Pros:
- There won’t be neighbors behind you, which offers more privacy
- Golf course communities draw in additional amenities
Cons:
- Incoming golf balls that can hit and damage your home
- There are HOA fees to be paid
To some, living on a golf course can seem like the lap of luxury. But is it really? Golf course-adjacent properties come with their pros and cons, and we’ll examine some here.
Who wouldn’t want to look out their backyard and see acres and acres of rolling green hills and immaculate landscaping? As beautiful as golf courses can be, golf course communities can be a challenge to live in as well. And the course itself comes with its own drawbacks. But let’s start on a positive note:
Pros:
Living on a golf course gives you the bonus of not having a neighbor directly behind you, affording you more privacy than most housing developments give. You’ll never have to worry about nosy neighbors peering over your rear fence to inspect your lawn or a two-story home blocking your view. Well, from the back, at least. You do have to watch for nosy golfers, however, but they’re typically more concerned with finding their golf ball than spying on your home.
Golf courses have closing hours, meaning that you don’t have to worry about noisy backyard neighbors throwing block parties. And golfers aren’t typically the rowdiest crowd out there. You may have to worry about lawn mowers, however, as most golf courses do their landscaping and maintenance early in the mornings before the course opens.
Since golf courses are so intent to provide a luxurious experience, it’s likely that golf course homes and homes in those communities will be gorgeous and immaculately maintained. These communities also draw in additional amenities outside of them. It’s extremely common to see new grocery stores, shopping centers and schools pop up around golf course communities, further adding to the value of the area.
Of course, golf course living can’t be perfect.
VISIT: Tri-Cities Communities Guide
Cons:
It won’t take long for the biggest con of living on a golf course to hit you, literally or figuratively: golf balls. Some golfers have good aim. Some swing wildly, and you will quickly find a surplus of golf balls in your backyard. On top of the hassle of excavating golf balls from your lawn, you also have to be careful of potential injuries from flying balls, to both you and your home. Some HOAs may provide insurance against golf ball damage, but most don’t, and neither do most homeowner’s insurance policies. By living on a golf course, you accept the threat of incoming golf balls.
With golf course communities come those that oversee the community and upkeep its standards, namely the HOA. Some people don’t mind living with a HOA, but for others, the thought of paying a regular fee to be told what you can’t do to your own home is sheer torture. Sometimes, but not always, that fee includes a golf membership or clubhouse access.
So what does this mean for you? If you’re looking to buy a property that borders a golf course, keep these pros and cons in mind before you make your purchase. It’s up to you to decide if the cons outweigh the pros. If you own a home on a golf course and are thinking of selling, the good news is that your home and your neighborhood are highly desirable and can fetch a premium price. Many people look for the quality and upkeep that golf course communities require, ensuring that your property value remains as high as possible. It’s never a bad time to sell a golf course home.
READ: Why Work with a Listing Agent when Selling Your Home?
Looking to buy a home in a golf course community here in the Tri-Cities? There are plenty! Richland boasts Meadow Springs, Horn Rapids, and Columbia Point golf communities; Kennewick features the Canyon Lakes and Zintel Creek neighborhoods; Pasco has Sun Willows, and in West Richland there’s the West Richland Golf Course! We’d love to help you in your home-buying journey. Let’s connect so our expert agents can help you in navigating the Tri-Cities real estate market today!