Gated communities are popular in Austin, Texas. One reason
is because there is no "through traffic." The gate puts
a stop to cars zipping through using your local streets as a short
cut. This makes Austin gated communities safer for kids walking
or riding their bikes to the neighbor's house, the playground, or
to catch the schoolbus. Gated communities can be safer from crime,
too. Exactly how safe depends on whether there is a guard at the gate
or not. Unguarded gates are relatively easy to get past for the enterprising
criminal. For the impatient individual, a gated community may be a
poor choice. Whenever a serviceman makes a repair call or the pizza
comes within the allotted thirty minutes, you will have to check in
with the guard or buzz them in. On the strong side, gated communities
normally exhibit a strong pride of ownership. Home values hold up
very well. Just don't buy a house right next to the gate. Purchase
a home as close to the center of the neighborhood as possible.