[quote=bearishgurl]I spend 4 hrs a month just cleaning up after trees … planted on the City’s easements … no less. Sometimes I have to borrow an additional 90 gal yard waste can for the job. Homeownership can be ugly … a LOT of work. Not for the faint-hearted …

However, I don’t believe in HOAs. I don’t want to pay dues for the privilege of being told what I can and can’t do with my property.

You can’t have it both ways….

The good thing is, the City maintains their own trees (just not their fallout). Trying to get them out here in a timely manner is another matter, altogether, however …[/quote]
I used to think HOAs were the biggest rip-off out there. They do, however, have their redeeming features: collective responsibility for exterior maintenance, low cost insurance, security, lock up and leave, aesthetics. In the latter case, post 2000 produced some architecturally pleasing structures, and it is good that you can’t do what you want with your home. Most are clueless when it comes to design, which is why swathes of even upmarket neighborhoods resemble a bric-a-brac store. In fact, condos are my number one choice for investment at the moment. I believe more and more people will live in them, and they will be centered around community living.