Nita, questions about BV (Benton, Bentonville: real estate, crime, townhome)

[luvarkansas]

I've been wasting time looking at real estate in BV (remember me saying my brother and his wife liked Bentonville?), and I'm finding these tiny houses for about $60,000. Some of them look pretty cute. What's the catch? Are the neighborhoods bad or unkempt or what? One of them was $59,400, 1700 sq. ft., and it said there was a community swimming pool. I know there has to be a catch!

Any particular neighborhoods or subdivisions that should be avoided like the plague?

[RTTNFAM]

Originally Posted by luvarkansas

I've been wasting time looking at real estate in BV (remember me saying my brother and his wife liked Bentonville?), and I'm finding these tiny houses for about $60,000. Some of them look pretty cute. What's the catch? Are the neighborhoods bad or unkempt or what? One of them was $59,400, 1700 sq. ft., and it said there was a community swimming pool. I know there has to be a catch!

Any particular neighborhoods or subdivisions that should be avoided like the plague?

I would like to know the same thing! I have found some deals that seem to be to good to be true, and as my mom always said if it seems to good to be true, it must be...so what's the catch. I honestly haven't found any areas in Bella that seem undesireable.

[dougsellsnwa]

There are no "undesireable" areas in Bentonville or Bella Vista.We have virtually no crime and there are no neighborhoods that are unsafe.The housing market problems have affected us too. I think that for 60k-70k the house is either really small or needs quite a bit of repair especially if it is 1700 ft. We do have many nice homes right around 100k now which was unheard of 2 yrs ago. I would be glad to answer any questions you might have about neighborhoods or specific properties schools etc.

[nmnita]

I think douglas has pretty much answered your question. the 1700 sq ft with community pool sounds like a townhome that does need lots of work. As for the community pool, because of all our golf facilities and rec areas almost everyplace has access to a community pool. If I were you I would find a good realtor and work with them. Most are more than willing to give you advise, take time to work with you and know that you may or may not be re-locating in the very near future. I really don't know of any truely bad areas in BV or even questionable areas, yet, there are neighborhoods with small lots, and or small, older homes.

I spent hours on Realtor.com before we actually started house hunting, I must have found 50 places that were just right for us. By the time we got with our realtor those 50 houses had been weeded out to more like 20. The reason, she knew some would not work for us or were not quite what the listing said.
Nita

[gregandvicky]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I think douglas has pretty much answered your question. the 1700 sq ft with community pool sounds like a townhome that does need lots of work. As for the community pool, because of all our golf facilities and rec areas almost everyplace has access to a community pool. If I were you I would find a good realtor and work with them. Most are more than willing to give you advise, take time to work with you and know that you may or may not be re-locating in the very near future. I really don't know of any truely bad areas in BV or even questionable areas, yet, there are neighborhoods with small lots, and or small, older homes.

I spent hours on Realtor.com before we actually started house hunting, I must have found 50 places that were just right for us. By the time we got with our realtor those 50 houses had been weeded out to more like 20. The reason, she knew some would not work for us or were not quite what the listing said.
Nita

Nita
I have a question that I cannot get answered even from an email reply from the BV Community center.
If I live in BV, buy the annual $30 pass for the community centers, do I still pay a per use fee.
Example, if I go to the gym facilities 5 days a week, do I pay for every visit on top of the annual fee?
Thanks

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by gregandvicky

Nita
I have a question that I cannot get answered even from an email reply from the BV Community center.
If I live in BV, buy the annual $30 pass for the community centers, do I still pay a per use fee.
Example, if I go to the gym facilities 5 days a week, do I pay for every visit on top of the annual fee?
Thanks

you know I really don't know either. My gut feeling is no, but dont hold me to this.
Nita

[RTTNFAM]

Originally Posted by gregandvicky

Nita
I have a question that I cannot get answered even from an email reply from the BV Community center.
If I live in BV, buy the annual $30 pass for the community centers, do I still pay a per use fee.
Example, if I go to the gym facilities 5 days a week, do I pay for every visit on top of the annual fee?
Thanks

The fee system can be misleading. Have you gone to the POA website? Here's the link. You have to dig around to find out all the fees. Hope this helps.

intro

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by RTTNFAM

The fee system can be misleading. Have you gone to the POA website? Here's the link. You have to dig around to find out all the fees. Hope this helps.

intro

POA would be the place to go, not the community center... We pay our monthly dues and it covers most things, certainly not golf, but does keep the green fees down.

Nita

[luvarkansas]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I think douglas has pretty much answered your question. the 1700 sq ft with community pool sounds like a townhome that does need lots of work.
Nita

I think, looking at the dimensions of the rooms, that they must be including the "unfinished basement" in their square footage. But it's a cute little house, with a little carport and some stone siding around the bottom, fireplace....looks just right for empty-nesters, which is what my brother and I will both be in a few years. I've personally already decided that I will want a small house when my kids are gone....2700 square feet is a lot for old people to clean and keep up! Plus a yard consisting of a little over an acre. It's already getting to be too much, and I'm not even really old yet!

But I prefer country living...just looking at BV for my brother's sake, dreaming with him about getting out of Louisiana!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by luvarkansas

I think, looking at the dimensions of the rooms, that they must be including the "unfinished basement" in their square footage. But it's a cute little house, with a little carport and some stone siding around the bottom, fireplace....looks just right for empty-nesters, which is what my brother and I will both be in a few years. I've personally already decided that I will want a small house when my kids are gone....2700 square feet is a lot for old people to clean and keep up! Plus a yard consisting of a little over an acre. It's already getting to be too much, and I'm not even really old yet!

But I prefer country living...just looking at BV for my brother's sake, dreaming with him about getting out of Louisiana!

you are probably right, they do count unfinished areas as well. In fact often you will see listed total sq ft and heated sq ft, usually very different.

We are retired, have 1750 sq feet plus our screened in but not glasses in porch and a little less than a 1/2 acre; I wouldn't want anything more...

Nita