Moving to The Villages: The 90-Day Checklist

Relocating to a 55+ community in another state is a different kind of move. There are age rules, a bond, a district ID, and a golf cart to think about. Here is the order that keeps it painless.

90 days out: decide and get pre-approved

• Confirm you qualify. The Villages is a 55+ community: at least one person in the household must be 55 or older, and no one under 19 may live there permanently. Grandchildren can visit (there is a 30-day-per-year guest limit).
• Pick your area. Read North, Central, South or Newest? and take the area quiz.
• Get pre-approved, even if you plan to pay cash for part of it. Sellers here move fast and a pre-approval letter makes your offer real.
• Know your true monthly number. Amenity fee, bond, maintenance assessment, taxes and insurance add up differently than where you live now. Use the True Monthly Cost Calculator.
• Book a visit. Three or four days is enough to see all the squares and a dozen homes. Our visit planner has a suggested schedule.

60 days out: find the home

• Tour by area, not by listing. Spend a morning in each area before you look at houses. You will cross half of your list off just by driving around.
• Check the bond balance on every home you like. It’s a separate line item and can range from $0 to $30,000+. Ask for the exact payoff figure, not an estimate.
• Ask about the roof and HVAC ages. Florida insurers care, and so should you. A roof over 15 years old can affect your insurance quote.
• Ask about the golf cart. Many sellers include it. If not, budget $8,000–$15,000 for a good used one.
• Make the offer. Kevin will walk you through the Florida contract, inspection period and closing timeline.

30 days out: paperwork and money

• Homeowner’s insurance. Get quotes early — Florida policies take longer to bind than most states.
• Homestead exemption. If this will be your primary residence, you can file for homestead after closing (deadline is March 1 of the following year). It caps future assessment increases and saves real money.
• Utilities. Electric is SECO or Duke depending on where you are; water and sewer are through the district; trash is a separate monthly line.
• Movers. Book early in winter season — January through March is the busiest moving window here.
• Address changes. Bank, Social Security, Medicare, pension, voter registration.

Move week

• Walk-through and closing. Bring photo ID and your wire instructions confirmed by phone with the title company (never trust wire instructions that arrive only by email).
• Villages ID. Stop at a Community Watch or Sales office for your resident ID cards — you need them for the pools, rec centers and executive golf.
• Golf cart delivery. If you bought one, schedule delivery for the day after you arrive so you’re not stuck.
• Trash and recycling days. They vary by village; the district website has the schedule.

First month

• Try three rec centers. Each has a different vibe and different clubs. There are 3,000+ clubs; you will find yours.
• Go to a square on a weeknight. Free live music, 5 to 9 pm, every night of the year.
• Book a tee time on an executive course. Residents play the executive courses without greens fees (a trail fee applies if you use your own cart).
• Meet your neighbors. Villagers are famously welcoming; the front porch is where it happens.

If any of this feels like a lot, that’s what Kevin is for. He’s moved hundreds of people here and can hand you a version of this list tailored to your dates.