good and bad about buying a home at Brasada Ranch (Bend: HOA fees, landscaping)

[cvarcher]

My wife and I stayed there last summer for a few days and loved the idea of low maintainance high desert living.We live on Long island ,NY where spring summer and fall is noise and smell from the landscaping crew 7 days week as they do all the lawns and shrubs for each house. At Brasada there were no sidewalks or street lights and most landscapes were natural high desert that needed no edging , cutting, watering or raking of leaves!!! Its gated and there is HOA fees but at least it keeps the area very respectable with some services. I think it took us an easy 15 -20 minute drive (no traffic lights) to Bend if we had to shop. Most of the homes were expensive but there are a few smaller sized affordable ones and all on nice sized lots of 1/2 acre or more some backing BLM land. We liked that there was a few restaurants,outdoor and indoor pools and gym and clubhouse ,even horse stables and of course tennis courts. SO.. anyone living there that isnt happy with their decision to buy at Brasada? We did look at Eagle Crest and it was pretty (greener) but reminded us of back east in the suburbs again with outside maintainance along with the restricted rules smaller lots,not as private.By the way ,we dont play golf either!

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I don't know anything good or bad about the area. If you can afford a house there, can afford the HOA fees and the CCRs look tolerable to you, then buy a house there.

If you don't want street lights or sidewalks or fancy landscaping, also look at Crooked River Ranch. Prices are reasonable (for Central Oregon), the CCR's are very reasonable, HOA fees are low, few people change the natural landscaping, and there is a pool, golf course, tennis courts, and riding stable.

There are a few lots that ar 1/2 acre, but most are 1 acre.

[darnselfly]

High desert natural landscaping isn't NO maintenance, as we have come to learn. Our lot in Eagle Crest is pretty much just natural, but trimming dead stuff and trying to suppress noxious weeds is proving a lot of work. Cheat grass is the devil's spawn. We back to the BLM, so weed seeds just blow in on the wind. Other than that we like Eagle Crest a lot and are very happy here. I would think Brasada would be similar, and if you like the attributes there, then you should seriously consider it.