or the wealthy. More and more middle class neighborhoods are putting up walls and gates as a way to afford more seclusion from the open streets and neighborhoods. People in these gated communities express the desire to get to know their neighbors in a different way and to share decision making on how commApproximately 8 million people in the United States live in a gated community and more of these are being built every day. What is the allure of buying real estate in these communities? Is this just a fad or a trend that is here to stay?

There are gated communities of one type or another in every state in the United States, but they are predominantly located in California and Florida. Close to 50% of all new homes built in California in the past five years are in gated communities, and parts of Florida, such as the Palm Beach county area is almost exclusively gated. Perhaps the warmer climate makes people more apt to want to live in seclusion.

Real estate in a gated community offers a high level of privacy and an added sense of security. Entrance is through a guard gate, or with a key code, remote device, or other password protected means. Visitors must check in with a guard at the gate if this is how the community is set up, or be given a special pass code to key into an electronic device that will open the gate. There are generally additional entrances to the community where residents can use a remote control device to gain entrance.

Real estate in gated communities is not exclusively for the wealthy. More and more middle class neighborhoods are putting up walls and gates as a way to afford more seclusion from the open streets and neighborhoods. People in these gated communities express the desire to get to know their neighbors in a different way and to share decision making on how commo

ate in the United States, but they are predominantly located in California and Florida. Close to 50% of all new homes built in California in the past five years are in gated communities, and parts of Florida, such as the Palm Beach county area is almost exclusively gated. Perhaps the warmer climate makes people more apt to want to live in seclusion.

Real estate in a gated community offers a high level of privacy and an added sense of security. Entrance is through a guard gate, or with a key code, remote device, or other password protected means. Visitors must check in with a guard at the gate if this is how the community is set up, or be given a special pass code to key into an electronic device that will open the gate. There are generally additional entrances to the community where residents can use a remote control device to gain entrance.

Real estate in gated communities is not exclusively for the wealthy. More and more middle class neighborhoods are putting up walls and gates as a way to afford more seclusion from the open streets and neighborhoods. People in these gated communities express the desire to get to know their neighbors in a different way and to share decision making on how comm

people more apt to want to live in seclusion.

Real estate in a gated community offers a high level of privacy and an added sense of security. Entrance is through a guard gate, or with a key code, remote device, or other password protected means. Visitors must check in with a guard at the gate if this is how the community is set up, or be given a special pass code to key into an electronic device that will open the gate. There are generally additional entrances to the community where residents can use a remote control device to gain entrance.

Real estate in gated communities is not exclusively for the wealthy. More and more middle class neighborhoods are putting up walls and gates as a way to afford more seclusion from the open streets and neighborhoods. People in these gated communities express the desire to get to know their neighbors in a different way and to share decision making on how comm

is how the community is set up, or be given a special pass code to key into an electronic device that will open the gate. There are generally additional entrances to the community where residents can use a remote control device to gain entrance.

Real estate in gated communities is not exclusively for the wealthy. More and more middle class neighborhoods are putting up walls and gates as a way to afford more seclusion from the open streets and neighborhoods. People in these gated communities express the desire to get to know their neighbors in a different way and to share decision making on how comm

or the wealthy. More and more middle class neighborhoods are putting up walls and gates as a way to afford more seclusion from the open streets and neighborhoods. People in these gated communities express the desire to get to know their neighbors in a different way and to share decision making on how common areas, such as landscaping, are maintained. A gated community also eliminates door-to-door solicitation and unwanted sales calls.

But does living behind a wall keep people too far removed from their community as a whole? There may be a tendency for residents in gated communities to become aloof and indifferent to the needs and concerns of the neighborhood outside of the wall. Nevertheless, gated communities have now become the norm in new construction projects all over the United States, so the residents will have to see what direction this will take and what ramifications there will be across the country based on this trend.