For Florida Home owners

Are you in a deed restricted area and do you like it? and is there a side the west or east coast you prefer or doesnt matter? thanks for your input!!

Re: For Florida Home owners

I'm not a Florida homeowner. We rent a townhouse. I love the east coast. I've been to the west coast several times, but for some reason love where we are.

Re: For Florida Home owners

We are not in a deed restricted area. I love that we arent.

In deed restricted basically every house looks alike. They all have their garages on the same side, all have the same color roof, all have the same color house, etc...And if you want to change one thing, even as so much as put a pink flamingo on your lawn you have to get approval from the entire neighborhood. If one person says "no" then it's no. So basically dont tick off your neighbors. My co-worker lives in a deed restricted area and their was a tree that was annoying him so he cut it down. BIG MISTAKE!!! He gets letters at least 3 times a week from the home owners association fining him and demanding he replace that tree. And the HOA can put a lean on your house.

My old boss lives in deed restricted and she likes it because you wont see 4 cars in the driveway, or a boat in the driveway. You'll see 2 cars in the driveway (and some real strict deed restriced wont even let you park your car in your driveway. it has to be in your garage) and well manicured lawns. If a bird poops on your roof and your neighbor dont like it you have to clean it. She felt that it keeps everything looking uniformed.

I like that I can park in my driveway and if I want to change the color of my house I dont need approval from anyone. It's my house and if I want to do something I will. I dont need anyone's approval on what I want to do to my house.

We are on the west coast and love it. It's so peaceful and not so much "city". I am 30 min away from Siesta Key which is the number 3 beach in the US, I have venice beach and englewood beach not too far away either. The highway isnt bad when I commute to work and the stores arent overly crowded.

Re: For Florida Home owners

Re: For Florida Home owners

You're welcome.

The area that I am in is pleasant. The guy down block from us does have his boat in his driveway but that is only because he works in Sarasota on the docks and his boat is his "company car" Their is one house a guy who bought 2 lots and one lot is his house and the second lot is his garage for his RV. So he mostly keeps it parked in there. The only eye sore is that giant garage.

I know what you mean about the one extreme to another. I live in North Port and the part of North Port that I live in is all new. The oldest house is probably 6 years old. Everyone takes really good care of their property. Further down deep into North Port is known as "old" North Port. A lot of the houses there were built in the 60's and 70's. Some of them I think are the Brady House and that is where you will find a lot of 5 cars just parked on the lawn, half naked man with a really bad mullet BBQ on his front lawn, RV's and campers in the driveway, and I am afraid to even know what else is going on.

Their are a lot of houses that are for rent in my area. A lot of people have a house built and then rent it out. It might be the county that has that rule, but I know around here a lot of people do it. If it is a rule it's not enforced in my town. (I guess unless it's reported)

I dont have a lot of neighbors and the ones I do have the furthest it goes is a hello. I wouldnt like just having anyone walk right in. What if I laying on the couch in my robe. I barely leave my front blinds open worrying who could see in.

Re: For Florida Home owners

We have a home in a deed restricted area in West Palm Beach & we wouldn't have it any other way. We use it strictly as a getaway so we're only there summertime,holidays & long weekends. When our home was being constucted we had a gazillion choices in color of home,roof style,upgrades,etc. Although at first glance,all the homes look alike, if you look closely- there are small differences or should I say owners "preferences".

Maybe our home owners association is not as strict but there are no pesky neighbors that seek to make trouble for us. Everyone is free to spruce-up their landscaping,we even added 2 palm trees without asking permission,not a problem. Although we did add permanant storm shutters to our house after all the hurricane hoopla- for that we needed approval. As for our neighbors,they don't just barge in but they are VERY friendly,for us that is good because they are our eyes & ears while we are in NY. Our community is gated & that also makes me feel secure.

It is quite an investment and I wouldn't be happy if my neighbor had an overgrown lawn or 10 cars parked out front months on end. My BIL lives in Fort Lauderdale,in an unrestricted area..& all I will say is....never!

That doesn't mean there are not gorgeous areas or properties that are unrestricted..I just prefer where we are. Do your research, talk to the actual homeowners,not just the association when you shop around. There are lots of factors to consider. Like I said, our community is pretty flexable- within reason. I like the safety,location and uniformity.

Good Luck.