Looking For Neighborhoods without an HOA (Atlanta, Roswell: real estate, HOA fees, homes)

[moe007]

Hi, I'm currently looking to relocate from Florida to preferably the Northern suburb neighborhoods of Atlanta.
Ideally in Alpharetta, Marietta/East Cobb, Johns Creek, or Suwannee that doesn't have an HOA. I've enlisted the help of a Real Estate Agent but inventory is not as abundant as it used to be and the properties that fits my needs have HOA fees attached. I have young kids so good schools are a must but I'm finding it's a challenge to find what I need being remote. My budget is anywhere from 400K to 550K max. So if anyone has any suggestions it would be most appreciated.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by moe007

Hi, I'm currently looking to relocate from Florida to preferably the Northern suburb neighborhoods of Atlanta.
Ideally in Alpharetta, Marietta/East Cobb, Johns Creek, or Suwannee that doesn't have an HOA. I've enlisted the help of a Real Estate Agent but inventory is not as abundant as it used to be and the properties that fits my needs have HOA fees attached. I have young kids so good schools are a must but I'm finding it's a challenge to find what I need being remote. My budget is anywhere from 400K to 550K max. So if anyone has any suggestions it would be most appreciated.

Check into Old Atlanta Club in extreme south Forsyth County. Old Atlanta Club is swim / tennis community that, at one point, was a gated HOA community. It is a pretty community and very close to Johns Creek.

[David1502]

Originally Posted by moe007

Hi, I'm currently looking to relocate from Florida to preferably the Northern suburb neighborhoods of Atlanta.
Ideally in Alpharetta, Marietta/East Cobb, Johns Creek, or Suwannee that doesn't have an HOA. I've enlisted the help of a Real Estate Agent but inventory is not as abundant as it used to be and the properties that fits my needs have HOA fees attached. I have young kids so good schools are a must but I'm finding it's a challenge to find what I need being remote. My budget is anywhere from 400K to 550K max. So if anyone has any suggestions it would be most appreciated.

You have to understand that after 1980, pretty much all new subdivisions which were developed in the northern suburbs were created with a HOA - particularly those in the 400K to 500K price point that you want. There is a reason for this - buyers want to know that their neighbors won't put up a chain link fence or have boats or RV's in the driveway and the HOA is about the only way to prevent this. The Restrictive Covenants of the HOA give the power of the local government to enforce them and every owner signs a document that they will abide by the Covenants when they are at closing on their home.


The older neighborhoods inside the Perimeter were developed long before there were HOA's. In fact, the most expensive neighborhoods in Buckehead don't have them. Therefore, if a HOA is a deal breaker for you, perhaps you need to look at different areas than Johns Creek, Alpharetta. The City of Marietta also has older neighborhoods which are quite attractive (Northwest of the Cobb County Courthouse Square) which don't have them and that area may be a good starting point.

[DJDeadParrot]

Originally Posted by moe007

...and the properties that fits my needs have HOA fees attached.

Which part about an HOA is off-putting to you? Is it just the fees, the perceived reputation of heavy-handed enforcement, or something else?

For the rest a'yinz, I'm not putting that out there to spark another never-ending debate on the pros/cons of HOAs. Just asking a straight-up neutral question.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by DJDeadParrot

Which part about an HOA is off-putting to you? Is it just the fees, the perceived reputation of heavy-handed enforcement, or something else?

For the rest a'yinz, I'm not putting that out there to spark another never-ending debate on the pros/cons of HOAs. Just asking a straight-up neutral question.

I was wondering the same thing, but didn't want to spark the debate.

[AtlantaMove]

Please ask your agent to search FMLS using the option to eliminate properties that display HOA Fees. That tactic is only good, however, if the listing agent properly keyed the entry. Still, there should be a few accurate listings among the 70 or so that currently come up in Gwinnett County, six in Suwanee, with no HOA Fees. Several newer and older homes come up in FMLS in areas of interest to you in strong school clusters that display no fees payable to an HOA.

[brown_dog_us]

As mentioned above, you won't find non-HOA neighborhoods in that area because nobody was building neighborhoods there pre-1980s. Check out Roswell and parts of East Cobb. You will be looking at older homes, but the schools will be good and the lots are large(r). This is a good example. It does need a new kitchen though.

[Need4Camaro]

HOA's are tricky.. you really want and need them, but you hate them when they're aggressive and especially when they're after you.. there is a very very very thin nuetral line when it comes to them. My HOA happens to be very fickle. I was fined $800 for cutting my grass too SHORT... yeah, ridiculous.. I hate them.. but.. my neighborhood would be alot worse without them...

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

HOA's are tricky.. you really want and need them, but you hate them when they're aggressive and especially when they're after you.. there is a very very very thin nuetral line when it comes to them. My HOA happens to be very fickle. I was fined $800 for cutting my grass too SHORT... yeah, ridiculous.. I hate them.. but.. my neighborhood would be alot worse without them...

$800? Really? The highest fine in our HOA is $50, and that's after three warnings (which take three months).

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

HOA's are tricky.. you really want and need them, but you hate them when they're aggressive and especially when they're after you.. there is a very very very thin nuetral line when it comes to them. My HOA happens to be very fickle. I was fined $800 for cutting my grass too SHORT... yeah, ridiculous.. I hate them.. but.. my neighborhood would be alot worse without them...

There is a part of the story missing here. In no way should an HOA fine be $800. In fact, fines should be defined in the covenants and it would be hard to fathom that someone put that in there.