Anthem (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Flagstaff: HOA, houses, landscaping)

[homlish560]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

Anthem is nice, but I don't see how anyone would consider living out there. You are 15 minutes north of phoenix, so if you have a job in Phoenix you have a good commute ahead of you.

There is a lot of stores around there though, mostly south at Carefree Hwy. There is a walmart just across the freeway from Anthem, and a outlet mall.

The area is nice, low crime for the most part, great community for families. My family lives up there.

I like Anthem, but you're right it's a long way from Phoenix.

Central Phoenix is more than 15 minutes away -------
more like an hour depending on traffic.

[homlish560]

Pics of Anthem

[LBear]

Anthem has experienced a very high rate of foreclosures. In 2000 the avg. price per sq.ft. was $96, it peaked in 2005-early 2006 at $200 sq.ft. Since then, it has gone back to $97 per sq.ft.

The HOA's are expensive and very strict. Being that it is a "gated community", you have to pay for all the employees and other fees. The HOA's are "supposed" to "protect property values." Hogwash! The property values in Anthem fell 100% in the past 2 years.

Anthem HOA's run around $3,000 a year/$250 a month. To me, that is a scam and total rip-off.

Not only that, the people have given HOA's so much power that the HOA can put a lien on your home if you fail to pay them. If you get a $100 fine for having a weed on your lawn, and fail to pay it, the HOA can put a lien on your home and then charge you for collection fees, attorney fees and interest. People have given-up their freedom and rights to the HOA Nazi's.

[markas214]

Originally Posted by LBear

Anthem HOA's run around $3,000 a year/$250 a month. To me, that is a scam and total rip-off.

.

The gated country club is $250/month. The other neighborhoods are $87. Not bad for street maintainance and access to heated pool, water slides and a gym. My family gym dues are nearly that alone. I've also had very inconsiderate neighbors, loud dogs, overgrown yards and actually had to sue one neighbor to force her cut down three dead pine trees that would have eventually fallen on my house or my kids playing in the yard. I am a considerate neighbor and expect the same from others. The problem is that there are a lot of inconsiderate and self centered people out there and a HOA keeps them in line.

[markas214]

Thanks for the pics homlish. Please post more!

[LBear]

Originally Posted by markas214

I've also had very inconsiderate neighbors, loud dogs, overgrown yards and actually had to sue one neighbor to force her cut down three dead pine trees that would have eventually fallen on my house or my kids playing in the yard.

I am a considerate neighbor and expect the same from others. The problem is that there are a lot of inconsiderate and self centered people out there and a HOA keeps them in line.

How about when an HOA makes your life miserable and fines you for silly things? Or when the HOA puts a lien on your home for a unpaid fine or late HOA payment?

The New Nazi Regime

All over the world people are trying to find ways to escape the grip of the dictatorship known as the homeowner's association.

Homeowners Associations: The New Nazi Regime

You can sign away your rights & freedom to an HOA board. You should research and read about how many people report problems and lawsuits with their HOA's. What about horror stories of people's homes being foreclosed by their HOA over $350 in HOA dues?

HOA's are a scam, plain & simple. They were derived to make money and the builders, along with the homeowners, signed away their rights and freedoms.

CCR's (Concentration Camp Restrictions)

HOA's are evil and are a money making scam. The tides have turned. Many home buyers now REFUSE to buy a home if they know the HOA fees are high and/or that the HOA is present. People are turning towards older towns that have NO HOA's.

[markas214]

Originally Posted by LBear

How about when an HOA makes your life miserable and fines you for silly things? Or when the HOA puts a lien on your home for a unpaid fine or late HOA payment?

The New Nazi Regime

All over the world people are trying to find ways to escape the grip of the dictatorship known as the homeowner's association.

Homeowners Associations: The New Nazi Regime

You can sign away your rights & freedom to an HOA board. You should research and read about how many people report problems and lawsuits with their HOA's. What about horror stories of people's homes being foreclosed by their HOA over $350 in HOA dues?

HOA's are a scam, plain & simple. They were derived to make money and the builders, along with the homeowners, signed away their rights and freedoms.

CCR's (Concentration Camp Restrictions)

HOA's are evil and are a money making scam. The tides have turned. Many home buyers now REFUSE to buy a home if they know the HOA fees are high and/or that the HOA is present. People are turning towards older towns that have NO HOA's.

I gather you're not pro-HOA?

The way I see it is that it's a choice. Obviously not for everyone. The flip side is a trailer parked in you neighbor's front yard inhabited by a migrant family with an extension cord running to it . Or maybe they use the yard to collect old appliances and cars. Perhaps every evening they have the entire family over and sit around blasting a boombox all night. Maybe they have a dozen barking dogs. Etc.

Myself I'd be happy with a nicely landscaped desert yard and a pool in the back. Oh and anyone stupid enough to let their home be foreclosed on because they owe a $100 fine or $350 in dues doesn't evoke much sympathy from me.

I figure my best bet is to be a renter in the development first see how reasonable the HOA is and then decide if I want to stay. A weak HOA that doesn't keep up the community standards seems as bad as one that is mad with power.

[LBear]

Originally Posted by markas214

I gather you're not pro-HOA?

The way I see it is that it's a choice. Obviously not for everyone. The flip side is a trailer parked in you neighbor's front yard inhabited by a migrant family with an extension cord running to it . Or maybe they use the yard to collect old appliances and cars. Perhaps every evening they have the entire family over and sit around blasting a boombox all night. Maybe they have a dozen barking dogs. Etc.

The examples you mentioned, are easily remedied, through code enforcements by the town or county. All towns have codes that make parking trailers and garbage being kept on private property, illegal. Barking dogs, loud music, are some issues that can be enforced by the police. Other issues are enforced by code enforcement officers.

You see, that is the LIE the HOA's have fed people. The HOA's claim the above examples you mentioned will happen IF you don't have an HOA. You see, the HOA's lie and breed FEAR, which causes people to embrace HOA's.

I can tell you firsthand that anytime someone had a barking dog, loud music, trailers, garbage, etc., those issues were addressed by law enforcement and citations can and were issued. If they continued, heftier fines were levied and court subpoena's were issued. All this was done WITHOUT HOA's and enforced by the city police and county.

[markas214]

Originally Posted by LBear

The examples you mentioned, are easily remedied, through code enforcements by the town or county. All towns have codes that make parking trailers and garbage being kept on private property, illegal. Barking dogs, loud music, are some issues that can be enforced by the police. Other issues are enforced by code enforcement officers.

You see, that is the LIE the HOA's have fed people. The HOA's claim the above examples you mentioned will happen IF you don't have an HOA. You see, the HOA's lie and breed FEAR, which causes people to embrace HOA's.

I can tell you firsthand that anytime someone had a barking dog, loud music, trailers, garbage, etc., those issues were addressed by law enforcement and citations can and were issued. If they continued, heftier fines were levied and court subpoena's were issued. All this was done WITHOUT HOA's and enforced by the city police and county.

Try getting a cop to show up in a big city for a noise complaint. If code enforcement is so powerful why do I see so many frontyard junkyards on arial photos in Phoenix neighborhoods along with numerous vehicles in the backyards as well?
It cost me $1500 to force my neighbor to remove her dangerous trees. Breed fear? Only if you are ignorant enough to fall for it. Read the HOA rules before you buy. Talk to neighbors. If they are truely oppressive don't move there. I would not rule out living in an HOA community completely just because there are bad ones or some malcontented resident complains loudly and publicly.

You are steroetyping all HOAs based on the bad ones which as a free thinker I cannot just blindly follow just as I would never fall for a promise of Utopia simply because there is a HOA.

[LBear]

Originally Posted by markas214

Try getting a cop to show up in a big city for a noise complaint. If code enforcement is so powerful why do I see so many frontyard junkyards on arial photos in Phoenix neighborhoods along with numerous vehicles in the backyards as well?

I have gone on many "noise complaint" calls and we responded to each and every noise complaint. ALL calls were responded to, though prioritized in regards to the greater emergency. Try and call your HOA and get them to drive out to the noise complaint within 15 minutes of calling. Not going to happen.

I don't know about Phoenix, specifically, but I have written my fair share of citations in regards to code violations (abandoned vehicles, barking dogs, etc). I can say with confidence that 99% of the problems were taken care of by the citations and that the area did not have problems afterwards.

Yes, while there are really, really bad neighborhoods that will have problems, for the most part most cities will and do enforce code violations.

Originally Posted by markas214

It cost me $1500 to force my neighbor to remove her dangerous trees. Breed fear? Only if you are ignorant enough to fall for it. Read the HOA rules before you buy. Talk to neighbors. If they are truely oppressive don't move there. I would not rule out living in an HOA community completely just because there are bad ones or some malcontented resident complains loudly and publicly.

You are missing the point. The issue at hand is that HOA's have been given so much power, that they are out of control in many areas. The HOA's get to make the rules, they get to enforce the rules, they get to put liens on your home, they get to be the judge, jury, & executioner, all in one. Not even the police have such powers as do the HOA's.

When putting in a swing or play area in your own backyard becomes "illegal" per the HOA board, it leaves the realm of sane and enters into a realm of insanity and freedom robbing.