problems with HOA? - Page 8

BirkiLady · ‎02-22-2015

@lovesrecess @GingerPeach The insurance, painting and so much more is a surprise to me. It sounds like these people do not own their land; just the individual space they live in. In our City, those properties are considered condos.

As long as the land is owned by the homeowner, we pay for all insurance and costs associated with our own homes. Our streets are City streets. We each pay taxes for upkeep and snow removal on the streets (imagine that!). The HOA is for maintenance, security, and finances of HOA properties and green spaces.

In 30 years, I've served on the Board several times (3-year terms) and never had any complaints from a resident about another neighbor. People talk to each other to resolve their differences; that is not the HOA's role! Frankly, I wouldn't want to live next to many of those people who expect the HOA to resolve a personality dispute. Why would any HOA enter into such nonsense?

Anyone selling their home provides the Guidelines to their Realtor for prospective buyers. We do not have a lot of Rules and Regulations; perhaps four or five pages in total. Our City's laws govern residents; not the HOA. Properties sell within hours of listing or by word-of-mouth.

My own home is my own responsibility in every sense of the word. I do not have any common walls. No one is going to tell me what color to paint or roof or how to landscape! No one (to my knowledge) has ever "turned another neighbor in" for anything. I simply cannot image such a concept. We are a regular neighborhood (perhaps 75 homes each on 1/2 acre lots) which share a golf course, pool, clubhouse, tennis course, baseball fields, kids playgrounds, and commons areas. We are hidden from the rest of the City behind the golf course and a bank building (which is not visable from any of the homes in the HOA).

Money screams; wealth whispers.

Love4cats · ‎03-09-2010

After reading some of these experiance's with HOA's I am soooo grateful that I own my own home on 5 acre's. At my age, I am way too old to take order's from anyone who dictate's every move I make on my own property.

GingerPeach · ‎03-12-2010

@BirkiLady

One cannot make assumptions about any HOA or any property or any set of governing documents.

Condos are a very different form of ownership than planned unit developments (aka PUDs). Condo owners only own the interior, whereas in a PUD you own your total home, inside and out, plus the land it sits on. In our PUD, we still have the Association responsible for the insurance, painting, and much more. You cannot base it on shared walls or any other visible identifier.

As I said before, it all depends on how an individual HOA's governing documents are written.

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.

BirkiLady · ‎02-22-2015

@GingerPeach We have "over 55" condo and townhouse areas here. But nothing like a PUD, as you describe. It's all very interesting to me . . . and bewildering!

Money screams; wealth whispers.

Drythe · ‎07-09-2011

@Meowingkitty

Jus’ put a couple to sleep? Really?

Is there one less realtor in the world now?

"Animals are not my whole world, but they have made my world whole" ~ Roger Caras

GingerPeach · ‎03-12-2010

@BirkiLady wrote:
@GingerPeach We have "over 55" condo and townhouse areas here. But nothing like a PUD, as you describe. It's all very interesting to me . . . and bewildering!

Over 55 is unrelated to the form of ownership, @BirkiLady, as you probably know.

PUDs exist in Midwestern states.

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.

NYC Susan · ‎03-13-2010

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:
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.

I've never lived anywhere with an HOA, and never wished I did. No matter where I lived there have been no issues with junk left outside, people not keeping their lawns mowed, property maintained, houses painted, etc. Every town I've lived in has had their own noise ordinances, laws, etc,, and that's always been more than good enough. I'm not a fan of too many rules or being told what to do when it comes to my own home.

My advice to the OP: Find out exactly what the rules and regulations are. I also assume that those rules could be changed. So I would be very, very cautious about moving into that type of situation. I know that some HOA's are great, and others are completely ineffective. So educating yourself as much as you can is the best way to go, and once you have all the info, you'll be better equipped to make an informed decision. HOA's are not all alike. Good luck!!

YorkieonmyPillow · ‎01-13-2013

@151949 wrote:
@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?

No permits where I live.

proudlyfromNJ · ‎05-01-2010

Lots of places don’t require permits for anything. They do where we live. My husband does all the work.We got a permit for the deck but not for the finished basement. If we ever sell that may be a big problem. The town wants to know all electrical, plumbing has been done correctly for safety purposes. We shall see.

tuscaloosa · ‎03-23-2010

Awful. The Board does not pay too much attention to the Rules. They come up with new rules when their personal situation changes. They went through a period of giving some people free windows. After maybe 20 people got their free windows they stopped; It is like the Board members support one another. One lady wants to totally redo our patio area for personal health reasons and wants the community to pay for her personal needs. Is this a common thing for some people to get expensive freebees and others nothing? Until recently she was in charge of our money and treated it like her personal money - did what she wanted. She handles out of town owners for a fee and then uses their proxy votes to control the outcome of meetings. Of course she has the interest of the owners in mind because of money. Owners are not treated equally. Board members at our place makes rules and spend money for their benefit. Not saying it is that way everywhere. They charge more in assessment than what the actual cost is and then spend the extra on their own wants. What a nightmare. And yes, I am trying to get out.