Do those gates increase property values in Seven Lakes?Absolutely.
Gated communities provide benefits beyond a control of traffic and a reduction in certain kinds of crime. For many, gated community requirements include elements such as an exclusive image and a sense of security.
These slide or swing gate systems exist to control the flow of vehicles into and out of a community, and they’re basically the most important element of gated community requirements. And, as you may imagine, the stated goal of such systems is to reduce crime rates but do they actually work in the real world?
The answer is a resounding yes.
A study published in Justice Quarterly concluded that “gated communities do lower the odds of experiencing a residential burglary even when controlling for housing unit factors such as tenure, income, and geographical location as well as individual characteristics such as age [and] race.”
Perhaps this is why the home resale value of gated communities is so much higher on average than in non-gated communities.
Additionally, criminals generally prefer soft targets, not those with heightened security measures like those used by gated communities.
Does owning a home within a gated community increase property value? Because gated communities experience a demonstrable reduction in crime, that advantage gets reflected in its homes’ sales prices.
Research published by the American Real Estate Society (ARES) revealed that houses in gated communities enjoy a nearly $30,000 premium when compared to non-gated homes.
ARES Publication Director Ken Johnson, who co-authored the study, stated, “The long-held belief that gates add value is supported by the data, as long as the impact of the amenities is properly factored in. This should set buyers’ minds to rest as to whether or not they are actually receiving a boost in value when they purchase inside a gated community.”
The word ‘gated’ means different things to different people, some people think of gated as exclusive, some think of it as security, but most think of privacy.” Those perceptions are every bit as important to gated communities as the gates themselves.
Gated communities are invariably ruled by HOAs, and while residents like to complain about the restrictions laid down by the governing body of SLLA, they also bring a number of undeniable benefits.
Some of these include a uniform “look” throughout the community; security measures in addition to gates (e.g., access control for common areas, security personnel, video monitoring); maintenance of pools, lakes and roadways.
Because gated communities limit vehicle access, it’s easy for community members to spot unauthorized parties who have gained access to the premises.
This is simply one more layer of protection against both major and minor occurrences.
