Master Planned Communities

Neighborhoods in Master Planned Communities

Once a home builder purchases land from a developer, their plots are typically not square. See the image below. The main street through the center is curved. The green areas are curved and meandering. Home builders design their neighborhoods according to the shape of the land they purchased, what their home sizes will be and how they can build the most homes. 

In the top-middle of the picture, you can see how homes are scattered with vacant land interspersed. This is a clear sign that that section of land is not in a master-planned community. It could be commercial or have planned use.

What’s true at this point is that the surrounding homes will be dusty. Larger master-planned communities build one section at a time to systematically minimize dust and construction noise as soon as possible for the residents. 

Features In Master Planned Communities

Walking paths, trails, greenbelts, and common areas will vary in their landscaping. What they have in common is that they break up housing density while providing a recreation area for residents.

See the green areas in the picture? Those are fabulous community areas that are used all the time for various lifestyle activities.

Due to the cost of land and demand for affordable housing, the vast majority of homes are two-story family-sized homes.

Most areas will also have a neighborhood with all one-story homes. Some master-plan developers prefer their builders to offer at least 1 one-story floorplan. Others will make entire neighborhoods of one-story homes. ADA compliance housing and facilities are built into every master plan.

Associations and CCR’s

The developer manages the association (collecting a monthly management fee) during the construction process. Builders only handle association matters until a neighborhood is completed. After completion, communities are turned over to the neighborhoods to manage. Almost all of them hire a property management company to manage the day-to-day affairs.

Typically there will be two associations for each household, each with its own set of CCR’s (Codes, Covenants, and Restrictions.) You will have a smaller association (sub-association) for your neighborhood with its own Board of Directors and quarterly association meetings. Then there is the larger master association covering the entire community.

We find that most associations are looking out for the good of the residents. Yes, occasionally there are over-zealous board members and property management companies that charge the association additional fees each month “per letter sent.”

That’s a downside to a master-planned community and it gives associations brutal reputations. Thankfully, these are not the norm in Las Vegas.

Association Property Management

The property management company handles everything and supervises meetings. Their job usually is to oversee bank accounts, reserve budgets, operating budgets, insurance, and CCR compliance.

When I was on the board in our community, management was extremely careful about maintaining equality. It was important not to set any precedents that were not following previous rulings.

Being on a neighborhood board of directors is something that I think everyone should try. You’ll meet your neighbors, and it will help you further understand why master-plans work so well.

Occasionally some associations will need to assess a fee that everyone needs to supplement, and the neighborhood gets angry. Having a professional management company that closely watches budgets and reserve plans make neighborhood living more peaceful.

Ultimately the Board of Directors is voted for by every household within the neighborhood for the neighborhood board.  Every household in the Master-Planned community is asked to vote for the master plans board of directors.

Master-Planned Board Of Directors

The neighborhood’s association ensures that each household within the neighborhood complies with the CCR’s. Similarly, the master-planned community association does the same for the entire master-planned community.

Complying with the CCR’s is important because every homeowner agreed to them, and neighbors expect compliance. Boards must treat ever case equally.

Additionally, management is responsible for the maintenance of the community. Many communities have a security team that patrols neighborhoods and common areas. Playgrounds and common areas need insurance and maintenance.

Occasionally someone we work with may complain about an HOA board member who is the policing type. Master-planned communities may seem strict; however, the law says that associations must treat every household equally. The Nevada Ombudsman Office is the governing office that holds each homeowner’s association accountable in Nevada.

The Growth of Las Vegas Master Plans

The first master-planned community in Las Vegas was Green Valley in Henderson. The City of Henderson approved Green Valley in the 1970s. The American Nevada Corporation, started by Alan Greenspun who was the owner of the Las Vegas Sun, had a vision.

In the 1980s, Las Vegas was slowly growing. With the boom of the Las Vegas Strip in the early 1990s, Green Valley took off expanding rapidly.

The late 1970s saw Pardee Homes build Spring Valley in Las Vegas. In the late 1980s, it was the Lakes and Desert Shores came about next also with man-made lakes.

Then BOOM! The 1990s saw the introduction of Summerlin on the entire west side of the Las Vegas Valley. Howard Hughes sold land to Del Webb as their first builder.

Del Webb Sun City Summerlin opened for active-adult living before Howard Hughes was ever finished grading their first villages. Over 1000 homes were sold in Del Webb’s Sun City Summerlin in 1989. Shopping centers arrived before Summerlin residents.

Summerlin – Built By Howard Hughes Corporation

Howard Hughes Corporation still had 20,000 acres to plan and develop and builders to recruit. During this time they increased Summerlin to 25,000 acres with land exchanges. This put the first homeowner moving into Summerlin’s “The Hills” village in 1991.

Summerlin received many awards for design and lifestyle from the housing industry and builders associations. For over 25 years, Summerlin has received awards for their floor plans, community features, and top selling master plans.

30 years later, tremendous marketing has turned Summerlin into a popular destination and lifestyle choice. Summerlin is the largest master-planned community in the United States. With varied terrain, housing styles, and architecture, the diversity appeals to a large demographic of people.

Other developers watched, learned, and incorporated many of Summerlin’s single family home styles and lifestyle choices. Every master-planned community seemed to get better.  Even though other communities are much smaller than Summerlin in the valley, they are equally as nice.

Personally, I think that for the city, approving a master-planned community is easy. The planning is already done for them.

Developers build parks and community centers for them and everything is extremely attractive. This is why in the last 30 years the Las Vegas Valley has gained around 75 beautiful master-planned communities.

The Pros of Master Planned Communities

Roads and traffic flow, with a 30-year growth plan, are taken into account. All wiring and utilities have been placed underground since around 1990. Master-planned communities incorporate many green spaces with pretty landscaping.

Communities are decorated with their architectural style in signage and hardscape decor. In the valley, there are about 75 master-planned communities, some being quite small. 

Depending on when the community was designed, it will have different features. Early master plans like the Lakes in Las Vegas and Green Valley North in Henderson are still lovely.

Even though they lack the trails and neighborhood parks that we see in developments today, they are popular neighborhoods. Association fees are lower due to fewer community owned amenities.

New vs. Old

In many new developments, we see more common areas and amenities even though the cost of land for these areas raises the price of homes. People are willing to pay more for beauty and to live the lifestyle a master-planned community offers. 

Homes in master planned communities retain value and appreciate well because of the demand for living in these neighborhoods. 

Green Valley in Henderson was started in 1978, and every neighborhood is still beautifully maintained. Living in these areas enables everyone to know that their neighbors will pull their weeds and not have peeling paint.

With everyone maintaining their home, it increases the value of the community. If you can afford to pay more per square foot, most people consider their housing investment safer.

The Cons of Master Planned Communities

Master-planned communities aren’t for everyone. Homes within a master-planned community will cost more, and monthly association fees can be high. If you want a lime-green house or a purple front door, let’s look outside of master-planned communities.

Some communities have odd rules. One community fines homeowners $1000 if their trashcan is left out for over 24 hours. That’s unusual- most master-planned neighborhoods don’t want the trashcans to be seen from the street 6 days a week.

Master-planned communities will typically not allow things with vehicles- no unregistered or non-operational vehicles. You’ll see motorhome parking restrictions, no “repairs to vehicles in the driveway” rules are common too.  

As the price points of the homes within a community go up, the number of rules also increases. Mainly rules are to make the neighborhoods safer. A great example is no street parking for residents. The up-side? Strange cars stand out so they’re easier to detect.

Why Would I Not Want To Live In A Master Planned Community?

If you do not want to comply with a neighborhood’s rules, a master-planned community may not be right for you. Affordability is another factor, homes cost more in a master-planned community than homes, not in a master-planned community.

Some people prefer more freedom. Maybe you have an RV or boat to keep at home. Do you do Hamm Radio and need to have a tall radio antenna?

Mechanics and owners of a commercial vehicle with signage will usually have to look elsewhere. Color is another factor. Do you want a hot pink front door or a lime-green house? If you don’t want strict rules, there are still some great options out there.

CCR’s or No CCR’s – What’s Your Lifestyle?

Just because a home isn’t in a master-planned community, that doesn’t mean that there are no CCR’s. If you absolutely don’t want any rules governing your home, call us. Homes without CCR’s are usually older but not always. Let us do a home search for you. We will find you a neighbor that works for you.

Since about 90 percent of homes in the Las Vegas Valley have common sense CCR’s to protect all of the homeowners, there is no rule of thumb if you have special interests. We’ve seen gated communities that were built in the 1960s have strict rules.

Some communities implemented or revised their neighborhood rules when things weren’t working so just because a home is older, that doesn’t mean there are no CCR’s. Know that when we make an offer on a home, you will have 7 days to review and approve all CCR’s after you receive them.  

Having sold homes for 25-30 years, we are aware of many different CCR’s. First of all, you will want a home older than 30 years old, and some 1/2 acre plus lot homes are not restrictive.

It’s important that you live in a home that’s right for you, and master-planned communities are not right for everyone.  Contact our office, and we will find the right neighborhood for you.  702-750-7599

Take a 3-Hour Area Tour With Us 

With so many master-planned communities in Las Vegas, we often show clients their options. If you are unsure of where you want to live in the valley, let’s do a 3-hour tour so you can see the areas and amenities first.

With three cities in the valley, each one has a different feel and price point. Let us show you the areas and amenities if you’re unsure where you want to live. Contact us to schedule a housing consultation today.