A few weeks and weeks later, after searching for the perfect home in Seattle, Washington, I found myself looking up at the Holy Grail of my house. We check out all the boxes within walking distance of plenty of storage, backyard and shops, but Redfin’s real estate agents will tell you what they have in the Master Plan community.
Naturally, once you return to the comforts of your apartment in Renton, Washington, you nod by pretending to know exactly what the Master Plan community is before researching online. This Redfin Real Estate Article is here to explore this subtle topic and determine if a master-planned community is right for you.
In this article:
What is the Master Planning Community?
What are the amenities for the Master Planning Community?
How much does the Master plan community cost?
What is the difference between a Master Planning Community and a Neighborhood?
Conclusion: Is a Master-Planned Community worth it?
What is the Master Planning Community?
To cut the track to the right, the Master Plan Community (MPC) is a large, planned residential area that integrates community amenities, services, shops and homes. The goal is to create spaces for residents to live, work and play.
What are the amenities for the Master Planning Community?
In summary, MPC offers amenities ranging from golf courses to gyms and restaurants.
Master-planned communities are usually located on large lands, allowing developers to provide a variety of amenities to their community members. These include golf courses, restaurants, shops, miles of hiking trails, parks, community events and more.
One of the major draws in a Master-Planned community is to have everything you need within the community. Gyms, parks and more are now available to residents and are kept up to date with funds collected by the Homeowners Association (HOA). You can walk from your home to the gym, have a drink in the clubhouse and play in the park with your kids in the comfort of MPC.
How much does the Master plan community cost?
In a nutshell, MPCs usually cost more and require homeowners to pay HOA fees.
To maintain the functionality of the amenities and provide the cost of community events, MPC homeowners must pay HOA fees on top of the mortgage. As homeowners try to grow their budgets to include their homes in their MPC, this allows them to put what they can afford. HOA fees range from $100 to $700, depending on where you live and the amenities offered. HOA fees can even exceed $1,000. If you are looking for a home with MPC, be prepared to pay a little extra.
What is the difference between a Master Planning Community and a Neighborhood?
Important Takeout: MPC prioritizes community events and tries to create an all-in-one experience.
You may think that a master-planned community sounds like a neighborhood, but there are slight differences. MPCs often pay employees whose job is to create and host community events. You may experience a strong sense of community in your neighborhood, but if your neighbor prefers to attend a backyard barbecue or maintain yourself, it can be a gamble depending on where you live.
MPCs try to prioritize the community and provide an all-in-one solution for residents to live, work and play. Some MPCs are further mounted within ranges such as grocery stores, allowing residents to walk to pick up the necessary materials.
Conclusion: Is a Master-Planned Community worth it?
So is a master-planned community worth it? The answer is really up to you. If convenience is a priority and you enjoy a structured approach to community life, living at MPC may prove to be consistent with your lifestyle. Before making a decision, consider the additional costs of buying a home with MPC to make sure you can afford it, talk to residents who currently live there to determine if you see yourself as living and thriving in this community.
