Lake Carolina (Columbia, West Columbia, Iva: transplants, sales, foreclosure)

[skyegirl]

My family is looking to relocate to the Columbia area, just as soon as our home sells. Can anyone give me any positive/negative information on the Lake Carolina communities. Is it stepford creepy, or a nice place? Thanks in advance!

[Chi2Midlands]

Lake Carolina is fantastic. Very popular development for very good reasons. Lots of transplants - as an out-of-stater you should have no problem making new friends. One of the best elementary schools in the county, and very young family-friendly (and for others as well - grandparents move here too!). The town center hasn't taken off to the extent many people would like (Lake Carolina is still kind of on the edge of Columbia's suburban development), but there is a nice small cluster of shops and businesses. A day care/pre-school is being built there too. On the other side of Lake Carolina, a new regional YMCA is being built.

No, it is not Stepford at all! In fact, that's why my wife and I liked it - it is still "real" enough. It's not the same feeling as other neo-traditional developments which have that creepy "Truman Show" side, like Celebration in Disney/Orlando, FL or Seaside, FL (where "Truman Show" was filmed).

Go to www.lakecarolina.com for the latest news/info.

[skyegirl]

Thanks for your info! It seems like it would be a good fit for our family, and I am very excited about visiting the community in the next few weeks!

[Rebel Yeller]

Originally Posted by skyegirl

Thanks for your info! It seems like it would be a good fit for our family, and I am very excited about visiting the community in the next few weeks!

LAKE CAROLINA

[Chi2Midlands]

This purported Lake Carolina resident's complaints on his blog doesn't hold water. When you purchase a home in a development with a homeowners' assocation (HOA) and the attendant codes, covenants, & restrictions (as is the case in Lake Carolina), you are VOLUNTARILY AGREEING to them - you cannot purchase property in that development without signing the CC&R's.

The whole complaint about "freedom" and "this is AMERICA" is a total red herring. If you do not like the CC&R's, no one is holding a gun to your head to purchase property or live there, least of all any specific government entity (whether the federal, South Carolina state, or Richland County governments). Lake Carolina is a PRIVATE development - it is not an incorporated town or city with draconian laws. You are free to purchase a lot or home without any such restrictions - there are many such homes/properties in the surrounding Blythewood and Elgin areas.

It is a personal choice to live in Lake Carolina, not a coerced decision. We know folks who have avoided Lake Carolina because of the CC&R's, and that is fine - it is a personal preference. The whole "freedom" complain would only be valid if someone is FORCING you to live there. You have many other choices in the Columbia area if you don't like the Lake Carolina-style governance.

[Brandon Hoffman]

Lake Carolina is one of the most popular subdivisions in Columbia. They have community events and some business' and general shopping set up in the subdivision. It was well planned and thought out. They are developing a scaled down version of it in West Columbia called Lake Frances that will also be very, very nice.

If you want a downside, I guess some don't like the Cov. & Rest. but you should be aware going in that they have an active HOA.

[churchill]

Originally Posted by Chi2Midlands

This purported Lake Carolina resident's complaints on his blog doesn't hold water. When you purchase a home in a development with a homeowners' assocation (HOA) and the attendant codes, covenants, & restrictions (as is the case in Lake Carolina), you are VOLUNTARILY AGREEING to them - you cannot purchase property in that development without signing the CC&R's.

The whole complaint about "freedom" and "this is AMERICA" is a total red herring. If you do not like the CC&R's, no one is holding a gun to your head to purchase property or live there, least of all any specific government entity (whether the federal, South Carolina state, or Richland County governments). Lake Carolina is a PRIVATE development - it is not an incorporated town or city with draconian laws. You are free to purchase a lot or home without any such restrictions - there are many such homes/properties in the surrounding Blythewood and Elgin areas.

It is a personal choice to live in Lake Carolina, not a coerced decision. We know folks who have avoided Lake Carolina because of the CC&R's, and that is fine - it is a personal preference. The whole "freedom" complain would only be valid if someone is FORCING you to live there. You have many other choices in the Columbia area if you don't like the Lake Carolina-style governance.

I moved into my current community because it has an HOA. For me, it is about maintaining my property value and my sanity. I will abide, I will vote, I will try to make changes and if I can't take it I will move.

However, I do understand why people get angry. When I was buying in to Lake Frances, no one even mentioned the HOA. If I hadn't asked I would not have known. My only advantage is that I've lived in a community that had an HOA before. I am sure that this practice by the sales agents will continue. I mean, what sales agent is going to say: "I want to let you know firsthand Mr. and Mrs. Buyer, there is a HOA here and you can't do this and you can't do that and if you break the rules you can lose your home."

So it can appear to be one big setup for the unaware. And the unaware, when they find out that they can't do this or can't do that, they fell like the United States is being invaded and they are FIGHTING MAD with Righteous Indignation and they are trapped in a corner! The sad thing is they will never win and most if not all of their efforts will be in vain.

It seems unfortunate that the best solution or advice turns out to be: Well they should have known.

This is one BIG reason I have created a community forum and web site. I have a general forum for the public. Anyone considering Lake Frances can visit and register and learn about Lake Frances. If they visit they can learn that Lake Frances has a home owners association, the dues and eventually maybe I can even post the actual covenants, rules and restrictions there.

the mylakefrances.com website link is in my profile.

Dave

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by churchill

However, I do understand why people get angry. When I was buying in to Lake Frances, no one even mentioned the HOA. If I hadn't asked I would not have known. My only advantage is that I've lived in a community that had an HOA before. I am sure that this practice by the sales agents will continue. I mean, what sales agent is going to say: "I want to let you know firsthand Mr. and Mrs. Buyer, there is a HOA here and you can't do this and you can't do that and if you break the rules you can lose your home."

Isn't it the law that HOA info and CC&Rs be disclosed and provided to the buyer before closing? I realize purchasing a home can be an arduous legal process, and many folks may be signing a bunch of dotted lines without paying attention, but isn't it the sales agent's (or someone's - at least the closing attorney, say) responsibility to provide this information? I do recall we had to sign a copy of the CC&Rs before or during closing. I would hope that deed restrictions, etc. are being forwarded to purchasers as per the law.

[churchill]

Originally Posted by Chi2Midlands

Isn't it the law that HOA info and CC&Rs be disclosed and provided to the buyer before closing? I realize purchasing a home can be an arduous legal process, and many folks may be signing a bunch of dotted lines without paying attention, but isn't it the sales agent's (or someone's - at least the closing attorney, say) responsibility to provide this information? I do recall we had to sign a copy of the CC&Rs before or during closing. I would hope that deed restrictions, etc. are being forwarded to purchasers as per the law.

Great post Chi2Midlands...

I think you are right about the law and disclosure. Buying a new home is a crazy time with a lot of documents to read and understand. The sales agent may be required to disclose, but to what extent? I mean, they don't want to scare anyone off. Would any sales agent disclose that the HOA could force a foreclosure for failure to pay dues or for failure to comply with the rules? Or how about fines for non compliance? I think the unaware have no idea how powerful and unmovable a home owners association can be.

With my latest purchase, I had to ask for a copy of the covenants before I got serious about the house. It seemed like the sales team was not used to this, because I had to ask again and again. I read all of the covenants from start to finish before I started to get excited about the house.

I am not condoning those who seem "out for blood" against their HOA.

mylakefrances.com is an effort to help. As a homeowner in Lake Frances, I hope that no one is caught unaware of an HOA's power.

Dave

[Captain Worley]

When I bought, I didn't want to find out at closing that "Hey, here's the CCRs!" as I suspected the agents would do, so I always asked. Anyplace with a HOA or CCR was immediately off the list. Some folks love 'em, some hate 'em. Plenty of places for both camps.