When most people refer to planned communities they think of either retirement communities or exclusive communities in Orange County California. Although those two varieties are included in the mix, developers have created self-standing enclaves themed for a range of interests. According to CNNMoney.com, some of the most unusual planned communities include:

• The Villages, Central Florida: Active retirees looking to live in an environment filled with other like-minded individuals will enjoy the perks of this gated community. The town itself is very similar to a theme park as there is piped in oldies music coming from the Villages' privately owned radio station and overall the town looks like a set from the movie "Pleasantville." Residents of the area can take advantage of the local amenities including golfing, planned dance events and more. Additionally, no children under the age of 19 are allowed to live in the community.
• Twin Lakes: Martha Stewart's Living, Cary North Carolina: Some people need more than their daily dose of "Martha" and the 650 home neighborhood overseen by Stewart is the way to get their fix. Martha oversaw the development of all the floor plans, and tweaked the designs to feature indoor and outdoor living spaces as well as well-designed closets. The properties are well appointed and have been based on the design sensibilities of her brand.
• Celebration, Celebration Florida: If you have always dreamed about setting roots down in the "happiest place on earth" then this planned community developed by former Disney CEO Michael Eisner can help. The community has its own schools, hospitals, and businesses and a hefty population of over 3,500 people.
• Ave Maria, Naples Florida: Religiously devout individuals might feel more at home in the community of Ave Maria than other options out there. The town features the usual amenities like gas stations, grocery stores and banks, but the most predominate feature is Ave Maria University, a school committed to teaching lessons associated with the Catholic belief system.
• Sienna Plantation, Missouri City, Texas: Plantations have long been associated with sprawling grounds and the Sienna Plantation is no exception. The community has 10,500 lush acres partially funded by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The community was provided with $1.2 million in grants to help offset the costs associated with maintaining the on-site nature reserves.

Requirements of Living in a Planned Community

Become part of a planned community is not as difficult as people may think. As long as a person has the finances and mortgage necessary to finance the purchase of a home in a community, chances are they can join in the fun. There are some exceptions to the rule. To ensure the residence of The Villages get the quality of life they are paying for, homebuyers in the town must be over the age of 55.

The Disney backed community called Celebration, has no specific requirements but a huge manifesto of rules that every resident must contract into and adhere to. Rules are especially common in planned communities and those who break them can be saddled with large penalties.

If you are still keen on pursuing the American dream of homeownership a planned community may be the way to go. Those thinking about tapping into the historically low mortgage rates and buying a home, need to review all the by-laws and additional amenity expenses associated with living before signing on the dotted line.