Gated communities are no longer for senior citizens alone. Many gated communities in recent years are being constructed with the intent of selling homes to families who want safer, cleaner neighborhoods in which to reside. If you are looking for new homes for sale, and you think that you might want to live in a family-oriented, gated community, here is how this works. 

Find the Real Estate Agency or Realtor Handling These Homes

Gated communities hire their own real estate agents or realtors to show the homes and make the sales. Even though the whole community might be owned by an HOA, the HOA still hires outside agents to conduct the business end of things. If there is a community in particular that you want to tour, find out which agency or realtor handles these properties. Then schedule an appointment with the agency/agent/realtor for a tour. Expect to block off at least three hours of your day to get a full tour of available homes and amenities within the walls of the community. 

Tour the Available Homes

Most of the homes within the community are constructed using a half dozen different floor plans. They may be slightly different from one house to the next, but you may quickly notice how similar they are. You can ask the agent/realtor to rule out any homes that do not have the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and then tour what is left. 

Apply for a Home

Gated communities operate a little differently than houses for sale outside community walls. You generally have to apply for the home that interests you, place your down payment to secure the home if approved, and then get the remaining balance paid when you sign the closing paperwork on the house. Price is not usually negotiable because it is preset according to the construction plans and community development costs. However, you might arrive during a sale season where some of the homes are being offered at a discount. 

If your application for the home you want is denied, your deposit will be returned or you can ask to be reconsidered for a different home. There is a possibility that you can keep trying until you are accepted and approved, but it really depends on the reasons why your application was initially denied. Most people are approved, and there are only a handful of reasons for the application process to stall or fail. 

Sign the Paperwork and Move In

You can move in almost the same day that you receive and sign your home's paperwork. Your keys and the code to get through the gate are given to you at that time and you can move in when you are ready.