What makes a neighbor/neighborhood bad?

[Anonymous]

Spin-off from the thread of the person who regrets buying into the neighborhood they did.

Several people mentioned they had horrible neighbors and were waiting to leave. I've been lucky in that I've never had issues in that regard so I'm curious - what makes a neighbor or neighborhood bad?

[Anonymous]

There are genuinely horrible neighbors who are disruptive or aggressive or disturbing. There’s little you can do about that except hope that you don’t get unlucky. Once it happens, you have to just see what if anything you can do to keep it manageable or move.

There are also a ton of people who actually have pretty normal neighbors but BELIEVE they have terrible neighbor. These are the folks who tend to fixate on the neighbors tree trimming or lawn or how they store their trash can or whatever. Or they’re angry about kid noises or parties on Saturday. These people will be happiest in a strict HOA with large lots, which is totally fine! That’s why they exist.

[Anonymous]

Yelled at us, literally, because they didn’t like our new build plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yelled at us, literally, because they didn’t like our new build plans.

They shouldn’t have yelled but building a new house or doing a major renovation is almost guaranteed to make your neighbors hate you, at least temporarily.

[Anonymous]

Last neighbor in a dense urban neighborhood:
—Allows weeds to grow so high you can’t see whole furniture in the yard anymore.
—Under the weeds is an actual junk yard.
—Constant upturned buckets collecting stagnant water.
—Got a handicap spot even though she’s able bodied because she didn’t like other people parking in “her spot” (in front of her house)
—Stores her son’s extra car a half car length in front of her handicap spot, in front of my house, so her spot is extra long. Hasn’t moved it in 2 years and counting.

But hey at least she was quiet! We sold and moved.

[Anonymous]

Next door ghetto family constantly screaming - could hear it through the walls. At one point they hosted dog fights in their basement. When the dogs couldn't be separated they turned a hose on them (causing water damage) and then had to stab one of the dogs. The police came and said it was horrendous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next door ghetto family constantly screaming - could hear it through the walls. At one point they hosted dog fights in their basement. When the dogs couldn't be separated they turned a hose on them (causing water damage) and then had to stab one of the dogs. The police came and said it was horrendous.

Why don’t you move?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next door ghetto family constantly screaming - could hear it through the walls. At one point they hosted dog fights in their basement. When the dogs couldn't be separated they turned a hose on them (causing water damage) and then had to stab one of the dogs. The police came and said it was horrendous.

Wow

[Anonymous]

Wow. The pps have some awful situations.

To me, elements of a bad neighborhood include:
- bad schools (low test scores, many not going on to 4-year colleges)
-neighbors that don't take care of their homes (peeling paint, overgrown lawns, junk in the yards)
-trash in the streets
-broken street lights

I am sure there is more, but if I drive through a neighborhood, and feel the need to make sure my door is locked because I don't feel safe, that is a bad neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Our neighbors weren't yelling or keeping their houses looking trashy, but it was a very cliquey, mean-girls type neighborhood. It was like being back in all the worst parts of high school.

We did move, but it wasn't only for that reason. I had a terrible commute at the time. Moving isn't cheap, but the improvement in quality of life made it worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yelled at us, literally, because they didn’t like our new build plans.

They shouldn’t have yelled but building a new house or doing a major renovation is almost guaranteed to make your neighbors hate you, at least temporarily.

Well the ironic part is that they had built their house three years before. On one hand it really left a bad taste in our mouth about moving to the neighborhood and my kids were asking why the neighbor was so rude, she yelled in front of them. Why she didn’t yell at the builder instead is beyond me. Anyhow, on the other hand, glad I found ahead of time and didn’t waste my time with her.

[Anonymous]

Operates a business that draws traffic to their house.
Rents out whole house and makes it a group house.
Close to a business that draws traffic that also charges for parking that sends people into the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Unless it's something obvious like they don't mow their grass or they have a big political sign and/or a confederate flag in the front yard then you are unlikely to know you have bad neighbors until after you move in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbors weren't yelling or keeping their houses looking trashy, but it was a very cliquey, mean-girls type neighborhood. It was like being back in all the worst parts of high school.

We did move, but it wasn't only for that reason. I had a terrible commute at the time. Moving isn't cheap, but the improvement in quality of life made it worth it.

Same. The gossips can bring everyone down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Next door ghetto family constantly screaming - could hear it through the walls. At one point they hosted dog fights in their basement. When the dogs couldn't be separated they turned a hose on them (causing water damage) and then had to stab one of the dogs. The police came and said it was horrendous.

Why don’t you move?

They were evicted a month later. But yes, we eventually left the neighborhood.