This one will be touchy, I know there are 3 things you do not discuss with friends, Politics, Religion, and HOAs.

I'm going to trudge forward with the later. Do any of you guys live in a gated community? Can anyone tell me some of the ups and downs of them. Right now we live in a house without an HOA at all and the things that get left to do until "tomorrow' drive me nuts.

The wife and I are looking at a very affordable new home but it's in a gated community. The standard price includes a pool and a lot of items that other items that some builders consider upgrades. (Ceiling fan drops in all rooms, 2X6 construction, etc) I have never lived in one and wondered if anybody here does.

I don't want to create trouble I was just looking for information.

Thanks,
Tom

 

I will not live in a community where a "Committee" that I didn't elect, can dictate what I can do with my house that I'm paying for, and charge me anually for the privilage.

JMNSHO

Ed

 

I would have to side with Shovel on this one,I have lived on a farm/ranch all my life and have never understood why someone would live where someone else had the authority to tell me when to mow,paint,what color of paint, where to park my car and for that matter what I can park in my drive as I have heard some do not let trucks be left out in the open etc.etc. So I have a very biased opinion to the gated living areas, they do seem to be gaining in popularity. Goodluck on your choice and hope it works for you, Rick.

 

Second that, The X man in charge was a pain, so many regs yet his kid was the worst offender.

 

I totally agee with Ed on this one. I will NEVER reside where I got to listen to what a bunch of others tell me what I can and can't do.

That aside, I guess if you can put up with that, you would have "somewhat" better security and things. Just don't see it myself.

Best wishes, you got a tough decision to make.

Ed

 

And most will not like your diesel powered truck with Silencer-ring-ectomy...

Matt

 

I guess I live in a gated 'community'... I built the gate in fact. It's right at the beginning of the driveway to the farm that I'm the property manager for. And the only rule we have, is that if you come onto the property to cause trouble, you're gonna get shot at! (and that will probably hurt alot as opposed to killin' ya, because I'm a lousy shot)

chaikwa.

 

THAT's what I'm talkin' about.............

 

Thanks guys, if I had the option I would love to live on a farm where I could not see the next door neighbor but to buy a new house in the Phoenix proper you almost have to put up with the HOAs. Just kinda wondering if they are worth the head aches everyone talks about. I'm already the kinda guy that parks in the garage, takes in the trash after collection and doesn't paint the house bright pink with purple trim. So I may fit in OK.

I went looking for a nice house with land but it's too far from work for the little lady plus having land out here means critters (Scorpions, Rattle sankes, Terantulas) and with a little one I don't want that possibilty.
Thanks again...

 

If you miss them we can send you some, Kinda startling to pet the dogs and a scorpion comes crawlin out from under there bed. And them turantulas, ugly, at least we can tell when the rains are coming, the start moving out in the open more, specially on the roads.

 

Even if I get five acres, at least I don't have those hideous Camel Spiders!
God Bless our Troops!

 

Never mind gated communities...My uncle lives in Alberta just outside of Calgary. He said they are going to pass an ordinance for the whole city about how high your lawn grass can be.

Mike

 

HOA's = Royal pain in the butt. Almost as disgusting as condo associations, who like spending your money to beautify the already clean looking commons areas. Gated communities sometimes don't have HOA's. Better check the documents before committing your deposit. Be sure of the construction materials and that the sheet rock is up to code. More often than not, it isn't.
Speaking from experience with FL builders.

 

If you are going to live in a house, in a neighborhood, on a normal sized lot, and want the property values on your home to continue to escallate, then you sure don't want to live in a neighborhood where some idiot parks his ugly, beat up, 4x4, jacked up, rusty and always completely covered with mud and noisy Ford with decals all over it covering the rust holes on the grass right beside your house because there is an old washing machine/dryer and refrigerator right up against the side of his house. (Now don't jump all over me, 4x4 guys - - re-read the description of that truck)

A good HOA can be a real blessing in maintaining the neighborhood. Some I would never live in - - the one I am in is reasonable. I can bring the fiver home to pack it, clean it, work on it for 48 hours at a time (same for a boat). If I have company visit in an RV, they can park in my drive for 7 days max. No unlicensed vehicles can be kept outside the garage. Roofs must be kept clean (all tile roofs). Yard must be kept neat. No parking off the paved area of your yard. All garbage cans must be hidden from the street. All these things are liveable and reasonable and help maintain the area as a very nice neighborhood with higher property values than the same house in an uncontrolled area. I think the secret is to find the area that is "reasonable". We really like our subdivision and it has a HOA.

 

Fiver, I don't live in HOA community either., but all our neighbors basicly follow those same procedures without having someone tell them how to do it.

It think we call it a "good old fashioned neighborhood".