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Wednesday, June 12, 2002 Swim-tennis communities offer value, convenience for families By MONROE ROARK
As summer is nearly here (officially, anyway; ask any kid just out of school and you'll find out it's really here already), much more attention is turned to the swimming pools and tennis courts of Fayette and surrounding counties. And as many residents, builders and developers already know, there is considerable attractiveness to a residential subdivision with those kinds of amenities on site for the entire neighborhood to enjoy a few steps from their homes. 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. According to local real estate professionals, some of the obvious advantages of these communities are safety, since children have more activities available close to home, and convenience, as the need to venture out onto a major road and take up time commuting to a fun spot is eliminated. 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, which is less than a dollar a day. 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. A look at recent statistics shows that Fayette County homes have done a pretty good job overall keeping property values up. 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. With most young couples today consisting of either two professionals working outside the home or a stay-at-home parent whose day is jammed with family-related activities, many home owners would rather not spend hours working in the yard, especially when that time can be spent around the pool. Swim-tennis communities traditionally do not feature large estate-type homes, although some neighborhoods 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. What better way to meet your neighbors?
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