
- The heat was the main reason I disliked Florida. And not just the heat — I can take warm weather for 3-4 months a year. But Florida brings the unrelenting heat AND humidity for 8-11 months a year. It is just brutal!
- If you dislike hurricanes, you shouldn’t live anywhere in Florida. That said, being in the center of the state, TV is about as safe as it gets if a hurricane does hit. Storm surge (from the ocean) is the largest killer and property destroyer in a hurricane, so if you have a storm surge in TV, the whole state is basically destroyed since TV is nowhere near an ocean. Plus TV has a pretty advanced system for dealing with surplus water, so that’s rarely an issue.
- There are bugs, snails, lizards, snakes, gators, etc. that you have to get used to, but to be honest, the bugs in particular were a non-issue. Sumter County (where much of TV is and where we lived) sprays regularly for bugs and it does a great job of eliminating them. Now we probably have lung disease from breathing the pesticide they spray from trucks driving around, but that’s a different issue. lol.
10. It’s Not for Early Retirement or Working-Age Adults
If you’re still working full-time or looking for professional advancement, The Villages lacks significant employment and networking opportunities.
Obviously if you have a great side hustle or job that you can do remotely, there’s no issue. Or if you just want to get out a bit and make a bit of coin, there are plenty of jobs (even with TV itself).
But if you’re looking for any sort of higher level job in almost any field, it’s going to be slim pickings in TV. It’s just not big enough to offer a ton of great options.
Why People Leave The Villages
Related to why people might not want to move to TV is why people leave TV.
These people give a different perspective, though some of the reasons are the same, because they actually made the jump to TV, tried it out in depth, and then left.
We fall into this category.
How many leave?
I asked ChatGPT and here’s what I got back:
While exact figures are hard to pinpoint due to limited long-term tracking, estimates suggest that approximately 10% to 15% of people who move to The Villages eventually leave and relocate to another area of the country.
Here’s what we know from various sources and patterns:
- University of Florida studies and real estate research indicate high satisfaction rates among Villages residents—often 90%+ say they’re happy with their decision to move there.
- However, real estate turnover data and anecdotal reports from local agents and moving companies suggest that 1 in 10 to 1 in 7 homeowners eventually sell and move away.
So generally there’s good acceptance of TV, which aligns with my experience as well.
So why do 10-15% of people move away? Here are the top reasons people move out of The Villages based on interviews, surveys, and resident feedback (found on the internet) as well as my own personal experience:
1. Health Decline or Need for Higher-Level Care
As residents age, some require assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing beyond what’s available in The Villages. This is the most common reason people leave.
This will likely be the reason my dad eventually leaves, unless we can convince him to move before he’s forced to.
2. Desire to Be Closer to Family
Many leave to be near adult children or grandchildren, especially when they start needing help or feel isolated from family support systems.
This was part of the reason we moved to NC.
We knew our kids wanted to leave Colorado. It seemed like they would be in Florida for several years, so we forged ahead and moved to TV. When their Florida plans didn’t work out, they didn’t want to move there, so we found a place we all could agree on — North Carolina.
We knew many people who missed their family too much and decided to move back to where they came from.
3. The Heat and Humidity
Florida summers can be oppressively hot and humid, and not everyone adjusts well.
We were 50/50 on this.
My wife loved it. I did not.
I always thought I could stand the heat but apparently I can take the cold much better. My wife, with very little body fat, doesn’t like the cold.
So NC offered a great compromise for us.
4. The Crowds and Growth
Rapid expansion has led to traffic congestion, longer waits at restaurants, and crowded amenities during peak season. Some residents move to quieter areas.
At least this is what the internet says…which I think is maybe a person here and there, but isn’t a truly legitimate reason IMO.
5. It Didn’t Match Their Lifestyle
Some people discover that The Villages’ social or recreational pace isn’t a good fit—either too busy, too golf-centric, or too uniform in interests or demographics.
The most common issue under this reason was that something was missing in TV for those who moved and they missed it more than they thought they would.
It could be the changing seasons (which Florida does not have), the lack of deer hunting (one guy I met really missed it and was moving back to Indiana), or some other favored hobby or activity that was simply missed too much.
I don’t think I ever met anyone leaving because the lifestyle wasn’t what they wanted, unless “it’s different than what it is back home” was the reason.
I can say the “always on vacation” feeling is strange and one I never got completely used to.
6. Political or Cultural Climate
The community leans strongly conservative. Those with differing political or cultural views sometimes feel out of place and choose to relocate.
People know this (or should know it) before they move down there. Perhaps they thought it wouldn’t bug them as much as it did.
7. Cost Surprises
Ongoing costs like the bond payment, amenity fees, and property taxes can add up, especially for those on a fixed income. Some move to lower-cost areas.
This is an issue. It’s not a surprise issue, but I think we all know how much time and attention people give their personal finances. They probably “thought” they could make it work (never running the numbers to verify) and then found out they couldn’t.
That said, TV is pretty affordable. If people can’t make it there it’s going to be difficult to make it most other places IMO.
8. Deed Restrictions or Rules Frustration
As noted above, The Villages has strict community rules on landscaping, home colors, parking, pets, and more. Some residents find these too restrictive over time.
Again, these things should not be surprises. Maybe they aren’t. Maybe people thought they could live within them but found out they couldn’t.
BTW, the rule about pets is as follows — from what others told me (which appears to be correct from what I could find online):
- Most homes are limited to two pets. However, residents may move in with three pets—but once one passes away, you cannot replace it to exceed two .
- Cats do count toward the pet total. Cats must be indoor only.
Let me just say this is a crappy rule if you’re a cat owner.
Are you telling me that having two Great Danes is the same as having two cats? Give me a break!
They should have a weight-per-household standard for pets IMO, but maybe they don’t want people having 1,000 fish. lol.
What do I care anyway, I only have one baby.
9. Loss of a Spouse or Life Partner
A major life event like the death of a spouse may prompt someone to leave—especially if their social ties or support network are limited.
This is a HUGE reason people leave TV. Once a partner dies, many people want to be closer to family.
That said, if you wanted to meet a new spouse (or just have a “friend’ to hang with), TV would be a great place to meet someone (especially if you’re a man…big numbers advantage.)
10. Desire for a New Adventure
Some residents simply decide they want a change of scenery, to travel more, or to live in a different type of community after several years.
We knew a few who took off to live the RV life.
So that’s the full story of why people move to The Villages, reasons why some may not want to move there, and the top reasons people move away.
Do you see anything I missed or do you have any questions about these?
The post Top Reasons to Move (Or Not Move) to The Villages, Florida appeared first on ESI Money.