[jorobda]

Can anyone recommend a nice, safe, child friendly community or area with good schools between Palm Beach Gardens and Boca that are non-gated with either no HOA's or very low HOA's. I am currently living in Smith Farm in Lake Worth and I hate being in a gated community and having to pay high HOA's and strict rules. Moving from NY to FL I had to be in a gated community. Now that I am living here for over five years I realize it was a big mistake. Any help would be appreciated.

[imagardener]

If no one answers you need to find a good realtor who knows their area.
I know what you mean about HOA's. I also found out after 10 years what a horror they can turn into. we are just moving to a non-HOA neighborhood. It will be a relief.

Good luck. I think in a couple years there will be a big demand for non-HOA homes in friendly neighborhoods as more and more people get fed up with the petty tyranny of HOA's. With prices down now is a great time to find a new home.

[Paige2]

Originally Posted by jorobda

Can anyone recommend a nice, safe, child friendly community or area with good schools between Palm Beach Gardens and Boca that are non-gated with either no HOA's or very low HOA's. I am currently living in Smith Farm in Lake Worth and I hate being in a gated community and having to pay high HOA's and strict rules. Moving from NY to FL I had to be in a gated community. Now that I am living here for over five years I realize it was a big mistake. Any help would be appreciated.

The Village of North Palm Beach has no HOA. The houses here were built in the 1950 (most of them) ... the area has an old time neighborhood feel. Children here actually walk ... unescorted ... to Elementary school! And they play outside on the grass (as mine did when I raised them "up north" in the 1980s.) We have lived in the Village of North Palm Beach for ten years and really like it here. No HOA, no gates, no rules about the color of your mailbox or toenails (hehe) -- and because the area is older and has mature trees, no feeling of living in a new cookie cutter setting . Houses range from the low 200,000 to the Millions .. depending on waterfront or not ... and even on the non-waterfront streets, you'll find a vastly improved house at 500K next to one for in the low $200s that still has the more modest mid-century square footage. The Village is strict about boat and RV parking on one's property (must be out of sight) ... I think it's a good thing and since most houses here have 1/4 acre land, stashing a boat away isn't that difficult. Btw, You CAN own a pick-up here, guilt free Your Mercedes-driving neighbor won't mind ... the absence of silly rules is why HE moved here, too. (The Village of North Palm has a unique trash collection method. They come with golf carts, scoot up your driveway, collect your cans ... and then return them to their proper spot after emptying them into a big truck on the street.) There is a Community Center where various classes from Yoga to Bridge to Ballroom Dancing are offered, and art programs for kids at modest cost to residents. The village library offer story time, etc. Crime in the village is well below the national average.
Here's a link to the Village of N.P.B official website: northpalmbeachfl.govoffice2.com/ - 63k
The Village publishes a monthly newsletter, perhaps you could request one. It lists all the planned activities, and lots of other info pertaining to living here. Good luck in your search!