I lived in Pinegate for over two years, and while it's not the most elegant place on earth, if you want to live in Chapel Hill to get the best schools for your children and are seeking an affordable place, this is a good solution.

The management changed on-site personnel many times during my stay, which made it a bit difficult to know with whom I was dealing. On the whole, I had no real problems with the management.

Maintenance response time is erratic. Service was rarely speedy. Some problems remained unsolved throughout my stay, most notably the rain that leaked in through the chimney.

Some of the walkways are old and not well maintained. You have to be particularly careful about rotting timbers that line steps, because one of my family members came very close to falling and suffering an injury because of this problem. At night, when lighting is poor, this constitutes a real danger.

There is a club house, but there are very few events there. The swimming pool is very popular in the summer, and while it's not always immaculate, it's reasonably kept. The tennis courts I never used, so I can't comment there. The playground for children is a joke. Residents have access to a fitness center at Royal Park, which is a drive and not really worth the effort; I ended up taking a subscription to a gym instead.

During my stay, conditions did improve on the property; I felt the management was trying to raise the level. Perhaps there are more elegant properties around, but in Chapel Hill, the chance that you can afford them is minimal. If you're on a shoestring budget and want a good location for your family, you can definitely live at Pinegate. If you can afford better, chances are you'd choose to move elsewhere, but it's not a bad solution for a person who wants affordable housing of reasonable quality.

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