problems with HOA? - Page 7

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
@haddon9 wrote:
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.
If you live in a suburb maybe, but we don't have to get "permission" for ANYTHING..........non-restricted.

What do you think getting a building permit is?

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

The thing many of you don't understand is - it isn't as much what the rules are - it's the personality of the people enforcing the rules.

shortbreadlover · ‎06-25-2018

i would never ever belong to an hoa ever. they get to make all the rules andyou have to comply by them. they keep jacking up the rates too. i know so many people that want to get out them

viva923 · ‎03-12-2010

HOA are made up of many people. Depending on the whim of the board you could be given free ride OR very strict rules so strict, you won't be able to display a flag of any kind.

Talk with people who live in the development see what they say, as well as drive around several times slowly and see what yards look like. Are garbage cans inside garage or outside. swing sets, are sheds allowed, kids playing where are they allowed to play.

rates for HOA's may rise yearly or even if major refubershing of development can cause automatic HOA raises. check out if that will be coming up.

there is a development that has an HOA in next town over from mine. there rates went off the charts because the owner of the property decided refurbish the property, (pool, new plants and such )this all came out of left field . the newspaper interviewed several people (names anonymous) and most said they were going have to move the HOA rates were way to high for them to afford.

riley1 · ‎03-10-2010

For the record, I've been in this HOA for 10 yrs and my rates went up $3.00 per month just last year.

Jackhound Mom · ‎03-09-2010

Hi!

Great question! Our first HOA in an AZ community was great and they did enforce the rules. It cost about 75 per month and that paid for our managment company 4 days per week. 2 managers in 4 years.

We left AZ for 5 months so I could see a specialist MD. Returned to another AZ HOA neighborhood (closer to my Tucson Neuro Doc)) and the 2 HOA fees were $175 per month and the managment did almost nothing to enforce the rules. 4 different managers in 4 years and plenty of misery so we sold and moved back to our 1st neighborhood.

The best advice I can give you is to go to an HOA meeting and see how happy/unhappy the residents are. Our eyes were opened at our 1st meeting but we had already moved in to the Del Webb and were very unhappy.

One more clue was "active lifestyle" which in our case was code for "party central." Not sure if that is the way all are.

Q4u · ‎03-17-2010

@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.....

We just sold our home and bought another in order to 1) move to the city from the country and 2) to get away from the HOA.

Our HOA was expensive because our community has its own roads, our own plowing in the winter, that the homeowners are responsible for. That has been going up every year. Everything must adhere to the covenants/restrictions and you must get written approval from the HOA board for everything.

They WILL put a lien on a property that has not paid fees. This actually is going on with one homeowner who will not be able to sell until that lien is taken care of....

However, because of where our community is and how great the properties look (each approx 5 acres).... we are getting approx 1/3 more $$ a sale compared to comparable properties, so there can be an advantage.

The house we just bought is on 1/2 acre right in town, no HOA and an old Covenant going back to the 60's. We are THRILLED!!

Think twice regarding HOAs. Yes, there is often an overbearing snoot factor AND those fees can go up!! Often.

*~"Never eat more than you can lift......" Miss Piggy~*

Q4u · ‎03-17-2010

8 years ago our HOA fees were $120 a month, they are now $420....

*~"Never eat more than you can lift......" Miss Piggy~*

aubnwa01 · ‎03-09-2010

When I had my house repainted a different color than what it was, I had to write a letter & get approval from the HOA board, of which I'm the secretary (in name only, I haven't taken minutes at meetings since we got a mgmt. co that handles that stuff, thankfully)

When my house was built, the builder painted it a light pinky brown & I wanted a more toasty brown. I gave the letter to the HOA prez (this was before the mgmt co.) & she approved it.

Then, as long as the painters had the lights on either side of my garage door & by my front door off to paint, I wanted some new lights. The old ones were ugly brass & had seen better days after about 8-9 years of AZ sun beating on them.

I went & bought some really nice mission style lights & had the painters put those up after they painted instead of putting the old beat-up brass ones back up.

I didn't get HOA permission for them & the prez gave me a little grief doing about it w/o asking, but even she admitted they looked better than the old lights. I asked her "What did you think I was going to have put up for lights on my house, rotating disco balls?"

The prez & her DH sold their place & moved away nearly 2 years ago & we don't have a prez & haven't had a meeting, either. Not sure what the mgmt. co. has planned, the guy emails the VP & I the financials every month & things seem to run a lot smoother.

The guy at the mgmt. co has an office on the other side of town, but drives by & checks for folks who have let their front yards get over grown with weeds or have a bunch of junk sitting out & sends the owners a letter to get the problems fixed or they'll be fined.

Our dues are $44 a month, which covers our trash/recycling pickup & the upkeep of the landscaping in our common areas, but we don't have a pool or playground area to maintain. Our development is quite small, just our street with 22 homes on it.