Is a Gated Community Right for You?

Gated communities are on the rise in the United States. If you are looking to purchase a home, considering a gated community isn’t a bad idea. Gated communities are a collection of homes only accessible to their residents and guests, separated from the surrounding area by a gate or wall. They boast privacy, exclusivity and luxurious amenities.

But they aren’t for everyone. When you are considering if a gated community is right for you, you should consider the pros and cons. While there are perks, there are also drawbacks. Here are a few things you can think about when you are deciding whether or not to purchase your home in a gated community.

Pros of a Gated Community

Luxury Lifestyle – In some of the gated communities in Orange County luxurious amenities include golf courses, tennis courts, pools, clubhouses and yacht docks. When choosing to live in a gated community, you are choosing to live with other like-minded people. Not to mention most gated communities in OC have amazing scenery to match their luxurious amenities. If exclusivity is one of your priorities, there is no better way to achieve this than living in a private gated community.

You also get the convenience of not having to worry about the upkeep of the common areas such as sidewalks, curbs or roads since the Home Owners’ Association takes care of those things for you.

Security – While living in a gated community might not guarantee that your home won’t get broken into, it significantly reduces those chances. Most gated communities have some type of system such as a security guard, gate code or key card to keep intruders from entering the property. Some gated communities even have private security that patrols the property.

Even in an unmanned gated community, barriers such as the gate can be a psychological deterrent to someone thinking about committing a crime in the community. If safety and security are important to you, consider living in a gated community.

Higher Property Value – Homes built in a gated community are great investments. They tend to be on the higher end of beauty and design. They also have a better chance of increasing in property value and tend to stay steady during market fluctuations. Gated communities are also great places for families with children because of their increased security. They also have less traffic, lending themselves to less noise. All of these factors contribute to increased property values and the benefit of purchasing a home in a gated community.

Cons of a Gated Community

Rules and Regulations— While living in a gated community has many perks, if you don’t like rules and regulations you might want to reconsider. In every gated community, there is an HOA. The HOA has standards with regards to how your yard and driveway are kept. Most require you to keep your landscaping and driveway impeccable at all times. Maintaining those things take time and money.

The HOA also dictates other regulations such as the amount of guests that are allowed to be at your home at once, noise levels after a certain hour or even a uniform mail box or look. If you are a creative, maybe a gated community isn’t for you, since usually there is a theme or uniformity among homes.

Higher Cost of Living—With all the luxury and prestige associated with living in a private gated community, there also comes the price tag. Living within a community that provides security, privacy and luxury amenities means an HOA is around to make improvements or maintain the current amenities. It also means that in order to live in a gated community, you will be contributing monetarily to the HOA monthly or annually. A higher price tag isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially when it includes perks like amenities, but it is something that needs to be considered when deciding your budget for purchasing a home.

Live in a Gated Community in OC

There are so many different types of listings to choose from when buying a home, especially when you live in a geographically diverse region like OC. If living in a gated community is at the top of your list of qualities when purchasing a home, I can help. Call me today at 949-500-9714to discuss the listings available in a gated neighborhood.