topic Re: problems with HOA? in Among Friends

problems with HOA?

lovesrecess — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:03:34 GMT

DH and I are considering buying a home in a large community about 2 hrs from our current home. It does have what they call an "active homeowners association board"....and the monthly fee is quite high....have you had any problems with overbearing HOA boards or nit-picking rules or regulations? We are ready to buy but this one issue is giving us second thoughts.....

Re: problems with HOA?

Carmie — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:07:44 GMT

I would never pay high HOA fees to have someone tell one what I can and cannot do with the property I own.

if you are serious, you can always ask for a copy of the covenants to look over before you put in an offer. That way you will know ahead of time weather you can live within the "rules" and see what the HOA fees include.

Re: problems with HOA?

Kachina624 — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:07:54 GMT

HOAs have as many personalities as people do. I'd talk to several people presently living there to determine which way the wind blows. Drive through the area and talk to people who are outside washing the car, doing yard work, etc.

Re: problems with HOA?

VaBelle35 — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:08:48 GMT

I'm on my HOA board and am trying to get them to be less nitpicky, but it's not working. I am actually part of 2 HOAs, so twice as many rules and two boards to deal with.

In my community, I am responsible for all exterior maintenance and that's why it's such a problem.

If you are not responsible for exterior maintenance, then there's less to complain to you about.

You should be able to obtain the rule book. Ours has things like you grass can't be more than 4 inches and trees can't be more than 6" into the driveway and sidewalk.

Driveway cracks and broken garage doors are the hot items here. They make people redo their driveways all the time and replace garage doors when they break, even if you don't use it.

For the first 25 years, we could not have garden flags out front.

Re: problems with HOA?

riley1 — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:13:17 GMT

I presently live in an HOA and have had no problems. See if you can get a copy of the covenant and read through it before hand just to make sure this is something you can live with. It should be self explanatory.

Is it in a gated community? If so, you will need the realtor to take you back in to see the property again. Good Luck.

I will add I moved from an area with no communities of this type so I was more leary. However, after being here for some years now, there is no way I would live in anything but an HOA area or gated community.

Re: problems with HOA?

NicksmomESQ — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:20:19 GMT

I’ve lived in a development with a HOA for 29 years.Of course there are some basic rules that you have to adhere to.Some HOA’s are stricter than others.The one I live in is pretty good.They allow the homeowners to have different front doors, outside light fixtures & windows.Some insist that the exterior of every home has to look the same.

Where I live all kinds of holiday decorations are allowed.My friend lives in another development & she is restricted in how she can decorate & how long it can stay up.

Bottom line do your homework & find out what is & isn’t allowed!!

Oh! The fees don’t bother me because it covers a lot.It covers snow removal up to my front door, landscaping, the siding, repaving of sidewalks & parking areas, roof repair etc. DH has no time or inclination to do outside maintenance so this setup works for us.If we lived in a house it would cost a lot more to hire the help.

Re: problems with HOA?

chrystaltree — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:14:56 GMT

They are all overbearing and they all have nit picky rules. That is why they exist to ensure uniformity and to protect the property, safety and peace of the homeowners.

Re: problems with HOA?

lovesrecess — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:15:27 GMT

We saw the rule book but have not looked through it yet..it is about four inches thick.....yikes.

Re: problems with HOA?

AuntG — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:15:56 GMT

Oh boy, have I read stories out here about HOA's. Some are so assertive and others do nothing constructive. Luckily they are not commonplace by me. No one is going to tell me I can't hang sheets on the line or put a twelve foot Christmas tree on my lawn! I do wish the neighbor who cuts own at 5:30 am could be stopped, but what the hay, we don't have a HOA!

Re: problems with HOA?

SeaMaiden — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:16:25 GMT

Our fees are $175 a year. I would not want to live in a community neighborhood without an HOA. It helps keep the neighborhood nicer. An HOA is not perfect, but it helps.

Re: problems with HOA?

proudlyfromNJ — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:23:17 GMT

We don't have any around here unless it is newly built condos. The town laws keep the town looking nice. No junk piled in yards, etc. Everyone keeps their home looking neat, clean and nice.

Re: problems with HOA?

Azcowgirl — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:24:02 GMT

I sold my Dads house just in time to avoid the HOA requiring that I redo the driveway. Through the years for the most part, I have been grateful for the r and r’s of HOA communities we have lived in.

Re: problems with HOA?

Sweetbay magnolia — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:32:47 GMT

I am opposed to them, for me. Yes, I have had issues with the need to conform to a "standard". Not to mention the dues, which were not always spent how I would have wished.

Enforced "community" is not my thing, at all. I live on a state road and own my property without the encumbrance of an HOA. The neighborhood is a little eclectic but it's very nice.

Houses can be run down in the "planned" communities, as well. So much litigation over who shot John. Enforcement of the covenants and by-laws is not a slam dunk.

You may love it. Yes, read the docs - in fact, I am sure you will have to do just that and then sign a document at closing that you agree to abide by them, or legal action may be taken against you by the association.

Re: problems with HOA?

Meowingkitty — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:55:28 GMT

Several years ago we almost bought a home in an HOA and after we read the rules we backed out. One rule was we could not bbq meat in the back yard. Why? Because if someone in the area was a vegetarian the smell might offend them. We would have had to go to the community park for a burger. Another reason was they could regulated how many cats or dogs you could have in your house. (And they said they have the right to come into my house if they deemed necessary) At they time we had 7 all indoor kitties and that was above the limit. The sales agent told us to just put a couple of them to sleep. Of course, it didn’t matter if you had 7 kids. That was the straw that broke the camels back. When we backed out the sales agent was none to pleased and thought we were being to picky. Also, no water features in the front, back or side yard, only HOA approved plants, colors etc. If there was to be a storm, the yard had to be perfect within 24 hours. If trees shedded their leaves, all leaves had to be picked up daily. No cars parked outside of garage. They must be in garage at all times. If you had visitors they could not park on the street and that included vendors. And the list went on. We decided to stay in our non HOA home. HOA’s have some good points but I don’t like paying my hard earned money for people to nit pick.

I read that that there is a HOA in Scottsdale or Paradise Valley that even tells you what kind of car they will also inside the subdivision. No Honda’s, Fords, Chevys etc. only BMW, Mercedes and the like. That is just carrying things to far.

Re: problems with HOA?

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:58:43 GMT

I'm sure they work well for some, I just can't imagine putting up with someone telling me what .I can do with my own property. My town has an active code enforcer who checks on lawns, snow removal and obvious infractions. I wouldn't care for any authority beyond that.

Re: problems with HOA?

pupwhipped — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 01:07:02 GMT

Nope, no more HOA living for me...not in this lifetime! But, to be fair, there certainly are things you gain for the things you give up... definitely pluses and minuses. But be prepared for others to tell you what you can or cannot do with your own home. And there can be quite the disagreement on such things.

Re: problems with HOA?

haddon9 — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 01:18:53 GMT

I live in an HOA community but it's pretty lax. Yes we have to get permission to add a deck or a patio but you would need to get approval from the township anyway. Exterior colors have to fit into the community. Thank goodness no one would be allowed to paint the house purple or multi colored!

Some other things that we can't do...no clothes hanging out on a line (I actually like this since we're in a suburban community and not out in the country...I don't want to see my neighbors' laundry.) no sheds (which I don't like since many are very attractive and handy).

The cost here is only $500.00 a year and doesn't cover landscaping, mowing or snow removal. The homeowners are responsible for that. It does cover common areas which keeps the community attractive, plus the clubhouse and pools.

Each one is different. I don't think I would like to live in a very strict one but a more relaxed one is nice. It keeps the community looking good overall.

Re: problems with HOA?

software — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 01:41:15 GMT

Outside washing the car?

I figured that would be #1 in their massive list of rules, no carwashing.

It depends on your lifestyle. If you are active with kids, it could be annoying.

(kids aren't as diligent in following rules)

Friend of mine lived in a condo community. There was an asphalt parking lot at the street, maintained by the community, but their homes were all in a cluster back off the road & parking. Like a little village. She loved it there until it was decided a very nice tree near her home had to be cut down because it had gotten too big. The tree shaded her home in the summer. Relatively speaking it wasn't that big of a tree, but too big for the community.

@lovesrecess

@Kachina624 wrote:
HOAs have as many personalities as people do. I'd talk to several people presently living there to determine which way the wind blows. Drive through the area and talk to people who are outside washing the car, doing yard work, etc.

Re: problems with HOA?

mac116 — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 01:46:36 GMT

My good friend was widowed, and moved into a HOA community that does yard maintenance and snow shoveling. All home and driveway maintenance is her responsibility. Non-gated community. She pays $285 per month in HOA fees.

Re: problems with HOA?

lovesrecess — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 02:36:13 GMT

great to know!