San Antonio's Gated Communities: Secure But It's Not Fort Knox

Wayne, this is an excellent overview about gated communities. The ones with no staff and gate code entries are where I see many "piggy-backers" drive in after someone else opens the gate. :)

 I am not even sure if we have one gated community here in Sioux Falls! If we do I can't think of it! But then again Sioux Falls is a very safe place. 

Wayne, gated communities do give a sense of security that other communities don't have. Neighbors looking out for neighbors is the way to go in any community.

Gated communities interest me because we don't have them in Central PA.  When people move to this area they are shocked that we don't have them here.  Your post was helpful.  Thank you!

Wayne, my parents lived in Mission Ridge (Blanco Road & 1604) for nearly 20 years and very much appreciated that "extra layer" a 24-hour manned gate provided. As some others have mentioned, they also very much enjoyed the heightened level of "neighborliness" among the home-owners inside that gated community ... many, many thoughtful acts and a strong sense of community. 

Wayne, I've been dealing with these gates in South Florida for years now and they stop almost nothing.  Usually it's the neighbors themselves or their friends who they allow in.

Hi Wayne - This is an important consideration for people who are security conscious.  I can see that you will be advising your clients well.  When I was practicing law in Southern California, I knew of a number of cases where real estate agents and HOAs were sued when there was a break-in or a physical attack in a community that they had promoted as being "completely safe" and "secure" due to the gate and security patrol.  Despite the rosy advertising they were not necessarily crook-proof.  Any security measures are good, but you have to be careful how you describe the degree of security.  None are perfect.

What a good topic for a blog post!  We live in our own private gated community - of 2 homes.  I have to agree that there is a feeling of security when that gate is closed to vehicle traffic.  

Wayne,

Congratulation on this feature.  Gated communities do provide a reasonable degree of security, but you are spot on with your caution, "DO NOTBE COMPLACENT"   Hardened Criminals can find work around for the limited physical security that is provided by gated communities. 

Hi Wayne, You are right about those Gated communities. In my opinion, the only provide a limited about of security. Even at the Dominion, where I thought they had the best security, some out of town visitors, who I was schedule to show a home in the Dominion got in before I arrive. I couldn't believe how easy it was for them to get inside, since many who live there believe their are very secure.

Congratulation of Your Featured Post too!

We have plenty of gated communities here.  I keep a list of their codes by subdivision on the iPhone. Use the PlainText app to keep them synced with Dropbox and you'll always have them handy.

Nice post about something I know nothing about . . .  not something we have up here.  I would be concerned about Gated Communities being targets for criminals. The feeling being if such security is necessary there must be some good pickin!    When out of area Realtors want to show a home in our area, they can't believe the doors are left open :0)

Wayne, this is really good information about gated communities that's very transferrable to other geographic locations as well. Thanks for sharing.

Wayne:

If I were going to purchase another home I would definitely look for a gated community. It would give me a sense of security. It is also important for neighbors to watch for each other. The gates won't keep out the criminal but may deter them.

Have a great week and congratulations on the feature.

Wayne, this is a great explanation/introduction to gated communities. I especially love - well everything about this post - but the descriptions of the levels. We have many here in Florida as well, and people who come from other areas where they don't have them ask me if we have a lot of crime here and why do we have them? Hmm, this would be a good blog topic as well. :)

Have a great Monday and congrats on another Gold Star!

Sharon

Wayne..I have extensive experience with gated communities and they work for a myriad of reasons. As far as security goes, anyone can really enter the community when the gates open to exit or when you even enter. In their favor however is EYES, lots of them from people living so close together and knowing each others habits that it is hard to pull off a shenanigan under those conditions....There is much to say on this subject which is a good one..thank you