Gated Communities and Rules... What's So Appealing? (Coral Gables: renters, HOA)

[PBCboy]

I just don't understand why people like gated communities, codes, and rules so much... I think having everyone doing their own thing is far more appealing that one group deciding what everyone should do.

[ddrox08]

I think it makes people feel good about themselves living in an enclave of people they feel similar to themselves. My community isn't gated so I guess I'll never know..

[Cougar Beach]

I assume the gates make some people feel safer. As for the rules, they appeal to people who like a well-organized life, and don't want to have to deal with neighbors who don't cut their grass, let their dog dig holes in the neighbors' yards, etc. My stereotype resident would be an anal-retentive conservative person. (...ducking for cover now.)

[dadeguy]

Originally Posted by Cougar Beach

I assume the gates make some people feel safer. As for the rules, they appeal to people who like a well-organized life, and don't want to have to deal with neighbors who don't cut their grass, let their dog dig holes in the neighbors' yards, etc. My stereotype resident would be an anal-retentive conservative person. (...ducking for cover now.)

the funny thing about gated communities is that if they are manned gates the people hired to do the manning are overwhelmingly black and hispanic (usually the same people they are attempting to keep out) and are paid around ten dollars per hour. if they are automated the bad guys know the industry secrets to gain access so in effect what these folks have is an appearance of safety and nothing more.

however the crime stats do seem to bear out the fact that opportunistic criminal activity is greatly diminished in gated communities.

[Luiso]

I actually live in gated community and your all wrong. I wouldnt live in any other place in ill run S.Florida.

# The amount of cars and homes robbed/broken in to is ZERO at least where I live.
#Things like graffiti-vadalism are ZERO
#No one blocks anyones drive way or street or their car gets towed which is more than can be said of non gated communities. Park in your own driveway or vistors parking
#House next to you isnt blasting music.
# No solicitors.
# no litter
#No one comes in without okay from resident .
# Not even Team Metro allowed in as community considered private property and has its own staff,rules only police-fire dept-ambulance come in.


The rules are easy to follow common sense rules no problem at all and everyone is happy. you know the rules before you buy if not for you than dont buy here .

Drawback is you get more property for same or less money in non gated but I love gated and at this point wouldnt have it any other way here .

Gated communities are great infact less rules than some non gated places like Coral Gables. You can certainly have Pick ups here , dune buggy,etc aslong as in your driveway .

[Luiso]

Originally Posted by dadeguy

the funny thing about gated communities is that if they are manned gates the people hired to do the manning are overwhelmingly black and hispanic (usually the same people they are attempting to keep out) and are paid around ten dollars per hour. if they are automated the bad guys know the industry secrets to gain access so in effect what these folks have is an appearance of safety and nothing more.

however the crime stats do seem to bear out the fact that opportunistic criminal activity is greatly diminished in gated communities.

No its not diminished its simply ZERO .

"the funny thing about gated communities is that if they are manned gates the people hired to do the manning are overwhelmingly black and hispanic (usually the same people they are attempting to keep out)

hmmm maybe every resident here should leave as its 90% Hispanic . I was not aware that we were trying to keep ourselves out.
Now I know thanks to you

[Luiso]

Originally Posted by Cougar Beach

I assume the gates make some people feel safer. As for the rules, they appeal to people who like a well-organized life, and don't want to have to deal with neighbors who don't cut their grass, let their dog dig holes in the neighbors' yards, etc. My stereotype resident would be an anal-retentive conservative person. (...ducking for cover now.)

No the gates dont make anyone "feel" safer they simply keep it ZERO crime.

"they appeal to people who like a well-organized life, and don't want to have to deal with neighbors who don't cut their grass, let their dog dig holes in the neighbors' yards, etc. My stereotype resident would be an anal-retentive conservative person"


BINGO thats me exactly .
However the rules here are actually no different than other non gated communities who have neighborhood boards .
No dog crap on my grass,etc in other places ESP in S.Florida people "walk" their dog by letting it run free all over neighbors grass .
No nonsense like that here

[Luiso]

Originally Posted by ddrox08

I think it makes people feel good about themselves living in an enclave of people they feel similar to themselves. My community isn't gated so I guess I'll never know..

No what makes people feel good is knowing your car will not "walk away" if you park it in driveway that your house wont be broken in if you go away for weeks and many other perks .

[PBCboy]

So Luiso, do you like every yard and house looking the same?

[imagardener]

Originally Posted by PBCboy

I just don't understand why people like gated communities, codes, and rules so much... I think having everyone doing their own thing is far more appealing that one group deciding what everyone should do.

I agree with you. We left our HOA for non-HOA community and are soooo much happier. Why did we buy in the HOA in the first place? We started as winter renters like most people do and just progessed to becoming owners not knowing what we were getting into.

Why do most people buy into HOA's?
1. Because they are part-timers who need maintenance and someone to look out for their property when they aren't there.
2. Because almost ALL newer homes in Florida are in HOA's. VERY HARD to find a newer home non-HOA unless you buy a lot and build it yourself. I speak from hard-won experience looking on east and west coasts of FL. It's actually very hard to find a decent non-HOA home with modern conveniences.
3. HOA homes are less expensive to buy than comparable non-HOA homes if you compare year built and square footage. They are not less expensive when you count the monthly/quarterly fees but most people don't make that comparison until too late.
4. Older people like the thought of the safety aspect but it is not proven.
They like to have someone to call (manager) when they need something done.
5. People like the uniform look of HOA yards and homes. Everything is regulated and vanilla-flavored, nothing original like Cherry Garcia.
6. HOA's keep out "working class" because you cannot park trucks or vehicles with business advertising on them. 'Working class" is
partially race related but more social class.
7. HOA's are like cruises, all-inclusive and therefore comforting in some weird way.
8. People want their neighbors controlled by others without having to get involved. Third party gets the blame.

Get the idea I don't have any empathy for HOA's?
There is a big implosion coming, in Florida especially, because HOA's will be in a money crunch and forced to charge owners $$$ for the delinquent fees of others in forclosure.
Before you buy look and see whether the HOA has sufficient reserves, many don't except for ongoing maintenance. It should be in a separate fund named "Reserves" with named categories like roofing, painting, road repair, etc.