| Golf course fronting estates became popular in the | | | | always a trade-off , as the views aren't likely to be as |
| 1980s, and have since become a common feature of | | | | lush in these homes. |
| suburban America. Golf-front living can offer some | | | | If you do purchase golf-front property, look for |
| excellent benefits such as outstanding views, having | | | | insurance policies that give a good rate for unlimited |
| access to your favorite hobby in an instant, a quality | | | | window replacement. In general, knowing the risks of |
| home in a safe neighborhood of other quality homes, | | | | an area makes you responsible for any damage done, |
| and, most often, like-minded neighbors. However, there | | | | however, some clubs have been forced to pay for |
| are also some draw-backs. Deciding what is right for | | | | damages, or erect safety fences or nets in extreme |
| you means getting informed and analyzing your | | | | circumstances. A responsible course developer should |
| priorities. | | | | take the risks into account, and minimize them |
| There is a difference between golfing communities. | | | | throughout the design of the course. If specific course |
| Some are focused around the course, while others | | | | features make your home consistently a dangerous |
| are residential neighborhoods foremost, with the | | | | area, or if the course was redesigned after your home |
| course as a side benefit. Further, a surprising number | | | | was built, putting it more at risk, consider requesting |
| of golf-front residents don't even play golf. While the | | | | help from the course owners to minimize your risk. |
| idea of the typical golf-front real estate owners is | | | | However, if the stray balls are purely accidental, |
| retirees and golf-fiends, many younger families choose | | | | accept the risk and pay for good insurance. Buying a |
| these neighborhoods for their safety, beauty and | | | | home behind a green, or right next to a tee box, as |
| quality. They are buying a lifestyle, and a home with | | | | opposed to a few yards up from it, may allow you to |
| excellent appreciation value. | | | | avoid the highest risk of having your home visited by |
| However, depending on where your home is situated, | | | | stray balls. Further, there is some evidence that homes |
| there is the obvious risk of stray balls ending up in your | | | | on the right side of the fairway are more often hit by |
| yard, or worse, through your window. Some golf | | | | erroneously sliced balls. |
| community residents have even been known to be | | | | When weighing the pros and cons of a golf |
| bothered by golfers coming onto their property to | | | | community, consider association fees, and also rules |
| retrieve balls. But in general, these risks are worth the | | | | and regulations associated with living there. Also, |
| benefit of living in such an amazing and valuable | | | | assuming you're a golf-lover, be sure you love the |
| location. | | | | course-otherwise you miss out on the advantage of |
| Of course (pun intended), not all homes are right on the | | | | living so close. |
| green. There will be lovely homes across the street | | | | Finally, when considering a golf-front home, don't buy |
| and within a few blocks of the actual course which still | | | | sight unseen. Considering the risks, and benefits, of |
| offer the convenience of the close proximity to the | | | | certain areas, it is best to know exactly where your |
| course and the great neighborhood, but without the risk | | | | home is situated before committing your hard earned |
| of stray balls and trespassing golfers. Although there's | | | | money to it. |