|
|
| |
Buying a Home: Amenities
This is both an exciting and a daunting word. On the one hand, it conjures images of all sorts of neat things to see and do close at hand, some of them perhaps just on the other side of our great room floor-to-ceiling windows. On the other hand, the mere mention of Amenities can cause the real estate cash register to commence ca—chinging, ca—chinging unless you pick and choose carefully among various options. It's wonderful to dream, and we love dreaming with you. But keep firmly grounded in what your budget dictates you can afford.
Aw, what the heck, let's dream full out! How about a Gated Community? To be sure, they can provide an extra measure of security, unless of course there's also a golf course in your backyard (which is often the case), and then the burglar who can't get in the gate simply walks across the tenth fairway and hauls the TV away in your golf cart. And, frankly, one of the reasons people move to our area is that our crime statistics are pretty encouraging, in fact very low crime rates, compared to a lot of other places. That is not to say we don't lock our doors, but most of us don't choose to live behind gates, either. It's more of a status symbol, and there's nothing wrong with that if you want and can afford it. And oftentimes Gated Communities do add demonstrably to individual home property values. Go figure.
Living on a Golf Course. Ron and I spent the last three years living at the Pine Hollow course in Clayton. No doubt about it, it's a special feel. You can walk to your weekly round, usually enjoy an on-site clubhouse, perhaps with dining room, tennis courts, swimming pool(s), pro shop, even an on—site gym or other workout facility. And, oh, those million dollar views down the fairway or across to the tee! North Carolina is famous for its golf courses; the legendary No. 2 course at Pinehurst, site of the 2005 U.S. Open tournament, is but an hour away (and is my hubby Ron's hometown). And we do our best to keep up with the Joneses of Pinehurst here in the Research Triangle Park area. Where you can still buy the million-dollar view for well under a million.
Swim Clubs. Swimming is a big deal here among the younger set and there are numerous swim teams in Raleigh, Cary and elsewhere that seem to score impressive statewide records year in and year out. They include teams from Cary's Lochmere Swim and Tennis Club, about which we'd be pleased to tell you more. Pools, including the indoor variety, are plentiful and generally well policed by trained and certified lifeguards. A lot of subdivisions have at least a fair sized pool.
Ditto Tennis. There are both youth and adult (men's and women's) USTA leagues all over the area, and competition is often fierce. We have composite, clay and even a precious few grass courts. Indoor courts are available as well. And many subdivisions build at least a couple of hard courts.
But here's the deal: While you can have these Golf, Swim and Tennis amenities located within your subdivision, and pay the added fees (and sometimes they are quite reasonable) for building and maintaining them, you can also join many of the same clubs (for a fee, naturally) and not live on site, so long as you are willing to drive a mile or five to get to them. It's often a less expensive way to go if you are concerned about the ca—chinging.
Some folks just have to live on the water, and while the ocean is a couple of hours away, you can still get impressive and relaxing views from Waterfront properties on numerous lakes, large and small, and a few others we would be more honest to call big ponds. We can guarantee record-setting fresh water fishing. Well, we can guarantee the fishing; the record-setting is between you and the fish. But the really big ones are there, and plenty of successful fisherfolk have the photographs to prove it. Boating, Water Skiing and other outdoor pastimes, including Camping, are literally only a few minutes away for all of us. You don't have to live on the water to enjoy it, unless a 24-7 view is your requirement. Then bring cash. As the man says, Hawaii is about the only place they're making new Waterfront property and unfortunately none of that will be fit to live on for a few thousand years. 
The bottom line is that apart from the skyscrapers, the casinos, the women and the bad haircut, there isn't anything Donald Trump has that we can't find for you here in the way of housing Amenities if you have even a fraction of his money and are willing to part with it.
But the even better news is that to enjoy most of those Amenities, you don't have to. Part with so much of it, that is.
|
|
|
