BobS. Indeed I think they should stick to their CC&Rs. Clearly the developers were going for a particular theme. I think that it works and even though I am a lover of water wasting tropical plants, large lawns and trees etc, if I move there I have no intention of wanting to mess up the theme or griping about it. While I am no big fan of HOA restrictions, if I go in with eyes open, then I have signed up to the rules. Because the theme is clearly planned out there, it works for what it is and it works for me. Only the prices don’t.

My own current neighborhood was overpriced when I bought here. It has lots of HOA rules. It is cramped with tiny lots, like most of Carmel Valley (it remains one of the most CV like neighborhoods I have seen in the Bay Area). But I like it, I like it quite a bit. Arguably, it is still over priced (except for my house of course, since I am selling. ;)) It was all I could afford when I bought my house and after some remodling I like my house and my neighborhood, despite the HOA rules. I liked living in CV too, quite a bit. Despite the same issues.