Recently I visited a new development in the Four Corners Area. As I exited my vehicle my nose was immediately assaulted with a horrible smell coming from a neighboring orange grove. My first thought was about the residents of this community that are not able to enjoy opening their windows or sipping coffee on their patios during our short spring season. You see, long before their homes were built a local farmer turned his orange grove into a small tourist attraction. Taking it a step further he asked for and was granted permission by county commissioners to burn animal feces to make natural fertilizer for his grove. Some argue that the farm was there first and residents shouldn’t complain about the farm smell since they should have been aware that their neighborhood was next to it before purchasing their home. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania I am used to farm smell. This folks is not your average farm smell. Burning animal feces is a smell that I’ve never smelled before and there are no words to explain just how horrible it is.
This smell affects at least three neighborhoods in the Four Corners Area. Two of these neighborhoods are still building and selling new home construction. The smell usually goes away between 9 and 10 in the morning. I’m assuming prospective buyers are touring the model homes after the smell is gone and have no idea what they are about to endure after closing.
Another major issue that is about to hit the Four Corners Area that no one seems to be talking about is school boundary changes. A new Kindergarten through 8th grade school is being built behind Lowes on Highway 27. There are currently 6 options that the school board is considering to break up the community and no one showed up to the first question/answer session that was held at the beginning of March.
A good local agent should also be knowledgeable about the different Home Owner’s Associations in their community. They should be able to tell you which ones are strict in their rules and which ones may be a little more relaxed. It is also important to know if a neighborhood has an HOA close to going bankrupt. Some lending sources will not lend on a home in a neighborhood with more than 10% of their homeowners behind in their HOA dues.
I implore you to do your research and pick an agent who has their finger on the pulse of your new community. Using an agent who is knowledgeable in a specific market is the most powerful tool you can use to protect your investment.