Green home

[marie1203]

We will be moving soon and have been looking for house to buy. We found this community that is building all green homes. We love this community the amenities are great, we love that they left all the trees around, walking and biking paths, etc. Now the only problem is that they have a HOA which we weren't counting on having but I am thinking that we will still probably will be spending the same money otherwise. The community has a gym DH works out everyday so we had to pay for a gym membership otherwise. Is also 7 miles from school saving us gas and time. But I think we will save money the most in all the green stuff. Right now we change from a regular washer to a HE one and are saving $5 a month on water. This house has all low flow shower heads, faucets, all appliances are energy star (including range hood and bathrooms exhaust fans), water heater is solar powered, they have the best insulated windows, and the air leakage of the house is less that 5%. HOA is $200 a month. What you guys think? Anyone life in a green home?

 

[herdtoDisney]

We will be moving soon and have been looking for house to buy. We found this community that is building all green homes. We love this community the amenities are great, we love that they left all the trees around, walking and biking paths, etc. Now the only problem is that they have a HOA which we weren't counting on having but I am thinking that we will still probably will be spending the same money otherwise. The community has a gym DH works out everyday so we had to pay for a gym membership otherwise. Is also 7 miles from school saving us gas and time. But I think we will save money the most in all the green stuff. Right now we change from a regular washer to a HE one and are saving $5 a month on water. This house has all low flow shower heads, faucets, all appliances are energy star (including range hood and bathrooms exhaust fans), water heater is solar powered, they have the best insulated windows, and the air leakage of the house is less that 5%. HOA is $200 a month. What you guys think? Anyone life in a green home?

I live in a green home. Actually, it's more of a teal Just kidding around, we bought it this way and it's kind of a running joke since it's rather noticable in this area of typically tan, white and yellow homes!

I like the idea of a green home, and I think the solar water heating will save a lot. The windows, too. Both those are valuable, in other words, they would cost a lot to retrofit to an older home, like mine.
All the other features, I actually have done to my house.

I think if you add up what you'd save in hot water heating costs (that can be a lot), the gym savings, and heating costs (with the insulated windows) it probably is near what the HOA fees are. Only thing is, the HOA could go up in the future. But so will utility costs...if you really like the community, it could be worth it. I don't like HOA rules, but many people are happy in them.

 

[Marionnette]

I think that if its a lifestyle that you embrace then it is certainly worth considering. Whenever I hear of green communities I think of the audi superbowl commercial.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

I guess maybe I'm confused...the HOA fees only cover shared amenities...so what is $2400 buying you? A gym and maintenance of bike paths? You can build a green home yourself, but if being part of a green community is important, is it over two thousand dollars worth important to you?

 

[marie1203]

I guess maybe I'm confused...the HOA fees only cover shared amenities...so what is $2400 buying you? A gym and maintenance of bike paths? You can build a green home yourself, but if being part of a green community is important, is it over two thousand dollars worth important to you?

It is not not just a gym and bike paths. There are 2 parks in the community, 2 olympic size pools with cabanas, tennis courts, basketball courts, there is also a 66 acre park that has a football, baseball and soccer fields, this cover garbage pick up, maintenance of all the grounds.

 

[ccgirl]

It is not not just a gym and bike paths. There are 2 parks in the community, 2 olympic size pools with cabanas, tennis courts, basketball courts, there is also a 66 acre park that has a football, baseball and soccer fields, this cover garbage pick up, maintenance of all the grounds.

Just want to add that HOA fees also cover any taxes on shared space as well as lawyer fees. If someone got hurt in shared space, the HOA could be held responsible so need money in reserves for that.

Sounds like a spectacular place to live to me.

 

[minnie1928]

It is not not just a gym and bike paths. There are 2 parks in the community, 2 olympic size pools with cabanas, tennis courts, basketball courts, there is also a 66 acre park that has a football, baseball and soccer fields, this cover garbage pick up, maintenance of all the grounds.

My HOA doesn't have near that much stuff and I pay $110/month....$200 for all that sounds like a bargain.

Back to your original question, I think you're comparing apples to oranges to some degree. You really need to ask yourself if the neighborhood is one you want to live in, and if the answer is yes, then that will come at an additional cost of $200/month. If the answer is no, then look into buying/building a green home elsewhere. I wouldn't use the green savings to justify the HOA expense, because green savings can be had elsewhere without an HOA.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

Back to your original question, I think you're comparing apples to oranges to some degree. You really need to ask yourself if the neighborhood is one you want to live in, and if the answer is yes, then that will come at an additional cost of $200/month. If the answer is no, then look into buying/building a green home elsewhere. I wouldn't use the green savings to justify the HOA expense, because green savings can be had elsewhere without an HOA.

I think this is what I was trying to say. My HOA fees are only $170 a year, so you can guess we have a lot less common space to maintain But my city and surrounding cities have great public parks and trail systems. The OP's more elaborate description justifies the cost much more than the original post, I think.

 

[shortbun]

I think it sounds great!!! What's holding you back?

 

[bettymae1121]

Has the HOA board already been formed? I'd try to feel out the type of people running the HOA first, if at all possible. Some people on HOA boards are on power trips and can take what would otherwise be a nice neighborhood and make it a living hell. The one HOA I lived in was run pretty well, they gave out warnings before fining anyone and while they did enforce the rules, it wasn't over the top, either. I've heard enough HOA horror stories that I'd try to get a feel for a particular HOA board before buying. You don't want to find out after buying that the board members are a bunch of power hungry busy-bodies with nothing better to do than harrass their neighbors over insignifigant BS.

 

[marie1203]

I think it sounds great!!! What's holding you back?

We are waiting to hear back from a university that DH wants to go. If he gets in then we are for sure moving .