Names vary throughout the country. Somewhere else a patio home may be homes that are attached to other homes. In the Cincinnati area that's usually NOT the case (although Fischer Homes has introduced PAIRED patio homes to the market, and those are basically duplexes). Most often here we're talking a detached, ranch home that includes a yard and the HOA takes care of the lawn.
So for the Cincinnati market, what should you know about PATIO HOMES?
1. Locally, different names are used by different builders to mean different things. Enough "different" there? And sometimes a term by one builder that equates to "patio home" is NOT what it means to another builder. E.g. "lifestyle ranch". You'll also hear terms such as courtyard home, garden home, landominium, villa, townhome, club home and others that are all essentially the same thing: low maintenance living choices.
2. How low maintenance your patio home will be varies community to community. Sometimes the HOA includes taking care of the exterior of the home (siding, roof, etc.), but most typical that will NOT be the case. When the roof needs replaced at 20+ years, that's on you to take care of. However, the good news is patio homes (especially newer ones) are built to require minimum maintenance.
3. You'll never mow the grass again! And in most cases, the HOA also removes snow when it exceeds 2". And SOME communities also include mulching and trimming of shrubs.
4. Amenities vary and so do the HOA fees. You want LOTS of amenities? Heritage At Miami Bluffs has an extensive offering (9000+ sq ft clubhouse, full time social director, etc....BUT you have to be 55+ to live there). Other communities offer nothing beyond the lawn maintenance.
5. Are patio homes just for people 55+? With the exception of the Heritage at Miami Bluffs and another small 55+ community in Springdale, there are NO age restrictions in other patio home communities.
6. Don't expect a big yard. With few exceptions, most patio home communities feature small yards. You like lots of privacy? We may have trouble finding just what you want.
7. Can you tinker in the yard? Yes, within reason. Extra flower beds? Typically not a problem as long as the landscapers can easily mow. But you want to put up a fence? If it's of the invisible variety for your pets, yes. But a 6' privacy fence? That's not happening.
8. Can you have a pool? In your yard? NOPE. You can use the community pool (if there is one), or head to the city pool or YMCA, but you're not putting an inground or above ground pool in your yard.
9. How much are the HOA fees? There's quite a range, from below $100 a month to over $400 a month. And no, the amount of amenities isn't always proportional to the fee.
10. They can be scarce. Patio homes are most often meant to be someone's LAST home. We can have the perfect community match for you, and nothing for sale for months (or years) at a time. So when one hits the market and matches, you'd better be ready to act quickly.
11. How much do patio homes cost? They vary. There are a small handful that will price below $200,000. On the high end, say LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION and you'll top into a million. Most likely, $300,000 to 500,000 captures the vast majority of patio homes available AND at that price you can also get new construction patio homes.
12. They're on BOTH sides of the Ohio River. Patio homes are available in both Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Want to know who is licensed in BOTH states so he can take you to THE best fit for your needs? THIS GUY :)
Bottom line, if you've got questions about Cincinnati patio homes, we can make your life easy (assuming you DO NOT already have an agent). Call Bill at 513-520-5305 or email us at Liz@LizSpear.com. We'd love to help you as we've helped many patio home clients.
Bill & Liz aka BLiz
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