As a listing agent, how often have you attended a condo association meeting or a homeowners meeting for the community where you have a listing? It's a great source of information, and gives you a flavor of the community.
Does the area have problems, security issues, pet peeves? These will come up. Is the group cooperative or combative? They may be discussing future plans for the neighborhood, use of facilities, social events. Watch how the owners interact.
I remember attending a Placido Bayou neighborhood association meeting a few years ago, and the main topic was what to do with homes that needed painting. This association was responsible for painting the exterior of the homes, and each home was on a schedule, so many each year. The problem that arose was that the developer had either used inferior paint or done inferior preparation because the paint was peeling, and some were looking very bad. The question from some homeowners was: We want to paint our home now, because it looks bad, but we're not on the schedule for 2 years. Interesting dilemma. The group's solution: you can paint it now, at your own expense, and when your turn comes up, the association will reinburse you for the cost. That's a win-win to me. I've told that story many times to prospective buyers for the community.
