Agrihoods are becoming a thriving community development “type” where people from cities to suburbs to rural areas are all wanting a similar environment in which to live. An increasingly popular subdivision design, called an Agrihood, is helping to fill this desire to connect more closely with their community, with nature, and with their food supply.

While a traditional rural development often has only one home for every 1, 5, 10 or even 20 acres, an Agrihood typically has a much denser housing component, which can keep a much larger portion of land in agriculture or green space than an unplanned subdivision might use. And new agricultural preservation policies at the city and county level are becoming increasingly common across the United States these new zoning approaches can help direct developers to preserve open land and farm operations in Agrihoods.

One could argue agrihoods are a distant cousin of the golf club communities that sprang up en masse in the ’90s (both offer carefully planned, community-style living), but they are vastly different. “Younger buyers want nature, walkability, and local food rather than golf, so farms within neighborhoods is a more attractive offering,” says Monica Olsen, VP of marketing at Serenbe and herself a resident.

Read the complete Article from Forbes Magazine Online:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/trulia/2016/11/08/why-you-should-move-into-an-agrihood/#104279084672

And real estate development trends show this theory is bearing out. In addition to the thriving agrihoods already in existence such as Prairie Crossing in Grayslake, IL, Agritopia in Gilbert, AZ, South Village in South Burlington, VT, and Hidden Springs in Boise, ID, agrihoods are currently being built on Bainbridge Island, WA, in Asheville, NC, Orlando, FL, and Union Township, OH, where 60 buyers have already put down $1,000 deposits on homes in the proposed Aberlin Springs agrihood, the first phase of which is set to open in 2017. But is an agrihood right for you? It could be if the following factors appeal to you.

1. You want to live in a neighborhood where everybody knows your name

The planning of agrihoods is done in a way that fosters community and interaction between the people who live there. In Arizona’s Agritopia, fences aren’t any higher than 5 feet, making it very easy to have a conversation with the family next door when you see them in their backyard. “Every house has a front porch, and the houses are closer to the street,” says resident Katie Critchley. “You can be sitting on your porch and be able to have a normal-decibel-level conversation with someone walking their dog. It forces you to say hello.”

2. Access to local produce is important to you

And we’re talking hyperlocal produce, as in that carrot was grown down the street from your house and picked a couple of hours before you purchased it. Agrihoods often have CSAs (community-supported agriculture farms), where residents can pay a yearly fee and have access to fresh, organic produce on a weekly basis. Agritopia also has a 24-hour farm stand — which can be a recipe saver when you realize midway through making pesto that you forgot to buy basil.

3. If you want to sell, you probably won’t take a loss

Agrihoods are highly desirable right now, and since these homes don’t go up for sale as often as homes in “regular” neighborhoods, it most likely won’t be hard to sell yours if and when you want to leave — and you’ll probably get back at least what you paid for it. Incidentally, you probably won’t pay a premium to live in one of these idyllic settings either. Real estate prices are on par with nearby offerings. Depending on the community, residents may be allowed to rent out their home in the long term (or even start out as a renter, allowing you to try before you buy).

4. You’re a bit of a homebody

Some of the more developed agrihoods have retailers and restaurants on-site. And community-based activities like cooking classes, volunteering to work on the farm, or even tending your own plot in a community garden are offered. In other words, you don’t really have to leave if you don’t want to.

5. You want to live among like-minded neighbors

Unlike in your typical neighborhood, when people move to an agrihood, they usually do so for the same reasons: They place an emphasis on the environment, they want to be surrounded by nature, and they’re looking to put down roots in a significant way. “We’re trying to create a simpler life,” says Critchley. “It just makes you feel good.”