Living in a Master‑Planned Community: Benefits and Tradeoffs

Master-planned communities sound like the dream: a polished neighborhood, a clubhouse, a pool, trails, parks, and events that make it easy to actually enjoy where you live. But there’s always a tradeoff, and we get specific about what you gain and what you give up when you buy into that lifestyle in Colorado Springs real estate.

We’re joined by RE/MAX Properties licensed REALTOR and broker Lori Thompson, who’s spent more than four decades helping both military families and civilians find the right fit. We talk through local master-planned options and what they’re designed to deliver, from neighborhood schools and walkable amenities to community gatherings like live music, food trucks, holiday events, and even “movie in the pool” nights. Lori also shares what features buyers get most excited about in Colorado Springs, including why community pools are such a draw in our climate, plus the everyday convenience of having gyms, dog parks, and miles of trails nearby.

Then we get honest about HOA rules and restrictions. Lori explains how HOAs can range from low-cost covenant enforcement that helps protect property values to stricter associations that can feel like micromanagement. We also dig into how maintenance standards shape a neighborhood’s “feel” and can affect desirability and resale value over time. If you’re relocating, PCSing, upsizing, or downsizing, this is a practical guide to matching your home search to your real lifestyle.

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To learn more about RE/MAX Properties Inc. visit:
https://www.LoriThompson.REMAX.com
RE/MAX Properties Inc. 
Colorado Springs 
719-332-1807 

Transcript

Welcome And Big Question

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Welcome to your Colorado Springs life at home, where real estate is real time. Maybe a little too much cover. Hosted by Remax Properties Licensed Realtor Broker and producer Lori Thompson, a local legend who's been helping military families and civilians buy yourself for over 40 years. Whether you're PCSing, upsizing, downsizing, or just a dream, Lori's got you covered. Why? Because she's your lifetime realtor. And she actually answers her phone. Imagine that.

Amenities And Lifestyle Perks

SPEAKER_02 0:45

Master planned communities promise convenience, amenities, and a polished lifestyle. But are they the right fit for everyone? Well, let's break it down. Welcome back, everyone. I'm Frederick, co-host and producer here in the studio with Remax Properties licensed realtor and broker, Lori Thompson. Lori, how's everything going today?

SPEAKER_00 1:04

Oh, just wonderful. How are things going for you?

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Great, great, and good to have you here, Lori. So tell us what are the pros and cons of living in a master plan community?

SPEAKER_00 1:15

Well, it's interesting because here we have everything from more entry-level master plan communities to more deluxe master plan communities that include optional golf course memberships. So it really boils down to lifestyle. So if I could kind of break down the more entry-level ones and then the more deluxe ones. So with a master plan community, you have a lifestyle combined with your home. So there's one near Fort Carson that's really nice, Mintana. They have their own swimming pool, they have an apple orchard, they have an equipment facility, and that is a nicer community that's not terribly large, but very nice. Then we go up a little further to Banning Lewis, and with Banning Lewis Ranch, oh my gosh, they're even looking at opening a second clubhouse. So imagine this: you have worked hard all day long. You get home, but you don't want to necessarily drive to the gym or go out to do different things. With a master plan community, you usually have a workout facility right there, a swimming pool. Maybe you like pickleball. Or if you want to go for a walk in Banning Lewis Ranch, they have miles and miles of walking trails, and you don't have to go anywhere. And so we go a little bit further up north and then we run into both Wolf Ranch, Cordera, and then Flying Horse, which is really nice and has an optional golf club membership. But what's really nice about most of these communities is they sponsor community events. Not all of them do, but most of them do. And those community events can include orchestra at the park or even a rock band. They can have different groups that come there to the big park areas where you can just load up your car with a couple of folding chairs or even walk and or plop down a blanket and you have live music. And usually they also coordinate with local food trucks so you can get something tasty. So there's just a lot of different community events, everything from uh 4th of July fireworks to picnics, to I think there's one that does movie in the pool where you can be in the swimming pool and watch a movie. So mostly it's a lifestyle. If you are sick of being in traffic all day long, you have been driving, you get home, and you want to do something fun, and you can walk or go a short distance to a master plan community event, it can really be a good option for some people. If they're coming in from a different state, it's a great way to get to know your neighbors. And they could just be fun. Now, where I live, I don't live in a master plan community. I do have a small HOA where I live. One of the things I like after driving around all day is I like to be within five minutes of anything fun. And those are the kind of amenities that a master plan community can offer to you. Also, a lot of them have a school right in their neighborhood. And so they have something called a walk score where it just shows, hey, how close are you to this or how close are you to that? And most of them are also handicap accessibles with their different options, the clubhouse, the pool. So it is a wonderful lifestyle that a lot of people really enjoy because they have the option to stay home and relax. They have the option to go to an event or to walk to the local gym. There's just a lot of nice options. So it depends on your lifestyle. With younger kids, I think they're awesome. And even with teenagers, it's a lot of fun to have things they can go to right in their neighborhood. I should mention Wolf Ranch even has a lake. And so you can go paddleboard within your master plan community.

SPEAKER_02 5:18

That all sounds very lovely. And you did mention, you know, a couple different amenities, a couple different events, you know, movies in the pool, pickleball, all

What Buyers Love Most

SPEAKER_02 5:26

those things. So, what kinds of features do buyers get most excited about in your experience?

SPEAKER_00 5:32

Well, I think the pool is always a good draw here. You know, there are some parts of the country where they have a more temperate climate and it's normal to have a backyard pool. Colorado's not one of those states. Although this year we almost could have been. We didn't get our share of winter. We saved it all for you on the East Coast. But it's nice to have a community pool because a backyard pool is a very rare thing here. We're much more of a hot tub kind of area. So the swimming pool and the parks, um, some of them have their own dog parks. So it's a very active lifestyle here because we have over 300 days of sunshine every year, and people like to be out and about. So with a master plan community, you don't necessarily have to drive anywhere. Or if you do, it's a very short distance within your community to access all kinds of different events from Easter egg hunts, you name it. There are just a lot of different opportunities to socialize, get outside, and enjoy different events.

SPEAKER_02 6:38

Amazing, amazing.

HOA Rules And Real Tradeoffs

SPEAKER_02 6:40

So you did talk a little bit about HOAs. So for those who maybe have never lived in like a community that is overseen by an HOA, can you tell us a bit about what buyers should know about HOA rules or restrictions in such areas?

SPEAKER_00 6:56

Yes. Um, you know, I have a lot of people who have an aversion to HOAs, and I I understand it. And just so you know, they can really run the gamut. The one I'm in is a low-cost HOA. We have the option to add in trash service, and what they try to do is covenant enforcement, making sure that people are maintaining their property. Sometimes there'll be restrictions on what color you can paint your house. And I understand the people who don't want that. The trade-off is sometimes when you don't have any governing body with enforcement, you could end up with a purple house with pink polka dots. You could end up with someone who believes the front yard is a good place to park a car. So it really does run the gamut from a low-cost HOA that's there just to help maintain the property values. Then there are some other HOAs that some people like that I would not be a big fan of. And that's someone who micromanages how many trees you have in your front yard and what you're doing. Some have rules that you could only open your garage door to go in and to go out, that you can't leave it open. I would personally be opposed to something like that, but I know people who really like it. So keep in mind with HOAs, you have a range from covenant enforcement to maintain the overall community to the micromanaging ones that I'm kind of a natural rebel and I would have trouble with one of the micromanaging ones, but I know people who just love them because they're very precise on how they want their neighborhood to appear.

SPEAKER_02 8:38

Gotcha, gotcha. And you talked about how HOAs could uh maintain the value of the neighborhood and all those things. So, how does resale value typically compare in master plan communities?

Resale Value And Neighborhood Feel

SPEAKER_00 8:50

Well, a lot of it is specific to location, but when you have areas that have no HOA, you do run the risk of a little bit of neglect sometimes that can creep in. So think about it for yourself. You drive into certain neighborhoods, and every neighborhood has a feel. And if there is a minimum standard of maintenance that is required, that enhances the desirability of that neighborhood. Another big thing here is parks. We have so many parks, but having a neighborhood park that's in good clean repair and looks nice, even though most of them are run through the city, it's still nice to have that community park or a walkway. So in my neighborhood, for instance, we have different walkways that are maintained by the HOA. And there's community walls, not closed-off walls, just community walls around the edges, where they maintain some beautiful fencing on the exterior. Then just, oh, let's say maybe three-quarters of a mile to the south of me, there's a non-HOA area. And as you're driving down the street, you'll see maybe like seven, eight, ten types of fencing in different states of repair. Some of them are stained, some of them are not. But like I said, it's not a big deal. That's for someone who doesn't want any type of rules or maintenance required that would be part of an HOA. So it really is personal preference from live free or die to maintain everything that's in sight.

SPEAKER_02 10:28

Gotcha, gotcha. So I understand you did just talk about personal preference and everything.

Who Master-Planned Living Fits

SPEAKER_02 10:34

But if you could give us a profile or in your vast experience, if you could, if you've seen a common thread, what type of buyer or lifestyle is the best match for this kind of neighborhood?

SPEAKER_00 10:46

Uh for either master plan or for the HOA, I would say for the master plan is a family that's very busy and when they get home, they want things that are close by. They want to go to the gym without driving anywhere. They want that type of lifestyle where it is we have our private space in our home, and then we have these other things we can enjoy, you know, right at our doorstep. For an HOA, I think it's for people who want some level of continuity in the neighborhood, some level of maintenance. Um, and so, like I said, a so much of it is personal preference from I don't want to be bothered, get off my lawn, leave me alone. You know, I can find them a nice five-acre or more parcel out east to those who want to live in a particular neighborhood with a particular degree of maintenance, to those who want schools that are within the community. I mean, as many different types of people out that are out there, there is some type of neighborhood that will fit for that person, which is why it's really important for me to have an intake appointment where I discuss, hey, what are your preferences? And after 41 years, I have a pretty good idea of which neighborhood will best suit their lifestyle needs.

SPEAKER_02 12:10

Amazing, amazing.

Wrap Up And How To Reach Lori

SPEAKER_02 12:12

Well, thank you, Lori, uh, for walking us through the ups and downs of Master Plan Living. Uh, it was really insightful. Thank you for your time, and we will see everyone next time.

SPEAKER_00 12:21

Thank you. Bye-bye.

SPEAKER_01 12:27

That's a wrap for this episode of Your Colorado Springs Life and Home. Got questions? Need advice? Just want to talk about interest rates and granted countertops? Call or text Maury at 719-332-1807. Yes, she'll really respond. Or visit MauryThompson.remax.com to get started with your lifetime realtor. Because when it comes to Colorado real estate, Maury doesn't just know the market, she is the market.