HOAs, Traffic, and other Q's. (Pearsall, Boerne: HOA, lawyer, house)

[nikkijo0082]

We're considering moving from the Washinton DC Metro Area to SA. Main reason, my company has an office in SA and a house that goes for half a mil here we can find in SA for under 200K.

My first question has to do with traffic. I know no matter what the city, there will always be people who think it's to much traffic. But here living 20 miles from your job, pretty much means you have a 2 hour commute both ways if you work anything like a 9-5 schedule. How long is a commute if you about 20 miles out in SA? How far out of the "city" (down town area) do you have to go before you're in more suburban like neighborhoods.

Next is about HOAs. From another thread I read I get the picture that alot of people are pro HOA. I'd prefer not to live somewhere where my neighbors think it's their moral duty to measure the length on a dandilion growing on my fence line. Honestly the tone I took from the other thread was that alot of people seem to like the idea that the color of my mailbox is their business. I'm all about keeping properties up to safty and fire code, but I'd prefer not to live somewhere where I'm going to get a not from a lawyer because a thundestorm knocked down a tree branch with out prior approval.

Are their any neighborhoods that are nice, but not ruled by an HOA?

Is the area dog friendly? Alexandria VA is one of the most dog friendly places around. I'm a "dog person".

[neddy]

Since no one answered I will try to help ya and maybe others will chime in. Living 20 miles will mean about a 25 min commute maybe things run pretty smoothly here unless an accident is happening or rain since that is a rare thing and freaks some people out! You should check out TXdot and the Transguide system here in SA and look at the cameras during rush hours and see the traffic, Not all that bad however there are differences that I have heard people having trouble getting used to. I am about 12 miles from downtown in a family area with an HOA not all HOAs are bad and in SA where a vast number of cars wnd up on blocks somehow with weeds growing though the engine I quite enjoy the HOA ours is not a strict one, never had a problem with them. So I would say if you find a house you like,go knock on the house next door and ask them what they think about the HOA if they have one. As for being dig friendly..yes and no.. I love dogs but the health dept here does not and dogs are not even supposed to be on patios at food places and I think there is only one dog park (don't currently have a dog so really don't know). You might look into the Helotes area and Boerne area. Get in touch with a good realtor to help ya.

[210]

Originally Posted by nikkijo0082

We're considering moving from the Washinton DC Metro Area to SA. Main reason, my company has an office in SA and a house that goes for half a mil here we can find in SA for under 200K.

My first question has to do with traffic. I know no matter what the city, there will always be people who think it's to much traffic. But here living 20 miles from your job, pretty much means you have a 2 hour commute both ways if you work anything like a 9-5 schedule. How long is a commute if you about 20 miles out in SA? How far out of the "city" (down town area) do you have to go before you're in more suburban like neighborhoods.

A 20 mile commute would probably average between 25-30 minutes with normal traffic and about 40-50 minutes with any type of rush hour or traffic accident.

Are their any neighborhoods that are nice, but not ruled by an HOA?

Yes.

Is the area dog friendly? Alexandria VA is one of the most dog friendly places around. I'm a "dog person".

Yes. There are several dog parks.

[goodmanm]

I think there's only two in the city limits where dogs are allowed off leash -
Pearsall, and McAllister (opens 31 March).