Master-Planned Community vs. Traditional Housing: Which is better in Las Vegas?

As with all cities, there are many factors to consider when purchasing a home in Las Vegas. Budget, size, amenities, location, and neighborhoods are just some of the important factors to consider. There’s also the decision of choosing a house within a master-planned community or a standard subdivision. To the untrained eye, they might look similar, but they’re actually different in a variety of ways, and knowing the facts about each can help determine the best option for new homebuyers.

To help differentiate between the two and learn a bit more, Neighborhoods.com chatted with local real estate agent Brian Heuser to breakdown these two housing options.

Master-Planned Communities

To understand the difference between the two housing options, it’s best to know what exactly a master-planned community is. According to Bankrate, a master-planned community is “a large-scale residential neighborhood with a large number of recreational and commercial amenities.” Amenities vary and can include things like parks, fitness facilities, clubhouses, shopping centers, stores, lakes, and golf courses. Some even have businesses, hospitals, and schools. 

Brian Heuser explains that with master-planned communities, the primary focus is the lifestyle and convenience. “There are a variety of recreational activities like hiking, biking, and community pools. Also, essential items are a short commute from each community by design—grocery stores, banks, gas stations, restaurants, etc,” he says.

World-class amenities and sprawling clubhouses are what make master-planned communities stand apart from traditional housing subdivisions. Residents are typically never too far from an amenity, allowing them to go for workout in the fitness center, socialize with friends at the clubhouse restaurant, or swim in the resort-style pool. These neighborhoods also have a robust lineup of activities and social events specifically designed for the residents of the community as well. With special events like parades, pool parties, farmers markets, and garage sales, residents can get to know their neighbors easily and foster lifelong friendships in a welcoming environment.

Master-planned communities in Las Vegas include Cadence, Inspirada, Skye Canyon, and Mountain’s Edge, which feature new construction homes that are selling quickly. These master-planned communities appeal to new homebuyers because they offer innovative floorplans from distinct builders like CalAtlantic Homes, Lennar, KB Home, Beazer Homes, Pulte Homes, and Pardee Homes.

Although there are benefits to master-planned communities, there are some drawbacks. “Master-planned communities are more restrictive on what you can do to the outside of your home as far as paint colors, designs, etc. They also don’t allow RV or trailer storage,” says Heuser.

Traditional Housing

Heuser goes on to explain that regular housing divisions are vastly different. They’re usually less expensive and less restrictive. “In a normal division, those who wish to run a business out of their home [can] as long as [they have] zoning permits. Some places possibly allow owners to run an Airbnb. Also, with a normal division, residents can park RVs, trailers, and business vehicles in front or on the side of the home as long as the homeowners association (HOA) allows it,” he says.

Another thing to consider with some standard housing divisions is that they don’t have established homeowners associations (HOA) at all. This is the case with a significant amount of homes in the Downtown and Paradise neighborhoods. Homeowners can paint their house any color they want or plant a variety of flowers or trees in their own backyards. As a homeowner in a standard housing division, there are few rules that they need to follow unlike at a master-planned community where every change is governed by the HOA.

Which is Better?

When comparing the two housing options, it all depends on the preference and lifestyle of the homebuyer. Heuser emphasized that if a person is looking for an active lifestyle with resort-style amenities and convenience, a master-planned community may suit them best. But not everyone is looking for that.

Homebuyers who want more freedom, privacy, or a unique style of home may prefer traditional housing where there are less rules and regulations to follow. Heuser also brings up a good point that if a buyer or investor is looking for a good return on investment then they may want to choose the traditional housing route. “ROI on homes that are purchased doesn’t always come in a master-planned community as homes cost more,” he says.

Ideally, it’s up to the homebuyer. As a whole, the real estate industry is on the rise in Las Vegas, and master-planned communities are booming. After the recession many years ago, a lot of building around town was halted. According to an article in the Review-Journal, “With the homebuilding sector revived from its near-death years ago, such projects are back in business.” As with any important decision, it’s best for a homebuyer to do research and decide what’s best for their individual situation before taking the big step.