There are thousands of questions you can ask when you’re thinking of buying a home. While some of these questions are asked frequently, some aren’t. One question that some buyers want answered is, “does living on a golf course increase home value?” To put it simply, there are several excellent benefits of getting a house on a golf course.
And there’s no shame in admitting that if you’re an avid golfer, you’ve had this fantasy at least once! You wake up on a Saturday morning, sit on your patio with a warm cup of coffee and stare into the distance as everything you see around you is green.
When you’re done with your coffee, you hop into the plush seats of your golf cart and make a short trip to the first tee. But of course, it’s all fun and games until a stray golf ball comes crashing through your window.
No home is perfect!
Table of Contents
- Value of Property, Demand, and Quality
- Privacy and Safety Concerns
- Protection, Responsibility, and Legal Liability
- The Pros and Cons of a Home on a Golf Course
- The Takeaway
Value of Property, Demand, and Quality
One of the most prominent benefits of living on a golf course is the elevated property value, your property’s demand, and the quality of the property you get.
On average, a home on a golf course routinely sells for around $2 million, with the average income of these households hovering around $100,000.
In central Dallas, for instance, the land is costly throughout the area, so golf course homes don’t stand out a lot in terms of value. For example, in neighborhoods like the Shady Oaks Country Club, you’re going to notice that most homes are valued at $750,000 or higher.
But a few miles past Coody Drive, the prices of homes are significantly less. The estimated price of those homes is around $200,000 or $300,000!
The predicament is that on a golf course, certain homes have a higher perceived value. This is true because, in some instances, buyers prefer a particular home because of its scenic views or the specific locations the home is close to.
Buyers want an extravagant interior and are also willing to pay the premium price for the stellar outside view. That said, these homes can be tough to find.
Privacy and Safety Concerns
Living on a golf course isn’t always beautiful. While cruising in your souped-up golf cart can be a liberating feeling, there are some real concerns you need to be aware of before you buy (and live in) a home on a golf course.
First and foremost, the most important priority is safety for a person living on a golf course. And no, we aren’t talking about burglars, street crimes, or stolen identities.
We’re talking about the objects that are going to fly around your home often – especially those which are dimpled, round, and white.
Depending on where your residence is on a golf course, your home can be at serious risk of being under occasional (or consistent) fire from golf balls that go astray. Battered windshields, dimpled roofs, and broken windows can be a regular occurrence if you get a home on a golf course.
Of course, if your house is behind the tee hole or you live in the area between two holes, then these problems won’t bother you. On the other hand, if you live near a hole or at the corner of a dogleg, be prepared for a consistent rain of golf balls in your yard!
While incidents of golf balls seriously injuring a person can be rare, this factor alone can be one of the reasons why a highly-valuable golf course home is worth peanuts to a home buyer.
On the other hand, if you’re an avid golfer who is willing to bear a few golf balls in your yard for the love of the game, you’d willingly pay the price tag these luxurious homes can have.
But if you aren’t a fan of golf and someone who is just looking for a peaceful home to settle down, the hefty price tag on a golf course home might not necessarily make sense to you. This is also an important consideration you need to make when purchasing a house on a golf course.
While you may love the game, and it may seem like you’re getting a bargain, there’s going to be a specific niche of buyers (read golf fans) who will agree with you.
However, before you ask yourself, “does living on a golf course increase home value?” you first need to ask yourself, “how much privacy will I get?”
According to current residents who live on golf courses, the lack of privacy is one of the biggest concerns of living in a home on a golf course. Most residents have to put up heavy fences to ensure other golfers can know their premises are off-limits.
But then again, what you may gain in privacy you will lose in your house’s views, which will reduce your home’s valuation.
Protection, Responsibility, and Legal Liability
Additionally, there aren’t many legal protections for your home if it gets damaged by a flying golf ball.
But that’s not to say that it’s impossible for you to receive compensation for a shattered window. In several instances, a golfer can offer to replace the window they’ve damaged or any other damage that they may cause.
But then again, a golfer doesn’t need to repair any potential damage since there aren’t any overarching rules or regulations. The most common response homeowners get in a situation like this is: “why would you get a home on a golf course in the first place?”
If you do take the golfer to court, you’ll have to prove that the damage caused by them was intentional, and several courts have stated that proving this in a court of law can be extremely difficult.
That is because a golfer always wants to hit the ball into the fairway or onto the grass; no one aims for an out-of-bounds target.
There have been cases in which courts have found flaws in a golf course’s design and have forced the club to alter, but even the chances of this happening are slim.
The Pros and Cons of a Home on a Golf Course
Now that you’re familiar with the most prominent factors that can affect your home’s valuation if it’s on a golf course, we’re finally ending the debate with a holistic pros and cons list.
The Pros
- Often Considered Prestigious
Some homeowners are concerned about how they’ll be looked at after purchasing a home on a golf course. For instance, some buyers believe that owning a waterfront property will convince other people that they have a lot of money since the elite usually own waterfront homes.
And this stigma isn’t false! Several homeowners carry the stereotype of being wealthy only because their home is on a golf course. But if you’re one of those people who doesn’t care what other people will think of you because of the material objects you own, this might not be too big of an advantage for you.
- Lesser Chances of Bad Neighbors
A home on a golf course won’t have many neighbors, which ultimately reduces the chances of you getting bad neighbors. This is one of the biggest advantages of owning a home on a golf course.
However, even though there are reduced chances of you being stuck with a bad neighbor, we would still advise that you do thorough research before you choose a home. Understanding how to choose a home on a golf course can greatly reduce your chances of making a bad decision.
- A Golfer’s Dream
Let’s not forget the most obvious benefit of living on a golf course: golf! If you’re a person who loves golf, your home will practically be heaven for you.
Apart from being near the tee, there’s also a chance that you’ll get discounted rates for the club you want to join. The savings you’ll make on an annual membership are enough reason for you to consider getting a home on a golf course.
The Cons
- Incensed Golfers
The gentleman’s game? Not so fast! You’re going to find several golfers who have the mouth of a sailor and can be downright annoying when they’re hitting near your house. This isn’t necessarily a pretty sight if you’re out strolling your toddler on a bright sunny day.
- Flying Golf Balls
As we mentioned earlier, the damage caused by golf balls on a home is one of the biggest reasons people don’t want to commit to buying a house. While a golf fanatic might be okay with this con, a person who is just doing it for the views may consider it a deal-breaker.
- Reselling It Can Be Difficult
Buying a home on a golf course can seem like a good decision when you’re in love with golf, but several buyers don’t think ahead of time. Reselling the home can be difficult if it is on a golf course. Location is one of the critical considerations every real estate agent makes, and a home on a golf course isn’t for the mass market.
The Takeaway
A home on a golf course is a lot different from a home in a suburban neighborhood. Before you get one, there are several important considerations you need to make. If you’re still wondering, “does living on a golf course increase home value?” go through the information mentioned above again and clarify all your confusions!
Happy golfing!
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