‘I Moved to Popular Retirement Community The Villages—Now I’ve Bought My Own $1.2 Million Compound Nearby That Is Even Crazier’

A woman who moved to infamous Florida retirement community The Villages has revealed her plans to create an ultraquirky rental compound 10 minutes down the road after snapping up a $1.2 million, 13-acre property that she hopes will attract more visitors to the area.

Artist Margot Brewer, who is originally from Canada, moved to The Villages with her husband, Hank, after they retired. She says they quickly began looking for nearby acreage where they might be able to house wildlife, like chickens, goats, and horses.

“When we first moved to The Villages, we talked about finding acreage and a place to have goats and chickens and a horse [because] I was an avid rider in my youth,” she explains.

But what she didn’t expect was to stumble across a home so unique in its design that it captured her attention immediately: a 13-acre, beach-themed retreat complete with air-conditioned “swamp shacks,” an aviary filled with macaws and budgies, a lighthouse, and a 10-person hot tub.

As soon as Brewer saw the home, she knew it was the one for her, telling Realtor.com® that the “artistic touches” around the property blew her away, while joking that she wasn’t sure initially whether the design was “crazy” or brilliant.

“We weren’t really planning it,” she says. “I wouldn’t call it spur of the moment, but it was close. We’d been searching for acreage but weren’t happy with what we were finding—especially since I’m big on trees, and you don’t always get that around here.

“Funny enough, we’d just settled into another house a year before when I saw the for-sale sign.”

Having visited the online listing numerous times, Brewer arranged to visit the house and was stunned by the level of artistry that had been put into its creation, resulting in a one-of-a-kind lot that simply cannot be compared to anything else in the area.

“I went, ‘OMG’ when I saw it,” Brewer recalls. “At first, I wasn’t sure if they were out of their minds, or if I was. There was so much odd-style stuff everywhere.

“But there was also beauty. The artistic touches blew me away, like the shells and Mexican tiles that border the walkways. Apparently, the previous owner broke those tiles by hand to create this stunning mosaic effect. It’s wild, but somehow, it works.”

She knew immediately that she would make the property hers, explaining that she even told her husband she would sell two properties she already owned in Canada in order to secure the Florida acreage.

“I said to my husband, ‘I’ll sell my houses in Canada if I have to. I’ll do whatever it takes.’ I could see the potential immediately,” she says. “It’s a labor of love. The couple who built it were roofers. They had this vision, and they poured their hearts into it.

“It could’ve easily been tacky. But the layout and artistic eye are so well done. The previous owners really nailed the balance between fun and tasteful.”

Brewer admits her husband was hesitant at first, particularly because the couple had just purchased a home in The Villages a year earlier. But, in the end, she managed to convince him of the property’s potential.

“He’s exceptionally supportive,” she says. “It’s hard not to see the possibilities here. It’s crazy, but it’s a good kind of crazy.”

Even the listing description struggled to fully convey the property’s very unique nature—and its many weird and wacky amenities, many of which Brewer believes will make it an incredible draw for visitors.

She is now planning a number of different uses for the property, starting with a vacation rental and a site for RVs. But that’s just the beginning.

Among the perks she says would make for a successful short-term rental spot are the poolside cabanas, a summer kitchen, and a lighthouse.

The swamp shacks are equipped with air conditioning and a sound system, a thoughtfully designed patio with a propane fire pit, rock-lined bathrooms, a hot tub, and themed guest rooms.

We are “planning on adding a few self-contained RV sites,” she says. “There is plenty of room for tent camping, if we go that route.There is a floating house boat on a pond that would be a great adventure for kids.”

Brewer and her family are aiming to open their high-end Airbnb rental at the start of 2025, and she’s already started shopping for “luxury bedding” to lie in while she watches the stunning sunsets from the upper deck.

“It’s the kind of place you’d want to visit, even if it’s just for the experience,” she says, adding that aside from a few luxury touches, she’s not changing the home thematically at all.

“We’ll keep the swashbuckling theme,” she reveals. “It’s perfect as it is. For me, coming from the Atlantic coast, the sea was a huge part of my upbringing. This place speaks to that in such a beautiful way. I feel like I’m honoring it by preserving its spirit.”

Beyond the property’s potential as a rental, Brewer says she is exploring the idea of creating a self-sustaining farm on the land, while also looking into opening it up as an event space.

“We hope to become self-sufficient and build the farm into a local model of environmental awareness and sustainability,” she explains. “Then there is the event angle. Weddings, perhaps? Picnics and family days for local church and community groups?”

One thing she is certain of, however, is that she and Hank will meet every challenge that they face with “optimism” and humor.

“We’re not flakes, just optimists who have been blessed with a sense of adventure, good health, and imagination,” she says. “This project hits all the right notes and then some.

“As my airline pilot and aviator husband Hank might say, ‘The sky’s the limit!'”