Living in a Golf Course Community

There are so many benefits of living in a golf course community not the least of which is the close proximity to your favorite sporting pastime! Historically, homes in golf course communities have increased in value more than comparable homes in neighboring communities. Buying a home in a community with a brand-name golf course usually translates into better appreciation and higher property values.

It’s also interesting to note that according to the National Association of Realtors, 22% of homebuyers consider a house on a golf course to be a plus either before the kids arrive or once they’ve moved out. With the Nation’s baby boomers heading to empty nest status, it’s likely that golf course communities will remain a top choice for many homebuyers.

Here are just a few of the benefits of living on a golf course:

• Easy access to the course! Walk to the country club and enjoy a beautiful game of golf in your own community. Also, special memberships (reduced rates) are usually available for community residents.
• Spectacular views of all the finely manicured lawns, and you don’t have to do the work!
• Lots of amenities! This includes a clubhouse, restaurants, pro shops, pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, and much more. It’s nice to have all the amenities right in the neighborhood!
• A location away from noisy cities! Golf course communities are most often located in the suburbs and are serene and peaceful. Forget about loud highways when you have a golf course in your backyard.
• A wide range of house styles! Most golf course communities are a mixture of single family homes, condos, and townhouses. It’s nice to have choices to fit your lifestyle and neighbors who likely share your passion for golf.

Before you think it is all lush green grass and hole-in-ones, living on a golf course can have its downsides. Clearly, an errant ball or two could land in your yard (or even strike the house if the golfer is that bad!). But many course designers and developers take those risks into consideration when they plan the community. Another issue is privacy. Let’s face it; there may well be a group of golfers walking by your backyard on a beautiful fall morning. There are ways to deal with that, too.

“One of the biggest issues is privacy,” said Chris Smith, co-founder of Tucson & Scottsdale Golf Vacations. “You want to be able to enjoy yourself in your backyard. Properties that sit above the fairway, like at Ventana Canyon, are incredible and private.”

Mr. Smith should know all about golf course living because not only does he spend his days thinking about (and playing!) golf, he is also a partner in Mountain Vista Real Estate in Tucson. Of course they specialize in golf course living, but they also have many properties available in other areas of Tucson and Oro Valley. If you’re like CNN Money and think that Tucson is one of the top 25 places to retire, then you need to talk to the folks at Mountain Vista Real Estate (888-465-3125). Of course if you’re looking for the best golf vacation money can buy, please call Chris (888-465-3125) he’d love to hear from you!