Which situation would you rather live in?

[3-Oaks]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

The chain link fencing would be a big "ick" factor, but I suppose in your own yard you could hide it behind a plank fence or some shrubbery.

OP just said wire - not chain link. We have a wire fence that fits our old house neighborhood. It has pipe posts & top rail and is woven crimped wirewith a scalloped top. Our back yards are large w/not much back there, so w/just this 3' or so tall wire fence we can see all of 4 neighbors backyards and it all looks like one huge park like area. Nice views for everyone, but the next door neighbor's dog & kids stay in their own yard!

[country pride]

".....I couldn't deal with the zoning gestapo telling ME that I can't have a clothesline, or colorful patio lights. And I hate those ugly white mercury vapor lights in subdivisions. They are hideous. Sadly, they are showing up all over the place. Nothing runs a town into the ground like ugly lighting ! I want a house like the Addams Family......."






Amen! I see a lot of people picked the older house/older neighbourhood too.
Newer subdivisions might be okay for many, but no, Id rather have some space between two homes....and I dont mean a 10-ft span. Homes are different styles and colours, every yard is unique, not some cookie-cutter home where you can only have 2 choices of colours: tan or light tan.
No fencing or block walls needed, except maybe for decoration, clothesline friendly, your mailbox isnt a block away under lock and key, and you can have any type of tree(s) you want in your yard.
I cant imagine squeezing 10 houses on a 2 acre lot, theres no room for anything and you cant even sneeze without a neighbour complaining to the HOA gestapo that youre making too much noise.
Not that HOA doesnt have its benefits....dont get me wrong... Im sure they do, but its not for me and never will be.

[Lacerta]

I wouldn't choose either.

I don't like old houses and I actually prefer to be in a maintained subdivision with CCRs and an HOA. So #1 is out

But #2 is waaay too far from work. So #2 is out as well.

Also, just because you have CCRs and an HOA doesn't mean you have to live in a cookie cutter subdivision. There are lots of subdivisions where multiple builders built many different styles of new homes. One of those, closer to work would be my choice.

If I were forced to choose between the two you listed, I would pick #1, in spite of all the things I don't like. Commute time would be the deciding factor for me.

[BusySocialWorker]

Number 2 any day (actualy I would look for a home similar but with more of a yard and space between the homes) - House number one sounds really nice, but the neighborhood and neighbor factor would put me off big time - you can't change your neighbors - be careful.

I LIKE yes I did say I like HOA's - I like knowing my neighborhood is somehow watched and maintained to keep yards looking nice, junk out of the yards, and pink houses in a different neighborhood. I personally would not do the things that HOA's veto so it is not of concern to me.

I live in a beautiful new neighborhood with custom built homes 1/3 acre lots - not cookie cutter, and yes I love my HOA. Driving in other neighborhoods where weeds abound, junk is in the yard, and purple trimed orange houses are plentiful - I don't regret my choice at all! Thank you HOA if that is what it takes. To each their own, but I enjoy my well maintained neighborhood, and so do the others that live here.

I know this will not be the popular opinion, but just sharing my take