[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Mikeod

And there will always be those who feel deed restrictions do not apply to them. And that their taste in decorating must be accepted by everyone else despite violating the restrictions they agreed to when they bought here.

Right again, Doc.

I present this lovely creature as evidence.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

Had a foreclosed home across the street. The owners who had maintained a beautiful yard just upped and left. Until the bank gets ownership nothing gets done. After that it's spotty but better than nothing, Believe me, a toilet planter would have been an improvement.

I don't believe that it's true that nothing can be done. It is my understanding that in these cases, Community Standards sends a crew to the property to cut the grass and otherwise clean it up. They then place lien on the property for the cost. I see it done quite often in the Historic District.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Right again, Doc.

I present this lovely creature as evidence.

Now that is outrageous, and where do you come up with this stuff?

[sunnyatlast]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

Now that is outrageous, and where do you come up with this stuff?

I've actually seen that Mrs. BigButtBloomers Weeding placard in yards in other states. THAT is why there are deed restrictions:

Somebody's actually DONE that!

If you allow for some yard ornaments that look okay, eventually you will have a neighbor-hoarder that has the front yard full and looking like a junk yard, while normal people in front of or beside them have their home listed for sale and can't attract a buyer.

Didn't people learn how hard it can be to sell their well-kept, beautiful home when trying to do so in other states a few years ago??

Some seem to never think of anybody but themselves, and never beyond next week.

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by downeaster

My sentiments exactly.

Having had negative experience in none deed restricted communities, we moved to a deed restricted community only to find the restrictions were selectively enforced. I vowed I would try not to make that mistake again. When the time came to select our retirement home we included deed restrictions and their enforcement as a top priority. The Villages seemed a perfect fit and after many years we have never been disappointed.

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

As long as the restrictions are complaint driven, they are being selectively enforced.

I don't understand why Community Watch is not empowered to report infractions.

Let me expand on my "selectively enforced" remark. In the subject community infractions were reported but not enforced. Enforcement depended on who you were or who you knew.

I have since learned there is now no enforcement in that community. The HOA which was supposed to be governing was disbanded as a result of no one willing to serve in any capacity.

As to CW being empowered to enforce, there have been a few references to that in local media. Frankly I don't remember the reasons given but it seemed to make sense to me at the time. I have never heard of any situation where infractions have been reported and not investigated by Community Standards.

I am satisfied with the current system, recognizing it is not perfect. It means my neighbor can place a lawn ornament on his/her lawn and if no one finds it objectionable it can stay. It also means if I sell my house and the new owner finds it objectionable he/she can file an anonymous complaint and have it removed.

[rdhdleo]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr;969***

I don't believe that it's true that nothing can be done. It is my understanding that in these cases, Community Standards sends a crew to the property to cut the grass and otherwise clean it up. They then place lien on the property for the cost. I see it done quite often in the Historic District.

The problem is they don't do it often enough. Believe me all our
neighbors complained on a regular basis, some even came and cut the grass themselves my husband even did once. This went on for almost 3 years! Also there are a lot more foreclosed homes than we'd like to think here. I think it's gone down a bit though.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by rdhdleo

The problem is they don't do it often enough. Believe me all our
neighbors complained on a regular basis, some even came and cut the grass themselves my husband even did once. This went on for almost 3 years! Also there are a lot more foreclosed homes than we'd like to think here. I think it's gone down a bit though.

Don't the come every time you call?
Community Standards is not in the business of cutting lawns on a scheduled basis.
It was suggested in the article in the DS to do just that, call and keep calling.

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast

I've actually seen that Mrs. BigButtBloomers Weeding placard in yards in other states. THAT is why there are deed restrictions:

Somebody's actually DONE that!

If you allow for some yard ornaments that look okay, eventually you will have a neighbor-hoarder that has the front yard full and looking like a junk yard, while normal people in front of or beside them have their home listed for sale and can't attract a buyer.

Didn't people learn how hard it can be to sell their well-kept, beautiful home when trying to do so in other states a few years ago??

Some seem to never think of anybody but themselves, and never beyond next week.

Mrs Big Butt Bloomers and a flock of pink flamingos would be allowed in districts one, two and three, and all of Lake County in The Villages, but not allowed in districts four through twelve. The problem arises when residents don't like the rules of their district. There are choices. Choose the one that's right for you and abide by it.

[salpal]

Drive down Cazaras Ave. in Santo Domingo and check out Snow White and all seven of her dwarfs lined up......Classy!

Personally I wish zero lawn ornaments were permitted.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by downeaster

I am satisfied with the current system, recognizing it is not perfect. It means my neighbor can place a lawn ornament on his/her lawn and if no one finds it objectionable it can stay. It also means if I sell my house and the new owner finds it objectionable he/she can file an anonymous complaint and have it removed.

Thank you for that common sense approach to this situation.

[rdhdleo]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Don't the come every time you call?
Community Standards is not in the business of cutting lawns on a scheduled basis.
It was suggested in the article in the DS to do just that, call and keep calling.

Nope most of the time we were all told they could do nothing about it because of the house being bank owned. The house was bought about a year ago and remodeled and fixed up and since has been sold to a couple that won't be moving here full time for a couple of years. They have a regular lawn service and everything is fine now but for over 2 years it was a mess. What really made it an eyesore was i was a corner lot! Very visible.

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by janmcn

Mrs Big Butt Bloomers and a flock of pink flamingos would be allowed in districts one, two and three, and all of Lake County in The Villages, but not allowed in districts four through twelve. The problem arises when residents don't like the rules of their district. There are choices. Choose the one that's right for you and abide by it.

Not all of district 3. There are units in district 3 that have lawn ornament restrictions.

[Bonanza]

I would be willing to bet that most of those who said they bought here because of deed restrictions, never read them before they signed a contract.

Deed restrictions are both good and bad, depending upon who wrote them, if they've been updated in a timely manner, etc. I must admit there are some pretty strange ones in TV's restrictions. Some of the things I have found that don't make sense are we must maintain a certain percentage of grass. Why? On the other hand, TV changed the choice of grass from St. Augustine to Zoysia. They both require about the same amount of water so why the change? Is it cheaper? Going back to the percentage of grass, if they are trying to restrict water usage, doesn't it make sense that less grass is better?

Then there is the rule that you can't have a lampost in your back yard because it will annoy neighbors. Do you know anyone who doesn't have some kind of window treatment on their bedroom window? Furthermore, if you enclose your lanai and make it a permanent room like the rest of the house, code enforcement requirements say you must have exterior lighting permanently installed on the house. Is there really a difference if you have say, coach lights on your house or if you have a lamppost? No! Of course not.

There are many other things that simply do not make sense. Deed restrictions are not always good and if you've ever iived in other communities that have them, you know what I mean.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

I would be willing to bet that most of those who said they bought here because of deed restrictions, never read them before they signed a contract.

Deed restrictions are both good and bad, depending upon who wrote them, if they've been updated in a timely manner, etc. I must admit there are some pretty strange ones in TV's restrictions. Some of the things I have found that don't make sense are we must maintain a certain percentage of grass. Why? On the other hand, TV changed the choice of grass from St. Augustine to Zoysia. They both require about the same amount of water so why the change? Is it cheaper? Going back to the percentage of grass, if they are trying to restrict water usage, doesn't it make sense that less grass is better?

Then there is the rule that you can't have a lampost in your back yard because it will annoy neighbors. Do you know anyone who doesn't have some kind of window treatment on their bedroom window? Furthermore, if you enclose your lanai and make it a permanent room like the rest of the house, code enforcement requirements say you must have exterior lighting permanently installed on the house. Is there really a difference if you have say, coach lights on your house or if you have a lamppost? No! Of course not.

There are many other things that simply do not make sense. Deed restrictions are not always good and if you've ever iived in other communities that have them, you know what I mean.

It is what it is. You are a realtor. You know about contracts.

[Moderator]

This thread has degenerated to bickering. The topic has been covered. This thread is closed.