Among Friends

[depglass]

We bought on a private road because the neighbors seemed so nice.  Now its a nightmare trying to get people together for plowing, gravel, etc.  Never again.  When we bought our cottage we made sure it was on a county road.  We would never consider an HOA after our experience here. 

[aunt bea]

I live in a condo with a HOA and we also have good and bad.  We currently pay $250.00 a month and that has increased $10.00 a year since I have have been here.  My biggest issue is that we live on the steepest hill in the development and were told by the builders that we would not have to push our trash cans down the bottom of the hill, they would drive up.  Well after one year the board changed that rule since the truck was tearing up the road and they wanted to charge extra, the other residents thought we needed to cover the cost and we said no it needed to be split, we lost.  We also have the issue that the trash can cannot be out until 7PM!  Well several of us that work would come home put on our PJ's and robes and then take the trash can out, needless to say the HOA freaked.  We told them we work and have to get up early so move the time up.  Finally we settled on 5PM the day before pickup and then put back when you got home from work.  There are issues with the grids on the palladium windows that constantly fall and break off in wind or snow storms and that is a pain to have them replaced, this is the second time in 2 years I'm having the windows replaced.  At the last meeting we all said, let the grids fall down or off, this is ridiculous.  I do love the snow removal and lawn service.  I try to keep to myself and not get involved in menial issues around!  Good luck on your decision

[Krimpette]

@lovesrecess  A rule book that thick would send me quickly running the other way.  Sounds like way too many restrictions.  

[CJC]

We are living in our second HOA community, and we are much happier than we were when raising our family in a "normal" neighborhood in Ohio.  We are very picky about the appearance of our home and yard, and we appreciate having neighbors who are like minded, whether by choice or by HOA rules.  Many of our former non-HOA neighbors were very sloppy about their properties and could have cared less.  They were more interested in their techy toys and their weekend socializing than they were in getting their hands dirty doing maintenance chores.  Wealthier neighbors hired the work done, but most just let their property slide through the years with very minimal attention.  Our HOA keeps our neighborhood looking great!  Our $299/month covers all exterior: painting, roof, gutters, all landscaping, pest control, driveways, mailboxes, courtyards...even helped pay for cleanup following Hurricane Irma last Sept.  We do have rules.....no resident parking in guest parking spots, no more than 2 dogs and required doggy poop pickup, no swing sets or sheds, no basketball hoops, no laundry hanging outside etc.  We do have to replace our own AC and garage door if they break.  Former HOA neighborhood also said no motorcycles and no free standing flagpoles.  We love all these rules because we are old enough to have learned how people live without regulations, and it's not our bag.  So, I guess it's just in the way you choose to live.  HOA's may not be right for young families with active kids, but HOA's suit us seniors quite well.

[chrystaltree]

Honestly, I don't even understand this thread.  Your HOA's and Condo Associations didn't kidnap you and drag you kicking screaming into their communities and condos.  YOU all chose to live where you live and you knew full well that there were HOA and Condo rules.  Lots of them!  That information was available to use before you bought your homes, you had access to that and reading it was your responsibility.  We all know who we are as people.  We know if we like to live by rules, we know if we are the type of people who want to be free to do as we please.  We all know if we want the security and protection and uniformity of an HOA or if we are willing to risk that our neighbor might park a 25 year old ford in the driveway and take 2 years to restore it.  We know if we wouldn't mind living next to home painted in psychedelic colors.  We also know if we ARE those people...lol   HOA's and Condo rules are intended for a certain type of home owner and we don't have any major problems with the "rule book" because they aren't rules we'd be likely to break anyway.  If you are the type of homeowner who wants the freedom to live and do as you please,  you would never buy into that type of arrangement.  

[hckynut]

@lovesrecess

Yes we did! For 22 years when we lived in our 2 Townhomes, it was 1 thing after the other. Monthly fees where always rising. Paying for a swimming pool I never used: Repairs/New Pool/maintenance/Insurance/Lifeguards, and miscellaneous(?).

All members were free, plus 2 friends. No charge for 2-4-6-8 kids, but few in Townhomes had kids. At meetings, I suggested a charge for over 2 kids, but pay for all day "kid sitting"? Heaven forbid, just keep raising HOA fees for everyone. Kinda like some taxes, let everyone pay for the few that benefit.

Wanted Security Patrol because of burglaries, which 99% of happened during the day. Patrol? From Midnight to 6:00am, why? Two on the Board owned the Security Company. 

Satellite TV? An eyesore against some unwritten rule they could never find. Put up satellite because the FCC passed a law that made it illegal for an HOA to prevent there use, if dish was 36" or under.

Could go on and on about meetings being more fights over "Roberts Rules" than real issues. No HOA in our rural area, and any HOA would keep me from buying ANY home, period!

hckynut(john)

[ScrapHappy]

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@lovesrecess wrote:

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.....

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I lived in 2 communites with HOA's.  My husband was on the board of one of them.  Just as with anything else, HOA's have their pro's and con's.  One thing I do like about an HOA (particulary the one we're in now) is that it makes homeowners be responsible to "maintain" their home, a nice appearance (at least from the oustide).  You should be able to get a copy of the rules and regulations.  Our realtor forwarded it to us on line before we purchased.  The only thing our HOA complained about us, and sent us a letter, is that my husband put a car cover on one of his cars in the driveway.  It's somewhat of a classic car and bad weather was coming.  Told us to take it off,

[GingerPeach]

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@AuntG wrote:

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!

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Those noise rules are typically city or county regulations, not HOA rules, @AuntG

[Regal Bee]

I would not even consider buying in a community without an HOA.

[GingerPeach]

@lovesrecess

Your idea to talk to neighbors is an excellent idea.

HOAs, as you've read here, are all individual.  What "flies" in one may not in another.  That is why you do the homework before buying.  But stories about anyone else's HOA may not have anything at all to do with the HOA you are contemplating.

I've lived in one for almost 30 years, and been on the board a couple of times.   What happens in mine may have little or nothing to do with what yours might be like.  Good luck.  I hope you love the home and the neighborhood and the CC&Rs.