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Cruise In With Flashbacks

THE VILLAGES, FL — Spanish Springs Town Square turned back the clocks this weekend with the annual Cruise In With Classics event, which brought out a cool collection of classic cars, hot rods and muscle cars. Here’s photo coverage from Villages4sale correspondent Tara Gerber.

Wine Walk at The Villages

Villagers enjoyed a cool evening on wine tasting this past weekend. Here’s a photo recap from Tara Gerber of Villages4sale.com:

Oktoberfest at Lake Sumter Landing

LAKE SUMTER LANDING — The Villages Oktoberfest Festival was a huge hit on Thursday, October 23rd, 2014. The event took place at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square with festivities that included bar kiosks offering complimentary Oktoberfest flavored beverages, German themed food vendors, a local high school culinary arts program, live music and entertainment, stilt walkers, and more. Denise Lyonnais, whose clown name is “Truffles” and Pat Cupitt, also known as “Twister”, both agreed that the festival was a sensation, as they entertained the crowds with their magic tricks and face painting. With smiles on everyone’s faces, Oktoberfest will be an event Villagers will remember and will look forward to attending next year! – Report & Photos by Tara Gerber

 

 

The Villages Aerial Photography – Lake Sumter Landing

October 23, 2014 The Villages, FL News

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The lighthouse at Lake Sumter Landing sets off this unique ‘seaside’ village in the middle of central Florida. Here are some recent aerial photos from Villages4sale.com, your local source for classified advertising in The Villages and Lady Lake, Florida. Click on any photo to see an enlargement. Use the buttons at the bottom to share these photos!

Click to check out more Villages aerial photography.

The Villages Aerial Photography – Spanish Springs

October 14, 2014 The Villages, FL News

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It’s a beautiful day in The Villages! Here are a few photos from a recent flight over Spanish Springs Town Square, brought to you by Villages4sale, the new online marketplace for real estate, cars, golf carts, furniture and more. (Click to post your free classified today.)

Buying a Used Golf Cart: The Villages4sale Guide

Guide to Buying a Used Golf Cart in The Villages

By Howard Moon

Buying a used or reconditioned golf cart can be a bit more confusing than buying a used car.  Most people have been driving cars or been around cars all of their lives.  They know the makes and models.  They have been inundated with car ads for years.  Most even have a basic understanding of how cars work and what to look for.

This is not always the case with golf carts.  Unless you have owned a number of different carts you probably have little or no experience with them.  So before you buy your first used golf cart, here’s a quick guide to what you need to know:

Gas or Electric?

There’s plenty of argument over gas versus electric, with advantages and disadvantages on each side.  Gas carts tend to be noisier but often go further on a tank of gas than electric carts go on a full charge.  Gas carts can be re-fueled quickly, while recharging can take some time.

“There is less to go wrong on an electric cart,” says David Stormer of David Stormer Golf Carts in Ocala.  “If there’s a problem there are typically only one or two areas to look at.”  This is not so with gas carts.

“One of the myths is that gas carts are cheaper to operate,” says Bill Andrews of Cart World Golf Cars in Lady Lake. “Figure two fill ups a month and you’re spending $1,500 to $2,000 dollars in four years.”  In that same time frame you would probably replace the batteries in an electric cart one time at a cost of about $800.

Buying a Used Car — Here’s Your Checklist:

  • Windshield – Make sure it is in good shape and not cracked or significantly discolored.
  • Horns – Golf cart drivers are no different from auto drivers and need to be moved along with a good beep of the horn now and then.
  • Mirrors – Both rear and side view.  This is especially important if the cart is going to be used on road.
  • Turn Signals – Useful when used on road.  Very useful if they are actually used!
  • Lights – Headlights, tail lights and brake lights.  You want to be seen when driving.  Of course you should check that they are all in working condition.
  • Seats – The material should be in good condition and wear well.
  • Rear Seat – If you are carrying more than two passengers an extra seat is important.
  • Bag Holder – If the cart is going to be used for golfing then a bag holder is essential. Often the cart may have both a rear seat and a bag holder.

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How Long Do Golf Carts Last?

When considering a used golf cart, Bill Andrews suggests looking at two main areas:  The age of the cart and — if it’s electric — the age of the batteries.  For everyday use a cart should probably be no more than 6 or 7 years old.  If it is electric, batteries have a life of about 4 years.

Condition of the Cart

As when buying a used car, check the overall condition.  Get some insight as to how the golf cart was used.  Was it on the course only or does it have a lot of street mileage?  This can affect the overall condition and life of the cart.

David Stormer believes condition is one of the most important aspects of the cart. He suggests condition is more important than brand or extra features.

Take A Test Drive

Go ahead kick the tires but then give the cart a good going over. Take it for a test drive.  Do not be afraid to ask questions.

Then enjoy your golf cart either on the course or on the road.

About the Author: Howard Moon is a retired business man who has been writing in his spare time for over thirty years. 

Find the Latest Golf Carts for Sale in The Villages.

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This feature is brought to you by The McDonald Agency, your Villages Allstate insurance agent. The McDonald Agency offers golf cart insurance from $6 a month. For more information, visit the McDonald Agency or call (352) 259-3825.

Secret CIA Spy Plane Flies Undercover as a Golf Cart

September 2, 2014 The Villages, FL News

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Henry Childs with his Jet Conversion Golf Cart

THE VILLAGES, FL — Henry Childs runs through the checklist in the cockpit of his Grumman GHSS. He switches on the power, extends the wings, then turns on the turbo jets. He sets the elevation to 65 feet and calibrates his GPS.  Then he flips on the strobe lights and the flashing red tail beacon and he’s ready to take flight.

Among 50,000 golf carts in The Villages, the Green Hornet is unique. According to the ‘official’ history, this CIA spy plane built during the 1970s was designed to fly below the radar and work in stealth mode as an ordinary Yamaha 4-seater golf cart. The plane flew more than 50 top secret missions in North Korea, North Vietnam and other as-yet-undisclosed hot spots.  After losing its Top Secret status, the Green Hornet has been a trophy of celebrity airplane collectors (though Chuck Yeager reportedly said it was the “slowest damn jet I ever flew!”) Its cameo in a James Bond film never made it past the cutting room floor.

The tall tale behind the golf cart was created in the spirit of the fanciful historical markers that are part of Villages lore. “A lot of people would rather believe that than the fact that I just made it in my garage,” Childs says.

The native of Stow, Massachusetts has invested about 500 hours in the project, including countless trips to Home Depot. The engines are made of 6-inch PVC pipe, disposable paint pots and 5-inch computer fans from Radio Shack. The nose cone was created from a plastic garden cart and a large salad bowl. The authentic instrument panel was assembled from salvaged aviation parts. In addition to the tail light and LED running lights the engines sport lighting that mimics the blue flame of a jet aircraft at moderate thrust.

From the control panel, Childs can raise and lower the wings (useful when passing other golf carts on the Morse Bridge), control the lights and deliver a blast of authentic jet wash over twin Bose 151 speakers.  He’s prepared a special recording of German beer hall tunes for the Oktoberfest parade.

Childs first flew in air force pilot training program, where he had experience in the T-34, T-28 and the T-33 jet. “When I got out I got a private license. I flew as long as I could afford to. I flew mostly the Grumman Cheetah and the Tiger. This project came about because I joined the Villages Hangar Flyers Aviation Club and its golf cart drill team. The other guys have wooden props and mockups of engines but this being the jet age I decided I wanted to make it a real jet.”

The Green Hornet attracts a crowd wherever it goes, Childs says. It’s also a way to entertain grand children when they come to visit. “It’s a real conversation piece. Everywhere I park people come up and take pictures.”

“The Villages is so great. It’s no wonder they call this Disney World for adults. Where else could you do something like this and not be thought of as a madman?”

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This feature is brought to you by The McDonald Agency, your Villages Allstate insurance agent. The McDonald Agency offers golf cart insurance from $6 a month. For more information, visit the McDonald Agency or call (352) 259-3825.

WANTED: Awesome Villages Golf Cart Stories

The Villages, FL — Got a great golf cart story? Villages4sale wants to feature a few great golf carts from the Golf Cart Capital of the World. Street rods. Custom jobs. Replicas. You name it, we want to hear about it. If you’ve got an awesome golf cart you’d like to share, we want to hear about it.

Your golf cart may be featured in an upcoming edition of Villages4sale and shared with thousands of readers in The Villages and beyond. Contact us using the form below or share your cart on our Facebook page.

 

 

 

The Most Amazing Garage Sale Finds . . . Ever!

Garage Sales - The Villages, Florida

Looking for a great deal on furniture, sporting goods, or appliances? Better yet, want to strike it rich for a few bucks?

You never know what you’ll find in a morning of garage sale shopping in The Villages, Florida. Here are some of the most famous finds in garage sale history:

  • Lost’ Ansel Adams negatives. A California man purchased a dozen glass plates at a garage sale for $45 in 2010 that he claims were made by Ansel Adams. An art dealer placed their value at $200 million. Lots of controversy ensued. Are they legit? If so, it would be one of the greatest garage sale finds of all time.
  • The Declaration of Independence. Not the original, mind you, but in 1989 a Philadelphia financial analyst bought an old painting for $4 bucks at a flea market because he liked the frame. Behind the painting he found one of 200 official copies commissioned by John Quincy Adams in 1820. It sold in 2007 for $477,000.



  • Velvet Underground demo album. A record collector in 2004 bought a plain acetate disk for 75 cents. It was marked ‘Velvet Underground’ on the sleeve. Turns out it was a rejected demo the punk band created for its first album. After putting the record for auction on eBay, it was bid up past $155,000.
  • Northern Song Dynasty Bowl. A family in New York bought the bowl at a garage sale for $3 bucks, later selling it at Sotheby’s for a cool $2.2 million.
  • Andy Warhol Sketch (from age 10). Would you pay $5 for sketch made by Andy Warhol when he was 10 years old? That’s what a U.K. man apparently bought at a garage sale in Las Vegas in 2010. The sketch may be worth $2 million.

You should be so lucky!

So grab your coffee and head out early this weekend. Here are some of the latest listings from our Garage Sales in The Villages:

Here are the 10 most recent garage sale listings on Villages4sale:

Click here to post your free garage sale listing in The Villages, Florida.

Pet Photo Contest – The Villages, Florida

 

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Just how precious is your pet? Find out by entering your best pet pix in our Villages Pet Photo Contest.

It’s simple to enter. Just post your pix on our Villages4sale Facebook page. One lucky pet owner in The Villages will win a $50 gift card from PetsMart. The winner will be announced on May 5th.

Hurry! And tell your friends.

 

 

Ocala Horse Properties International 3-Day Event

Horses and riders from seven nations, from Sweden to Venezuela,  will gather at the Florida Horse Park this weekend to compete for $20,000 in prizes at the Ocala Horse Properties International 3-Day Event.

“Visitors are going to see three events,” said event organizer Richard Trayford of EquiVentures, during the vet check prior to the trials. “We start with a dressage competition. It’s horse ballet. It’s about the movement of the horse, obedience, how well trained the horse is. We do that because it’s beautiful and it’s skilled. We also do it because it’s a good insight into how well prepared the horse is for the other disciplines.”

Event competitors Kyle Carter, Buck Davidson and Michael Pollard

The cross-country event is “a test of athleticism, bravery, and stamina of both horse and rider,” Trayford said. The cross country course is four and a half thousand meters, with jumps that will test the courage of horses as well as riders. Sunday’s finale will feature show jumping to decide the overall winner of the competition.

Ocala Horse Properties International 3-Day Event

A rider warms up for competition.

“Ocala should be a global center of excellence for eventing,” Trayford explained. “Our sport traditionally, particularly in Europe, runs until about November, and then people literally turn out there horses, hang up their spurs and wait for the spring when they can start again. We used to go hunting in England in the winter, but the serious competition of eventing stops then.”

Villages4sale

Riders warm up for the international 3-day event.

“Our sport used to boast the largest live audience of any sport in the world,” Trayford said. “Where I’m from in the UK, Badminton Horse Trials traditionally gets at least 250,000 on cross country day. People go to cross country day because they’d kind of like to see someone fall in the water occasionally. No one wants to see a horse hurt, certainly no one wants to see a rider hurt, but we don’t mind a few thrills and spills along the way.”

Admission to the event is free. For more information, visit EquiVentures.com. The Florida Horse Park is located at 11008 S. Highway 475 in Ocala, Florida.

 

Weird News & Fascinating Facts from The Villages

Our carefully curated collection of odd facts and weird news from The Villages, Florida.

Invasion of the Body Transport Snatchers! Villagers should keep an eye out for anyone peddling a slightly used body stretcher — it may be hot! According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s office, thieves broke into a funeral van from Hiers-Baxley and made off with a stretcher used to transport bodies.  – Villages-News.com

This thief is a true basket case! Marion County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 50-year-old Villager for stealing a purse, a debit card . . . and 17 Publix shopping baskets! – Ocala.com

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The Villages is the world’s largest gated, 55-plus community with more than 100,000 residents in a region larger than Manhattan.Slate

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The Villages holds the world’s record for the longest golf-cart parade. Orlando Sentinel

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The Villages has boasted of the highest consumption of draft beer in the State of Florida, and its microbrewery pipes beer beneath the streets to local restaurants – Slate

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The Villages has no permanent residents under age 19. Children who visit must leave after three weeks. NPR

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The Villages has 468 holes of golf and 9,000 tee times each day. – NPR

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The Villages was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States between 2010 and 2017. The current population is 115,000. – USA Today

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5 Ways to Sell Smarter in The Villages Classifieds

Sell your stuff in The Villages, Florida on Villages4sale. Photo: IstockPhoto

Sell your stuff in The Villages, Florida on Villages4sale. Photo: IstockPhoto

Whether you’re selling your home, car or just clearing out your garage, our new Villages classifieds give you a way to easily reach thousands of potential buyers each month. Posting a classified is simple, and just takes a minute.

But if you spend just a few minutes more, you can dramatically improve your opportunity to get your item sold fast. At USA4SALE, we’ve published online classifieds for more than 15 years and here’s what we’ve learned:

  1. Pictures make a difference. The first classifieds published in America appeared in the Boston News-Letter in 1704. Back then no one had an iPhone, so it’s understandable that photos weren’t part of the picture. Today, a classified ad without a photo is far less likely to draw attention. Take a few extra minutes to make sure you take a photo in good light and without distracting backgrounds.
  2. Write a good title. Most people don’t “read” classified ads, they scan them. So make sure your headline is informative and attention grabbing. Your title is also what will appear in  search results on Google, be sure to include those details that are likely to invite someone to click.
  3. Don’t make people guess the price. If you’re offering something for sale, include an asking price. If it’s firm, say so. If you’re willing to negotiate, let buyers know you’re willing to take your price or the best offer. But don’t make people guess. They won’t.
  4. Share your ad on social media. On Villages4sale (as well as other USA4SALE sites) we offer easy social sharing buttons on your ad detail page. Click on these buttons to instantly share your listing with friends on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and other social media sites. Not only will you get the added benefit of possibly selling to a friend, you’ll also improve your chances of your listing appearing higher in search results.
  5. Opt for the premium placement. Classifieds on our sites are free for private sellers in most categories. But if you want to stand out from the crowd of sellers, one easy way to do it is to pay a few bucks for premium placement. That extra exposure can make the difference and help make the sale.

Ready to get selling? Post your classified in the Villages.

Welcome to Villages4sale!

Thanks for stopping by Villages4sale.

On January 21 of 1998 I was sitting on the floor in my living room in Southeast Ocala talking with my wife, LuAnne, and my mother, Connie Radford. Back at that time the Internet seemed like a novelty to a lot of people, but I saw it beginning to transform the business of journalism and publishing. Mom was a real estate agent, and the little web page I created for her with her AOL account was doing something extraordinary — it was connecting with people all over the country who were interested in moving to central Florida.

That night, while we were brainstorming ways to bring more activity to her website, we realized that classified advertising could be much more effective on the Internet than in newsprint – it could be free (or mostly free), it could reach people around the corner and around the world. And we figured we  just might be able to make a go of it, so we registered the domain Ocala4sale.com and on February 15th we opened for business as Marion County’s Internet Marketplace.

We’ve lived and breathed online classified advertising for 16 years. This year we’re launching Villages4sale.com with the aim of creating a classified marketplace that serves Lady Lake, The Villages and nearby communities. We believe classifieds ought to be free for private sellers and reasonably priced for small businesses. We believe that a local classified marketplace offers something a national classified does not — local support, local engagement, and a genuinely local experience.

If you’ve used Ocala4sale in the past, you’ll find Villages4sale very different. We’re starting with an entirely new website. Our goal is to make it easy to browse, easy to post, and effective. Since more of us use mobile devices now, we wanted something that is designed to work just as easily on an iPad or smart phone as it does on the web. I want a classified site that lets me use my smart phone to take pictures and post ads while I’m cleaning out my garage — and Villages4sale does just that.

We expect to adapt and improve as we go along. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your feedback. You can e-mail me here or call me personally at (352) 547-2181 if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you! My desire is to publish the best classified site in town — a place that’s fun to shop, fun to sell and a great value for our community.

Thanks for reading,
Michael Warren, Publisher

Michael Warren

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Website Offers Free Villages Classifieds

The Villages, Florida - For Sale

THE VILLAGES, FL —  A new website offers residents of The Villages a way to buy and sell for free.

The new classified website, Villages4sale.com, is published by the same company that has produced Ocala4sale.com since 1998. The online marketplace is a place to buy and sell homes, cars, boats, RVs, furniture and more. Private sellers can post classifieds for free.

“Many people have asked us to launch a website exclusively for The Villages and surrounding communities. We’re excited to make that happen,” said publisher and co-founder
Michael Warren.

“We believe every community deserves a great online marketplace. Our team works hard to provide excellent local support for individuals as well as businesses. We also review our listings to eliminate a lot of the spam and scams associated with sites like Craigslist.”

People who have previously used Ocala4sale will find the new site much different.

“It’s not a clone of Ocala4sale. Villages4sale.com is an entirely new platform. We’re looking toward the future. More of our buyers and sellers are using smart phones and tablets to access our websites. This new site is a step in that direction.”

Sellers can use smart phones and tablets to easily post items for sale. Basic listings are free. Business advertisers will enjoy special promotional opportunities during the next 90 days. Those interested should contact LuAnne Warren, sales manager, more information.

To post a classified ad by phone or to learn more about Villages4sale.com simply visit the website or call (352) 633-4623.

 

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