Homes Way Over Valued

[Excaliber]

Whoa, McCloud is down to 6 students? Now that is depressing...

Along with the higher prices, here in my neighborhood, I am seeing some significant changes, with mixed feeling about it all. When I bought my place some years ago this was a sleepy little place with laid back neighbors and a 'family' feeling to it all. However, it was SO 'laid back' it was kind of a dumpy area. To many people working on their cars and leaving oil containers and parts laying around when they were done. Houses needed painting, yards unkempt, plenty of old rusty cars, etc., it wasn't all that pleasant to look at. I bought my place for a song. With the rise in prices slowly but steadily it's changing to a more affluent type of home owner. Houses are well maintained now, everyone has a newish car, the neighborhood looks great. The tension in the air is also up, big time. The family feeling is disappearing. We have a neighborhood association that dictates what you can and can't do to your home, which used to be a joke. But now, you better pay attention to the 'rules', they ARE enforced. While I appreciate the nicer look and rising values, we've lost something along the way...

I sold my old house to move here BECAUSE the neighborhood was so 'uptight' about 'rules', I wanted 'laid back'. It's dejavu all over again.