Edinburgh Village: 10-Year True Cost of Ownership

Edinburgh Village carries Montgomery County's 1.55% effective tax rate — the highest in this market. But the average $336,000 purchase price is so far below every competitor that the total annual cost still comes in lower than any Epcon community in Butler or Greene County. Here's the math that proves it.

The Counterintuitive Result: Why Highest Rate Doesn't Mean Highest Bill

Annual property tax on a $336,000 Edinburgh Village home at Montgomery County's 1.55% rate: ~$5,208/yr
Annual property tax on a $530,000 Bel Haven home at Butler County's 1.00% rate: ~$5,300/yr
Annual property tax on a $450,000 Villas at Beavercreek home at Greene County's 1.35% rate: ~$6,075/yr

Edinburgh Village's $336,000 average purchase price produces a lower annual tax bill than both of the "lower-rate county" alternatives — because price, not rate, ultimately drives the bill. The only scenario where the rate wins is when comparing homes at the same price point, and no two 55+ communities in this market sell at the same price.

Assumptions

Estimates only. Verify HOA rate and any upcoming special assessments with HOA board.

Scenario A: $300,000 Purchase Price (Below Average)

Cost CategoryYr 1Yr 5Yr 1010-Year Total
HOA fees$2,880$3,243$3,759$32,949
Property taxes$4,650$4,650$4,650$46,500
Homeowner's insurance$1,400$1,702$2,175$17,239
Interior maintenance (older home)$900$900$900$9,000
Utilities$2,400$2,782$3,227$27,517
Annual Total$12,230$13,277$14,711$133,205

After Montgomery County homestead exemption (~$450/yr for qualifying buyers): net 10-yr total ~$128,705.

Scenario B: $336,000 Purchase Price (Market Average)

Cost CategoryYr 1Yr 5Yr 1010-Year Total
HOA fees$2,880$3,243$3,759$32,949
Property taxes$5,208$5,208$5,208$52,080
Homeowner's insurance$1,500$1,823$2,329$18,468
Interior maintenance (older home)$1,000$1,000$1,000$10,000
Utilities$2,400$2,782$3,227$27,517
Annual Total$12,988$14,056$15,523$141,014

After homestead exemption (~$450/yr): net 10-yr total ~$136,514. Lowest 10-year operating cost of any Epcon community in this market.

The Full Market Comparison: 10-Year Operating Costs

Purchase price excluded — this table shows operational costs only over 10 years.

CommunityAvg PriceCounty Rate10-Yr Operating Est.Annual Avg
Edinburgh Village$336K1.55%~$141,014~$14,101
Hunters Glen at Northmont~$320K1.55%~$134,000~$13,400
Villas at Beavercreek$450K1.35%~$155,700~$15,570
Bel Haven$530K1.00%~$176,628~$17,663
Villas at Waterford Glen$260K1.05%~$98,000~$9,800
The Waterford Glen outlier: Villas at Waterford Glen at $260K in Clermont County wins on 10-year operating costs by a wide margin (~$43,000 less than Edinburgh Village). The tradeoff is east Cincinnati location vs. Dayton metro access, attached new construction vs. established 25-year community, and a smaller overall community infrastructure. For buyers for whom financial optimization is the primary driver, Waterford Glen is the mathematically dominant choice.

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