Buying a home in a planned development necessitates careful research of the development and neighborhood itself – more effort than you might otherwise put into learning about an existing neighborhood surrounding a resale.

 Drive around the neighborhood to get the lay of the land. Are street grids easy to learn, or confusing. What community amenities are in the development, and how conveniently are they located in relation to available homes?

• Are homes built right on top of each other, or does each lot have breathing space between houses? Are houses laid out such that similar models are not side-by-side, or does each street have an overly “cookie-cutter” feel to it?
• Visit open houses for any home models that fit your budget, size requirements and general home needs. You may need to allot several days to this task to avoid rushing through each open house. Bring a camera to document details of each model – this way you don’t have to rely on either your memory or marketing materials provided by the development.
• Inquire with the city or county planner’s office to learn about what is in store for the area around the development(s) you are interested in. Is that bucolic country neighborhood destined to besiegement from an array of shopping complexes and office parks? Is a seemingly too-distant neighborhood due to be linked by future mass-transit into core areas?
• Research the bylaws and rules of the homeowners association, if one exits. Some subdivisions have HOA’s with strict rules and regulations restricting things such as exterior paint colors, outdoor sheds, landscaping and vegetable gardens. Violating these guidelines can result in expensive penalties, while living by them may be too stifling for some.