Another reason why I will NEVER buy a house that's under a Homeowner Association

[Linflas]

Then HOAs are not FOR YOU. For some people, they are PERFECT.

I am not sure why you are railing against HOAs? Do you think they should be abolished?

MotionMan

No but I do think that through the zoning process they should have limits so that people that don't want to deal with them have that option. In areas that are almost exclusively new construction you are virtually forced into HOA controlled developments unless you can find an old house available for purchase.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I love how this thread isn't even about the original post any more.

HOAs make me laugh for two reasons. The people that want them, and the people that either don't understand them or didn't actually look at their stipulations before moving in.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Then HOAs are not FOR YOU. For some people, they are PERFECT.

I am not sure why you are railing against HOAs? Do you think they should be abolished?

MotionMan

Yes they should be abolished. They are nothing more than scams. Usually when a new neighborhood is built they force the residents into one if they want to buy the house. I'd bet also that the home builders are getting a kickback from the association too. I'm against people taking money out of my pockets and into their own without good reason.

 

[child of wonder]

People who cannot control themselves, need to be controlled.

MotionMan

I'm fixing a flat tire in my driveway and painting my house blue.

I'M OUT OF CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!

#firstworldproblems

 

[Specop 007]

Yes they should be abolished. They are nothing more than scams. Usually when a new neighborhood is built they force the residents into one if they want to buy the house. I'd bet also that the home builders are getting a kickback from the association too. I'm against people taking money out of my pockets and into their own without good reason.

I will agree with that point. Non-HOA new construction is pretty difficult to find.

 

[BurnItDwn]

My first townhouse was in a HOA. I hate HOAs, will NEVER buy a house in an HOA again.
There is no use for an HOA. The village/county should have ordinances/code to cover what can and can't be done on a property to stop "asshat neighbor." An HOA is not necessary.

 

[child of wonder]

Yes they should be abolished. They are nothing more than scams. Usually when a new neighborhood is built they force the residents into one if they want to buy the house. I'd bet also that the home builders are getting a kickback from the association too. I'm against people taking money out of my pockets and into their own without good reason.

I can see why people would want an HOA. However, they should not be given sweeping powers to dictate every nuance of someone's home and property.

They should also be easily voted out, require no one home may have someone on the HOA board in consecutive years, etc. There would have to be strict controls in place to ensure the HOA does not go overboard and become a group of snobby housewives that bully all the other members into conformity over nonsensical issues.

 

[Specop 007]

As someone else posted earlier, doesn't matter. I don't have to be shot in the head to know it doesn't feel well. Some people want HOA's, some of us are independent enough to know we dont need or want them.

A HOA won't help me in what I need to do. All it will be is big brother watching, a hindrance. Most HOA's also require a fee to operate and I am against wasting my money in that fashion. I don't need, nor want a HOA.

In fact it absolutely does matter. If the entirety of your experiences with HOA's comes from news articles then yes you would think they are the worst thing since Stalin.

It would also mean you have a very incorrect view of HOAs as well. That may not necessarily mean you would want to live in one with a better understanding of them however.

 

[Linflas]

My first townhouse was in a HOA. I hate HOAs, will NEVER buy a house in an HOA again.
There is no use for an HOA. The village/county should have ordinances/code to cover what can and can't be done on a property to stop "asshat neighbor." An HOA is not necessary.

Problem with that is they would quickly run into "freedom of expression" issues whereas an HOA is a voluntary agreement among homeowners and not subject to such limitations for the most part.

 

[MotionMan]

require no one home may have someone on the HOA board in consecutive years

As most HOAs I have dealt with have problems filling out their Boards year after year, this limitation would be unworkable.

MotionMan

 

[IndyColtsFan]

As most HOAs I have dealt with have problems filling out their Boards year after year, this limitation would be unworkable.

MotionMan

I think ours probably still has vacant positions. The same people are always on it for the reason you mention above. I told my wife that we should run for it next time.

 

[Bateluer]

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...tion-for-colored-christmas-lights/?hpt=us_bn4

No colored Christmas lights for you.

 

[MotionMan]

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...tion-for-colored-christmas-lights/?hpt=us_bn4

No colored Christmas lights for you.

Out of 38 total responses, 19 voted for white lights, 14 voted for colored non-blinking lights, and 5 voted for colored blinking. The board said the vote was 19-14 against colored lights, interpreting the 5 votes as a separate category.

If the CC&Rs say white lights only, then 50% is not enough to overturn that no matter how you count the votes (actually survey results, but the same idea).

However, this part is disturbing:

“One of my neighbors that I spoke to a few days ago, who decorates with multicolored lights, says he never got a letter of warning or a fine.”

Those are the kinds of things that cause someone like me to get involved

MotionMan

 

[Linflas]

I think ours probably still has vacant positions. The same people are always on it for the reason you mention above. I told my wife that we should run for it next time.

Be careful what you wish for. I ended up president of ours for a year, told them I would do it for 1 term and then I was done with the board. Now my involvement is limited to the ARC committee to rubber stamp deck requests. It is the few activist HOA's that give a bad name to them all, most are lucky to have a full board or make quorum at the annual meetings let alone screw with people endlessly.

 

[child of wonder]

As most HOAs I have dealt with have problems filling out their Boards year after year, this limitation would be unworkable.

MotionMan

Then what's to stop the same small group of families from consistently serving on the board and running amok?

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Yet another story of a HOA, that in my opinion, has gone bonkers.

http://www.ktsm.com/national/homeow...s-family-to-remove-disabled-boys-therapy-home

Every time I hear about a story on here, or the news, it makes me never ever want to live in any place that has a HOA. I don't care how nice the house is or how cheap it is, nothing is worth the headache that HOAs give.

Best way to avoid problems with an HOA is to become a member of the board. I did that in my new commnuity, and it has worked out well. Then again, we have very little power to begin with.

 

[Arkaign]

A lot of HOAs are pretty innocuous, but enough of them are terrible that it's a reasonable concern when moving into an area.

The absolute #1 worst thing about it is that even if the HOA is awesome at the time you move in, 5 years later general dickmunch and a bunch of bored housewive nazis might take over and start making ridiculous changes.

I think it's funny and a bit ironic that HOAs are common in tea-party type middle-class neighborhoods who rail against big gov't nosing into their lives, but voluntarily pay a tax to a bunch of nanny-statist cock-gobblers that want to take their money in exchange for telling you how to live your life in your own home.

 

[jessieqwert]

Sorry but Americans do not have enough class or style to make these decisions themselves.

I wonder how many gigawatt light displays replete with inflatable snow globes and reindeer occur in other countries?

 

[NetWareHead]

My first townhouse was in a HOA. I hate HOAs, will NEVER buy a house in an HOA again.
There is no use for an HOA. The village/county should have ordinances/code to cover what can and can't be done on a property to stop "asshat neighbor." An HOA is not necessary.

Regarding your comment on there is no use for HOAs: Alot of times the local ordinances do not exist. Not every town has ordinances in effect that prevent undesirable behavior. Therefore, it falls on the HOA to create the rules deemed necessary to preserve the desired look and behavior of the neighborhood.

I know some HOAs around me exist in towns that are still somewhat rural and backcountry. A builder might like the land or location but is not going to risk his investment and build up a development over the course of a few years and watch the new construction get sold to a bunch of hicks who will do what they want with the property. That affects the appearance of the neighborhood and drives down the price of houses/property in the rest of the development. So while the rest of the town may permit chickens or running an auto-body shop from a residential garage, the HOA properties will forbid this and keep up their value. Just one example for you.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Regarding your comment on there is no use for HOAs: Alot of times the local ordinances do not exist. Not every town has ordinances in effect that prevent undesirable behavior. Therefore, it falls on the HOA to create the rules deemed necessary to preserve the desired look and behavior of the neighborhood.

I know some HOAs around me exist in towns that are still somewhat rural and backcountry. A builder might like the land or location but is not going to risk his investment and build up a development over the course of a few years and watch the new construction get sold to a bunch of hicks who will do what they want with the property. That affects the appearance of the neighborhood and drives down the price of houses/property in the rest of the development. So while the rest of the town may permit chickens or running an auto-body shop from a residential garage, the HOA properties will forbid this and keep up their value. Just one example for you.

I want some chickens, then I don't have to go to the store to buy eggs. Also I want goats, so I don't have to mow the lawn.

 

[NetWareHead]

I want some chickens, then I don't have to go to the store to buy eggs. Also I want goats, so I don't have to mow the lawn.

I want some pie

 

[BurnItDwn]

I want some pie

Too bad, the HOA bans pies due to having to have an oven, which are forbidden by the HOA due to fire hazard!



Anyhow, I am trying to change the subject since I have obviously lost the discussion.... and rather than admit defeat, I will instead attempt a distraction. How's it working?

 

[Raduque]

Basically yes, yes and yes.

I don't want you as my neighbor and, if you are my neighbor, I want damn sure that your "I WONT GIVE A FUCK" attitude about respecting your neighbors is controlled. People like you need to be controlled.

MotionMan

Fuck you, you stupid nazi.

 

[MotionMan]

Then what's to stop the same small group of families from consistently serving on the board and running amok?

Other families getting involved.

See my tips on how to deal with an HOA in a prior post in this thread.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Sorry but Americans do not have enough class or style to make these decisions themselves.

I wonder how many gigawatt light displays replete with inflatable snow globes and reindeer occur in other countries?

Plenty.

MotionMan