4 ms·

I grew up in Lee County, FL, and currently live in Cape Coral while saving up to buy land and build my dream home elsewhere in the state. The thing they don't

I grew up in Lee County, FL, and currently live in Cape Coral while saving up to buy land and build my dream home elsewhere in the state. The thing they don't tell you about Cape Coral is that Code Enforcement is the unofficial religion of the city. It's basically an oversized Home Owners' Association. A lot of retired folks come down here and, with nothing better to do with their golden years, decide to annoy their neighbors with petty complaints in an attempt to raise property values. Whether or not it's a good investment, mots of the people are chronically annoying to the point of toxicity.

bane 9y ago
My father lived in an HOA community approximately once, and that community was in Florida. He gets very animated and upset whenever the topic of HOAs comes up based on his experience with them...the word "Nazis" usually comes up somewhere in his rant. I've heard similar stories from other ex-Floridians. I've lived in both in my home states (mid-Atlantic area) and have found them to be a useful local governing group in most cases, minor annoyance in others, but nice to have when the local county can't be bothered. Is there something particularly toxic about Florida HOAs? Is it really the retirees with nothing to do?
- int_19h 9y ago
  I think it's mostly that you have an unusually good experience (or take on it). HOAs are seriously hated by a lot of people. Google "HOA hate", and check out the results.
kjs3 9y ago
That's interesting, considering places like Tampa are the posterchild for practically non-existent code enforcement.
mrfusion 9y ago
What part of the state do you want to move to?
oftenwrong 9y ago
This is the first place I read about Lee County: https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/8/17/suburban-poverty-boomtown-lehigh-acres-florida https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/8/17/suburban-pover...
- astura 9y ago
  Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
bitsnbytes 9y ago
I live just a little south of you in Naples and I completely agree with you. These HOA nazi have nothing but time and money to harass the younger families. I don't live in a terrorist HOA community zone any longer because its a nightmare in SWFL. However, when I visit friends in HOA community its usually the same feeling unless you are over 60. They will give you a citation or stick these very hard guerrilla stickers on your vehicle or property for the dumbest things.Such as not having your garbage can properly aligned , your garage door was open for to long, visitors stayed to long in the visitor parking,etc. They are typically old, cranky , miserable , and rude. Once you calm back down after the old geezers charge you like you just committed a felony for leaving your garage door open while you put the grocery away , it becomes hard to not feel bad for their horrible miserable existence. Seriously review your bylaws and don't dismiss any of them no matter how stupid,outdated, or insignificant they sound in SWFL. They will not only harass you for the little things, they look forward to it in their boring life. Any time they can bring out the tape measure to see if your garbage can is within the acceptable distance from the street they will. I have lived in HOA communities in central Florida and it wasn't an issue. However, down here in geezer ville its their passion to harass you.

bane 9y ago

My father lived in an HOA community approximately once, and that community was in Florida. He gets very animated and upset whenever the topic of HOAs comes up based on his experience with them...the word "Nazis" usually comes up somewhere in his rant. I've heard similar stories from other ex-Floridians. I've lived in both in my home states (mid-Atlantic area) and have found them to be a useful local governing group in most cases, minor annoyance in others, but nice to have when the local county can't be bothered. Is there something particularly toxic about Florida HOAs? Is it really the retirees with nothing to do?

int_19h 9y ago
I think it's mostly that you have an unusually good experience (or take on it). HOAs are seriously hated by a lot of people. Google "HOA hate", and check out the results.

kjs3 9y ago

That's interesting, considering places like Tampa are the posterchild for practically non-existent code enforcement.

mrfusion 9y ago

What part of the state do you want to move to?

oftenwrong 9y ago

This is the first place I read about Lee County: https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/8/17/suburban-poverty-boomtown-lehigh-acres-florida https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/8/17/suburban-pover...

astura 9y ago
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

bitsnbytes 9y ago

I live just a little south of you in Naples and I completely agree with you. These HOA nazi have nothing but time and money to harass the younger families. I don't live in a terrorist HOA community zone any longer because its a nightmare in SWFL. However, when I visit friends in HOA community its usually the same feeling unless you are over 60. They will give you a citation or stick these very hard guerrilla stickers on your vehicle or property for the dumbest things.Such as not having your garbage can properly aligned , your garage door was open for to long, visitors stayed to long in the visitor parking,etc. They are typically old, cranky , miserable , and rude. Once you calm back down after the old geezers charge you like you just committed a felony for leaving your garage door open while you put the grocery away , it becomes hard to not feel bad for their horrible miserable existence. Seriously review your bylaws and don't dismiss any of them no matter how stupid,outdated, or insignificant they sound in SWFL. They will not only harass you for the little things, they look forward to it in their boring life. Any time they can bring out the tape measure to see if your garbage can is within the acceptable distance from the street they will. I have lived in HOA communities in central Florida and it wasn't an issue. However, down here in geezer ville its their passion to harass you.