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I have never lived in an HOA community, not sure they are that common here. Around here the city would intervene if someone piled junk cars in their yard or toilets (which I've never seen here in Jersey but I did see frequently when I lived in MS) on their porch.
I doubt city ordinances cover what color one chooses to paint their home (I'd have to look) but, my main concern is that which is unsanitary, unsafe, or extremely unsightly. For instance, our neighborhs have all these plastic little ducks and assorted animals (again, plastic) poking out of their yard. It's an older couple, I'm actually tickled anytime I see it. And it doesn't stop homes in our neighborhood from selling for $350K and more.
To me, HOAs represent a certain loss of freedom (as well as extra fees), which to me is a major factor driving my decision to purchase a home. I'm a lifelong renter and I am tired of looking at white walls.
But again, like I have stated here before, I understand other people's attraction ... it's simply not for me and my family.
And I came to this board, to read up on various opinions and to receive multiple insights because, this is my first time in this arena. I admit to being ignorant. And I am afraid of making major mistakes. So, I am gathering as much info as I can, to hopefully make an informed decision for us. Hey, my kids are counting on me.
And it may be my nature, or simply being from Jersey, I actually trust few people. Might seem bad, but it keeps me protected.
Around these parts one of the builders many people here describe as great, has a pretty bad reputation. Apparently, because of the demographics in the community they were building for, they decided to skip a whole lot of stuff when it came to codes. Of course, the corrupt city government was a part of the whole sordid ordeal ... but what sticks with me is the pictures the paper ran of people crying outside of their homes, upset over the fact that they still had to pay the mortgage on homes deemed unlivable.
This is the biggest purchase I'll ever make ... I think it's OK to get multiple perspectives on the process. We're not rich people. I'd like to make a sound decision.
Hey saralee, I'll tell you the same thing I tell MY clients...buying a home isn't that difficult if you have the right person representing you. And...buying a home is not a lifelong decision! You buy in a nice area and assume you are going to live there for a while...but...circumstances change and so do people's tastes. Whats the worse that could happen? You buy a home, live there a year, decide you made a mistake or your circumstances have changed...you call your realtor, she sells your house and you move again. Its been done! Vicki
So much to read on this subject! We are three years into a Lennar home here in CA. CA a $700k home. woo hoo we got the granite and with it a headache of a home. After being delayed by mistakes the builder made pulling permits by 7 months we moved in. Two weeks later all our plumbing backed up and they had left a 2x4 in the main plumbing line. We had to move back out for two weeks while it was repaired.....they had to pull up my new flooring a $60K upgrade and cut into my post tension slab foundation using an x-ray machine so they would not crumble the slab foundation and lose the house. Since that initial disaster we have had all our windows replaced, roof repaired, drywall re-done secondary bathroom leak repaired, electrical reapirs and our master bath shower had been leaking and we had to have our entire up stairs sealed off by a remediation team as well as the kitchen below because the inspector we hired found toxic mold. Lennar said it was not any big deal. We had no use of our home for 3 months and then shorter durations after that because the problem kept re-accuring. Today I sit here and the AC repairman I just had to call out informed be that both my units blew they are under warrtanty but labor is $1500. So just because you buy a more expensive home doesn't mean you get better quality at least not with this builder. I won't be purchasing with them in NC. Did I mention our home is only 3 years new?
thats why I put the website up it gives information on alot of builders not just the problem ones either, it gives advice so you can make an informed decision.
So much to read on this subject! We are three years into a Lennar home here in CA. CA a $700k home. woo hoo we got the granite and with it a headache of a home. After being delayed by mistakes the builder made pulling permits by 7 months we moved in. Two weeks later all our plumbing backed up and they had left a 2x4 in the main plumbing line. We had to move back out for two weeks while it was repaired.....they had to pull up my new flooring a $60K upgrade and cut into my post tension slab foundation using an x-ray machine so they would not crumble the slab foundation and lose the house. Since that initial disaster we have had all our windows replaced, roof repaired, drywall re-done secondary bathroom leak repaired, electrical reapirs and our master bath shower had been leaking and we had to have our entire up stairs sealed off by a remediation team as well as the kitchen below because the inspector we hired found toxic mold. Lennar said it was not any big deal. We had no use of our home for 3 months and then shorter durations after that because the problem kept re-accuring. Today I sit here and the AC repairman I just had to call out informed be that both my units blew they are under warrtanty but labor is $1500. So just because you buy a more expensive home doesn't mean you get better quality at least not with this builder. I won't be purchasing with them in NC. Did I mention our home is only 3 years new?
That kinda takes away from gregsbabe1's "you get what you pay for" idea.
So much to read on this subject! We are three years into a Lennar home here in CA. CA a $700k home. woo hoo we got the granite and with it a headache of a home. After being delayed by mistakes the builder made pulling permits by 7 months we moved in. Two weeks later all our plumbing backed up and they had left a 2x4 in the main plumbing line. We had to move back out for two weeks while it was repaired.....they had to pull up my new flooring a $60K upgrade and cut into my post tension slab foundation using an x-ray machine so they would not crumble the slab foundation and lose the house. Since that initial disaster we have had all our windows replaced, roof repaired, drywall re-done secondary bathroom leak repaired, electrical reapirs and our master bath shower had been leaking and we had to have our entire up stairs sealed off by a remediation team as well as the kitchen below because the inspector we hired found toxic mold. Lennar said it was not any big deal. We had no use of our home for 3 months and then shorter durations after that because the problem kept re-accuring. Today I sit here and the AC repairman I just had to call out informed be that both my units blew they are under warrtanty but labor is $1500. So just because you buy a more expensive home doesn't mean you get better quality at least not with this builder. I won't be purchasing with them in NC. Did I mention our home is only 3 years new?
I was gonna mention you too, couldn't forget that horror story.
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