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Wednesday, June 13, 2001 Swim-tennis communities offer value, convenience for families By MONROE
ROARK
Builders and developers know that it often takes more than just a house to attract today's home buyer. Community amenities are becoming more and more valuable for ever-busier Fayette Countians, especially those with children. One of the most popular concepts filling that niche is the swim-tennis community. Neighborhoods with shared swimming pools, tennis courts and even clubhouses for parties and social events are becoming the norm all over metro Atlanta. These neighborhoods meet a variety of needs for resident families. "People want somewhere they feel their children can be safe and close to home," said Penny Henderson, a Realtor with Jan Trammell Real Estate in Fayetteville. "They also like not having to go out into any major intersections to get to it." In the past, having a swimming pool near your house meant having it in your backyard, or a neighbor's. But more and more families are finding that the time and expense of keeping up their own pools is not what they want, especially when they can have access to bigger facilities in their own subdivisions that they can share with their neighbors. These amenities are typically maintained by homeowners associations that charge fees, or dues, to residents on an annual basis. Those fees go toward keeping the "common areas" swimming pool, tennis courts and other facilities everyone uses maintained and looking good. Often an ornate entrance to a neighborhood will require regular maintenance, and this is also done by the association, usually consisting of volunteers who make the decisions and disburse the dues to take care of expenses. Association dues can vary widely depending upon the neighborhood, but they are seldom more than $350 per year for a swim-tennis community, according to Henderson. "That's less than $1 a day. You can't do anything these days for $1 a day," she said. Many communities of this type also come with protective covenants that regulate what an individual homeowner can or cannot do regarding such things as the type of privacy fence that can be built or whether an outbuilding can be placed in the backyard. Some neighborhoods police the yards to make certain no one is letting the grass get ridiculously high or checking for what kind of vehicle is parked in the driveway. These regulations, which are made aware to homeowners before they make a purchase and move in, are set up to protect every resident from those who might allow their homes to fall into disrepair and drive down the property values of the entire subdivision. "Fayette County is historically known for keeping property values up," according to Henderson. Many residents of swim-tennis communities avail themselves of the services of lawn care professionals to take further advantage of the convenience offered in their neighborhoods. "Most young couples today consist of two busy professional people, and even mothers who stay home full-time are so involved with the children that they don't want to spend all of their time working in their yards," said Henderson. "Many of them want to stay around the pool." Swim-tennis communities traditionally do not feature large estate-type homes, although some neighborhoods, like Neal's Trace at Woodbyne on White Road in Fayetteville, offer five-bedroom floor plans or will let a home buyer bring in his or her own plan and build to suit. All in all, the right community can allow a family to enjoy the most popular amenities without spending a lot of time and money on upkeep or having to purchase a large lot. Plus, hanging out at the subdivision pool can help you learn who lives around you. "It's a good way to meet your neighbors," said Henderson.
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