First let me say we all would like to live in the most exclusive golf course community offering multiple golf courses with the state of the art spa and elegant club house.
The reality is that many of us have champagne tastes on a beer budget! Of course that doesn’t keep us from dreaming big! The good news is that I find in the Palm Springs area that there is a perfect fit for just about every budget and every personality. In selling real estate for over 13 years I have matched hundreds of clients with houses in golf communities and have found that most everyone loves where they end up. In fact many of them upgrade in the same community.
I tell my clients thinking of buying on a golf course in our area to first set a realistic budget. Many communities offer condos that start in the 100,000s but also have homes upwards of 1 million dollars. Knowing that sometimes owning the cheapest home in a community is not a bad thing. The other important thing is to identify is how much they intend to use the home. Will it be a rental property part of the time? it is critical to know what their interests are.
Do they enjoy golf, tennis, fitness, spa activities, socializing, biking, bridge, swimming or just relaxing in peace. Do they have friends from home that they would like to reside near? And finally are they are looking for a private or semi private golf course community, how much do they feel comfortable spending on a country club membership including monthly dues(even when they are not using the club)? I try to explain to people that a country club membership is not an investment with a lot of upside potential. It is definitely a luxury, a good one but given the current climate of our economy many clubs have suffered a loss of members.
Once we have covered the information gathering I become the match maker! I love this part of the process, knowing that I can play a part in making somebody’s dream come true with an incredible home with all of the amenities they are looking for! With over 100 great golf course communities it is critical to find an expert that knows the ins and outs of all the different communities.
Just a few final thoughts
1) Make sure while you are visiting houses, take the time to tour the clubhouse and facilities, meet the membership director. Explore the financial stability of the club and golf course.
2) Ask the director about the membership, average age, where the members are from,golfing ability of the members, other activities?
3) Very important, is the membership of club in anyway tied to the purchase or sale of a home?
4)Are there any assessments or food and beverage minimums?
5) Price range of homes in the community?
By following this advice with a real estate pro you will find the perfect match, maybe even that elusive Moet on a Coors budget!