November Real Estate News :To Sell or Rent? How To Choose the Best Path for Your House.

October 22, 2026 ·  3 min read Selling your house is a big step, and you want it to go smoothly. And with houses taking a little longer to sell these days, renting it out might start to sound like a nice backup plan. But the reality is, while renting can work well for some people, it’s also a big commitment. So before you  decide , it helps to see the whole picture first. Why Some Sellers Are Deciding To Rent Instead Lately,  some  sellers are choosing to hang on to their houses and rent them out instead. According to  Parcl , around  9%  of homes for rent right now were previously up for sale.  Here’s why.  Some homeowners put their houses on the market expecting a faster process than they got or a certain  price  buyers didn’t respond to. And when things didn't go exactly as planned, they decided to rent instead.   As Kara Ng, Senior Economist at  Zillow , explains: “ Bargaining power is tilting toward buyers and homes a...

Why Gated Communities are Popular

 

Gated communities first became popular during New York's Gilded Age, serving as private enclaves for wealthy homeowners. During the 1960s and 70s, these became more affordable as more retirees and middle-class buyers discovered their advantages.

While security-controlled access is a desirable feature, gated communities typically have HOAs that enforce neighborhood guidelines. These make them a popular draw for buyers who prefer well-kept exteriors and nearby amenities.

Today, Florida and California have the highest number of gated communities, with retirees still headed to the Sunshine State because of lower taxes.

One Florida community, PGA National Resort, provides six golf courses for the inhabitants of its 5,000 homes. Retirees on a budget can choose a condo unit, while wealthy buyers can spend seven figures on a 5,000 sq. ft. property.

While some homeowners avoid HOAs because they consider their fees and regulations excessive (for example, PGA National residents must have at least one palm tree on their property), homes in gated communities remain popular as their appreciation rates are often higher than non-gated properties.1

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