If you want to live in a community where your property is taken care of without you having to lift a finger, or where you have a variety of amenities to use at your disposal, then a homeowners’ association (HOA) might be perfect for you.

But before you jump in with both feet, there are a few things about HOAs that you should be aware of.

After all, buying a home is a huge investment – most likely the biggest one you’ll ever make. And as such, you want to be sure the choice you make is the right one for you.

Buying an HOA is Like Buying a Lifestyle

When it comes to an HOA, a certain amount of conformity is involved. If you’re not too keen on keeping in line with the standards of a particular HOA, it could be a nightmare for you if you actually buy into it.

There’s a certain price tag that comes along with the scrupulously manicured lawns, the well-maintained exteriors, and the consistently paved roadways. Every HOA has their own set of conformity rules that homeowners need to abide by in order to maintain this level of care among the properties and the common areas.

Before you scoff at these rules, you should understand the reasoning behind them: they help keep property values up over the long haul. In fact, the main goal of an HOA is to protect the investments of homeowners within the community and ensure that property values are maintained and increased over time, rather than allowing the area to go down the tubes like many American neighborhoods have.

So, if you’re OK with keeping your garage door color the same as your neighbors, or putting a limit on the number of lawn chairs you plop on your front lawn, then an HOA just might work for you.

HOA Fees Encompass Different Things in Different Complexes

It’s common knowledge that living in an HOA involves paying fees on a monthly basis. These fees go towards a bunch of different things, namely the maintenance and upkeep of common elements of the community. This can include anything from cutting the grass to cleaning the pool.

You’re basically paying someone else to maintain your property so you don’t have to. It’s a pretty good deal: you don’t have to physically maintain the property yourself, and the community as a whole is always in pristine condition.

But the HOA fees in one complex might not necessarily cover the same things in another one. Not only that, but the fees themselves might vary drastically from one complex to another. The average HOA fees usually range between $200 to $400 per month, but the more well-to-do the building is, and the more amenities it’s got, the higher you can expect the HOA fees to be.

In general, these fees cover services like water, sewage, garbage removal, lawn maintenance, repairs to the outside of condo buildings, and the care of common area amenities. Make sure you find out precisely what the monthly HOA fee is, and what exactly is covered under these dues.

Ask questions. How are increases in HOA fees determined? How often do they occur? How many times have they already been increased in the past? Is cable included?

Compare these fees to the average dues in surrounding neighborhoods. Are they at par? Or are they a lot higher? It’s worth noting that you’ll be paying for the complex’s amenities even if you don’t use them. If you’re not going to use the swimming pool or the on-site tennis court, ask yourself if you’re OK with financially contributing towards their upkeep. If not, it just might make sense to choose an HOA that doesn’t have such amenities, which will be reflected in their lower fees.

There’s This Thing Called an ‘Assessment’

Not only do you have to pay HOA fees on a monthly basis, you’ll also be responsible for contributing to an extra ‘assessment’ if there’s not enough money in the HOA’s reserve funds to pay for major expenses, like replacing the building’s roof or repairing its foundation. If money in this reserve fund is a little short, the HOA could charge you an extra assessment to cover the added expenses, that can be pretty pricey.

Before you buy, inquire about any assessments that are in the works for the near future. If there are, you need to be prepared to dish out a little more than what the current HOA fees demand.

You Have a Say

If you don’t like some of the rules within your HOA community, then do something to change them.

The ideal HOA encourages residents to get involved and have a say in how the rules are implemented and what changes can and should be made. The HOA will advertise their meetings that residents are allowed to attend, so consider going to them when your schedule permits so you can voice your opinion and put in your two cents about what is working and what isn’t. You might even consider running for a seat on the board to fight for the changes that you and fellow residents want.

Learn about the process for making any changes to rules or adding new ones. If you think the rules are too restrictive, you might want to look elsewhere.

If you want to live in a community where your property is taken care of without you having to lift a finger, or where you have a variety of amenities to use at your disposal, then a homeowners’ association (HOA) might be perfect for you.

But before you jump in with both feet, there are a few things about HOAs that you should be aware of.

After all, buying a home is a huge investment – most likely the biggest one you’ll ever make. And as such, you want to be sure the choice you make is the right one for you.

Buying an HOA is Like Buying a Lifestyle

When it comes to an HOA, a certain amount of conformity is involved. If you’re not too keen on keeping in line with the standards of a particular HOA, it could be a nightmare for you if you actually buy into it.

There’s a certain price tag that comes along with the scrupulously manicured lawns, the well-maintained exteriors, and the consistently paved roadways. Every HOA has their own set of conformity rules that homeowners need to abide by in order to maintain this level of care among the properties and the common areas.

Before you scoff at these rules, you should understand the reasoning behind them: they help keep property values up over the long haul. In fact, the main goal of an HOA is to protect the investments of homeowners within the community and ensure that property values are maintained and increased over time, rather than allowing the area to go down the tubes like many American neighborhoods have.

So, if you’re OK with keeping your garage door color the same as your neighbors, or putting a limit on the number of lawn chairs you plop on your front lawn, then an HOA just might work for you.

HOA Fees Encompass Different Things in Different Complexes

It’s common knowledge that living in an HOA involves paying fees on a monthly basis. These fees go towards a bunch of different things, namely the maintenance and upkeep of common elements of the community. This can include anything from cutting the grass to cleaning the pool.

You’re basically paying someone else to maintain your property so you don’t have to. It’s a pretty good deal: you don’t have to physically maintain the property yourself, and the community as a whole is always in pristine condition.

But the HOA fees in one complex might not necessarily cover the same things in another one. Not only that, but the fees themselves might vary drastically from one complex to another. The average HOA fees usually range between $200 to $400 per month, but the more well-to-do the building is, and the more amenities it’s got, the higher you can expect the HOA fees to be.

In general, these fees cover services like water, sewage, garbage removal, lawn maintenance, repairs to the outside of condo buildings, and the care of common area amenities. Make sure you find out precisely what the monthly HOA fee is, and what exactly is covered under these dues.

Ask questions. How are increases in HOA fees determined? How often do they occur? How many times have they already been increased in the past? Is cable included?

Compare these fees to the average dues in surrounding neighborhoods. Are they at par? Or are they a lot higher? It’s worth noting that you’ll be paying for the complex’s amenities even if you don’t use them. If you’re not going to use the swimming pool or the on-site tennis court, ask yourself if you’re OK with financially contributing towards their upkeep. If not, it just might make sense to choose an HOA that doesn’t have such amenities, which will be reflected in their lower fees.

There’s This Thing Called an ‘Assessment’

Not only do you have to pay HOA fees on a monthly basis, you’ll also be responsible for contributing to an extra ‘assessment’ if there’s not enough money in the HOA’s reserve funds to pay for major expenses, like replacing the building’s roof or repairing its foundation. If money in this reserve fund is a little short, the HOA could charge you an extra assessment to cover the added expenses, that can be pretty pricey.

Before you buy, inquire about any assessments that are in the works for the near future. If there are, you need to be prepared to dish out a little more than what the current HOA fees demand.

You Have a Say

If you don’t like some of the rules within your HOA community, then do something to change them.

The ideal HOA encourages residents to get involved and have a say in how the rules are implemented and what changes can and should be made. The HOA will advertise their meetings that residents are allowed to attend, so consider going to them when your schedule permits so you can voice your opinion and put in your two cents about what is working and what isn’t. You might even consider running for a seat on the board to fight for the changes that you and fellow residents want.

Learn about the process for making any changes to rules or adding new ones. If you think the rules are too restrictive, you might want to look elsewhere.

The Bottom Line

There are definite perks too living in HOA community. You’ve got access to some great amenities, and you don’t have to worry about having to mow the lawn or trim the bushes. You also don’t have to worry about annoying neighbors who like to park their cars on their front lawns or let their weeds grow out of control – the HOA won’t allow that sort of thing.

But, like any other investment, a little due diligence is required on your part to make sure the one you’re making is right for you. Don’t buy into anything that you’ll regret shortly after moving in.

Baseball is back! The Chicago Cubs open their 119^th season on Thursday, April 7 at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison Street. The Cubs take on their National League Central rival Milwaukee Brewers at 1:20pm. Kyle Hendricks starts as pitcher, and fans will have their first look at offseason marquee signing Seiya Suzuki. For tickets and information, click here. 

Chicago White Sox fans will have their Opening Day vs. the Seattle Mariners at Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday, April 12 at 3:10pm. For tickets and information, click here. 

Prom Night Revisited! Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark Street, closes down the kiddie parts on Thursday, April 7, for Adults Night Out, a post-prom party from 6:30pm-10pm, complete with boozy punch, a live DJ spinning throwback tunes, outdoor fun, themed photo ops, lawn games, food and drinks for the 21+ crowd. Dress in your prom-date best. You can even build your boutonnière or corsage! All tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the gate. For tickets, click here.

Hail, ‘King James!’ This is last weekend for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s acclaimed ‘King James,’ which ends its month-long run in Lincoln Park, 1650 N. Halsted Street, on Sunday, April 10. The play tells the story of 12 years of LeBron James’ life, through the eyes and relationship of two friends, from his rookie season to the NBA Championship. Written by ensemble member Rajiv Joseph, King James, according to Steppenwolf’s website, is “an intimate exploration of the place that sports occupy in our lives and relationships.” For tickets, click here.

Kidchella? Hella, yah! At Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue, on Sunday, April 10, ‘The Amazingly Outrageous Family Party‘ a free event, starts at noon and goes to 6pm. The organizers encourage you to come in your best costume, wild hats, anime outfits or best party outfit! Artisan vendors, the Kidchella festival, giant games, entertainment and Grammy nominee Steve Silk Hurley round out the event. For information, click here.

The 15^th Annual Chicago Restaurant Week 2022 ends Sunday, April 10. It’s your last chance for multi-course meals at $25 for brunch or lunch, and $39 and/or $55 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax, gratuity, and delivery fees). For a list of participating restaurants, click here.

Immerse yourself in a life-affirming yoga class at the site of Immersive Frieda Kahlo, 108 W. Germania Place, on Sunday, April 10, from 9am-9:45am. All classes take place in the multi-sensory Immersive Frida Kahlo exhibit space.  According to the instructors, “Each workout is designed to challenge the body and inspire the mind; choreographed in harmony with the music, sounds, light, and moving images from Frida Kahlo’s vast catalog of masterpieces.”  After class, you are invited to stay and experience the art around you for an additional 25 minutes. April offers a buy one-get one free option. For tickets, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Have you ever become extremely angry for seemingly no reason? Some days it seems like I am on my last nerve, and everyone had better stay out of my way! 

I have been learning how to better assess my emotions and realize where they’re coming from. I ran across a method this week which may be helpful for you too.

The method is called HALT. It originates from the thought that people make poor decisions when they are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Often, when we engage in negative behavior, one of these emotions is likely the underlying cause! Using a mindfulness technique like this one can regulate your emotions. If you feel off, ask the HALT questions:

Are you hungry? Being hungry often involves low blood sugar which can affect your decision-making abilities as well as your physical well-being. In short, you do not have the energy to regulate your emotions. Chemicals released in your brain change when hungry which can lead to anger and hastiness in decisions. Identify hunger signals like headaches, stomach rumbling, and irritability. Eat something ASAP. Include some protein like yogurt and a complex carb like nuts or whole grain cereal. A small meal is best, and try to avoid things high in sugar which will raise you fast, but the crash comes quickly.

Are you angry about something specific? Anger can make you impatient and can stimulate adrenaline and the part of your brain that involves threat stimuli also becomes involved. When you are becoming mindful of your emotions you can recognize that you are angry and use a technique to bring calm and self-awareness. Deep breathing is one good method. Sometimes vigorous exercise is best as it can use some of that adrenaline your anger churned up. 

Are you lonely? We are social beings and when we become lonely it can lead to anxiety and depression as well as making poor decisions because we feel disconnected. Loneliness is a little harder to manage. Try to reach out to someone with whom you can be your authentic self. Face to face connection especially promotes nervous system regulation that can move you back to a good baseline. 

Are you tired? Most of us feel tired more often than we ever have before. Life is so incredibly fast paced we seem to think we need to be working 24/7. Unfortunately, the result is exhaustion. You feel foggy and increased stress, especially when decisions need to be made. We need to prioritize our tasks and the decisions we need to make, and acknowledge we do not need to get everything done all at once. Prioritize a good night’s sleep, and the occasional break or walk outside can be beneficial. 

HALT is helpful for many people whether you have anger management issues or have chronic stress. It can help you pause and identify where your emotions are coming from and choose a less harmful route!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

It may be spring but it sure doesn’t look or feel like it here in Chicago. But at least our spring events are beginning to bloom this April weekend despite the dreariness around here!

Add some bloom to your weekend at one or both of these shows:

The Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 N. Stockton Dr.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood is hosting its Spring Flower Show: Pillars of Spring now through May 8^th.  Visitors will get some inspiration for planting vertically especially if you live in an urban area where there are no yards to grow plants and only have limited space like a balcony. This year’s show covers over a dozen free standing pillars with flowers like fuchsias, geraniums, nemesias, snapdragons and more. Also, azaleas and camellias will fill the room with beauty and elegance for added visions of spring!

The Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave.) in the East Garfield Park neighborhood is hosting its Spring Flower Show: Knock Knock now through May 8^th. This year’s show features an array of tulips, hydrangeas, daffodils, and hyacinth. Plus, you’ll find vintage doors from the Rebuilding Exchange hanging throughout the display with an abundance of knock knock jokes throughout the show house! Warm weather may seem like a distant memory but this fun, playful spring flower show will definitely bring a reprieve from the long Chicago winter!

Thriftkindl Vintage Spring Market is back and being hosted by various Chicagoland vintage resellers at the beautiful Wildwood Studio Chicago (2138 W. Roscoe St.) in the Roscoe Village neighborhood this Saturday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. On hand will be mid-century home décor for sale, colored vintage glassware including Viking swung vases in every color, Fenton fairy lights, vintage clothing, handmade artisan candles in vintage vessels, as well as lots of vintage treasures at affordable price points! It’s the best secondhand shopping day you’ll have and it’s all under one roof!!

The Pozole Cook Off returns for its 4^th annual, two-day event celebrating community with 20+ pozoles, prizes and beer this Saturday and Sunday (1 p.m. – 5 p.m.) at the Lo Rez Brewery & Taproom (2101 S. Carpenter St.) in the Pilsen neighborhood. Come cast your vote for the People’s Choice Pozole Cook Off Winner. First place receives the Pozole Trophy and Private Tour & Tasting. Second place receives a four pack of Lo Rez beer to go. Third place receives a round of beer for the winner and 3 friends. May the BEST pozole win!

Immerse yourself in a dazzling cat-themed world like you’ve never seen before at POP Cats this Saturday (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.) at Artifact Events (4325 N. Ravenswood Ave.) in the Ravenswood neighborhood. This fun-packed experience is fueled by the spirit of cats, pop, and art!  They will unveil six colorful cat playgrounds, a cat art exhibition, music, photo ops, brands, cat adoptions and much more. Plus, a portion of the profits will benefit participant cat organizations! Meow!

With Easter around the corner, the Norwood Park Egg Hunt will be blooming this Saturday (10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) at 5900 N. Nina Avenue on the school grounds.  This year’s hunt is going from 6,000 eggs to 10,000 eggs along with a mini donut truck, face painting, balloon twisting, live music and pictures with the Bunny which will be $15 per picture. It’s an Epic Eggstravaganza not to be missed!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

For nearly 70 years, North Side customers eager to get their nosh on have relied on The Bagel, a venerable Lakeview institution, for fresh lox, bagels and unusual creations featuring cured meats, fresh vegetables, fresh cheeses and freshly baked bread. 

Chef Danny Wolf and his family continues the tradition of home-style cooking and hospitality established by their parents and grandparents. And, according to The Bagel’s patrons, they have mastered the art of ‘building’ a sandwich. 

As Bon Appétit Magazine opined about building a perfect sandwich: “What makes it sing? Architecture. The balance of flavors and textures that make each bite harmonious. The care for logistics that keeps a tomato from sliding out. There’s a reason it’s called “building” a sandwich.”

The proof can be seen in The Bagel’s Reuben Sandwich, with sliced, lean corned beef and sauerkraut piled high and topped with melted Swiss cheese on grilled rye, served with Thousand Island dressing, coleslaw and your choice of side. Or, Grilled Salami and Cheese on rye bread with coleslaw and your choice of side. For something completely different, try one of their Hot Open-faced sandwiches, like their Brisket of Beef, served on white bread with mashed potatoes and gravy. Danny’s Five Star Deluxe combines turkey, salami, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and thousand island dressing; served on rye with your choice of side and coleslaw. Barb’s Bonanza has corned beef and chopped liver, served on rye with your choice of side and coleslaw. Among your choices: French fried potatoes, fresh fruit, pasta avocado salad potato salad, and potato pancake, made to order and served with sour cream or apple sauce. 

While their sandwiches often reach lofty levels of goodness, the large menu offers so many other worthy combinations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their Hoppel-Poppel Omelette pairs diced frankfurter or salami, potato, green pepper and onion. Or, Broiled Kippers (smoked herring) with eggs. Chopped Liver is served with raw onion and a tomato slice. 

Fish delicacies are served with dairy-fresh cream cheese, sliced red tomatoes, raw onion, cucumber, green pepper, black olives and your choice of bagel. The Lox Spread pairs cream cheese, blended with smoked salmon and onions, served with tomato slice and a bagel. Or, try their Smoked Whitefish Salad Platter, served with sliced red tomato, raw onion, cucumber, green pepper, black olives and your choice of bagel, sans cream cheese.

Savory Specials include Chicken in the Pot, which is one-half of a tender spring chicken, served in golden chicken broth with matzo ball, kreplach, noodles, rice, cooked carrot and boiled potato.

Google reviewers were often rapturous. 

“Excellent breakfast, lunch and dinner deli/ bakery/full menu restaurant,” wrote one. “First class staff, and owner take care of each customer like they’re the only customer.  Monday special is wild caught salmon.  Thursday is BBQ chicken…vegetable soup is a meal in itself.  My favorite sandwiches are the chicken salad,  and the pastrami. Can’t go wrong here!”

Another said, “Wonderful deli food, good service, reasonable prices, free parking. I ordered a half pastrami sandwich on rye with a bowl of sweet and sour cabbage soup. They know how to please. I left with a smile.”

The Bagel is located at 3107 N. Broadway. They’re open daily from 8am-9pm, and their free parking lot is on Barry. While reservations aren’t mentioned, you can find out more by clicking here.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago