D32 wrote:Why would one choose or not choose a house in a gated community?
Gated estates usually have infrastructure (water piping, sewage system and electricity) configured for connection or already connected. Fancy gated estates even have fiber (internet), cable (TV) and landline...
With a detached house, you handle all the red tape to bring this infrastructure to your door, especially if you are building in the outlying areas. If the electricity line is 10 kms away you will spend some months (or years) operating solar panels or paraffin lamps.