Gated vs. Non-Gated which is safer? (Davenport: real estate, apartment complex, house)

[Jeffwltrs]

I am going to buy a second home in Central Florida, but, I am two years away from living there on a regular basis. Would a gated community give me alot more security than a community with no gate? Either way my house will have a security system. Davenport Estates gated vs. Covington Chase non-gated.

[FLABoyJ]

Gated. This is Central Florida

[brinkofsunshine]

Gated, but it really depends more on the area. I lived in a gated apartment complex in a semi-rough area that felt more unsafe than my current, non-gated apartment complex in a nicer area.

[annerk]

Gated doesn't always mean anything. I know the gate codes to three communities near where I live, and I've sure anyone who ever did lawn service or delivered pizza to them does as well.

If there's no guard, gated is generally meaningless.

[chopchop0]

Honestly, I never understood the point of gated communities areas that are already considered pretty safe (DP, windermere etc.)

[Creek Hollow]

Gated communities keep random drivers from cruising around the neighborhood at all hours of the night.

HOWEVER, ascertain how often the gate code is changed. I know a community close to me that changes it monthly. It should be changed after each new construction and on a regular schedule to minimize unwanted traffic.

That's the best communities can do and no code is sacred. Communities with a staffed guard house are not necessarily safer either. Service/construction workers need the code and there's no telling how many have it or to whom they pass it.

[annerk]

The community I live in has no codes. There are two ways to get in. Either have a sticker on your car--and each car has a unique bar code, so if you move or sell the car, they will cancel that sticker out of the system or pass through the guarded gate.

If you don't have a sticker to trip the gate (and we have a gate and an arm to alleviate piggy-backing) you need to be let in by the guard. You would either need to be on a "permanent guest list" of the home you are visiting, or wait for the guard to call the hosue, make sure you are expected/wanted, and then the guard checks your ID and lets you in.

It's not perfect, but it definitely keeps the majority of unwanted people out of the community.

[keithwand]

Area you live in more than gates.

When I appraised homes; most gates were open in the morning and afternoons for school buses.

If closed then 1 or more cars (service vehicles etc.) would "hang" out until someone opened the gate and we would sneak in behind and have no problems.

False security unless it is gated and manned and patroled.

[Parrotrosie]

Originally Posted by annerk

Gated doesn't always mean anything. I know the gate codes to three communities near where I live, and I've sure anyone who ever did lawn service or delivered pizza to them does as well.

If there's no guard, gated is generally meaningless.

Exactly...if there is no guard, gated is meaningless. Our real estate agent got us into every single gated community with no appointment. He has a list of the 'three most common gate codes' and it got us into every single community we wanted. If he knows this, you can bet the criminals do as well. Imagine how many teenagers give out their codes....and to whom.

Unless you have a guard, or a bar coded system, like Annerk describes...I would not ascribe any security to a gated community.

Choose the best safest neighborhood you can afford, your home will hold its value better that way anyway!

[Jeffwltrs]

Thanks for all of your opions!