HOA's
Grimmerick
Posts: 3,342 Member
Love'em, Hate'em or both. I am trying to buy a house and the one I put an offer in on has an HOA it's only $41 dollars a month so that makes me think it isn't a very strict one. My dad HATES HOA's and has only had problems with them but I have also noticed rusty garbage and high grass in some of the neighborhoods without an HOA. Around where I live most of the neighborhoods have HOA's. So what's your take or past experiences, Do you like an HOA or think they are a Pain?
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I rent a house in a community that has HOA...and you know...they suck hard! I cant have my camper, or any form of recreational vehicle (Bike included) in front of my house for more than 2 hours....seriously! with 2 kids, it takes more than 2 hours to load it up!0
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I think it would vary pretty significantly based on that specific association. Here, the only places I would expect to see an HOA would be for condos. I haven't personally had to deal with them but when we were shopping for houses, some of our options included condos and the differences in the fees were interesting.0
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They can be good AND bad.
One of the board members in the HOA where my mom used to live told our Girl Scout neighbor that she's call the police if she saw the neighbor going door to door selling cookies because there were no soliciting signs. There was a concrete patio outside of the front and back doors and when my mom bought the place, tree roots were pushing up the back patio a little bit. When she went to sell, even though it was the same as when she bought, they made her fix it before they'd approve the sale. A friend of hers fixed it and they said it had to be a professional, so that cost a couple grand.
Friends have one that dictates what color they can paint the INSIDE of their garage.
Where I live, a few people have fences that cost $1,000 to put up to the HOA standards. The president of the board decided she doesn't like the fences and not only wanted to ban any new ones being put up, but force those who had them to tear them down. Thankfully, the rest of the board (my friend is VP and has a fence) shot that down, but the president won't speak to her now.
They do tend to make sure lawns are mowed and sort of help keep property values steady, but the one time you want to do something to your property that they don't approve (even though they approved your neighbor the month before), you'll see why people hate them. lol0 -
It depends. In some cases, they are responsible for the common areas of the neighborhood and can be good for the value of your home. Othertimes, they get a big head and become dictators.
We had one here that was in a large subdivision with a park in it. They allowed NO street parking whatsoever despite the streets being suitable for parking. So for people who had guests, birthday parties at the park, or whatever, they had to start having people [park at the wal-mart down the road and shuttle them to the houses..0 -
LOVE!!!!! I would never live in a subdivision that did not have a HOA. It's the best way to ensure your neighbors keep up with their yards, the noise policies, color of their houses, building crazy things, etc. Oh....and my pet peeves- Christmas lights up year round on your house and parking your car in the grass. Yes, I've seen this allowed and done in some neighborhoods.0
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It really depends on their "rules" if I think they suck.... around here we have had many HOA's in the news because they are just so asinine.... one was in the news because they didn't allow a "working man's" truck in the driveways... but you could park your "truck" made by Cadillac or some other luxury vehicle parading as a truck... We also have had HOA's that won't let you put solar panels on the roof because they are "ugly" or would try to foreclose on someone's home because they weren't current on their dues... But on the flip side the ones that we looked into where super relaxed (the one that we are in now has no dues and I don't think the board even exists anymore)... and they would help neighbors out if someone got sick (like mowing the lawn or whatnot)... my MIL's, while not perfect, has provided an open "park" space for the residents in that area.... so honestly, it just really depends on how much power the HOA tries to grab.0
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It really depends on their "rules" if I think they suck.... around here we have had many HOA's in the news because they are just so asinine.... one was in the news because they didn't allow a "working man's" truck in the driveways... but you could park your "truck" made by Cadillac or some other luxury vehicle parading as a truck... We also have had HOA's that won't let you put solar panels on the roof because they are "ugly" or would try to foreclose on someone's home because they weren't current on their dues
I would consider these great rules and not sucky at all.
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hate them, i should be able to do with my property what i want. yeah they make everyone keep up their yard, but at what cost. you have a board on a power trip and rules that don't make sense.
i live in a condo complex that has a hoa, they do nothing to keep up the condos, but fine anyone who even tries to put up a flag or put some flowers in front of their door. they're on a power trip. all the pipes in the complex are old and starting to break, we've had 3 leaks in one year, one that was so bad i had mold damage in a huge corner of my living room. i had to get new carpet and they refuse to pay for my deductible. hate hate hate hoa's.
but then, the next place i buy will be out in the country with very few neighbors and no hoa. i refuse to live in an area with a hoa.0 -
Christmas lights up year round on your house and parking your car in the grass. Yes, I've seen this allowed and done in some neighborhoods.
It's almost like living in a war zone. :-)0 -
Ha! But it is tacky!It's almost like living in a war zone. :-)0 -
Ha! But it is tacky!It's almost like living in a war zone. :-)
I grew up in the country. Doesn't bother me one bit.0 -
It really depends on their "rules" if I think they suck.... around here we have had many HOA's in the news because they are just so asinine.... one was in the news because they didn't allow a "working man's" truck in the driveways... but you could park your "truck" made by Cadillac or some other luxury vehicle parading as a truck... We also have had HOA's that won't let you put solar panels on the roof because they are "ugly" or would try to foreclose on someone's home because they weren't current on their dues
I would consider these great rules and not sucky at all.
They told my dad he couldn't put up a small rubbermaid shed(that he would take down when he moved) in his backyard that you couldn't see from the street. He told them that they needed to go to all of the houses that had sheds in the backyards (that looked like they had been there for twenty years) and tell the owners they needed to tear them down. They okayed the shed after that, which tells me their rules can be ridiculous sometimes and not based on anything but their own ****ty opinions or mood that day.0 -
Those things bother me, so we chose to live in a neighborhood with a HOA. I don't know why people would choose to live some place with one when they're opposed to them.I grew up in the country. Doesn't bother me one bit.0 -
It really depends on their "rules" if I think they suck.... around here we have had many HOA's in the news because they are just so asinine.... one was in the news because they didn't allow a "working man's" truck in the driveways... but you could park your "truck" made by Cadillac or some other luxury vehicle parading as a truck... We also have had HOA's that won't let you put solar panels on the roof because they are "ugly" or would try to foreclose on someone's home because they weren't current on their dues
I would consider these great rules and not sucky at all.
Mmm... no. Picking and choosing which truck you can park on your own driveway is discriminatory... either all trucks can park in the driveway or none at all... not just ones that are "pretty"... and if people want to improve their house by putting up solar panels, they should be allowed too... they aren't ugly and you won't even notice them after a while because they are the same color as the roof... It's not like they are painting their house Neon pink with Barney the dinosaur purple polka dots all over it.... and the HOA does not own the house... the bank does (unless of course you have paid your note).... there are other ways to "punish" someone that doesn't pay their dues...0 -
We have that same policy. I'm sure there are some boards who are inconsistent. That's when you make a complaint. I'm certainly not going to paint my house orange when I know it's against the policy just because 3 other neighbors did. Just because others break rules, doesn't mean it's then okay for everyone else to.They told my dad he couldn't put up a small rubbermaid shed(that he would take down when he moved) in his backyard that you couldn't see from the street. He told them that they needed to go to all of the houses that had sheds in the backyards (that looked like they had been there for twenty years) and tell the owners they needed to tear them down. They okayed the shed after that, which tells me their rules can be ridiculous sometimes and not based on anything but their own ****ty opinions or mood that day.0 -
There's a difference between "ugly" trucks and "work" trucks. I don't know how any of that can be discriminatory if it's spelled out before you sign the agreement. You either agree to it or you don't. If you don't, go live somewhere else.Mmm... no. Picking and choosing which truck you can park on your own driveway is discriminatory... either all trucks can park in the driveway or none at all... not just ones that are "pretty"... and if people want to improve their house by putting up solar panels, they should be allowed too... they aren't ugly and you won't even notice them after a while because they are the same color as the roof... It's not like they are painting their house Neon pink with Barney the dinosaur purple polka dots all over it.... and the HOA does not own the house... the bank does (unless of course you have paid your note).... there are other ways to "punish" someone that doesn't pay their dues...0 -
Those things bother me, so we chose to live in a neighborhood with a HOA. I don't know why people would choose to live some place with one when they're opposed to them.I grew up in the country. Doesn't bother me one bit.
The problem is that it's getting more and more difficult to find a place to live that doesn't have one.0 -
Pain in the *kitten*.
Some HOA can sell your house or take over it if you don't pay your annual dues!0 -
So....pay your dues???? Even strict HOA's have payment plans. If you're making an effort, they're not going to take over your house.Some HOA can sell your house or take over it if you don't pay your annual dues!0 -
We have that same policy. I'm sure there are some boards who are inconsistent. That's when you make a complaint. I'm certainly not going to paint my house orange when I know it's against the policy just because 3 other neighbors did. Just because others break rules, doesn't mean it's then okay for everyone else to.They told my dad he couldn't put up a small rubbermaid shed(that he would take down when he moved) in his backyard that you couldn't see from the street. He told them that they needed to go to all of the houses that had sheds in the backyards (that looked like they had been there for twenty years) and tell the owners they needed to tear them down. They okayed the shed after that, which tells me their rules can be ridiculous sometimes and not based on anything but their own ****ty opinions or mood that day.
There shouldn't even be a rule where you can't have a shed in your own backyard to keep your mower and yard implements clean and dry in, maybe a rule on the color and size (and give you a choice in that). They have rules that don't make any sense and they don't have to explain themselves and you have no different choices, that's what pisses people off.0 -
Can an HOA change rules and say one year they want you to have a fence a certain height and the next year someone new comes in and wants the fence lowered, and you have to pay to have the fence changed?0
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It's not about having a shed. It is more about the size of the shed in most cases.There shouldn't even be a rule where you can't have a shed in your own backyard to keep your mower and yard implements clean and dry in, maybe a rule on the color and size (and give you a choice in that). They have rules that don't make any sense and they don't have to explain themselves and you have no different choices, that's what pisses people off.0 -
Can an HOA change rules and say one year they want you to have a fence a certain height and the next year someone new comes in and wants the fence lowered, and you have to pay to have the fence changed?
There are usually meetings and votes for big changes. If the HOA is going to change something that big, they'd have to pay for it.0 -
There's a difference between "ugly" trucks and "work" trucks. I don't know how any of that can be discriminatory if it's spelled out before you sign the agreement. You either agree to it or you don't. If you don't, go live somewhere else.Mmm... no. Picking and choosing which truck you can park on your own driveway is discriminatory... either all trucks can park in the driveway or none at all... not just ones that are "pretty"... and if people want to improve their house by putting up solar panels, they should be allowed too... they aren't ugly and you won't even notice them after a while because they are the same color as the roof... It's not like they are painting their house Neon pink with Barney the dinosaur purple polka dots all over it.... and the HOA does not own the house... the bank does (unless of course you have paid your note).... there are other ways to "punish" someone that doesn't pay their dues...
I said working man's truck... ie, a Ford F150, a Chevy Silverado, a Toyota Tacoma... not necessarily trucks with company logos all over it or construction supplies hanging all over it... and honestly, as long as it doesn't look like they went mudding for the weekend and didn't even bother to hose it off or is blocking traffic, what difference does it make? Just the idea that an HOA would even put these into their rules just amazes me... I don't live in subdivisions with these kinds of rules because I don't want to live around people that think like this... I don't want to live in an HOA that will foreclose on an active duty reservists house when he went to Iraq and his wife was too depressed and fell behind on bills... according to the news, the reservist owned the house outright... HOA's get to high on their power trip and I would just rather not live with such people.0 -
I hated my HOA. Our monthly dues were $75 regardless of whether you lived in a free-standing, single family house or in a townhome. One of the things they did that really bothered me was the notice that everyone in the neighborhood received that stated we had to have our homes professionally painted. Of course there were required colors that we could choose from. That didn't bother me so much. What did bother me was that they provided financial aid to those who lived in the townhomes to help cover the cost of the painting while anyone who lived in a house had to cover the entire cost out of pocket. I guess if I had lived in a townhome, this wouldn't have bothered me so much!
At one point somone tried to break in my house (my brother was home so they didn't succeed). In the process of coming through the window though, they bent the frame and a couple of the slats. I got a notice less than a week later telling me that both needed to be replaced ASAP or I would be fined.
I just had a bad experience with my HOA . I do know people who love their HOA though so it really varies from place to place.0 -
I wouldn't consider those "working" trucks. Ours is more specific and really applies to truckers, tow trucks, and things like that.I said working man's truck... ie, a Ford F150, a Chevy Silverado, a Toyota Tacoma...0 -
I wouldn't consider those "working" trucks. Ours is more specific and really applies to truckers, tow trucks, and things like that.I said working man's truck... ie, a Ford F150, a Chevy Silverado, a Toyota Tacoma...
That's why I didn't say working or work truck... I meant to imply the difference between the luxury trucks and the trucks I described...0 -
It really depends on their "rules" if I think they suck.... around here we have had many HOA's in the news because they are just so asinine.... one was in the news because they didn't allow a "working man's" truck in the driveways... but you could park your "truck" made by Cadillac or some other luxury vehicle parading as a truck... We also have had HOA's that won't let you put solar panels on the roof because they are "ugly" or would try to foreclose on someone's home because they weren't current on their dues
I would consider these great rules and not sucky at all.
Really?! You would rather have empty homes with bug problems, squatters, etc. because your HOA forced someone to leave because they didn't pay dues? And not letting someone park their vehicle, regardless of what it looks like, in their own driveway? Why do you care?0 -
That's so sad. But, really.....the wife wasn't opening her bills? What did she think would happen? I don't think they would have done this had there been some comminication with what the family was going through.0
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