Johnson Ranch

Hi

My wife and I are about ready to retire back to Arizona.

We are going to be on a relatively close budget and are looking for bargains that we could never find here in Oregon. Trees yes, bargain real estate no.

At the moment Queen Creek is Bargain Central and I do understand how that came to be. About 2 hours reading on this forum did answer a lot of questions.

As a bit of background we lived (owned) in a 1950's neighborhood in Central Tucson for 12 years. Just across the railroad tracks from the worst criminal activity area in Tucson proper. So I do understand that things left outside do grow legs and run away.

I do understand the theory of Weed control and proper aesthetic maintenance with minimal water usage as well Smile.

So on to the Questions:

The only CC&Rs that I was able to find on line were the ones from Copper Basin and having done property maintenance before in California I understand the reasons and the control inherent in the documents. I just worry about the intensity of application-I have run free too long to be put in a tight little cage.

I realize that at the moment the HOA's have little effective control because of circumstance but can't help but wonder what happens farther down the road as the area stabilizes. Retroactive backlash as the "New" management takes control isn't a lot of fun.

What are the prospects for neighborhood stabilization over time?

What will the individual neighborhood character be in the various places in QC/Pinal. I see some groups that at least on this forum generate some level of activity toward pride of place. Others are yelling Stay Away.

So on to the comments

Thanks in advance

Terry

My advice to you is to definitely read any CC&R's before you sign..if its in a planned community such as Castlegate. Personally I won't buy another home in a planned community with an HOA. I was a board member here and at another community and you get nowhere - its a thankless job that noone wants but a target that is easy to point fingers at. Laws are changed annually and HOA's lose more control with those changes.

There are bargains to be had everywhere in the Phoenix metro area. However you will not find too much in the Southeast Valley that is not governed by CC&Rs. If you follow them you won't have a problem. Until the market comes back our community will have the same issues as others - high foreclosure rate vs. low homeowner's paying their assessments.

As far as management companies go..they are all the same no matter who it is. They promise you they'll be great and they never deliver.

I wish you luck wherever you chose to buy. I have lived in AZ for 17 years and its home for us.

I beg to differ with the last posting.  Yes a community with a HOA can be difficult, however it still goes down to how much you put into it is what you get out of it.  I also agree that HOA's only have limited amounts of power, but do you really want to live in a community that governs how many times you flush the tolet ?  Our HOA in Castlegate is not as bad as many in the Phoenix area.  They do try there best, there are a few board memembers that hold the position however seem to thing they govern all areas, don't worry this will change.  I do believe there are a few of us homeowners that feel a change is needed.  Without CC&R's there would be NO rules at all and the HOA would have nothing to stand on at all.  So that guy that rented the house next to yours would be changing out transmissions in his front yard.  Castlegate is a nice community with a good elementary school and several nice parks.  Yes there are some renters in the area which does cause some problems, but nothing that can't be corrected in time.  Communities all over the country are having the same issue with non-payment of dues.  As for the Managment company, we have a new one at Castlegate, and as far as I am concerned they are on strike two for me.  Strike three and your OUT. There are good managment companies, it will just take some reasearch in finding one.  There are many great opportunities in Castlegate and I hope you take one.  Don't forget to try a Lease with Option to purchase.  That way you can try the home before you buy.

Thanks for the Dialog.

Part of my problem is that if the guy next door was changing his transmission in the driveway I would be more likely to offer advice/help/tools so he could get done and off to work than turn him in.

I fix everything I can myself. A product of a life doing it for a living until I figured out that it paid better telling other folks how to do it. That is why I am hoping to please the wife with a house she likes attached to a 3 car garage.

Still as a quasi-libertarian it is sometimes difficult to not belive that if I own something I may still not control it. Communal standards can and do work but you need to be a community to make them work without friction.

It will take some thinking and definitely a thurough reading of all of the rules and regulations before I do commit. So far the only local ones I have found are Copper Basin's.

Currently I am up in the Pacific Northwet watching the snow fall today. I really miss sunshine.

Terry