Let's start with a basic fact:

No one who doesn't live in Bermuda, really wants their neighbors painting their home pink. 

In San Antonio, our newer neighborhoods (and many of the older ones), are almost invariably governed by a Homeowners (Property Owners), Association and almost everyone who lives in an area governed by a Property Owners Association wants to know when the Association is going to make the guy on the corner cut his waist-high lawn, stop parking his RV on the street, or re-paint the bright red shed in his yard to match his home - all items typically falling under the purview of the Association.

Here's the answer: When you bring it to the attention of the Association. 

Sure, they may keep the pool maintained and the lights on at the entrance, but that's only part of thier job.  Until you see evidence of neighbors reasonably following the covenants, codes and restrictions, you may rightly suspect that the Association management is not having their employee drive the neighborhood weekly to check gross misconduct of neighbors - all assurances to the contrary.

Wait, where are those documents that you receive when you bought the house? Never fear. If you want to know which management company (they are rarely self-managed), is in charge of your San Antonio neighborhood, give us a call and we'll get that information for you.

Especially for those selling their homes:

Make the Association earn those fees and keep your 'hood, lookin' good!