Looking for a new home or having your own built and tailored to your needs can be an intriguing experience filled with many questions. So, it’s best to understand your options while being aware of your own needs to make the best decision. Sometimes the hardest housing decision is whether to live in a subdivision or neighborhood.
Read on to learn what a subdivision is, how it differs from a neighborhood, and what the advantages of living in a subdivision are.
What Is a Subdivision?
A subdivision is a larger piece of property, such as an old family farm, that’s divided up into smaller pieces, making them easier to sell off or develop. The owners sell the land, which is then converted into housing units and properties to be sold off separately. The individualized portions of land are plats, while the former single piece of land becomes what we know as a subdivision. Subdivisions can typically be housing units (known as a housing subdivision) or a housing community.
The transaction can involve a single seller to buyer contract. It can also be complex, involving many tracts of land divided into smaller sections and sold to different individuals or entities. Subdivisions are normally the first step in creating a single, more defined township or city.
What Is a Neighborhood?
A neighborhood is a geographical area of land — including a community of people, stores, restaurants, businesses, schools, and community centers — that’s localized and identifies together as a group to form social bonds and networks. Neighborhoods are often social and entail maintaining a close living relationship with others in the area, with considerable face-to-face interaction. City-drawn and agreed-upon lines bound neighborhoods within city limits or along major roads.
Differences Between a Neighborhood and a Subdivision
When deciding whether a neighborhood or subdivision is better for your needs, consider the following differences:
- Neighborhoods are zoned to reflect the type of property within the area.
- Subdivisions are affected by more stringent regulations than neighborhoods.
- Purchasing a subdivision places ownership under stricter guidelines, making owners abide by specific house limits and space occupancy.
- Homes in a subdivision are often closer together.
- Neighborhoods are older, but subdivisions newer.
- Neighborhoods tend to be urban.
- Subdivisions are suburban.
- Neighborhoods support walk-through areas to meet people’s daily needs and often have a store nearby for grabbing supplies quickly.
- Subdivisions sprawl larger areas and can be farther away from conveniences.
Advantages of Living in a Subdivision
Subdivisions can provide residents with a strong sense of community because of the close living arrangements. Seeing your neighbors more frequently helps build stronger bonds, making it easy to build stronger relationships with those around you. Because simple necessities in a subdivision are a little farther away than within a neighborhood setting, people rely on each other a little more, borrowing a cup of sugar or some table salt to complete recipes. If you have children, a subdivision will make it easier for them to make friends with children their own age, giving kids an opportunity to grow up together.
Subdivisions generally have less traffic, as they’re located in a more suburban setting. This relatively freer vehicular movement makes evening walks, sitting outside, or letting the kids play and ride bikes near the home a little safer and calmer. Subdivisions are areas where people host neighborly barbecues, watch each other’s children, and maintain book clubs to build a strong sense of community. Many subdivisions have their own crime watch organizations, curbing things such as vandalism and theft. For these reasons, subdivisions can be a safer option than neighborhoods.
Because subdivisions are in under-established areas, there are few trees blocking the skyline. Also, residents invest in their own foliage and benefit from the newness of an area. The buildings and structures are previously unused, so cost of repairs will be low. Maintaining new buildings is easier, as the materials have not suffered much wear and tear. Because subdivisions are newer locations, the families drawn there are often younger. You can benefit from living in an area where others are at the same stage in life: building a family, maintaining a career, and buying a new home.
Homes in a subdivision are often closer together than in an older neighborhood. So, it’s good to keep the result of this setting in mind if you seek privacy. Further, older neighborhoods have taller trees, creating more shade. But you’ll often find that subdivisions have small parks and play areas for residents that are built into the center of the area. These are often a strong motivation for those who take morning strolls, walk dogs, or want their kids to burn off extra energy before dinner.
Although property taxes on a plat in a subdivision are higher, this is usually because the purchase price is higher than homes in more urban settings. Also, the resale value in a subdivision is often higher because of the location. More buyers prefer to live in a home on a small country road than within a busy city on a loud, bustling street. Subdivisions tend to be safer, have less traffic and wider sidewalks, and are more scenic. So, paying more for a home within a subdivision means that it’ll also sell for more, giving you more return on your initial investment.
Contact Steiner Homes Today!
So there you have it. Steiner Homes has just shared with you valuable information about what a subdivision is, how it differs from a neighborhood, and the advantages of living in a subdivision. When you’re looking for a new home in the Northwest Indiana and Chicago areas – including Hawthorne North, Deer Ridge South, Falling Waters, Crown Point, Cedar Lake and more – contact us at Steiner Homes. The “upgrades” you’ll find with other companies come standard on our floor plans. We’ll be happy to share our expertise and knowledge with you to help you make the best decision and get you into the new home of your dreams.
Image via Flickr by Jo Naylor[/caption]
