The Lofts at Brownwood is a 265 unit age-restricted apartment complex located near Brownwood Paddock Square in The Villages.
The Villages Newcomers have a great video all about “The Lofts” on their YouTube channel, so let's check that out first and then we'll get into the nitty gritty:
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History
Development of The Lofts at Brownwood began in the summer of 2018.
The Villages tends to be pretty vocal about their new projects but they didn't really say much when development of The Lofts at Brownwood began.
They likely realized that the introduction of apartments to The Villages was not something current Villages residents would be too thrilled about, and they were right about that as you'll learn about in the “Criticism” section below.
The first residents moved in during the summer of 2020, amidst the coronavirus pandemic, and there is currently a waitlist to get in.
Prices
The community features one, two, and three-bedroom apartment homes and there are nine different floor-plan options to choose from.
At the time of this writing, pricing for the smallest one bedroom option starts at $1,460/month, while the price of the 3 bedroom option starts at $2,910.
The Lofts at Brownwood residents pay a $179 monthly amenities fee just like regular homeowners, which gives them access to all of the amenities other residents get to enjoy like free golf on all of The Villages Executive Golf Courses, use of the recreation centers, and access to all of the clubs and activities.
Criticism
As I alluded to above, not everyone is a fan of having apartments like The Lofts at Brownwood in The Villages.
Some residents fear that their community and the amenities will be overrun by low-rent apartment dwellers freeloading on The Villages lifestyle.
But, as it turns out, around 80% of The Lofts at Brownwood residents already owned homes in The Villages before deciding to downsize to an apartment at The Lofts.
Of the remaining 20%, I know from personal experience that many of them are simply renting in The Lofts at Brownwood until they find their “forever” home in The Villages, something that in today's real estate market (I'm writing this in 2022) is not an easy task.
Plus, as I mentioned in the “Pricing” section, The Lofts at Brownwood residents are required to pay the same amenities fee that regular Villages homeowners have to pay.
All of that said, some continue to criticize The Lofts at Brownwood and argue that either the residents there or the developer are not paying their fair share.
Reviews
I've heard mostly good things from people who live in The Lofts at Brownwood. I have heard of a few people that moved in, downsizing from full-size houses in The Villages, that came to realize that the change in size was too much for them and moved back into single family homes, but that's not really a knock on The Lofts, just a lifestyle decision.
Anyway, if you'd like more information about The Lofts at Brownwood, click here to visit their website.