The Pros and Cons of Buying a House on a Houston Golf Course

January 7, 2019 by Jorge Lopez

Homes in a golf community
When it comes to prestige, comfort, status, and enjoyment, nothing tops living in a golf course community. But it’s not all perfect. For every benefit, it could be argued that there’s a mitigating factor. And if you’re contemplating making the move to a golf course, you’d be wise to weigh the pros and cons before getting too far into your search.

The Pros of Golf Course Living

Living on a golf course is, for millions of Americans, an idyllic goal. And though it isn’t for everyone, there are a number of reasons for buying a house on a golf course. Let’s begin by investigating these benefits: 

1. Golf Nearby

If you’re an avid golfer, the most obvious benefit of living on a golf course is that you get the chance to play golf as much as you’d like. Simply stroll up to the clubhouse and you can be swinging your clubs in a matter of minutes. This makes it possible to squeeze in a quick round after work or play at a more leisurely pace on lazy weekends.

2. Community and Amenities

Golf is typically only one part of what’s available in a golf course community. Depending on where you choose to live, you may have access to other things like swimming, exercise facilities, basketball courts, racquetball, tennis, horseback riding, yoga, and more. The clubhouse may also have a restaurant, bar, live entertainment, and event venues, which make it perfect for relaxing and entertaining guests.

Because friendships and social lives are often maintained around group activities like these, living in a golf course community often makes it easier to meet new people and develop friendships.

3. Prestige

Let’s not pretend like there isn’t a certain amount of prestige that comes with living in a golf course community. Whether you downplay it or not, it’s nice to be able to say you live in a well-respected neighborhood. And in certain lines of business, it’s necessary in order to stand out.

The Cons of Golf Course Living

By no means is golf course living perfect. If you purchase a home in one of these communities, you need to be aware of some of the potential issues or “cons” you’ll encounter.

1. Strict HOA Rules

 When you live in a golf course community, you don’t have some of the same freedoms that you would otherwise have in a single-family property that exists outside of a neighborhood. HOA rules and conditions are often very strict, requiring you to follow specific rules with landscaping, home renovations and additions, where you can park vehicles, etc.

2. Lack of Privacy

On the one hand, a golf course community provides a lot of privacy. You don’t have a nosy neighbor staring into your backyard or lots of through traffic in front of your house. On the other hand, you simultaneously lose some privacy. Depending on where you’re located, you’ll have golfers near your property line and maintenance staff constantly passing by. (You can also expect lots of golf balls to end up in your yard – potentially breaking windows and causing other disruptions.)

3. Issues With Long-Term Value

Ever since the beginning of golf in the United States, golf course communities have long been considered great investments. The popularity of the game means houses in these areas tend to appreciate faster than average.

“In recent years, however, The Washington Post and other media outlets have reported a steady decline in the luxury golf community market, with Golf magazine declaring that ‘the gilded age of golf course design is dead,’” real estate expert Bill Ness writes. “A perfect storm of overbuilding, an economic downturn and a decrease in the number of people who play the sport has put nearly 2,000 of the nation’s 16,000 golf courses in jeopardy and made homebuyers, and real estate developers, more cautious.”

This probably shouldn’t be a huge concern – it’s not like a nice home is going to tank in value because of a slight decline in golf’s popularity – but it is something to think about from a long-term investment perspective.

4. Noise

 It won’t be an issue during the evening hours, but a particularly busy golf course could leave you with some unwanted noise issues. This is especially true if you’re located in close proximity to a tee box or green. (You’ll also have to get used to the golf course maintenance team working in the wee hours of the morning.)

The Best Golf Course Communities in Houston

Few cities in the state of Texas feature better golf courses and golf course communities than the Greater Houston Area.

  • Memorial Park. One of the largest urban parks in the entire country, Memorial Park features an 18-hole golf course. And while this isn’t your typical golf course community with gates and private memberships, there are a number of neighborhoods within walking distance of the course. Glen Cove and Crestwood are two of the more noteworthy. 
  • River Oaks. River Oaks Country Club Estates, often referred to as simply Country Club Estates, features some of the most expensive real estate in the entire Houston area. The golf course also happens to be one of the best.
  • Fall Creek. If you’re looking for something slightly more affordable than Country Club Estates, Fall Creek is a great choice. The Golf Club of Houston features two 18-hole courses and a massive 31,000 square foot practice range. 
  • Another one of the more exclusive clubs on the list is Tanglewood, which is a planned community with oak-lined streets, expensive homes, and a premier private country club with roots tracing all the way back to 1908. 
  • Bay Oaks. Located in Clear Lake City, Bay Oaks is another master-planned community that covers a 690-acre area northeast of I-45. The 18-hole course was designed by Arthur Hills and is only one part of the massive recreation center that includes baseball, basketball, swimming, playgrounds, parks, gyms, and more.

Contact Green Residential

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a home on a Houston-area golf course, our friendly and experienced team of real estate professionals at Green Residential can help. We have decades of experience in the area and know Houston’s neighborhoods inside and out. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Jorge Lopez

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