Stafford/Woodbridge neighborhoods with less uptight HOA (or none at all?) (Hampton: apartment, foreclosures) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

michelelise · 11-06-2010, 07:26 PM

My husband and I are relocating to Quantico in the summer. We've been there before and lived in an apartment in Stafford. Now we're looking to buy in a safe neighborhood with sidewalks that will be family friendly--but it seems that's hard to find without high HOA dues or strict HOA guidelines. Any suggestions on a Stafford or Woodbridge neighborhood with an HOA that isn't a pain? We have 2 small kids, one who will be starting kindergarten, so a good elementary school is a must. Thanks!

ChristineVA · 11-07-2010, 04:10 AM

Can you tell me what strict HOA guidelines you'd like to avoid? My neighborhood in Woodbridge has an HOA that is, what I consider to be, not strict. My fees are $300 per year. We don't have a pool, we don't have sidewalks either, and we have about 50 homes in the neighborhood although we are connected to two much larger neighborhoods.

My HOA is not strict in the sense that we don't have a roving force of members that walk around looking for issues. My mom's neighborhood in Springwoods certainly does that.

You will a notice in my neighborhood if your grass gets up close to knee level, if you decide to park a boat or camper on the street, if you leave your destroyed basketball pole and net laying in your yard for a year, or if you try to paint your trim neon orange.

So, can you define strict in your perspective?

michelelise · 11-07-2010, 05:29 AM

I would say that your HOA sounds just fine. I definitely don't want people roving around looking for issues, not that we plan on being slobs but if my trash can gets left out past 5pm because we worked late I don't want to find a note on my door! Your fees sound reasonable, too. I don't mind if there's no pool but we would prefer sidewalks, unless it is a neighborhood that isn't high traffic so would still be safe for walking. Thanks!

ChristineVA · 11-07-2010, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelelise

I would say that your HOA sounds just fine. I definitely don't want people roving around looking for issues, not that we plan on being slobs but if my trash can gets left out past 5pm because we worked late I don't want to find a note on my door! Your fees sound reasonable, too. I don't mind if there's no pool but we would prefer sidewalks, unless it is a neighborhood that isn't high traffic so would still be safe for walking. Thanks!

I've mistakenly left my trash can out for a day, my grass has gotten a little too long, sometimes my trim on my house doesn't get repaired as timely as it should. However, it is eventually done. My HOA doesn't get crazy unless it goes on for a LONG time. Sometimes I wish they would do more sooner but then they'd probably go to much in the other direction. So, I'm pretty happy with what they do. I don't want to live in a neighborhood without an HOA though. There are a few of those in Woodbridge and, IMO, it greatly shows.

dc032873 · 03-14-2011, 10:36 AM

If I was you, I would avoid living in Woodbridge. Stafford is so much nicer and will offer you a better quality of life.

There are some older neighborhoods in Stafford (Oakridge for example) that do not have HOA's.

Catamounts · 03-14-2011, 12:36 PM

Before we moved here I wanted to avoid HOA no matter what. Then we went house hunting and saw some of the neighborhoods without HOA.

Now we live in an area with HOA.

Lemming95 · 03-14-2011, 01:21 PM

I too hate HOA and the one guy who takes it upon himself to be king and ruler of all he surveys.

I also think leaving sewer lines and some road maintenance to local entities that small is going to reach out and bite us someday . Especially with the foreclosures and empty rentals that are cutting into the funds available.

Megadell · 03-28-2011, 11:34 AM

Don't go to Westridge. We have the WORST HOA ever I think. They will fine you into foreclosure, they could care less.

mutiny92 · 03-28-2011, 09:10 PM

We used to live in Stafford and really liked it. The HOA's aren't that bad there unless you get out to some areas $500K and above. Hampton Oaks, Park Ridge, Settlers Landing, Autumn Ridge...they all have HOA but it isn't the crazy kind and you are close to everything.

The schools in Stafford are excellent as well! Enjoy your search!