Builders and

developers know that it often takes more than just a house to attract

today's home buyer.

Community amenities

are becoming more and more valuable for ever-busier Fayette Countians,

especially those with children. One of the most popular concepts filling

that niche is the swim-tennis community.

Neighborhoods

with shared swimming pools, tennis courts and even clubhouses for parties

and social events are becoming the norm all over metro Atlanta. These

neighborhoods meet a variety of needs for resident families.

"People

want somewhere they feel their children can be safe and close to home,"

said Penny Henderson, a Realtor with Jan Trammell Real Estate in Fayetteville.

"They also like not having to go out into any major intersections

to get to it."

In the past,

having a swimming pool near your house meant having it in your backyard,

or a neighbor's. But more and more families are finding that the time

and expense of keeping up their own pools is not what they want, especially

when they can have access to bigger facilities in their own subdivisions

that they can share with their neighbors.

These amenities

are typically maintained by homeowners associations that charge fees,

or dues, to residents on an annual basis. Those fees go toward keeping

the "common areas" swimming pool, tennis courts and other facilities

everyone uses maintained and looking good. Often an ornate entrance to

a neighborhood will require regular maintenance, and this is also done

and disburse the dues to take care of expenses.

Association

dues can vary widely depending upon the neighborhood, but they are seldom

more than $350 per year for a swim-tennis community, according to Henderson.

"That's less than $1 a day. You can't do anything these days for

$1 a day," she said.

Many communities

of this type also come with protective covenants that regulate what an

individual homeowner can or cannot do regarding such things as the type

of privacy fence that can be built or whether an outbuilding can be placed

in the backyard. Some neighborhoods police the yards to make certain no

one is letting the grass get ridiculously high or checking for what kind

of vehicle is parked in the driveway.

These regulations,

which are made aware to homeowners before they make a purchase and move

in, are set up to protect every resident from those who might allow their

homes to fall into disrepair and drive down the property values of the

entire subdivision.

"Fayette

County is historically known for keeping property values up," according

to Henderson.

Many residents

of swim-tennis communities avail themselves of the services of lawn care

professionals to take further advantage of the convenience offered in

their neighborhoods.

"Most

young couples today consist of two busy professional people, and even

mothers who stay home full-time are so involved with the children that

they don't want to spend all of their time working in their yards,"

said Henderson. "Many of them want to stay around the pool."

Swim-tennis

communities traditionally do not feature large estate-type homes, although

some neighborhoods, like Neal's Trace at Woodbyne on White Road in Fayetteville,

offer five-bedroom floor plans or will let a home buyer bring in his or

her own plan and build to suit.

All in all,

the right community can allow a family to enjoy the most popular amenities

without spending a lot of time and money on upkeep or having to purchase

a large lot. Plus, hanging out at the subdivision pool can help you learn

who lives around you.

"It's

a good way to meet your neighbors," said Henderson.

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