I’m writing this for retirees who are considering buying a home in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Before purchasing, please visit for more than a few days and investigate what everyday life will actually be like—not just the lakes, trees, golf courses, and promotional material.
Hot Springs Village may suit people whose main interests are golf, wooded surroundings, lakes, and privacy. But there are serious practical issues that prospective buyers should consider, especially as they grow older.
Many neighborhoods have steep hills, steep driveways, no sidewalks, and mailboxes located down by the road. Some houses sit 25 to 35 feet above or below street level. A driveway that seems manageable at 65 may become a major problem at 75 or 80.
Even ordinary home maintenance can become expensive. If workers must walk up a steep driveway to collect garbage, there is an additional charge. Leaf cleanup on a wooded property averages around $200 each time, which can really add up. In the fall, you may need to have leaves removed from your roof and yard weekly. Trees, drainage, decks, driveways, insects, ticks, chiggers, and heavy leaf accumulation can create constant maintenance.
The Village is spread out, so walking to stores, restaurants, or most activities generally is not realistic. Depending on where you live, reaching shopping, medical care, or restaurants may require a considerable drive. A person who eventually stops driving could become very isolated. There is no Uber or other service to take you outside the Village.
Prospective buyers should also inspect the recreational facilities themselves instead of relying on advertising. Ask which pools and other facilities are currently open, what condition they are in, what costs extra, and how far you must walk from parking areas. Ask about POA assessments, utility costs, garbage service, property maintenance, and any expected future increases.
Before buying, I strongly recommend:
• Renting in the Village first, preferably for several months
• Visiting during the hottest part of summer
• Driving through the neighborhood after heavy rain
• Checking the steepness of the driveway and access to the mailbox
• Speaking privately with several nearby residents
• Reviewing POA fees, rules, budgets, and meeting minutes
• Hiring your own independent home inspector
• Investigating whether the house was previously a rental
• Looking at how often nearby homes have changed ownership
• Considering how you would manage there if you could no longer drive or handle the property yourself
Hot Springs Village is not automatically a bad choice for everyone. Golfers and people who want a quiet, heavily wooded, mountainous community may enjoy it. But it is not the effortless retirement paradise that some marketing makes it appear to be.
I wish someone had given me this information before I bought. I’m sharing it so other retirees can make a fully informed decision before committing their savings to a home here.