Gated communites...pros & cons (York, Brodheadsville: for sale, real estate, crime)

[metmom006]

I just wanted a heads up on the good bad and ugly of living in a gated even non-gated community vs no community. I'm in the suburbs outside philly, but would like to move in the next few years to either pike or wayne counties. Obviously I'm used to things being VERY convienent. I just want my neighbors a little more spread out. I don't mind having to drive a little to get anywhere either. I do have kids so, that is a concern too, having friends to play with and all. I'd appreciate any insight

[Summering]

Ok I lived in a gated community( 5 years) so here are some Pros and Cons.

Pros:
They have amenities like lakes, and pools
They have a clubhouse usually that can be rented for a party
They have holiday children parties
The gates make you feel safe, although I have had family get in with no call when they weren't manned.

Cons:
Permits to do anything.......like repair of roof shingles, putting up a shed,
planting shrubs, paint colors.
Rules.......Some rules are hard to follow. There are many of them.
Fines.......People get fined if they do something against a by-law

Other costs.........If you have a major undertaking like a new sewer system, water system, major repairs or paving, dam building, you could get an additional bill for part of this cost. Usually with monthly payments allowed.
Resale values are less in a community
If your Association is lacking you may not get road repairs and other important needs done.
They are becoming very city-like instead of the Pa. feel that was there previously.

[I LOVE PA!]

I have lived in a gated community for 13 years.

Before I list my pros and cons, let me first address the gate issue. The gates do not offer me any added sense of security. There are 4,100 lots in my community, if I'm not afraid of my neighbors, why should I feel any differently about the people on the outside of the gates? I find that most visitors view them as a complete nuisance, I had to meet lot's of parents at the gate if their kids were coming to play with my kids. Relatives, (namely the inlaws) complain about getting out for a pass, like it is some big deal. Frankly, after 13 yrs., I'm sick of hearing it. But it's more of an in-law problem than a gate problem.... If you call in a pass, they don't always get it right, or get it at all...if you don't call one in, the visitor somehow get's in anyway. We do have a password to use when calling in passes, but I don't know what they do with it. I don't think they know what to do with it! Sometimes we have issues with our cards that are read at the gates. These are all problems that will vary by community, or may be non-existent.


A lot of the pro's and cons will vary by community, so it really is no different than any other neighborhood. While some may list in the 'con' list, that their roads are not maintained as well, I can say that the roads in my community are very well maintained. That being said, many of the pro's and con's are exclusive to the particular community the person is speaking of. I will do my best to avoid mentioning all the different ammenities in my community as pro's and con's.

Pro's
The rules of the POA
All the ammenities that my particular community has to offer, saving me from driving long distances for things I have right here.
Most of our security force are trained EMT's. (Might not be the case with every gated community, once again)
Having public sewer and water.
Ammenities plus real estate taxes are still cheaper than a comparable house elsewhere.
House values in my community are higher than outside of my community.

Cons
The rules of the POA!
While your kids will have friends close by, it is usually still a car drive for you to get them together.
Neighbors are not too close, but many do not live in their homes full time. I sometimes feel like I live in a ghost town during the winter. Many houses are vacant.
Sometimes the people on the outside of the community have a general opinion of those who live inside the community.

Each community has it's particular set of pro's and con's.
You mentioned Wayne County as a possibility, I live in The Hideout, I have posted many things about The Hideout, if you do a search in this forum, you will see my posts.
Good Luck in your decision!

[metmom006]

Thanks for all your replies... Ilove pa, we have friends who live in wayne county, not in a community and they always tell us not to move to one, but never really say why. I never asked becasue before now we hadn't thought of living up that way. We'll have to do more of our own research in the meantime. I know my husband probably won't like the "rule" thing being in a community, but I guess you never know.

[Summering]

Just a note........The Hideout has a better reputation then the community I lived in.....We had a great reputaion that went South........LOL
Our roads were fine, and plowing was great.
But, there were so many forclosures due to the fact that the city people would find their dream home , but it came with big costs, and a huge commute.
Our community took in an influx of New Yorkers after 9/11........and I don't blame anyone for heading North/West after that.
Our home prices did not hold up as well as the outside homes.
The realtors would constantly remind us of that.
I really, really, thought the rules would be liveable. But, the more your there ...the more you dislike someone telling you how to live.
Our neighbor was photographed putting in a window....so as to be turned in to the board.
Little did the photographer know, he had gotten a permit!
Yards that were not properly kept, were posted in the newsletter.........
I am just glad personally to be free and clear of all the walking on egg shells.
I've felt very good about not having all that for the past three years.

[metmom006]

wow summering! That would be rough. I just think those are the counties to go to so not to be on top of one another. Youa re still in that area though?

[bldginpa]

We currently live on Long Island and are building a home in a community in Pike County, Sugar Hill Estates. It's a very small community with no amenities to speak of. For very low dues you get road maintenance and garbage service. This suits us just fine as we are in our fifties and have no need for all the other things like pools, clubhouse, etc. I did not want to trade the high taxes of Long Island for the low taxes of Pike County PLUS high dues. In my opinion, a community does help protect you and your neighbor's property. In the town where I currently live on LI, a house could become run down and nothing would be done about it. I have seen it happen in my neighborhood. At least in a well-run community, this probably would not be permitted to happen. I may be naive, but I'm hoping to bring a sense of pride to our new community and I like the idea of belonging to one.

[Summering]

Originally Posted by metmom006

wow summering! That would be rough. I just think those are the counties to go to so not to be on top of one another. Youa re still in that area though?

No we left ,and then both of our near neighbors left also. All of us choosing not to go into a gated community.........LOL
I am now in Brodheadsville, on almost 2 acres. But, I only wanted the ranch home, not the land really. ( couldn't just take the house alone...lol)
Actually, we are now use to this mountain top and find the views wonderful, especially in the Am and Pm hours. There are many homes for sale here that are on flat land........I didn't find one at the time I was looking.
But, I know of a few gorgeous homes for sale here right now that are just a great price ,and a really great home with land.
And we can swim in the pool ,without those hours or timeperiods we were having to follow in the gated community. Which is what we had while in NJ and were more use to anyhow.
I am thinking my mom was right, I am too independent........for rules...
I have to add .......everything wasn't so secure back at the community. My next door neighbors motor bike was taken from the side of their home in the middle of the night.
Funny thing........my dog did act strange while I was letting her out the back. Just a tad bit different that night. That never was located, and it was quite new.

[MichaelMarinelli]

Originally Posted by metmom006

I just wanted a heads up on the good bad and ugly of living in a gated even non-gated community vs no community. I'm in the suburbs outside philly, but would like to move in the next few years to either pike or wayne counties. Obviously I'm used to things being VERY convienent. I just want my neighbors a little more spread out. I don't mind having to drive a little to get anywhere either. I do have kids so, that is a concern too, having friends to play with and all. I'd appreciate any insight

My personal opinion is gated communities are a pain in the you know what. They do offer the added security that not just anyone can come wondering into the community, but it's not worth it to me. There's not enough crime in this area for it to be of any concern. Non gated communities are better, but I have a problem living by community rules. I just don't like to have to get approval to paint my house or something like that. I'm definitely more of the non community guy.

Don't get me wrong, communities can be great, if you're into that kind of thing. It's nice if you have younger children because they're always close to their friends, and for example in Wallenpaupack Lake Estates you have to be 13 (I think) to drive a golf cart, so it also makes it easy for younger kids without a license to get around the community. Communities offer lots of ammenities. Pools, Clubhouses, Basketball Courts, Tennis Courts, things like that. So that's a plus too. It really all depends on your taste.

[metmom006]

wow, all very interesting! I have a dog too so security isn't my main concern I just want good schools, neighbors, but not on top of me and good kids for my children to play with