Any feedback on CASCADES AT SPRINGS RANCH II HOA? (Denver: buying a home, neighborhood)

[FemaleLogic]

My husband and I are in the process of buying a home. We found a house we like ( between Constitution and North Carefree) but it is an HOA community..We have never lived in one and are a bit concerned about it.. Does anybody have any feedback on CASCADES AT SPRINGS RANCH II HOA( that's the community in which the house is located)? Are they decent or are they crazy and nitpicking about everything? I would also appreciate any feedback from homeowners about other HOA single family home communities in COS. What are your experiences? Are there any good things about HOA single home communities? Thank you, everyone, who's looking and will take the time to reply.

[airventure]

Not familiar with the specific area. I'm on the other side of Powers, also between Constitution and N. Carefree. It's the Villiage 7 neighborhood. Looks like similarly priced homes in my neighborhood. HOA is $66/quarter. I've only been here 3 months but my only interaction with the HOA is giving them money. A quick walk around the neighborhood and I could find dozens of "infractions." Things like trampolines, business/work trucks, trash cans, etc. However, I could care less unless they're dangerous or effecting my property value. The HOA is managed by Hammersmith Management. Their local office is in Denver.

I do like the neighborhood. It's worth checking out. They'll be older houses, but I like these styles architecturally. There are miles of walking paths and a few playgrounds, decently maintained by the HOA. Plus we have cool street names like Teetertotter, Nevermind, Serendipity, and Nonchalant! It takes me only a few minutes to get on either Powers or Academy. Everywhere in the city takes no more than 15 minutes.

[lurtsman]

Air venture, did I understand you correctly about the HOA being managed without anyone from management living in the neighborhood?

An HOA managed by someone that neither lives there nor gives a ****. Sounds like a nice way to throw money away. It's all the joys of being able to avoid an HOA without the pain of saving money or being certain you won't having the HOA pressing litigation against your property.

PS. This post is sarcastic, but not it is aimed at the nature of HOAs and is in no way an attack on Air Venture. I simply find HOAs to offer a very bad value proposition.

[beezle1]

How about going to the neighborhood and asking the neighbors directly?

[airventure]

Originally Posted by lurtsman

Air venture, did I understand you correctly about the HOA being managed without anyone from management living in the neighborhood?

To my knowledge that's how most large HOA's are run. For instance Hammersmith's "local office" is Denver, but they are headquartered in Los Angeles. There are local, quarterly HOA meetings where things are addressed. I read the minutes from the meetings, and it doesn't sound like many people ever show up.

I have mixed thoughts on an HOA too, but honestly I can tell the difference between which neighboring communities are part of an HOA. One HOA house I looked at buying backed up to a non-HOA trailer park. There was about 6 rusted out cars along it's fence line. Like anything else...your mileage may vary. For me the $200 something a year is worth it.

[lurtsman]

HOA house to non-HOA trailer park is not an apples to apples comparison.

Pretty much any house compared to a trailer park will win by miles.