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

[Freejack2]

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.

 

[bfdd]

I got a letter from mine saying I need to take the little table off the deck, yet the people right next to me have theirs and I asked if they got a letter they said no. I asked the guy across from me who has 3 chairs, a bbq and a table if he got one, he said no. So next week I'm going to be at the meeting asking wtf is this non-sense. They're pissed because I keep bitching about the parking situation. We have something like 100 extra parking spots in the back that used to be usable by visitors, now we require a sticker and they tow anyone parked back there. The problem is there's only about 30 parking spots in the front and the people with units facing outward only park in these spots so there's really only about 10-12 visitors spots for a 220 unit condo complex.

 

[Jumpem]

Well it's obviously against the rules for sheds or other structures to be put up there. Most likely, the homeowners also need to have any exterior projects approved by a board before being done.

The parents should have checked before proceeding.

 

[AUMM]

meh, I've set up 16 HOA's for small communities (smallest of 6 homes up to 22 homes) and they work best for these type of communities. When it's small enough you and your neighbors directly control what can be done and cant and how your money is spent.

However in this case I don't see anything wrong with what the HOA is doing. the parents should have checked first. It's only making the news because the boy is disabled

 

[Freejack2]

Some HOAs may be reasonable but too many aren't. My wife set up a garden in the back yard this past spring. She just had to put the time in to make it. With a HOA we'd probably have to go through permission to do so and there's no guarantee we'd get approval to do so. Our neighbor like to put up christmas decorations, once again something that most likely requires HOA approval.
No thank you.

 

[DaTT]

I think Hitler was reborn as HOA's

 

[dud]

OP, if you had lived next to the people that I used to ... you might well feel differently.

I am no fan of HOAs but they have their place in higher density housing developments ... especially where one house/family can drag the whole neighborhood down.

If you only knew ...

 

[Newbian]

Don't get me wrong that it sucks but it is what they had in the rules before it was built and last I checked not something required and can be enforced to keep like a wheelchair ramp.

 

[waggy]

The family should have checked the rules. BUT they may get around it since for therapy (and doctor recommended) not to mention now its in the news and the backlash may get them.


i for one will NEVER buy a home in a HOA though.

 

[Newbian]

The family should have checked the rules. BUT they may get around it since for therapy (and doctor recommended) not to mention now its in the news and the backlash may get them.


i for one will NEVER buy a home in a HOA though.

Would it be enforceable?

I know some things like a wheelchair ramp are but is something like this where it was only recommended something that could be forced into the rules?

 

[waggy]

Would it be enforceable?

I know some things like a wheelchair ramp are but is something like this where it was only recommended something that could be forced into the rules?

not sure. find a lawyer and sue under the ADA. i bet then they would change the tune..

 

[AFurryReptile]

Currently living under a HOA.

The only problems they've ever given me were about my lawn...

 

[child of wonder]

My wife and I plan on purchasing a lake lot eventually and building a house on it and are very concerned the only way we can accomplish this is by living under a HOA which I refuse to do.

I will NEVER live somewhere where I have to beg a board of housewives whether I can plant a garden, build a shed, or paint my house.

 

[SSSnail]

I would have figured out a way to put that whole structure on a giant swing set and trololololololololol the so called association.

 

[Specop 007]

If its not someone pissed off because their neighbor painted his house pink and the other neighbor has a car up on blocks in the driveway its someone pissed off because they cant.

In the big scheme of things I'll take a HOA over no HOA just for the fact I wont have to worry about unsightly jackassery in the neighborhood.

 

[Jumpem]

If its not someone pissed off because their neighbor painted his house pink and the other neighbor has a car up on blocks in the driveway its someone pissed off because they cant.

In the big scheme of things I'll take a HOA over no HOA just for the fact I wont have to worry about unsightly jackassery in the neighborhood.

This. After living both ways, I would not want to live in a non-HOA area again. Everything is well maintained, and there are no unsightly and unkept neighbors.

 

[Quakester]

HOA's are a pain, no doubt about that. Been in one for 25 years and won't do it again. That being said...

No one can buy a house in an association until the CCR's are read and signed. Ignorance of the rules is not an issue because of that. If they didn't know it wasn't allowed, then that's on the homeowner, like it or not. Rules are rules. Don't like it? Don't move into an association.

Some people think rules don't apply to them. Good luck with that.

Did I mention I'm not fond of HOA's anyway?

 

[Newbian]

My wife and I plan on purchasing a lake lot eventually and building a house on it and are very concerned the only way we can accomplish this is by living under a HOA which I refuse to do.

I will NEVER live somewhere where I have to beg a board of housewives whether I can plant a garden, build a shed, or paint my house.

What if you are forced into one as has happened at times when enough people in the area make and join one?

Would you move instantly?

 

[invidia]

Years back, my great grandfather was a WW2 veteran and was injured waist down in 1944. My dad helped built a tiny 2 foot ramp on the steps of the house, so he can wheel himself up the porch of his home.

HoA came inand force him to take it down.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

The HOA are being dicks, they need to bend the rules for a disabled child. It's not like its some eye sore of a structure, it actually looks very nice for a childs playhouse.

 

[Newbian]

The HOA are being dicks, they need to bend the rules for a disabled child. It's not like its some eye sore of a structure, it actually looks very nice for a childs playhouse.

The problem is if they allow one person to do it then everyone else has a case for a unattached building.

 

[Baked]

I have no problem with my HOA. I have absolutely no time to maintain tree leaves and pine needles. If it were up to me, the walkways would be littered with crap. Yeah it's pricey, but meh.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

The problem is if they allow one person to do it then everyone else has a case for a unattached building.

This is a legit argument. But they could just say any unattached buildings have to be approved by them first, that way they can deny anything that is going to look like crap.

 

[Mike Gayner]

This. After living both ways, I would not want to live in a non-HOA area again. Everything is well maintained, and there are no unsightly and unkept neighbors.

HOA's dont exist here, and somehow I live in a nicely kept neighbourhood, as do many other people.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

HOA are just for people that cant stand a single thing out of place and have no life other than to make sure their entire neighborhood is some fantasy vision of perfection