55+ Community - Near the Clubhouse or Further Away?

[mitchjav]

Hi. DW and I are making a move to a 55+ Community and are ready to
select a lot. Near the front of the community is the clubhouse with a pool
out back. The three lots we're considering are:

1) one of the houses on the street that runs aroud the perimeter of the
clubhouse - with the backyard facing out towards the pool

2) one of the houses a block further back (so there would be a row of houses between the front of our house and the pool/clubhouse. The rear of this house would be facing nothing for now - with a row of houses to be built later, so our backyard would face the backyard of these new houses.

3) a house even further back in the community where there looks to be that there would be less construction going on, but it's removed from the heart of the community.

So we're undecided whether living in #1, or even #2 would be too noisy given the clubhouse and the pool or whether it's better to live "where the action is". Also, concerned about living through the construction of houses in the back of #2 - from both a noise and aesthetic standpoint (they tell us that will be the last section built - so it would be a year or two, I'd imagine). That said, our goal is lifestyle and making new friends - so don't want to be too removed from things.

Any advice from those who live in such a community?

 

[audreyh1]

That’s a very personal thing. We are delighted to be far from the clubhouse. But if you like to where the action is, then you might like being close. How social/gregarious/extroverted are you and or your wife? Do you really like peace and quiet?

 

[Tom52]

If there are pickleball or tennis courts around the clubhouse there is a lot of noise early in the morning. I would not want to be near that.

 

[Midpack]

That’s a very personal thing. We are delighted to be far from the clubhouse. But if you like to where the action is, then you might like being close. How social/gregarious/extroverted are you and or your wife? Do you really like peace and quiet?

+1, there’s no one right answer, depends on you. We’d never buy right next to the clubhouse (we actually passed on a very nice house for that exact reason) because:

• you can spend as much time there as you’d like (from within walking distance a block away)
• BUT you can’t get away from the noise if you live right next to it. Will there be overflow car parking on the street near the clubhouse?

And while you might like being “where the action is” now, that could change as the years go by. You’re going to be there seven days a week for as long as you’re in the house - forever home? If you ever don’t like it, you’re stuck.

And construction won’t last forever, I wouldn’t prioritize that in choosing.

We live several blocks from our clubhouse, perfect for us - we can walk there whenever we like. Even thought they live close, lots of our neighbors drive and park cars near our clubhouse because they have lots of pool stuff they don’t want to carry walking.

 

[ckelly78z]

My own personal take is to pick the quiet #3 where peaceful mornings on the porch with a coffee are possible without construction, or sports activity noise happening.

You can always walk to the clubhouse, immerse yourself in daily community activities, or arrange outings with your neighbors.

I enjoy my 10 acres in the middle of no-where, and have no plans of being social, so good luck !

 

[Ronstar]

I would take #2 - a block further back with future construction behind it. Living next to the clubhouse would be noisy forever, living next to the construction of a row of houses would be noisy for only a few months.

We had a snowbird townhouse that had an easy 200' walk to the community pool. We were secluded from it, yet close to it. No way that I would want to be looking out my house directly into the pool area.

While you may think that living next to the clubhouse would be fun, keep in mind that residents in the club constantly change, so at times there will be a lot of strangers in the clubhouse. And can some of the houses in your development be short term rented? Nothing worse than short term renters invading your space.

 

[Dtail]

If there are pickleball or tennis courts around the clubhouse there is a lot of noise early in the morning. I would not want to be near that.

+1 although one usually doesn't have to be that far from the center of noise in order not to hear it.
We are 2 blocks from the clubhouse and do not hear any noise from the activities around it.
However, there is a house which is a half block from us which complains about the basketball courts. We don't hear it.

A year in and half ago before we bought our current house, the back of our house faced the tennis courts. It was somewhat annoying and wouldn't do that again.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

Based on what I've observed in my Mom's 55+ community, I would be as far from the club house as possible. And you'll need a golf cart to go back and forth if it's further than you'd like to walk carrying a dish of potato salad. I would not like to be near/looking at the pool. Too many kids visit Grandma and Grandpa and spend the entire day in the pool. It's not just Grandma doing her water aerobics class.

Seriously, the 2nd choice sounds far enough away (perhaps ideal). But based on the upcoming construction, I'd probably choose #3. You'll still meet the people of the community with no issues. They have all sorts of social events at the clubhouse and everyone goes out walking or riding bikes in the mornings/evenings where you'll see them on the streets.

Enjoy.

 

[JoeWras]

Too many kids visit Grandma and Grandpa and spend the entire day in the pool. It's not just Grandma doing her water aerobics class.

Marco!!!
.
.
.
.
Polo!!!

 

[eytonxav]

Not a lover of noise, so it would be #2 for me. Putting up with 3-6 months of construction is not permanent. However, if there was a significant buffer zone between #1's backyard with wall/fence/screening shrubs and the club house/pool it might be a different answer.

 

[ivinsfan]

Just for giggles how are these lots priced? Same price or some premiums built into the cost..

 

[Aerides]

I never want to back onto another house again. I want some sort of a view. A neighbor 20 yards away can make plenty of noise.

And with the open lots in options 2 and 3, i'd be concerned about the layouts they pick and the unknown privacy and view changes.

So I'd pick facing the pool, but you don't say how much distance is there?

 

[mitchjav]

Choice #1 has a $16K premium, choice #2 is $6,500 and choice #3 is $14K

 

[mitchjav]

There's 120 Feet from the property to the Pool and the Property is supposed to be on higher ground and there's supposed to be irrigation in place on that 120 Feet

 

[ivinsfan]

Choice #1 has a $16K premium, choice #2 is $6,500 and choice #3 is $14K

Based on this is there something about number 3 you haven't mentioned? Such as not facing another backyard or a certain sun exposure?

Looking at this I wouldn't buy Lot number 2....there is always a method to the madness they use for lot upgrade prices...

 

[Red Badger]

2) one of the houses a block further back (so there would be a row of houses between the front of our house and the pool/clubhouse. The rear of this house would be facing nothing for now - with a row of houses to be built later, so our backyard would face the backyard of these new houses.


Any advice from those who live in such a community?

Be cautious here. When construction starts, its gonna be noise from 7/8 AM until 5ish, every working day (with Saturdays when required). It will be noisy, often dusty, and never ending. From lot clearing, to paint & siding, can be years. We bought our last two houses backing up to wetlands, knowing that the probability of any construction was as close to zero as possible.

 

[mitchjav]

#3 would eventually have construction out the back also, but it looks like a wider loop, so the house out the backyard wouldn't be as close.

 

[ivinsfan]

#3 would eventually have construction out the back also, but it looks like a wider loop, so the house out the backyard wouldn't be as close.

I'd pick that one, but that just me wanting as much space as possible...is the lot bigger?

 

[ivinsfan]

Be cautious here. When construction starts, its gonna be noise from 7/8 AM until 5ish, every working day (with Saturdays when required). It will be noisy, often dusty, and never ending. From lot clearing, to paint & siding, can be years. We bought our last two houses backing up to wetlands, knowing that the probability of any construction was as close to zero as possible.

Agree on the noises but very these are often built in bulk by larger crews and they can be in and out a lot faster then you think. Especially when they do what they call Phase development.

 

[Music Lover]

Don't forget to factor in lot orientation so that you have the right amount of sun/shade in your outdoor space.

 

[Chuckanut]

It is very personal.
My parents lived in a 55+ community until they both passed away. Since they were among the first buyers, they had a home that was about two blocks and a five minute walk to the clubhouse/pool/activity center. They could also walk to the entrance/exit gate and over to the small shopping center in about five minutes. The newer construction was as much as 1/2 mile away. That location was a big plus in selling the home. As long as you are far enough away that the noise won't bother you, being close to the clubhouse is a plus based upon our experience.

 

[samm]

Think it will be noisy?

I live in a mostly retired community with average age in the late 70's (condos built 2000, Las Vegas) with 2 pools and a clubhouse. It is dead quiet almost all the time. Old people are very quiet!!

I face the pool area -- with great sunlight -- which is nice 99.9% of the year. Due to Covid, the spas are also closed and the pool access is very limited.

We also have full-time security to check pool IDs, etc. (no parties)

 

[ivinsfan]

Think it will be noisy?

I live in a mostly retired community (place built 2000, Las Vegas) with 2 pools and a clubhouse. It is dead quiet almost all the time. Old people are pretty quiet!!

To me it's so much quiet, but private. I prefer as much private as possible.

 

[CaliKid]

I would take the clubhouse or a block from the clubhouse but that's me.

 

[COcheesehead]

We've lived near the pool. Bad idea - noise. We've lived with open lots around us that would be built out over time. Bad idea - construction noise over a period of years. So I would go with #3.