For some, the ideal gated community might not feature the traditional golf courses and country club amenities, but rather quiet woodlands and abundant privacy.
Realtor.com reports that for many, privacy is key. A recent survey of home shoppers found that the most important exterior feature of a home is its distance from neighboring houses. In response, private wooded communities have been popping up from North Carolina to Montana.
Despite the appeal, land in these developments are still not valued as highly as traditional resort-style communities. A 20-acre wooded lot in Montana recently recently sold for $1.36 million, while the least expensive lot at the nearby Yellowstone Club, an exclusive ski and golf resort, is only 1.5 acres and priced at $2.8 million.