most of the time, deed restrictions are to prevent properties from being
neglected by non-caring tenants or absentee owners. The rules have to be
strict enough, and enforced/enforceable in order to keep your neighbors from
letting their properties go to hell and tanking the property values. Try
selling a house next to someone who paves their front yard and parks heavy
equipment on it or lets it grow 3 feet high between mowings.

Yes, sometimes they go too far, but personally, I've been there and I'd
rather have that, than a house I couldn't sell and had to let go into
foreclosure. I've lived in two neighborhoods that did not have deed
restrictions that were enforced. One was a very small "enclave" where
people cared and kept their homes up. The other was not and we took a
BEATING on the house because of it. The house was in great shape, remodeled
inside and out, huge greenbelt lot and the trashy neighbors made it nearly
unsalable. Happened to other neighbors, too.

It's a double edged sword and adjust your expectations appropriately.

--
ie
ride fast, take chances.


"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:32:46 GMT, "Noncompliant"
wrote:


Not sure about Travis County or those north of that. Hays county has
ordinances in place for restraining your animals including cats and dogs.
They do enforce it, even in rural areas. My dogs dug their way under the
fenced in yard more than once. Neighbors notified the sheriff. After 2
complaints, he notifies the suspected owners by letter to restrain the
animals, the consequences are a hefty fine and animal control taking
possession of the animals.

There are informal HOAs. Just verbal agreements between neighbors.
Usually
covers not raising pigs/hogs, sometimes chickens for instance.

Like everything else nowadays, there's laws, ordinances, and so forth used
to patch what was overlooked. Usually some "fruitcake" doing something
way
out of the ordinary and some reactionairies whining about it. Taking
advantage just for powersake, the lawmakers go overboard. Then, everyone
pays. Careful what you wish for, it might come true.

I don't wish for it, it exists and that's a fact. My gardens
absolutely push the limit of being a bit messy for people, but I'm
covered under the WWF and Texas Backyard Wildlife Habitat program,
which I strongly adhere to. I have 75% native plants, all that's
required is 50%.

Anyway, my original point was that, if someone wants to try buffalo
plugs, make sure some neighbor doesn't complain that you don't have
perfect St. Augustine.