homes in central florida: Open House Thursday 11/7/2024 863 Shellbark Way, The Villages, FL - 11/06/24 05:39 AM

Price Improvement on this meticulously maintained EXTENDED LANTANA model in the Sabal Chase area, close to Sumter Landing. This grand home offers an impressive 2,074 square feet of living space, featuring soaring HIGH CEILINGS and a combination of engineered hardwood and ceramic tile—NO CARPET throughout! The BOND is PAID, and a NEW ROOF was installed in 2024 for your peace of mind. This home is move in ready! The kitchen is equipped with elegant GRANITE countertops, STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, GAS STOVE, a spacious PANTRY, and a comprehensive NOVA WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM for enhanced water quality. The indoor laundry room is thoughtfully … (6 comments)

homes in central florida: Softball in The Villages, Florida - 11/05/24 09:53 AM

When you think about The Villages, Florida you immediately think golf, hold on a minute.  Softball, yes The Villages is a big-time softball community with 15 playing fields located at five different complexes.  Hundreds maybe even a thousand or more players take the field to play more games than all the major baseball teams play in a year combined. 
With hundreds of teams playing in 13 different divisions there is team for you.  From competitive traveling teams to relaxed just playing for fun, both men and women are invited to participate!  Softball is open to anyone 50 years old and older … (0 comments)

homes in central florida: Don’t Drive a Car? The Villages Might be the Answer! - 11/05/24 04:22 AM

Most of us take driving a car for granted but for some it isn’t an option.  The past few years I have worked with clients that don’t drive a car, maybe medical or choice either way The Villages, Florida is the answer.  We tried it, Michelle came home one day and said I want to sell my car, getting another I asked, nope going to use the golf cart.  I said you know my car is getting older let’s try getting rid of mine as well.  We agreed to go carless for 6 months and see how it goes, 6 months … (7 comments)

homes in central florida: Glenview Champions Country Club - 11/04/24 06:31 PM

Every once in awhile I get “Writer’s Block” and have a hard time deciding what to share, I know FOOD!  First for those that don’t know the restaurants at the country clubs in The Villages, Florida are open to the public, and we have plenty of them.
Glenview is on my short list of favorites, so I wanted to update why and about their specials.  Glenview is about a 15-minute golf cart ride for us and the drive into the club I think is one of the prettiest areas of The Villages.  Love the feel of the place and let’s talk specials!  … (2 comments)

homes in central florida: 2,000 Followers on Facebook Page - 11/03/24 12:51 PM

Over the weekend my Facebook Page hit a milestone, 2,000 followers on the Dick Betts, Realtor, The Villages, FL.  On September 22nd, 2022, I decided to start the page and make the commitment to share an article a day of between 175- and 300-words sharing information about The Villages, and the surrounding area and real estate.  This is the 775th article that has been posted, when I started this page it had one follower, me!  Let me give you the back story on why I started the page.
For you don’t know me for 20 years I traveled North American teaching Realtors … (4 comments)

homes in central florida: Hurricanes hitting Florida in November - 11/03/24 04:00 AM

Since 1861 there has been 14 hurricanes hit the state of Florida in November, so we are not done with hurricanes quite yet.  The last hurricane to hit Florida was in 2022 Hurricane Nicole which made landfall as a Cat 1.  Hurricane Nicole made landfall as a category 1 hurricane on 10 November 2022, near Vero Beach, Florida with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. It moved through central Florida, briefly emerged in the Gulf of Mexico, and made a second landfall later that day northwest of Cedar Key in the Big Bend region.
According to The National Hurricane Center the waters are cooling … (6 comments)

homes in central florida: CDD Bonds in The Villages, Florida - 11/02/24 04:25 AM

Buying a home in The Villages, Florida you need to consider the Community Development District (CDD) Bonds.  Bonds are used to build the infrastructure in The Villages, the roads, water and sewer systems, parks, landscaping, streetlights and other items needed to build homes in an area.  The bond is based on the lot size and is assessed to the first owner of the property and conveys to new owners of the property until bond balance is paid.
The Villages Community Development Districts website has plenty of information to help you understand the bonds, how they are paid and if you want to … (5 comments)

homes in central florida: November a Shoulder Month, Let Me Explain - 11/01/24 04:07 AM

In real estate and The Villages rental business we have three seasons, peak which is January, February and March which is our high season for the population of The Villages.  Next is our shoulder months November, December and April and the other six months is generally when our population is at its lowest numbers.
You might notice an increase in traffic, more people shopping and an increase in folks taking advantage of the amenities.  Some of the northern areas of the country might start seeing snow, freezing temperatures while here it will be in the low 80’s by day and mid 60’s … (4 comments)

homes in central florida: Adding Smart Outlets to Your Home - 10/30/24 04:47 AM

This past weekend we added Smart Outlets to our lanai which my handyman suggested.  Let me describe what I was doing and why I needed them, our lanai is under roof and screened in and we have columns every 10’.  The columns have a flat area on top so if we wanted we can install temporary lighting features for different events or holidays.  We didn’t want to use extension cords and did not want a switch, the answer Smart Outlets.  We had three of them installed and I loaded the app on my phone to control them.
The outlets came from Home … (5 comments)

homes in central florida: Streetrod Central LLC in The Villages, Florida - 10/29/24 07:39 AM

If you have ever drove around The Villages you have seen the street rods and I wanted to share more information about the carts and a great website so you can browse the pictures.  The website is www.StreetRodCentral.com:
The first known Streetrod club in The Villages first met on Tuesday April 26, 2005, at the home of Louis & Jean Maier.  There were 17 Streedrods present.
Last count in The Villages, there are more than 600 Streetrods including 15 homes owning two.  Some of the body styles include Theme Carts,  Hard Top Sedans,  Phaeton (4 forward),  Fire Trucks &  Police Cars.  Streetrod Central LLC strives to host one event or more each … (2 comments)

homes in central florida: Don’t Forget White Dance Party Tomorrow Night! - 10/28/24 06:22 PM

First I am a blessed man, so many friends, very close to my family and Michelle by my side as we go through life!  Regrets I do have a few and one of them was not moving to The Villages sooner!  Many of you who follow and read my daily articles know what I am talking about with The Villages.  My career has taken all over North American teaching Realtors how to be Realtors in 47 states and 6 Canadian Provinces, been in every big city and hundreds of small towns.  There is no place I would rather be than right … (5 comments)

homes in central florida: The Villages, Florida the Place to Work Remotely - 10/28/24 04:24 AM

I am seeing a trend more people are moving to The Villages, Florida that work remotely.  From research it looks like almost 20% of this country’s work force works remotely and The Villages are benefiting from those workers.  I see it up close as homebuyers are telling me they need an in-home office to continue working.  Why wouldn’t you pick The Villages to live and work?
Many times, empty nesters maybe in their late 40’s or 50’s ask the question why are we living in a cold snowy state when we could be enjoying Florida sunshine and a great lifestyle when not … (5 comments)

homes in central florida: Homesense New Store Opening Offering Furniture and Eclectic Décor - 10/26/24 07:36 AM

Sorry guys we have another store opening that your wives will be visiting often, Homesense.  Never heard of them, how about TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods?  Yep all part TJX Companies a Fortune 100 company, and when Michelle says she is stopping at one of those stores here in The Villages I never know what she will be bringing home.
What does Homesense sell in their new location where Bed, Bath and Beyond was located at Village Crossroad of Lady Lake?  Furniture, rugs, art, décor, cards, wrapping paper, gifts, organizational solutions, items needed for work at home and things needed for entertaining. … (5 comments)

homes in central florida: The Villages Metro Area, a Description Used Nationally - 10/25/24 01:17 PM

The Villages, the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country, it gets a little confusing understanding the whole metro thing.  Back in the early 1980’s Harold Schwartz bought in the middle of nowhere Orange Blossom Gardens a mobile home park between Leesburg and Ocala along with his partner Al Tarrson.  In 1983 a disagreement led to Tarrson leaving the partnership and well from there it is all history.
The Villages Metro area is comprised of mostly Sumter County and parts of Lake and Marion Counties.  Depending on which article you read the size and population due to what adjacent areas they include … (6 comments)

homes in central florida: Ugly Garden Hoses, Got an Answer! - 10/23/24 04:17 AM

Most people try to give their home curb appeal, obviously if trying to sell it you might try a little harder.  Curb appeal isn’t just the front of the home it is all sides of the home which brings up a pet peeve of mine, garden hoses!  When I list a home and walk around the outside for the first time I make notes and many times that ugly tangled garden hose goes on my list.  Our answer to ugly garden hoses was made by Michelle, she found a Garden Hose Holder Pot.  Looks good, works great and not an eye … (7 comments)

homes in central florida: New Women’s Clothier Opening in Spanish Springs - 10/22/24 06:47 AM

J.Jill a women’s clothier based in Massachusetts has obtained a building permit for renovation on a building located at 1158 Main Street in Spanish Springs.  Spanish Springs Town Square in The Villages, Florida is doing a major changeover in retail and dining.  Genesis Health Club moving to the old theater, FMK opened Coastal Del Mar and Bella Vita restaurants, the developer adding Blondie’s Bar and new restaurant opening where Gator’s Dockside was on the square.  There are rumors of more changes coming soon.  So who is J.Jill?  This from their website jjill.com:
WE BELIEVE
that every woman should be seen, valued and celebrated for … (3 comments)

homes in central florida: Reminder: White Dance Party Wear White for Halloween! - 10/21/24 02:28 AM

Don’t forget next Wednesday!  Michelle and I have been sponsoring Halloween Parties for the past 12 years it is one of the 3 parties we host annually and has it ever grown! We started theme Halloween Parties 3 years ago with our Pink Halloween Party to support October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Last year was a blast with Lip Sync Party folks came as their favorite musician, dancer even TV commercial person. Of course, we need to top last year’s party so dress in white for a dance party, don’t worry we have big plans you will see!
When: Wednesday, October … (4 comments)

homes in central florida: How I Battle Mosquitos, Fleas and Ants - 10/20/24 12:29 PM

It’s Fall and now we can have more outdoor living but wait!  About sunset I start hearing buzzing around my ears, oh no it’s mosquitos.  If you live in Sumter County you will hear the county spraying with a pickup truck with a fogger for mosquitos.  This does help but maybe not enough that is where Cutter Backyard Bug Control comes in.  I promised no advertising, I don’t sell lawn products!  It is easy to find at home improvement and hardware stores and Amazon, each container covers 5,000 square feet and last up to 12 weeks.
In our world fall and winter … (6 comments)

homes in central florida: Taking My Own Advice on Solar Lights - 10/19/24 11:49 AM

Back in May I shared about shopping for solar lights and considering buying lights that you can order replacement parts for the light.  We bought four very nice solar lights we have on our round tables on our paver patio.  The solar units died so ordered four new solar units for the fixtures.  We originally paid about $20 per light in May and now I noticed two of them were very dim and the other two only stayed lite for a few hours.  Back to Amazon and order four replacement solar units which when we bought the lights I researched to … (6 comments)

homes in central florida: Mexican Restaurant in Lady Lake, Florida - 10/19/24 05:04 AM

We were invited to dinner at Fresh Jalapeno Mexican Restaurant Friday night, our first time.  For those not familiar with the area it is located just a few miles east of The Villages, Florida in Lady Lake.  We enjoyed the experience, food was good, service was excellent, had to try the Texas Margarita it was good, needed a second to be sure!
The building has been home to many different restaurants over the years and do hope this one is there to stay.  The place was full, and it seemed most of those were probably Villagers, yes you can tell!  We were … (7 comments)

 
Dick Betts, REALTOR® The Villages, Florida (TOUCHSTONE REAL ESTATE)

Dick Betts

REALTOR® The Villages, Florida

The Villages, FL

More about me…

TOUCHSTONE REAL ESTATE

Address: 601 Lisbon Lane, The Villages, FL, 32159

Office: (717) 860-3107



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