As summer is

nearly here (officially, anyway; ask any kid just out of school and you'll

find out it's really here already), much more attention is turned to the

swimming pools and tennis courts of Fayette and surrounding counties.

And as many

residents, builders and developers already know, there is considerable

attractiveness to a residential subdivision with those kinds of amenities

on site for the entire neighborhood to enjoy a few steps from their homes.

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.

According to

local real estate professionals, some of the obvious advantages of these

communities are safety, since children have more activities available

close to home, and convenience, as the need to venture out onto a major

road and take up time commuting to a fun spot is eliminated.

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, which is less than

a dollar a day.

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. A look at recent statistics shows that Fayette County

homes have done a pretty good job overall keeping property values up.

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.

With most young

couples today consisting of either two professionals working outside the

home or a stay-at-home parent whose day is jammed with family-related

activities, many home owners would rather not spend hours working in the

yard, especially when that time can be spent around the pool.

Swim-tennis

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

some neighborhoods 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. What better way to meet your neighbors?

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