Real Estate Questions (Clearwater, Dunedin, New Port Richey: salon, HOA fees, broker)

[amax41]

we are looking from the Clearwater Beach area - up the coast maybe no more than New Port Richey. We are on a quest for no HOA, or as minimal bud out of our lifes HOA as we can possibly find.

Does any place exist?

[Nav]

The only way to find a "non HOA' type area is to find a older neighborhood. Most HOA's were put in place to keep a basic standard of living acceptable to the residents. Primarily, just to prohibit someone from opening a business of leaving broken down cars in the front yard. There are varying degrees of HOA's and you will have to look to find one that suits your liking.

If you are looking in a formal "Planned Community", get ready to be regulated and fee'd to death. These communities have such requirements as "submit paint samples for approval" to "you cant leave a car in the driveway overnight" to "all lawns must be mowed weekly". Its more like a prison camp. Most of these places view their homes not as "homes" but more as "investments". Other places are more lenient such as "No running a walk-in based business out of your home".

I would recommend looking at some of the older areas on west side of Lake Tarpon or in the older section of safety harbor. If you head north to the planned communities in Eastlake and Trinity, you will find massive HOA regulations.

Nav

[LianeJamason]

Yes older communities may not have an HOA - but some communities with an HOA have very low fees, it just depends where you go. If you have a Realtor do a search for you, they can pull homes with no HOA.

[Aconite]

Originally Posted by Nav

I would recommend looking at some of the older areas on west side of Lake Tarpon or in the older section of safety harbor. If you head north to the planned communities in Eastlake and Trinity, you will find massive HOA regulations.

Nav

There's also downtown Dunedin, both just north and just south of Main Street.

[Sunscape]

There's plenty of places without a home owners association. I agree with previous posters, mostly in older neighborhoods.
It would help you if you have a broker pointing these out for you.

[BucFan]

There's a lot to be said about having HOA. I for one prefer an orderly neighborhood (not a prison camp) where people aren't parking on their front lawns, running a beauty salon out of their house, etc.

HOA are good in that many of your utilities (cable, lawn H20) and lawn maintenance may be covered in the fee.

No complaints here w/ HOA - hope I never live another day where I have to mow grass in Florida heat or have to see my neighbor's car on blocks in his driveway for a year without moving.

[Aconite]

Originally Posted by BucFan

There's a lot to be said about having HOA. I for one prefer an orderly neighborhood (not a prison camp) where people aren't parking on their front lawns, running a beauty salon out of their house, etc.

HOA are good in that many of your utilities (cable, lawn H20) and lawn maintenance may be covered in the fee.

No complaints here w/ HOA - hope I never live another day where I have to mow grass in Florida heat or have to see my neighbor's car on blocks in his driveway for a year without moving.

Each to his own taste, as the saying goes.

I just wish the people in those heavily-regulated, deed-restricted neighborhoods would put street numbers someplace visible, because it's bloody impossible to find a house for the first time when they're all in a tight range of beige stucco and hidden behind attached garages, and have precisely one potted croton by the door.

At least where we are, you can say "it's right after the pale yellow house" or "it's the one with the gorgeous jacaranda". (No cars on blocks or to navigate by, sorry.)

[amax41]

Originally Posted by BucFan

There's a lot to be said about having HOA. I for one prefer an orderly neighborhood (not a prison camp) where people aren't parking on their front lawns, running a beauty salon out of their house, etc.

HOA are good in that many of your utilities (cable, lawn H20) and lawn maintenance may be covered in the fee.

No complaints here w/ HOA - hope I never live another day where I have to mow grass in Florida heat or have to see my neighbor's car on blocks in his driveway for a year without moving.

ok that is spoken like I would expect it - if you note I'm sick of the HOA crap in Florida... I'm from the midwest - no HOA at all - where people aren't rednecks or crackers...and not at all slobs. As well as they aren't stuck up either. I am looking for that quality in a neighborhood. People actually taking care of their stuff.

If that can not be found anywhere in Florida without having an HOA...then this state is a dump. Since when does any ADULT require a board of runamuck egotistical dorks to tell them how to maintain a property? Does an oil stain on a driveway really look bad (watch it cause yes is not the answer here...unless you are an anal rentative idiot) ... and don't claim like some HOAs that that oil stain will lower property values.... that's pure crap.

We like our freedom - no HOA not unless it is powerless - meaning - they are merely there to organize events and social things like that...not approve what color I want to paint my house......

[LoganFL]

A lot of neighborhoods don't have a choice but to charge HOA fees. That gated entrance, community gym, pool, etc. all require maintenance... someone has to pay for it. In some instances the fee might include things like lawn care and cable/internet connection. Just the presence of HOA fees should not in itself be a dealbreaker IMO, as it could very well be worth it or even save you money.

[amax41]

you could look at it this way however being a homeowner for 27 years with no HOA and a few with one.... the difference is huge...not to mention what we would consider infringement on our living rights. We have 'cable' here...I use quotes because while it's (over)charged in the HOA fees I do not have it - it's 200% garbage. I work from home and require a solid High speed connection that is secure - they can't deliver high speed nor secure. lawn care is not included at all....and personally why cut my lawn if you aren't going to do the rest?

Last but not least - if I want my house white and it's not in the color scheme for that particular track of housing - bite me. I don't need some yo-yo's holding up my plans to do anything until they approve it.... I don't need them to tell me what improves my property value.... I don't even care about gates.

If this state's people can't act civilized rather than poor white trash then I guess it in 500% overrated. I would generally assume that not 100% of the state is poor white trash...and that there are areas that people can act grown up and civilized. Hey I don't care if you park your boat on the side of the house. I don't care that your kid crashed the car and it's sitting on the drive way until he has the money to fix it. I don't care if there is a basketball net planted in front of your house. I don't care if your dog likes to pee on my lawn.... I do care if a group of people tell me the color of my house, whether I can put a fence in my back yard including the color and type.

I don't believe the government should have their nose in our lives and that goes for an HOA also. I'm an adult with a brain and have common sense.... these should be my choices.