Featuring new homes that don’t require maintenance, a master-planned community is the ideal residential environment that makes it easy to live in – and experience – life at a relaxing pace.
A well-planned community offers a variety of housing choices, while also providing for recreation, support services and open space. For many new homeowners, it's the perfect environment for today's 24/7 lifestyles: quality of life combined with new homes that are ready for move-in.
“Quality is key,” says Karen Cochran, sales representative for Centex Homes' Summer Walk community in San Diego. “The land planning, amenities, selection of home builders and pricing are all very important, because developers of master planned communities want to maintain that quality well into the future.”
So how do you decide which community is best for your needs? One of the biggest considerations facing any potential homebuyer is location. Is where you live convenient for work? Are there quality schools nearby? What's the community like? Is it attractive? What about recreation -- like a pool, parks, or a golf course?
There are many more questions to ask, since location is a matter of personal preference, but these basics will get you started as you begin your home search. Compare the neighborhoods you like, keeping in mind the advantages of living in a planned community:
Architectural integrity. A planned community establishes master architectural guidelines for homes and community amenities, which ensures that neighborhoods are well designed and complement each other for the long term. These guidelines create a unified theme, but with variations so that each neighborhood is unique. Long-term community specifications maintain the integrity of an attractive street scene, as well as landscaping and facilities.
Amenities that enhance quality of life. Master-planned communities are about convenience - from the brand-new home that won't require extensive maintenance to amenities that make is easy to enjoy long weekends and quality family time. These might include pools, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails, recreation centers, sports fields, golf courses, clubhouses and much more. Smart community planning also considers views and preserving natural open space. A planned community will typically be closer to good schools, commercial/retail centers, and major transportation corridors.
As an example, the setting for Centex Homes' Haciendas Sur neighborhood, located in the Santaluz™ master planned community near Rancho Santa Fe in North San Diego County, creates an ambiance of sophisticated country living highlighted by a golf course, walking trails, hundreds of acres of rugged open space and views across rolling hills toward the ocean.
Family-oriented recreational amenities and a hometown atmosphere with affordable prices is another example of the benefits of good planning, seen at Sunbow in Chula Vista where Centex Homes has built Summer Walk and Seasons neighborhoods.
Another facet of careful master planning is a respect for the natural beauty of the land, a defining characteristic of a new master planned community called Arrowood™ now under development in North San Diego County. The setting for Centex Homes' upcoming Douglas Crossing will feel like a peaceful country retreat with hiking and biking trails, parks and village amenities that complement more than 65 acres of preserved natural habitat.
Investing in your future. While no one can guarantee that your home will increase in value, master planned communities typically maintain their value very well. The homes in planned communities usually see considerable appreciation due to the fact that they are seen as more desirable places to live. Homeowners' association dues are truly an investment in your future and contribute to the maintenance of community landscaping, pools, parks, recreation centers and other common area amenities. As the years pass, the homeowners association will be able to refresh and renovate amenities as needed so the community will maintain its level of quality and desirability.
In addition to these factors, there are the intangible benefits such as the strong sense of "community" in a planned residential environment. Parents with children can gather at the playground. A pool or recreation center is often a hub of activity, with swim teams in the summer. Families can enjoy leisurely bike rides along the trails or meet neighbors for picnics in the park. And there is more to good planning than recreation. There may be an elementary school located in the heart of the community or a retail center just around the corner. The Arrowood™ community is planned with a vision to bring residents together by providing amenities such as a Village Green for concerts and picnics.
You can feel the pride of good planning in the way the residents feel about their community. They own much more than a comfortable home in a beautiful neighborhood. They have a great place to live -- whether they are starting a family, raising children, enjoying a new phase of life as a couple or cherishing their privacy. Master planning makes the difference and that is why Centex Homes has a long history of building neighborhoods in the finest master planned communities where the quality of the community complements the quality of the homes.