True Cost Analysis · Villas of Gahanna
Why “Cheap to Buy” Isn’t Always “Cheap to Own”
The Villas of Gahanna has the lowest entry price of any community we cover. Here is how the association fee changes the all-in math — and where it still wins.
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Talk to a Specialist →Year-one carrying cost
Modeled on a $285,000 attached home in Gahanna, Franklin County. Planning estimates, not a quote.
| Component | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Property tax (≈1.69% effective) | $401 | $4,817 |
| Condo association fee | $350 | $4,200 |
| HO-6 condo insurance | $75 | $900 |
| Total carrying cost | $826 | $9,917 |
The fee-to-price ratio is the story. At a $285k home, a $350 monthly fee is a large share of carrying cost — far higher proportionally than a $450k detached Courtyards home with a $250 HOA. The lower price tag is real, but the association fee claws back part of the savings every month. Look at the bottom line, not the purchase price.
Where it still wins: the all-in comparison
Even with the proportionally high fee, the Villas of Gahanna carries less per month than every newer community we cover — because the home price is so much lower. Here is the honest comparison:
| Community | Home price | All-in carrying/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Villas of Gahanna (attached) | $285,000 | ~$826 |
| Harris Farm carriage home | $360,000 | ~$867 |
| Mulberry Run ranch | $410,000 | ~$952 |
| Hyatts Village (Powell) | $540,000 | ~$1,275 |
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10-year projection
| Year | Tax | Fee | Insurance | Year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4,817 | $4,200 | $900 | $9,917 |
| 5 | $5,317 | $4,728 | $1,053 | $11,098 |
| 10 | $6,015 | $5,480 | $1,281 | $12,776 |
| 10-yr cumulative | ~$54,300 | ~$48,100 | ~$10,900 | ~$113,300 |
At roughly $113,300 over ten years, the Villas of Gahanna is the most affordable community to carry that we cover — and over a decade, the association fee actually accounts for nearly as much as the property tax. Budget for updates to a 30-year-old home, request the reserve study, and it remains a genuinely sensible entry point.
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We will confirm the real monthly fee and review the reserve study so the “affordable” option stays affordable.
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