subject: Owning a Golf Community Home [print this page] Owning a Golf Community Home Owning a Golf Community Home
For golf lovers, the idea of playing golf multiple times a week can sound like a dream. And owning a home in a golf community can be an ideal way to get in those 18-holes as often as possible. But owning a home in a golf community brings with it pluses and minuses.
One benefit is that golf community homes are usually a part of a gorgeous neighborhood. Your home not only can have the view of lovely, well-landscaped rolling course hills, the homes are usually very well designed and maintained. As a result, these homes can be a good purchase, retaining their value and demand. Conversely, these homes are also often quite expensive. They are generally pricier than similarly sized and designed homes in non-golf communities, and can often require owners to pay golf membership fees. And one of the reasons these homes are so well-maintained is often due to a stringent Home Owners Association (HOA). Not only can HOA's add steep annual fees, they often seek to keep uniformity to the neighborhood. Therefore, this can strongly limit your freedom in making any building, architectural or even decorating and small landscaping changes to your home.
Another consideration is privacy and security. Homes directly on a golf course are often not allowed to have normal privacy fences. Backyard fences are generally lower and are required to be open railings. On the plus side, this does not obstruct your view of the lovely green. On the negative side, this means other homes and golfers have an unobstructed view into your back yard and into any uncovered windows. This lack of tall and closed fencing can be an additional concern to parents of small children and dog owners as it provides a less secure area. And these fences do not provide much additional security in general as they do little to prevent access to your home.
Obviously, the ability to walk or drive a golf cart to 18-holes is the major benefit of a golf community home. It allows more time for golf and less time spent traveling. For communities with paths between the homes and course, a golfer can save money in the long run on golf cart rentals by purchasing their own. However, living so close to the course means you are also close to all the inherent concerns that revolve around a golfing. Obviously, a ball flying at high speeds through the air means your home is at risk of damage. And since must golfers are far from being an Arnold Palmer, be aware that errant balls can possibly hit your home, damaging the outside wall, or breaking through or cracking your windows. For safety, install safety window film from a window tinting San Antonio company to all of your windows. It can enhance the strength of windows, and prevent a dangerous situation from shattering glass. Window film has the added benefit of allowing you an unobstructed, glare-free view of the course from inside your home, while limiting the ability of those on the course from seeing inside your home.
Though living full-time on a golf course involves some concerns a potential buyer should be aware of, for the true golfing fan, those issues are generally well-worth putting up with for a love of the game. Your biggest concern may be that your family, friends and neighbors need only look out their window to see just how much time you spend in the sand trap!
