The Villages Florida – Everything You Need to Know

The Villages in Florida is one of the most highly acclaimed active adult communities in the world. The Villages has consistently received more searches and inquiries than any other community on our site. It is located 60 miles northeast of Orlando in the heart of central Florida. It spans two zip codes, three counties and will eventually be home to over 100,000 aged 55+ residents. For over 30 years retirees have been flocking to The Villages to enjoy a life of leisure, golf and warm Florida sunshine.

Despite the overwhelming success of The Villages, many potential buyers have a lot of unanswered questions about the community. Unfortunately, recent negative press has somewhat tarnished The Villages reputation as “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.” Several recent portrayals in the media include one doctor’s account of an STD “epidemic,” an IRS inquiry into the tax free bonds issued by the Community Development Districts (CCDs), and a highly sarcastic portrayal of the community by Andrew Blechman in his book, “Leisureville – Adventures in America’s Retirement Utopias.” In his book, Blechman follows several residents in The Villages and uses their stories to paint an inaccurate portrayal of the entire community as a bunch of kid hating, sex fiends.

Despite the recent negative press, The Villages has a lot to offer. There are over 60,000 residents currently living in the community. It has two downtown districts, 26 executive golf courses, 9 championship courses and countless amenities and social activities.

Before making a home purchase in The Villages, be sure to do your homework. First, be aware that the best assortment of homes for sale can be found on the pre-owned resale market. Buyers can select from hundreds of homes available at prices unmatched by the developer. Second, make sure you tour the community and talk with some of the residents to find out if the lifestyle is right for you. Chances are, everyone you talk to in The Villages will sell you on a million reasons why you should move there.

There is more information about The Villages than we could ever portray in one article. To really understand what The Villages has to offer, we highly recommend Ryan Erisman’s new book, “Complete Guide to the Villages Florida.” It is available on his website for $29.95. For retirees seriously considering a move to The Villages, it is a must read. Erisman gives a very straightforward, factual portrayal of the community. Any and all questions you might have about the community are answered in his book. Erisman also is the owner of a very resourceful website called FloridaforBoomers.com. It is another informative guide for anyone considering a Florida retirement.