Today’s new home community amenities draw buyers seeking a lifestyle

Nothing in life is really guaranteed except the proverbial “death and taxes.” But there is another one to add – “change.”

Change holds significant meaning in the residential real estate industry where new home communities have gone far beyond the simple pool or outdoor playground equipment found 20 years ago, to include multi-amenity lifestyle elements that are just as important as the home in which one chooses to live.

“Over time, community amenities have become more common, more abundant and more elaborate,” said Frank Dean, a realtor with Prime Development Land Co. LLC (PrimeKC.com). “Today, developers offer all sorts of ‘resort amenities’ such as pool complexes with free-form pools, lap pools, baby pools, ‘beach entries,’ pergolas, etc. Private lakes, walking trails, commercial-grade playgrounds, play fields, basketball courts, picnic areas and beach volleyball courts are (also) sometimes provided.”

Prospective buyers will find several spectacular new home communities featuring a wealth of these and other lifestyle amenities on this year’s Spring Parade of Homes, April 23 through May 8. Presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, the Parade features 347 homes located throughout the metro area on both sides of the State Line.

Dean says there are other important features to take under consideration when choosing a new home community and its amenities.

In addition to offering a wide array of desirable neighborhood amenities, communities today are also distinguished by open space planning and naturalistic landscape design, reflecting new home suburban buyers’ desire to live in serene and natural environments that feel removed from the congestion and fast pace of city life.

Canyon Creek and Canyon Creek Highlands in Lenexa, Bluestem in Overland Park, and Persimmon Pointe and Sunnybrook Villas in Olathe, are great examples of these design principles. Each community features several homes on the Spring Parade.

According to Dean, “Our neighborhoods are thoughtfully planned to respect natural contours of the land, with greenbelts and open spaces set aside to preserve natural features like woods, streams, lakes, wetlands and rock outcroppings.”

The Village of Loch Lloyd (www.lochlloyd.com), located a stone’s throw from Highway 150 off Holmes Road on the Missouri side of the state line, is another Kansas City area community where the amenities offered are paramount for its homebuyers.

Here, homeowners enjoy not only swimming pools and tennis courts, but also a 110-acre lake, walking trails, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a clubhouse with formal and informal dining venues and full menu takeout options, and the community centerpiece – The Tom Watson Signature Design golf course.

“Today’s sophisticated buyer thinks beyond the home,” said Chuck Campbell, Vice President - Real Estate Development for FiveStar Lifestyles - Loch Lloyd. “They are driven by their desire to live in a community that offers a true resort lifestyle, like Loch Lloyd. Buyers want security, a community that encourages a healthy lifestyle, (and) a community with a vibrant social fabric where they can make friends and create memories.”

As a true resort lifestyle community, Loch Lloyd’s amenities are designed to have a meaningful impact on its residents’ quality of life. During the Spring Parade, tour attendees will have an opportunity to not only see but experience this lifestyle, as well as three beautiful Parade entries built by Willis Construction, Cecil & Ray Homes, and C&M Builders.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Today’s new home community amenities draw buyers seeking a lifestyle."