lanepaige+Followkids chalk drawings erased as a violationAnother story came in from a young family. Their kids had drawn rainbows and hopscotch squares with sidewalk chalk on the driveway. The HOA sent a letter the next week: “Unauthorized markings on concrete. Must be removed immediately.” The parents scrubbed it off. The kids cried. A few days later, they drew again. Same letter, same warning. It’s chalk. It washes away with the next rain. But the board decided imagination was graffiti. When rules erase children’s play, what kind of community are we protecting? #House #HOA91122Share
georgemartinez+Followwhy skipping regular roof inspections cost me $10,000 We all want to avoid extra expenses. A friend decided to skip the annual roof check this year. “There’s no visible damage,” they said. But after a heavy storm, leaks appeared in the attic. Water damage spread to insulation and electrical wiring. Repairs and replacements added up to over $10,000. Had they caught the problem early, a minor fix would have cost a few hundred dollars. Roof maintenance isn’t glamorous — but it’s cheaper than emergency repairs. #House #HomeRisk20Share
charles88+Followdon’t over-renovate A couple remodeled their kitchen top to bottom—new cabinets, marble counters, high-end appliances. It looked like something from a magazine. But when they sold the house three years later, buyers didn’t pay extra for the upgrades. In fact, the couple lost money compared to what they’d invested. Sometimes the smartest home improvement is knowing when to stop. #House #HomeRenovation #MoneyMistakes00Share
lanepaige+Followhoa raises fees, lowers services Neighbors here just got notice: HOA fees going up by 20% next year. At the same time, pool hours are being cut, trash pickup reduced, and security patrols canceled. So… what exactly are we paying more for? #House #HOA #HousingCosts00Share
hodgesmaria+Followwages vs house prices In 2000, the median household income was about $42k. The median home price? Around $120k. Today, median income is $75k. Median home price? $420k. Income went up less than 80%. Home prices went up 250%. So tell me again how “young people just need to work harder”? #House #HousingMarket #WagesVsPrices11Share
hodgesmaria+Followcity condo vs suburban house $2,500 a month in the city gets you a 1-bedroom apartment. No parking, no laundry, neighbors on the other side of the wall. $2,500 a month in the suburbs? A 3-bedroom house with a yard, garage, and maybe even a basement. One is “living the city dream.” The other is actual space to breathe. So what are we really paying for—location, or quality of life? #House #CostOfLiving #CityVsSuburbs20Share
hodgesmaria+Followcalifornia sun vs midwest space In California, $600k gets you a small 2-bedroom with neighbors practically on top of you. Great weather, great jobs… but zero breathing room. In the Midwest, $600k buys a 5-bedroom house on half an acre. Space for kids, dogs, BBQs, even a workshop. So which matters more—sunshine and salaries, or space and sanity? #House #HousingMarket #CostOfLiving00Share
hodgesmaria+Follow$250k in texas vs $250k in california Saw a listing in Texas: $250k gets you a 3-bedroom house with a yard, garage, and space for a BBQ. Checked California out of curiosity. For the same $250k? You get… a converted garage. No kitchen. No yard. How are we even living in the same country? Same dollars. Completely different lives. Would you rather have the job opportunities of the coast, or the home ownership dreams of the middle states? #House #HousingMarket #CostOfLiving00Share
hodgesmaria+Followstudent loans but no mortgage A young couple makes $95k a year combined. They pay $900 every month toward student loans—and have never missed a payment. They applied for a $300k starter home. The bank said no. “Too much debt.” Funny how paying rent + student loans is totally fine, but paying rent + a mortgage isn’t. So tell me—do we want educated, responsible people to own homes, or are we just punishing them for trying to get an education? #House #MortgageCrisis #StudentDebt00Share
lanepaige+Followsingle mom rejected because she works two jobs A single mom tried to buy a small townhouse. Her combined income from two jobs is enough for the mortgage. But the lender called it “unstable” and denied her. Meanwhile, her landlord has no issue collecting $2,300 from her every month. Since when did working too hard become a reason to lock someone out of home ownership? #House #MortgageDiscrimination #WorkingClass275Share
