Gated communities can be very attractive to many homebuyers, but it is
important to look at the pros and cons of such a home before making a final
purchase. There are many appealing qualities about buying a home in a gated
Westchase community such as privacy, security and the status that these neighborhoods
represent. Most gated neighborhoods try to limit the amount of traffic
inside a community by either providing an access code or having a guard at
the gate. The down side of this system is that you generally have to use
the same service providers as your neighbors, so that you do not have too
many personnel and trucks entering the community. Many people also sneak
behind other cars and do not put in their codes, so this system fails to
meet strict security measures. Guard stations help with this problem, but do
cost more allowing for slightly higher homeowner's association dues. The
gated communities of Westchase are The Enclave,
The Greens,
Harbor Links, Saville Rowe, and
The Vineyards.
Another costly fee of living in a gated community is that many counties will not pay for the upkeep of roadways that are not open to the public. This will mean the residents of that community will have to maintain the streets themselves which over time will need to be repaved. It is important to look over all the homeowner's association guidelines and fees before purchasing a home. Most are not voluntary and can increase your monthly outflow. Homeowner Association fees in Westchase are considered a "necessary evil". While we don't enjoy paying the fees, we certainly enjoy the benefit we receive as a homeowner in terms of amenities and the constant upkeep of our beautiful communities.
A big reward of living in a Westchase gated community is that you will generally find residents with pride of ownership who choose to keep their homes well maintained. Strict homeowner's associations will generally require each home to adhere to a higher standard of living which helps to keep property values at a high level. While this is appealing to many homeowner's, others would enjoy the freedom of not having to answer to anyone about the color of their house or their choice of landscaping. Unfortunately, with these freedoms, you may find residents who just don't want to upkeep their homes in the manner that most Westchase homeowners deserve. While not every subdivision in Westchase is gated, all have strict homeowner associations who enforce and maintain the property to very high standards.