Russ, as I recall you were thinking of backing up to a golf course. If so, then the only neighbors that you need to be concerned about from a noise perspective would be the ones on either side. Note that some Designers have their lanais on one side of the house or the other or in some case right in the middle of the house with walls on either side (e.g., the Bridgeport). Hence, by being very selective in terms of which model you buy versus what your neighbors have, you can get a house whose lanai is quite private from your neighbors. Another option would be to be at the end of a cul de sac in which case your backyard is pie shaped and hence does not really have any direct views into neighbors' lanais. It does add another layer of complexity and limitation in your house hunt but may be worth considering.

I see what everyone says about the positives of the CYVs but what dissuaded us was the curb appeal and the garage limitation. (Plus, a secondary factor was its appeal to dog owners - I love dogs more than most, but having lived in a house where the people behind us leave their little yapper outside for hours on end, makes me to never want to live in area which invites this type of neighbor abuse.)

NJ - Good points to remember - Thanks!

All options are open at this point but lanai privacy is tops.

NJBlue ... I agree. I wouldn't want yapping dogs around either.

However I think the point you're trying to make is that it is more likely to have yapping dogs in CYVs than in houses. If so, I don't agree.

CYVs are NOT the only houses in TV that have dogs. On the contrary, there are many, many dogs in designer homes! They just don't have fences! And I think a dog is more likely to bark if it is tied up outside, than confined in a fenced yard.

I live in a CYV and I've never heard dogs barking in the neighbourhood. And our dogs never bark when they're outside.

barefoot,

It would be interesting to see if a tied dog is more likely to bark than a walled dog. I guess it is possible, but I'm not sure. However, it's a guess on my part, but my thinking is that people who have a CYV are more likely to leave their dogs out in the yard than are people in a designer who would tie their dogs. I'm guessing that most designer owners will walk their dogs versus tieing them in the yard. Afterall, as many here have indicated, having a walled in area for their dog was a primary reason for them buying a CYV.

As to your own dog not barking, I think that has a lot to do with the breed of dog. Some breeds are more prone to barking than others. Also, the barks of some breeds are considerably more annoying than others.

Barking Dogs
 

I think it makes a big difference whether a dog is tied or walled. I can only speak for my dog, Bob the Beagle, and he never barks. He howls, and its a strong, deep howl that I wouldn't want to hear often if I were my neighbor, so I do my best to make sure his howls stop quickly when started. They generally start when he is in our picket-fenced yard in NY, where he can see the neighbors and takes exception to whatever they are doing. I'm hoping that the high walls of a CY would keep him from howling much, as they do a great job of creating privacy. If not for the walled options (CV and the new vinyl fenced ranch homes), I honestly don't think I would consider buying in TV. It's just not fair to expect neighbors, especially when they are so close together, to have to put up with a howling dog. Hey, even I don't like to hear it . . . . unless he's on the trail of a rabbit!

Yes, there is nothing more melodious than a beagle on the trail of a rabbit and nothing more annoying than a beagle or other dog that has to bark/yap/bay/howl at every perceived disturbance - or for no reason at all.

I guess what I don't understand is the need (by some) to keep a dog outside for an extended period of time. If you have to put a dog that is prone to being a neighborhood disturbance out a few times a day to relieve himself, that is one thing. But to keep it outside (either chained or running free) for hours on end when the dog spends half the time being a disturbance is, to me, the height of being unneighborly and inconsiderate. That's what our current neighbor does and what I hope to avoid in TV. I used to have a fenced in backyard and had two dogs. However, I never left them out in it unattended for more than 5 minutes, and if they were to start barking, they would come in immediately.

Now watch, after saying this, I'll find out that both neighbors have yappers that leave them out on chains all day long.

Russ, I think I sidetracked the discussion a bit .. I apologize.

Unless you purchase a very expensive home, the lots are small for both houses and villas. Privacy and noise are always a concern. We back on open space and that helps greatly.

A plus of a CYV is that your neighbours may be seasonal or just use the unit for vacations. So it may be quieter in a CYV community, but not as social.
I don't think you'll have to worry about an active social life. Since you're a member of TOTV and you golf, you won't have a problem making lots of friends.

Whether you have a barking dog next door, someone deaf that keeps the TV cranked up high, or people that party late, I think the bottom line is that CYVs are better for containing noise because of the walls.

Ultimately it comes down to luck, and the good news is that most neighbours in TV are extremely thoughtful.

I was getting ready to put the kibosh on the dog talk - thank you. But I do appreciate the ideas behind it. i.e. there may be more dogs in a CYV but maybe they'll be quieter - who knows.

I agree that it takes a little bit of research and a lot of luck with neighbors when it comes to quiet and privacy.

Not sure what generates more page views - Dog lovers vs. Dog non-lovers or POA vs. VHA:smiley:

Have a CYV and purchased it because of all the horror stories we had heard about noise and privacy with designers. The most noise we here is from the neighbors heat pump at night [it is about 25 feet from the bedroom wall.]

If you want to see a horror story cruise by Havana Trail in Hadly: Check out the new $75K pool and bird cage with a built in Plasma TV 20 feet from their neighbors Lanai! You can just see them in the pool/hot tub smoking a stogy with the volume up high....

Can you imagine spending that much money on something like that with neighbors 20 feet away!?!?

Yeah but they knew what they were doing. I think i feel worse for the non-pool lanai who have a new noise 20 feet away.

It would be interesting to know the % of homes whose lanai is within 30 feet of each other.

Our neighbors lanai is 5 paces behing ours. My wife came down and purchased our Camillia without me because I was too busy to get away. The home is beautiful and our neighbors are wonderful, however, when I first arrived here last June I walked out on the lanai I said, "you've got to be kidding me".... turns out they are wonderful people and it's not been an issue at all.

Any more comments?

How about those of you in a CYV that do NOT have any open space in the back, just a wall with other villas behind?

I have a CYV which backs onto Odell, I was a little concerned about road noise. But I have not had an issue with noise.