Gated communities are becoming more and more popular across the country and for good reason. They provide a nice, safe place for people to live. However, people still fail to see why they should pay more to live in a neighborhood that simply has a gate around it, which is a common misconception. There is so much more to a gated community than the gate itself. If you’re still on the fence about the higher price, consider the following benefits of living in a gated community.
Enhanced Security
The most obvious (and often most advertised) benefit of a gated community is the enhanced security that comes with it. Every entrance to your neighborhood is either monitored by a gate attendant or blocked by a code-locked gate. This makes it difficult (or impossible, depending on the structure of the gate) for random people to enter your community. All guests and delivery drivers have to be approved beforehand. If security is important to you, gated communities provide that handily.
Higher Level of Privacy
Because of the gates around the perimeter of your neighborhood, your home is inherently more private than homes outside of a gated community. The only people walking or driving past your house are going to be the ones that also live in the gated community. If you’re concerned about maintaining your home’s privacy, a gated community is perfect for you.
Well-Maintained Spaces
Gated communities come with a Homeowners Association (HOA) to maintain the community as a whole. While you do have to pay a fee for the HOA to function, many find that the benefits outweigh the downsides. Problems with common spaces such as street lights, landscaping, and the streets themselves are handled by the HOA, so you don’t have to worry about anything other than your home. For example, if you live in an area where snow is common, the HOA is responsible for getting the roads plowed in a timely manner.
Shared Amenities
Many gated communities offer amenities as a part of their community. Depending on where you live, this could be anything from a swimming pool for the hot days of summer to a park for children to play in. These amenities are also maintained by the HOA, so you don’t have to worry about the extensive maintenance that goes into keeping a pool safe to use. The only thing you have to worry about is enjoying the amenities provided to you.
Greater Sense of Community
Because so few outsiders are allowed within the gated community, the people you see around you are the ones who live near you. Their faces will become familiar, and you have the opportunity to build a true community with those who live around you. Even if you aren’t great friends with every one of your neighbors, you’ll still be used to seeing their faces and comfortable with passing them on the street because you recognize them.
Increased Property Value
With all the benefits that gated communities provide, that means your property has more value. People will pay a premium to live behind tall gates and have access to a pool all year round in the same way that you did when you bought that house. While many buy homes with the intention of staying in them for many years to come, the resale value is a large benefit for those who keep that number in mind.