Neighborhoods with Community Centers…Look Before You Leap

I just finished touring a neighborhood with a client that is looking for a new home.  This person was convinced that the amenities of a community center were a necessity on their short list of features in a new home.  We toured the facility which boasted a heated pool, gym, tennis courts, etc., along with a lengthy list of social activities and the big one, basic cable.  The cost?  $200.00 per month.  Not a bad price if you are able to abandon the cost of your current gym membership and start working out basically at home; if you like tennis and want to swim year round in a public pool.  If all of these benefits aren’t going to be used however, carefully consider the cost.  If you are a member of a gym and decide to switch or change your work out and want to cancel the membership to save money, you can.  BUT, when you are living in a development where the HOA includes the amenities, you will literally have to move to end the cost of the frills.  Ask your realtor to get a comparison of the HOA for similar projects witha similar home and really consider if the cost is a savings, or just an unnecessary expense that will weigh down your pocketbook and curtail other extracurricular activities.