[raeloe81]

Originally Posted by nicsan

I got scolded and some of my previos post deleted because I failed to read the rules. Sorry, it was my mistake and I understand. Unless you are going to purchase multiple lots and are willing to set on them for a time, buying lots in HSB or CV is risky and quite cyclical. You need to stay on top of the market. Lots sold for a higher price in the 60's & 70's than they do now. They sold for higher prices two/three years ago than they do now. They will no doubt sell for more in the future than they do now. Yes, that means they are a bargain now but last time it took nearly 30 years for the cycle to turn upward. Can you wait that long? Nobody knows the future of course so it may change tomorrow - all I'm saying is be prepared to wait out a down market.
HSB is an incorporated city, approx. 12 to 14 thousand acres, 50 some subdivisions (only 5 of which have sewer-everything else requires private septic system) with about 1100 homes and a population of approx 2500 80% of whom are retired, not one stop light and yet only 11 miles to super walmart, 3 hours to Little Rock, Memphis or Springfield, MO - 2 1/2 to Branson. Have someone look before you buy at any price

If you have no plans in life but to live on the lake and mow your yard and you have no children. HSB is an excellent place to live they are right now forclosing on aprox. 500 properties. They have special taxes here and have some fees that are applied to you taxes they are MRID and MSID. they amount to about 100.00$. HSB has registered sex offenders that live here I had on that lived 3 or 4 houses up the street. Moderator cut: edit HSB does not show all of its problems when you look it up on the internet. Some of the things that they say on the internet are complete lies. It is a beautiful place but somethings are not as they seem here. I hope that I will soon be able to leave this place because there are no jobs avaliable here right now people are having there homes take away. We loved this town when we moved here but It is not the same place as it was when we moved here. Also there are a lot of drugs in HSB it is not a good place to live if you have children. Please look into this town before you buy anything here. I want to sell my house but I would feel bad moving anyone into this town without telling them all about it. In that case I would never be able to sell it. I have really tried to watch what I have said but please do more research before you move here or buy property.

[Poltracker]

Alot of folks bought property in CV in the late 60's early 70's, including my grandparents. Their intention was to retire there but my grandfather died untimely and nothing was ever done with the property. A company contacted my Gma several years ago to sell her property to them (several lots). She refused...and they nagged. She did eventually sell it to them and got what I consider a fair price given the market. I imagine this company hit up a number of folks who bought but never developed their lots and that is where they got their inventory from.

[isew4kidz]

We just bought a lot in Cherokee Village, and we have no regrets about doing so. We hope to contribute to the Community as we would like to maintain the quiet, peaceful, laid back life you all enjoy so much! We bought a wooded lot in CV and will be having a house built there, as we will be retiring in CV! We are in our fifties, and our only child (a son) is in College right now. My husband loves to fish, and I love sewing and smocking! We are very much looking forward to living there!

[Horseshoe]

My wife and I are moving to the HSB area later this summer. I am wondering where and to what depth the drug problem is in HSB? I see mostly retirees in town and they didnt look too threatening to me...???? I know there is a trailer park north of town and maybe that is where the trouble lies....?? If the trouble is in the TP, atleast it is quaranteened in a smal area of the community. I also notice a sizable police force in HSB that is patroling constantly. It would seem HSB would have a drug problem under contol...???

I currently live near small communities in WI of 800 pop and under and there are drugs here everywhere. Drugs are trafficed out of Chicago, Milwaukee, and college age trafficers out of Madison. We also have had drug busts on Lake Michigan by boat traffic too. You will find that anywhere in this country.....simply the result of the decline of the moral fiber in humans on this planet.

When i started looking into the North central part of AR as a potential place to live, it was inviting to me as a place to raise children and relax and to get back to the simple things in life. I am not a follower of big city excitment and would prefer country living. HSB seems like a very "soft" community to live in compared to many other areas in this country i have experienced.

If there are drugs around me, i am the guy who will not notice it as i don't associate with people who are involved. I am more of a private person and do not interact much with others and would easily overlook the darker problems of a town. For the most part, i would bet the drug problem is relatively small in HSB. Now, the wet county referendum, that would bring more trouble to a broader band of people if it were to pass. WI is about as WET as you can get, it doesnt do much for the social structure of this state......JMO.


As far as jobs......the whole country is in a hurt right now. In WI, the GM plant is closing with a loss of thousands, papermills here are closing, hundreds of jobs gone, Kohler is laying off hundreds....the list goes on. The difference with WI and AR as far as jobs, the WI people have built a false sense of lifestyle they feel they need to maintain.......pretty tough to keep a lifestyle going without work. AR people know what it is like to have tougher times and able to adapt. Statistically, AR has half the population too, which means to me, half the troubles that go with alot of people!!!
If there is a business in AR that is supplying jobs, support them....keep them in AR! Get involved with the local chamber and get business in the community. It WILL take effort and alot of time that will have no return for a long time, but the long term will outweigh the short term.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Horseshoe

My wife and I are moving to the HSB area later this summer. I am wondering where and to what depth the drug problem is in HSB?

Hey....Horseshoe, good to see you back.

No, the drug problem is not that bad in HSB, and yes, most problems arise from the TP. That's a very, very minor part in view of the whole town.

You will see in the paper frequent traffic stops/arrests for meth and related offenses, but bare fact is that AR is the #2 meth state. Most of the instances are people from some of the other towns.

HSB is very laid back, probably their biggest problem has been with each other. Conflict among members of some of the city organizations.

You have to remember that when folks relocate, they bring their personalities with them. In some areas of this country, folks are more prone to kindly let you know when to cut your grass, that you need more marigolds in your garden, and that you're not raising your kids right.

Bless their hearts.

Luckily, that's not the case in most of this state. That, however, makes the few stick out more.

As you acclimate to the area, read the paper, listen to the radio, you'll get the feel better. Join any of the organizations in HSB, fishing club, boat club, etc., and you'll have an instant network. There are a couple towns nearby that will make you very glad you chose HSB.

There is basically as much or as little as you want to do over there and I don't think you'll have any second thoughts once you're settled in and get your semi-country "feet".

The local newspaper there is the Pacesetter Journal, comes out on Wed, and is cheap in case you want to get started.

[Horseshoe]

I'm always lurking about on this forum RogMar......just havent posted in a while. I have been too busy driving back and forth to AR lately... I have been in HSB three times this spring and usually stay a week or so each time. I'll be taking another run again the week of the 16th...I tell yah...this diesel fuel bill is going to give me a wallet ulcer!!!

I'll have to agree with all your points about HSB and the retirement communities in the surounding area too. HSB and CV and the possible future development that is hanging in the air seems to be a topic of redicule from the native born residents. I seem to always pick a bit of resentment toward the retirment towns from natives.......I guess I'll understand that more when i move there full time. I really cant see anything threatening in the little town of HSB...."yet".

Anyway, i always enjoy your commentary here RogMar, and I look forward to bumping into you at one of the local establishments...you sound like a fellow that I would enjoy conversation with.

[RogMar]

That back and forth wears one down, Horseshoe. I remember. Hit seafood night at the Carriage Room and it will sooth the nerves.

I think the primary cause of the irritation that you mention between the born-here's and the retirees is because of a handful of retirees that come and expect their environment to change because they're here now.

You may have read my comments about overheard conversation while at dinner in HSB about the locals. It's inconsiderate and if my skin were not so thick I may find it very offensive rather than amusing. I've had the same thing occur while dining in CV, so it's not just in one spot.

However, that's the exception. Most folks are pretty good about "we're all in this together". I've had some very good conversations with people from all over, and it's unfortunate that are people that don't like southerners come to the south to live.

A good example are my in-laws. They're good people, they'd do anything for ya, but they were born and raised in the Chicago area, and they moved onto a lake in the south, where friends of theirs were moving to.

15 years later........*yes*, 15 years later, my father-in-law still does not know a single local. Tells me how "backwards" they are, do everything wrong, drive like grannies, on & on.......

Bless *his* heart.......I have no idea how that state survived long enough for him to move into it.

My wife worries about him bumping into our friends when they come to visit, because whatever they do, he's going to tell them how to do it right.

So, there are a few of those around here also, Horseshoe. You will meet them, as we all do, I seriously doubt there's anywhere in the U.S. that they don't exist, but you can imagine how irritated these folks get when a "yankee" starts insulting them.

One of the frequent questions people pose on this forum is, "Will I be accepted?".

No question about that. One will be accepted with most anyone they accept, with just a few self-centered exceptions.

I'm sure you'll bump into me sooner or later, I don't leave this hill that often, but I do run over to HSB to eat or grab a special at Ron's every once in awhile. We could grab a cup of coffee at Karen's some time.

As long as you don't mind bein' seen with a *hillbilly*.

[easy123]

New to the forum and interested in the HB area. It is interesting to see the number of viewers attracted to the forum comments about this area, and to see that most of the concerns voiced are typical small town concerns. I mean small town in the most positive sense. When I hear and read of the issues, events and conflicts elsewhere in our country, HB comes off looking really appealing. It appears that in spite of the downside issues voiced about employment, there seems to be a resurgence of interest in the area and some signs of growth. With the baby boomers just starting to flood the ranks of the retired, is it possible that this area will see a rebirth? When I visited the town recently for the first time, I had only positive feelings about the residents and the business people who seem extremely content with the world. I think that someone there should start some action plans to generate positive growth in the area. Assuming that the criteria for any plans would have only good, small town goals of welcoming good folks and encouraging them to join in the community, to bring suitable business and cultural activities and to focus upon creating an energized community geared to provide for new retirees all of the things that this area can provide. I see throughout the nation a surge of marketing activity focusing upon the baby boomers. You can't watch an evening of TV without seeing a dozen commercials on ladies diapers, prostate pills, ED, walk-in bathtubs, watches with giant numbers, scooters . . . the list has no end. To me this says that there is a bright future for small towns like HB that perceive the opportunity, establish a strategy and set about to accomplish and manage a plan that will attract the nation of baby boomer retirees, the kind of good folks that can help HB realize its potentials. In my mind those potentials are a prosperous and happy community with lots of good folks generating lots of interesting activities, services and opportunities. All of this is just to say that I found in my one visit to the town that HB is a giant gem already mined and polished, just waiting for the right time to be found and treasured. Some of you folks there are the lucky ones, and will probably be the ones to make it happen. Good Luck.

[Horseshoe]

RogMar>>> UUUUuuuuummmm seafood night. I plan to do just that next friday night! My wife and I are planning another trip this weekend and staying a week. As far as having a good meal and being seen with a hillbilly, heck you can wear my favorite straw hat to dinner!

Easy 123>>>>You are very right in your observations about HSB. I looked into HSB last year in July, now i'll be a full time resident of the area THIS July. I saw a city/town already built.....just need to add people and business. The new mayor is a strong level headed business man and i am confident he will bring a positive light to the community.

Your comments about the 'boomers are very true, but this phenomenon is going to happen all over this country. HSB will need to figure out how to get/bring a piece of that to the town. More importantly business in industry and/or manufacturing is better than having a town full of service type jobs. HSB needs to get involved in the upcoming rise in homeland manufacturing.......and seek out stable jobs in that level. Again, the business minded mayor is a very good start toward that goal of getting business there. It was often said, if asked the question "What does this town need?"...the response was..."younger people". This response was from many inthe town, including the retiree residence. It seemed the retirees form the clubs and infulstructure of the town and tend to be short sighted as they have lived thier lives and are trying to keep the town a quiet little getaway hidden from progress. That has worked for a while now, but growth has slowed or stopped. A town does need activity to survive, it will simply not make it with the same dollar circulating around from pocket to pocket.

again, just my .02 observations, there are others here who live in HSB that can provide a better picture.

[RogMar]

Horseshoe, glad to hear things are moving along. Wallop some of those crab legs for me. The little lady and I are catching the Sunday Buffet there next week, and that's something to take in also.

Easy123....Horseshoe hit it on the head, and I think that situation is close to a death rattle.

There is a propensity in some folks to shun those that are not like-thinking, and to try to huddle with only those that they percieve as "their own kind".

Even up here in the hills I see a *little bit" of that. We have Texas folk around that tend to socialize more with other Texas folk. That's totally understandable, but they don't shun anyone. They can't here. They just feel a sense of comradarie, that's all.

However, in a situation like HSB, what has happened is that they have not flourished like Cherokee Village and some of the other retirement areas have, and it's biting them on the ....elbow.

They desperately need business and a younger influx there, but so many of the residents reject it with narrow-minded selfishness.

I'm really hoping that as time moves on, they move forward.

There have been some unfortunate minor incidents within some of the governmental groups that has resulted in child-like squabbling and resulted in some resignations.

They need to kick back and address the real issues, which is that they need cash influx, or their little piece of heaven is not going to be able to keep the dams in good shape, the streets up to par, and that's going to hurt Crown Resort, the Hillhigh, and all the tourist draws that keep a little money flowing in.

I think it's headed for a change for the better.