[pixiewytch]

Hi there, I just want to pop in and give a nay for the gated communities. We lived in one briefly and hated it. Mind you, we were renting, but I never felt so isolated in my life. The neighbors were not friendly, people did not talk to me when I was pushing my newborn in a stroller, and one time when I went door to door with an emergency because of my baby and my husband had the car nobody would even answer the door with me standing outside with a newborn in my arms. Trust me, I didn't look like trailer trash or have two heads or anything like that either. I didn't have family nearby and my husband worked an hour away so I felt very isolated and unwelcome.

Then of course there are the deed restrictions telling you how high your grass can be, what type of back porch you can build, other structures you can have, etc. If you decide to move to one of these places, be very clear up front about what they will or won't allow you to have in your own backyard (or front yard) I know that recently here in Tampa there was a big stink because a woman had some sort of playground/gym for her kids and the neighbors made her take it down. Some of them won't allow you to have swingsets or anything "child friendly". Now I'm sure plenty of them do but please check into this as a mother before you sign the dotted line.

On a final note, once we moved out of this type of community into an older neighborhood without so much austentatiousness we were quite welcomed, even had neighbors come to our door to introduce themselves. It was very refreshing to say the least and I have no desire to live in that type of community again.

[J.R.]

I have lived in a gated community for the past 18 years and I have no problems. However, I am on 2 acres and I am responsible for my own maintenance. Of course, if I let my property go, I would get a "nasty gram". My neighborhood is very reasonable and over the years as "unreasonable" people have moved in, they have been handled.

Being in an area of Florida that is growing in leaps and bounds, I have no doubt that being in a deed restricted area has preserved and inflated my home's value. Just pick a neighborhood with rules you can live with. If the deed says "No Trucks" and you absolutely must have a truck - don't buy in that neighborhood - you will not win and the neighbors will resent you - common sence.