Before I lived in one, I always thought that neighborhoods with Homeowner’s Associations were better than those without. I imagined manicured lawns and pride of ownership and major curb appeal—all great things when it comes to resale value. I’m here to tell you that I was wrong. Now that I own a home and am subject to CC&R’s, I get to see the good, the bad and the oh so very ugly.
My husband and I own a home outside of Tucson’s city limits among the tumbleweeds and cacti of the dusty desert. Our community is gated, but that is about the extent of the amenities our neighborhood affords its residents. There is no community pool. No clubhouse. We don’t even have stinking sidewalks, for Pete’s sake. Still, we pay fees to the HOA monthly. From what I can gather, most of the fees go towards fixing the perpetually-broken gate and paying postage for the nastygrams that the HOA is so fond of mailing out every two weeks or so. My husband and I have been on the receiving end of several nastygrams over the course of our nine years in this neighborhood. Read more: