Florida living made easy

In the heart of Central Florida lies The Villages, an adult community for the 50+ age group, packed with fabulous facilities for one purpose alone: living the good life.

With land covering in excess of 35sq miles, The Villages offers 32 free Executive golf courses – shorter tests with the occasional par-4 and par-5 – and a further 11 Championship courses, with Country Clubs, four golf practice centres, and a golf academy for tuition.

But that’s not all. Far from it. This unique community, with freehold holiday homes to purchase, also offers numerous recreational centres with heated swimming pools, archery, and tennis, together with hundreds of other indoor and outdoor activities each week.

Free live nightly entertainment at three town squares, restaurants, outdoor cafes, cinemas, a library, banks, pharmacies, fitness centres, and a wide variety of retail shops – both independent and major – also complement what has become renowned as ‘Florida’s Friendliest Hometown’.

A variety of dining options mean you are never short of places to eat. No matter your palette – American, Thai, Indian, BBQ, Mexican, British and so on – you’ll find something to tickle your tastebuds.

There is even a purpose-built hospital on-site and a 24-hour neighbourhood watch, so security should never be a concern.

Indeed, The Villages, whilst offering so much to its residents, has a small town vibe and, two years ago, was identified as America’s fastest-growing small town by the influential Forbes magazine.

Florida has a wonderful sub-tropical climate, which means it is warm all year round, so there is no off-season for golfers.

Over 670 UK homeowners have bought property in The Villages in the past decade and it’s not hard to see why.

For one thing, the beneficial exchange rate is making purchase more of a possibility. Downsizing to a smaller property allows the remaining capital to be invested in a holiday home of extremely good value in Florida.

What’s more, in the past few years, parts of America, including Florida, have started to catch-up with and overtake the likes of Spain and Portugal as re-location or investment options for those in the over-50 age bracket. Indeed, those who just visited Florida for holidays in the past are now viewing it as a viable place to buy a second home.

One such buyer, I.M. from Glasgow, commented: “We love The Villages, its appeal being far beyond the obvious golfer’s paradise. The entire lifestyle is wonderful for people of our age assisted by readily affordable housing and easy access to all amenities including healthcare. Yes, we are happy homeowners since 2010.”

New homes at The Villages start from around £100,000 and they offer a comprehensive before and after sales support. Floor plans for over 50 single-storey, detached properties (two-, three-, four-bed) can be seen at www.thevillages.com with a sample shown in the introductory free DVD portfolio pack available.

The houses are in ‘move in’ condition and offer rental potential when the homeowner is not using it through a
property management department. A home monitoring service is also available for absent owners.

Furniture packages are easily selected or often included and with a delivery and set-up service it makes it a very pleasant experience. The informative Lifestyle Preview Programme also offers the opportunity to try before you buy.

If you’ve ever dreamt of living the American dream, then it’s time to turn it into a reality with The Villages. You won’t look back.

The Villages at a glance

HOMES

Choose from a variety of housing options to suit your needs and budget, including a home or villa, new or pre-owned. Styles range from patio or courtyard villas to cottage, designer and premier homes. Some offer views or come fully furnished.

GOLF

The Villages (www.golfthevillages.com) is the only place in the world where you can play golf for free on all the executive courses. All residents also get free lifetime membership at all 11 country clubs, including The Villages’ Palmer Legends and Nancy Lopez Legacy country clubs.

AMENITIES

Enjoy tennis, swimming, pickleball and bocce located throughout the community, plus over 1,000 organised activities every week via the Recreation Department. There are also private fishing lakes, nature reserves, and fitness trails, as well as the three famous town squares.

LOCATION

The Villages is just an hour north of Orlando airport. You can either drive between the two or, alternatively, make use of The Villages Shuttle Bus. One of the really cool things about this community is that you can travel everywhere within it on a golf cart, so there’s no need for a car.

The Villages: More info on this Florida destination

For more information on Florida-based The Villages…

T: 0800 585 645

E: [email protected]

W: thevillages.com

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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