Gated communities offer many amenities for homeowners. From added security to guest services, to shared facilities like pools or tennis, a gated community adds that "something extra" to suburban living. While all of these communities offer different bonuses compared with standard street housing, not each community will have the same offerings. Our real estate agents offer the following advice to help you know what to look for when buying a home and to choose the right community for yourself and your family. 

Understand Gated Security

For some communities this may be a simple physical gate with a key or code, in others, this may consist of a robust security system including a staffed security guard. There are benefits and drawbacks to each type of security. If security is simply an automated keypad, this will be less difficult to breach, but personal security may instead be more expensive. Either type of security has a shared safety advantage. However, less traffic in the area means a reduced risk of accidents for both cars and people, as well as less stranger-based vandalism or theft.