Gated communities certainly sound fancy and living in one definitely comes with some pros and a few cons. So before you buy a home inside one, check out our list to see if this lifestyle is right for you.
Advantages of Living in a Gated Community
Privacy
The vast majority of cars and people inside your gates will be residents, a few visitors, and very few services or delivery providers. You will not get many if any, solicitors other than your neighbors’ kids selling things for school fundraisers.
Supersized Amenities
All gated communities have a homeowners association. That means that along with your new home, you may score a swimming pool, private park, kids’ playground, off-leash dog park, hiking trails, jogging and bike paths, exercise facility, community clubhouse, golf course, and/or tennis courts. While you will have to pay an HOA fee to cover these perks, having them all close by may be worth every extra penny.
Upkeep That’s Kept
HOA dues also include gated community’s regular maintenance and landscaping of common areas, roads, sidewalks, and curbs, which helps make the community look cleaner and neater. This maintenance might even cover your own front and backyard.
Less Traffic
Forget speeders or frantic commuters who randomly zoom through your neighborhood, looking for a shortcut to work. If you like peace, quiet, and few cars on the road, a gated community could be your dream neighborhood.
The Downsides of a Gated Community
Less Affordability
Homes inside gated communities tend to be more expensive than equivalent homes outside the gates because of their desirability.
Creativity May Be Stifled
If you want to make a particular aesthetic enhancement to your home you might have to receive approval from your HOA. Some people relish strict rules to follow. If you’re more of a rebel, you may need to rethink buying a home in a gated community.
Trickier Access for Deliveries and Guests
In many gated communities, homeowners are given a number code that opens the gate. If there is a glitch in the system you may be stuck outside. Also, if you give your plumber or pizza delivery guy the wrong digits, you could be waiting a little while longer.
