Pros and Con of Gated Communities
Are
communities with surrounding fences and secured gates safer?
Hi, I’m Lisa
Kelly, Lakeland Homes and Lifestyles with Premier Realty.
Today, I’m
going to talk about the pros and cons of gated communities. At the end, you’ll
be able to decide for yourself, if a
gated community is right for you.
So let’s get
started.
The
number of gated communities has definitely increased over the last couple of
decades. In fact, in the Greater Lakeland Area, there are currently over 30
gated communities. But are they safer
than properties without fencing or boundaries?
There’s one thing most residents agree on... There
are a few proven advantages and disadvantages to living within a gated
community.
First, let’s
clearly define what a “gated community” is..
"Secured
communities” are typically residential
communities in which public access by nonresidents is restricted.
They usually
have physical boundaries, such as gates,
walls, and fences. These communities sometimes require a special entry system, like
entry codes, key cards, or security guard approval .
Surprisingly,
only about 60% of the gated communities in our area require a special entry
system. The others have a key pad entry
system. So anyone with the a numbered code could get in. And out all the gated
communities, about 20% are 55+ communities.
I included a
link in the description of all available, Greater Lakeland area homes in gated
communities. The list is updated daily,
so you’ll always know what is available.
In the U.S
as a whole, gated communities appear to
be most popular in the West and South. According to National statistics, the
Southern States have the most, at around 40%..
Of
those…yep, you guessed it!..Florida has more gated communities than any other
southern State.. The least popular area
for gated communities is in the Midwest region, where only about 7% of the
communities are gated.
One reason for
the huge differences has a lot to do with the population density, and style of living. But the biggest reason
is the weather. Communities that get a lot of snow during the winter have fewer
gated communities.
There is no
concrete data that proves or disproves that gated communities promise
residents a higher level of security or decreased crime rates.
On one side
of the fence, (* ‘cuz the pun!), some believe that gated communities and
property fencing cut down on crime. Their thinking is: because security fencing and gates provide
limited access to non-residents, it only makes sense that there will be a
limited number of property crimes.
I’ve been A
Realtor in the area for a couple of decades, and in my opinion, gated
communities not only provide a solid physical barrier, but also act as a
psychological deterrent for would-be criminals.
However, moving into a neighborhood solely
because it is gated is not a wise security decision! Do your homework, or ask
your Realtor to provide you resources to determine it the area itself is safe.
In my
experience, the integrity of a gated community is only as strong as the
integrity of the people that live there. Think about that....
You should never assume that just because a community
is gated, that only law-abiding people live there. Visitors of other residents can also be of
concern.
This is why
some believe that gated communities are
no safer than properties without surrounding fences and gates.
Gates can
also create a false sense of security for the residents. Feeling as if there is no need to keep an eye
out for suspicious people and activity, they lower their guards, making them
and their neighbor’s easy targets for burglars and other criminals.
While gated
communities are prohibited from claiming that the secured gates at the entrance
or around their properties offer a higher level of security and safety, the
implication certainly exists.
How safe a
property is, depends a lot on whether
residents and property owners look out for each other. Especially if your property is a rental. It's
important to do a background checks on
applicants, and making sure the access codes of the entry gates are changed
from time to time.
Let’s talk
about definite advantages of living in a gated community:
1. Reduced
traffic.
This helps to cut down on the noise level as
well. But the bigger plus is: Residents with children often feel this also
provides a safer playing environment for their kids.
2. Decreased
number of solicitors.
Gated
communities that are protected by secured entries prevent solicitors entering
at will.
3. Stricter
community rules and codes. To me, To this is the most important one.
Many
gated communities have strict codes of conduct that residents must follow. Many
residents enjoy living in these types of communities, because it requires
everyone to take care of their homes, which in turn, helps to keep up property
values.
As a new home
buyer, it's important to be smart. Don’t rely solely on the appearances of the property alone. Ask your
Realtor to help you determine if the area is right for you and your family
first! Then decide which side of the fence you want to live on!