Another problem is mandatory HOAs. These are very widespread in Texas. If you buy in one of these areas your home can be taken virtually without recourse. Sure you can try to fight it but you will go broke doing it and thus lose anyway. In Texas property taxes are so high by the time you make your last payment on a 30 year note you will have paid the full price of the home in property taxes alone. Yes you litterally buy a house for you and a house for the state.
I would never buy in an HOA. I would go more rural and commute. I have never lived in a subdivision with an HOA, and would never do so. Too much control on your life.
Texas property taxes are so high...”
Yes they are, but we do receive a homestead exemption plus another exemption when you turn 65 so your rate cannot be raised. Doesn’t keep the taxing authorities from automatically raising the value of your home though to keep their coffers full. Lines of people protesting their valuation gets longer each year.
That depends on the bi-laws and covenants. Some HOAs are really nothing more than a way to maintain a common area and see that a *few* basics of decorum are maintained. Noise levels and minimal presentable-ness of property.
Read this stuff before buying.
As an after thought, maybe a slightly overbearing HOA would be a little protection when HUD moves some of their Obama constituents so they can learn how to be middle class by watching you folks going to work & mowing your laws. LOL