While master-planned communities may seem like a fairly new development, they’ve actually been around since the 1960s. However, these custom-designed and developed residential communities, sometimes called MPCs, have never been more popular than they are right now. And why not? These large-scale, mixed-use residential communities have a lot to offer, such as eye-catching amenities and suburban locations close to major metro areas, and they’re capturing the attention of millions of new home shoppers across the U.S. If you’re one of them, we have some tips for touring a master-planned community that you may want to consider.
Just what is a master-planned community? Simply put, it’s a residential community that is planned from the start, rather than one that develops organically. This means that master-planned communities can offer unbeatable amenities and conveniences, along with the comfort and security of knowing that there’s a plan for the future. Plus, they’re just great places to live, make friends with your neighbors, and see your children grow up. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who’re considering a new home in a master-planned community, here are some things to keep in mind.
Tips for touring a master-planned community in Texas
How do you define a master-planned community?
As we already mentioned, a master-planned community is a large-scale residential community filled with custom new construction homes. It’s a community that is designed from the ground up, incorporating amenities, natural spaces, and much more. Santa Rita Ranch near Austin is a 4,000-acre master-planned community where discovery, learning, and having fun are at the forefront of everyday life.
Ask about the community lifestyle.
If you’ve never toured a master-planned community before, this may be a new concept. One of the things that separate a master-planned community from the rest of the pack is that a well-run master-planned community is typically built around an overall lifestyle plan for its residents. What does that mean? a full social calendar of events, designed for fun and connecting with neighbors. Lifestyle can have a big impact on how you enjoy your life in the community. You will no doubt love your new home, and with a vibrant Lifestyle component you will love every day in the community you call home. This is why it’s the number-one tip on our list of tips for touring a master-planned community.
The lifestyle of a given master-planned community may be based on any number of interests, such as nature, an active lifestyle, fishing, equestrian interests, and more. Whatever it is, it informs the types of amenities, activities, and programs that are available to community residents. Many master-planned communities employ an on-site lifestyle director who plans and organizes these types of events and programs, so getting an idea of what a community offers can help you get a better picture of what life there will be like.
Inquire about homebuilders and available product types.
Master-planned communities are made up of new-construction homes, so it’s a good idea to ask about the homebuilders who are building in the community. Who are they? What kinds of homes are they known for? What types of floor plans are available? Getting to know the homebuilders in your chosen community makes the process of building a home—or selecting a move-in-ready home—so much easier! The website for the community you’ve chosen should have a “homes” section that allows you to select homes for sale by price range, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, and more. Also, many master-planned communities have “model parks” where you can tour model homes that will give you an idea of what to expect from specific builders.
Ask about the HOA.
What is a homeowners association? A homeowners association is established as one of the first steps in developing a new neighborhood or community, and its purpose is to protect property values and maintain shared spaces such as roads, parks, and so on. To do this, most HOAs collect dues, which are then used to make repairs, maintain the communal property, and more. Because of this, learning more about your community’s HOA is definitely one of the top tips for touring a master-planned community.
Explore the amenities.
Amenities are one of the chief things that set master-planned communities apart from other neighborhoods. Most MPCs offer their residents access to unique amenities such as golf courses, clubhouses, fitness centers, water parks, swimming pools, nature trails, and much more. Some master-planned communities even have on-site shops, restaurants, and schools, making them more like self-contained small towns. Ask about what amenities are on offer at the community you’ve chosen and make the time to tour the facilities. Walk the grounds, visit the pool or fitness center, and check out anything that’s important to you.
Ask about future community developments.
The “plan” in master-planned communities goes beyond when the communities are first built. It’s a plan for the future, which means that those running the community know what’s in store and have specific plans for each plot of land. This may mean adding new on-site schools, more homes, new amenities, and so on. Ask about the plans for the future of the community, and see how they mesh with your own vision of your future life there.
Hopefully, these tips for touring a master-planned community will help you on your new-home journey. If you follow them, you should be able to find the master-planned community that’s perfect for you and your family, as well as the home of your dreams. Whether you’re just beginning or have already been looking everywhere, we hope you’ll tour Santa Rita Ranch in Liberty Hill, TX near Georgetown, Austin and Round Rock. We’re always happy to welcome new friendly faces to our growing master-planned community!
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