In a master planned community (MPC), you get just that. Your neighborhood may include health services, schools, churches, and recreational amenities. Known as mixed-use residential developments, master planned communities are similar to small towns.

Similar to a neighborhood with a Homeowner’s Association (HOA), master planned communities do have fees for the services and amenities they provide. But, since an MPC is usually bigger than an HOA, there may be multiple associations within one community. This may mean belonging to a local HOA, as well as an additional association for the master planned community as a whole. 

How a Master Planned Community Compares to a Subdivision

You may be wondering how a master planned community is different from a subdivision. That’s a good question! The two major differences are the size of the neighborhood and its infrastructure.

A planned community is mixed-use residential, which means it can include both homes and businesses. A suburb typically only allows residential structures, so you have to leave your community for access to businesses such as convenience stores, gyms, or other retail.

In an MPC, the whole community is laid out in advance. Usually, the residential streets are designed for access to homes, not to the parks or businesses in the community. This helps limit traffic where people live. In a typical suburb, you might live on a busy street because it not only gives access to homes, but to the playground, school, or the only way in/out of the neighborhood.

Cadence in Henderson, Nevada is an example of a large master planned community that not only boasts a 50-acre Central Park, shopping, and a pool but free Wi-Fi as well. While master planned communities often emphasize maintaining a certain aesthetic, there is usually a range of floor plans and builders to choose from when purchasing or building a home in one. This means not all houses are identical on the outside and the inside, so you still get custom options while having a unified look to the community.

Perks of Master Planned Communities

Now that you know what a master planned community is, what are the perks of living in one? Is it really worth it?

Location

Often, a master planned community is far enough away from a bustling city center that you can get away from the noise and traffic. But, you’re still close enough that commuting into the city for work isn’t a huge headache. Your home in the MPC is conveniently located near several amenities, so it’s like living in your own private town within your city.

Community

When you live in a thoughtfully designed MPC, everything you need is contained within easy reach. This means you get to interact with your neighbors regularly. Familiar faces will meet you at the grocery store, in restaurants, and at the parks in your neighborhood. 

This can make it easier for your kids to make friends, and for you to develop relationships with people who can check your mail when you go out of town, or who can get together for regular game nights. Many MPCs host community events to bring residents together in the form of holiday celebrations or local pickleball tournaments. Since MPCs are mixed-use, you might even have a farmer’s market at a community park or group exercise classes in a clubhouse fitness center.

If you want to feel like you belong where you live, a master planned community may be the place for you.

Amenities

Sure, a regular neighborhood HOA may offer a community center and a pool for residents to use, but does it also offer a golf course, community events, gyms, splash pads, lovely green spaces with lakes, ponds, and pond fountains galore, AND biking trails? On average, master planned communities are developed on more than 2,500 acres. That’s a lot of real estate not just for homes, but for a gas station, pharmacy, or grocery store as well.

Sense of Security

In an MPC, the only people accessing the amenities are those who live there. Often featuring gated entrances, there may also be regular security patrols of the community day and night. The perks of a gated community include reduced traffic, so neighborhood walks and bike rides feel a bit safer.

You may even have a police station or a fire station in your master planned community, giving you better access to those resources when you need them.

Demographics

Did you know that some master planned communities are specifically for age 55+? As a retiree, it might be a big perk to live in a community exclusively with other people living out their Golden Years. Or, you might find an MPC that caters to families by offering amenities such as splash pads, schools, or summer camps on site. 

Property Value

Studies have shown that homes in master planned communities maintain steady property values. When the real estate market is doing well, homes in MPCs may increase in value at a faster rate, and when the market is faltering, they decrease at a slower rate. This is due, in part, to the value that nearby amenities offer to a home in the MPC. 

Aesthetics

It’s been mentioned briefly that homes in master planned communities may follow certain aesthetic guidelines. These are outlined in the community Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and are intended to beautify and unite the neighborhood.

If you’ve ever lived in a neighborhood and been visually assaulted by a house in disrepair, you probably won’t face that problem in a master planned community. The CC&Rs encourage property owners to maintain their lawns and homes, and may even include some lawn care, waste management, and snow removal services in the HOA fees. It’s nice having some of those chores handled for you at a small cost!

Additionally, homes in the community may be required to stick to a certain color palette for exterior siding, paint, brick, etc… That can be a beautiful sight when driving through the neighborhood. Color palettes may also extend to plants and decor in the yard, which can give your community an upscale feel.

Master planned communities are a good choice for homeowners who want convenience without sacrificing a close-knit neighborhood.