Villa question
 

We are thinking of buying a new Villa for a number of reasons but mostly health and they now have the walk in showers. My question about the Villas is, if I can make sense, is the fence door and walkway from your driveway seems to lead to your neighbors side and back yards. Is this correct. This would mean your neighbor would be cutting through your property and I would have to go up my other neighbors driveway to get to the walkway and gate. This just does not seem right but I wanted to check on it. Thanks

The gate leads to your yard, not the neighbors in every case. .There is no way to access adjoining yard, because of the lateral wall of your neighbor and the fencing. Have lived in two CYVs over 8 years . Never a problem.

It depends on your specific covenant document. But, first, your description is of a courtyard villa, not just any villa. Typically, the property line runs midway between the adjacent houses. The gate located near your front door, is controlled by your neighbor, but you control the property outside that gate all the way to your neighbor's house. So, you can landscape that area up to the neighbor's house, but you need to maintain the area and provide access to the gate, even though you do not own the land. The property inside the gate is controlled by your neighbor, and he/she must maintain that property, but can landscape it any way they want. They also must provide access to your property as needed for you to inspect and maintain the side of your house located inside the gate. Typically, that side of your house will not have any windows or doors, and will not require much maintenance. On the other side of your house, the opposite situation applies, where you control the gate. This is just a basic description of how it works, and the covenant document contains a very detailed description of each courtyard villa development.

You are correct, normally your one neighbor will enter their back yard through the side where your driveway is and you will do likewise on the other side with the other neighbors. This is due to the narrow distance between the homes (10-15 ft normally) and limited property on each side. Most villas only have beneficial use of the property on one side of the home and easement access on the other for maintenance purposes. In fact because of the typical curved driveway configuration about a third of the driveway you think is yours is actually on your neighbor’s propertty.

You are responsible for the maintenance of the side yard (but not the actual house itself) that belongs to your neighbor that you have beneficial use of. All of this is clearly explained in the closing paperwork at the time of purchase.

It’s an unusual situation but generally not a problem as everyone is aware of the conditions. It really helps to know and like your neighbors in the villa communities. Yes there have been and are still situations between neighbors that the access issues are a problem, when push comes to shove, normally the less cordial neighbor is in the wrong based on the agreement signed at closing.

In all, it’s a minor issue for most and far outweighed by the added privacy of the courtyard villas.

All villas have walk in showers?
 

All of the villas that I have been in have had a walk in shower, including North of 466.

You are correct. Your neighbor will walk up your driveway to enter his gate. You will walk up your other neighbor's driveway to enter your gate.

https://www.districtgov.org/departme.../CourtYard.pdf

The way I read it Landscaping can't touch you're neighbors house nor any vines touching and you're landscaping can't touch neighbors house that you are responsible for. I maintain at least 12", I don't know it there is limit but, I do know you're neighbor can't let landscape touch side of house in there yard. If they do and it causes damage they could be liable?

Rent before you buy

I live in a patio villa in Alhambra. I have my own entrance and my neighbor has her own entrance. We don't need to be on each others property to enter our respective houses.

Maybe I'm missing something as I don't understand the OP question.

They are talking about courtyard villas that are completely fenced in. The new Veranda designers are the same way.

Thanks for the clarification.

Thank you all, just wanted to be sure I was seeing the pictures correctly. We have looked at many designers homes but now feel the smaller lot and square footage will be better for us to maintain.

I hope you looked at the "LINK" in post 6. Great explanation with pictures.:ho:

Thanks for the link.The design doesn't make much sense.The blank wall should have been on the other side with rooms reversed and leave garage the same.

Makes me wonder too why they weren’t designed the say you just described.