A subdivision property is an excellent option when you want to buy a house. The thing is, such a choice could be perfect for you, or it could lead you to some regrets. That is because subdivision houses have a set of pros and cons that buyers should know before closing the deal. Not to mention that subdivisions differ from each other as well.
Meaning you should be careful with buying a house in a subdivision. Yes, it is popular for homebuyers, but you should make sure that it suits you well. You shouldn’t easily shrug off such an option just because of negative rumors about subdivisions too.
That’s why you should talk with the best Realtor for more info about subdivisions. Read through this article for some essential guides as well.
What to Consider When You Want to Buy a House in a Subdivision
A subdivision refers to a piece of land property divided into multiple lots. The developer would then work with builders to establish a complete project on the land area. The project includes a house for each lot as well as other essential and optional features. Think of functional streetways, community swimming pools, and recreational centers, among other amenities.
That’s why subdivisions have different features, amenities, and services that their community of homeowners can enjoy. For example, some subdivisions have walls and gates that outsiders cannot enter without permission. Other subdivisions also focus on particular communities, such as retirees and seniors. Moreover, some have townhouses, apartments, and even condominiums, instead of single houses.
However, when you buy a house in a subdivision, what you should carefully consider is its homeowner’s association. Some subdivisions have no HOAs, while others have HOAs running the community. Of course, each HOA varies from another as well; thus, you should be careful when you’re going for a subdivision with an HOA.
Now, you’ve understood the basic description of subdivisions. The next to learn are the essential points when buying a house in a subdivision today.
1. Location
Location is the holy grail of real estate because of its importance when considering a home to buy. Of course, it is a crucial point when buying a home in a subdivision too. That’s why you should remember these location factors when choosing a subdivision property:
- First, consider the distance of the subdivision area to commercial and industrial zones. Vital establishments should be accessible, such as hospitals, schools, department stores, and groceries, among others. However, the house property should not be near industrial and commercial areas. Homes in such areas usually have a lower value.
- The area of the subdivision itself should have enough features as well. Think of functional streetways and streetlights. Also, know about the amenities in a subdivision, such as dedicated swimming pools, recreational centers, schools, and green spaces.
- Necessary utilities must also be present such as water, electric, and internet connectivity, among others. It is great to clarify the sewage system of the community as well.
2. Neighborhood Community
The neighborhood community is another vital point to consider when you want to buy a house in a subdivision. Remember that houses in subdivisions often sit close to each other. Meaning some factors in the community sure would affect your lifestyle and needs.
- Check if a subdivision focuses on certain types of communities. Say a retirement community. That could be perfect for elderlies since it may have features and services for seniors. However, you can’t buy a home in such a subdivision if you’re not a retiree.
- You should know about the rules and covenants in a community as well. Neighborhood covenants talk about the do’s and don’ts of a community neighborhood, regardless of in a subdivision or not. For example, some communities don’t allow trucks to park in any house properties, which means you can’t bring your truck in such a subdivision.
- Next, have an idea about life in such a neighborhood. Aside from the covenants, there are other practices that homeowners observe in a neighborhood. Think of regular barbecue parties, among other lifestyle factors. Of course, you should know about the crime rates too.
3. Homeowner’s Association
Yes, not all subdivisions have HOAs. However, it is essential to know about them if you’re going for a subdivision with an HOA. You should make sure that the HOA won’t cause you any headaches. Consider these HOA factors when you buy a house in a subdivision with an HOA:
- Check the rules and regulations that the HOA implements. That includes the dos and don’ts while living in a subdivision that they manage. You should know their responsibilities as well, such as security, maintenance, and repair.
- After knowing the rules that an HOA implements, you should also know the charges that they ask from homeowners. Be sure that they ask for fees for the right reasons and that they ask for the right amount.
- Now, many homebuyers miss to consider this factor, but you should not forget to know how an HOA behaves as well. Remember that many HOAs act unreasonably strict and provide poor management services. Of course, you should avoid such a kind of HOAs for your peace of mind.
4. New Construction vs. an Incomplete Subdivision
It is possible to choose between incomplete subdivisions and new constructions too. And there are unique factors for each option that could be ideal for you or not.
Incomplete Subdivisions
As its name suggests, an incomplete subdivision is an ongoing development project. However, at a certain point, the developer starts selling properties in the subdivisions to homebuyers. That is despite the project still yet to be complete. Developers do such steps to acquire more funds from home sales.
That’s where its benefits circle. Properties in an incomplete subdivision have significantly lower prices than in a complete project. Developers even offer deals and discounts to generate sales. As a result, these properties also get a significant value increase in just a short period.
The thing is, it is not that easy to buy a house in such a subdivision. After all, the subdivision is still incomplete, which means you can’t see a full community yet. Expect to see a lot of changes in the area in a short period as well.
That’s why it is essential to check the overall project plan and map for the ongoing development in the area. Get an assurance from the developer that the map won’t drastically change too.
New Construction
This option refers to buying a house in a complete subdivision project. That means a few of the properties in the area are already occupied, but some still have no owners.
The advantage is obvious. The project is complete, meaning you can see the full view of the area. That makes it easier to purchase a home in such a subdivision.
However, expect to pay more, especially for a new home. That means smaller profit margins if you plan to buy and sell a house in a new construction subdivision.
5. Custom Home Considerations
This point isn’t an issue if you’re okay with a cookiecutter home in a subdivision. However, you should do some search if you want a unique home in such an area. Here is a couple of vital notes to remember:
- Search for incomplete subdivision projects. Those are the best places for you to have a unique subdivision home. That is because developers often allow homebuyers to build a custom home in their area while the project goes on.
- Next, be wary when you plan to buy a house in a subdivision with HOA. Most of the HOAs impose some requirements about the curb appeal of the properties in the subdivisions they manage. Meaning you cannot make a lot of changes, especially at the exterior of your home. That’s another reason why you should know about the rules and regulations of an HOA in a subdivision before closing a deal.
6. Reselling a House in a Subdivision
Say you plan to buy a subdivision house to resell it at a later date. That’s an excellent plan since subdivision houses usually command high sales, especially when you go for an incomplete subdivision.
Why? Because many people seek to buy a home in a subdivision. These are buyers who don’t want to live in a busy street or by a country road. They want a comfortable residential area with sufficient amenities for their families.
However, be sure to stay away from expensive homes in a subdivision. They usually have slower appreciation rates than other properties in a similar area. Focus on regular properties to avoid higher selling costs while enjoying a bigger ROI.
Remember these Notes when You want to Buy a House in a Subdivision
Yes, there are many rumors about subdivision homes having a lot of drawbacks. However, most of them are avoidable when you know how to choose a home to buy in such an area. That is why it is vital to search more about subdivision homes before deciding for or against them. Of course, talk with your Realtor for more info when you buy a house in a subdivision too.