Another loveable Homeowner's Association

[JohnStOnge]

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/ ... k3%7C73851" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I mean, even leaving the emotional thing about this aside, I never have liked homeowners associations. Dislike the whole concept of these psuedo governmental entities that make all sorts of stupid, petty rules. And what if it did make property values go down? It really hacks me off that people are allowed to control what other people do with their property because of concerns about effects on property values.

Like I remember one time my wife told me about this guy who lived in a subdivision where the houses were mostly brick but had some wood areas. The guy wanted to paint the wood on his house blue. Either that or maybe he did it. Anyway he got all SORTS of group from the homeowner's association because it wasn't an "approved" color.

To me people who get involved in homeowners associations need to get a life. Or I guess that's plural (get some lives). Kind of like people who type on message boards all the time I guess.

But anyway. I do NOT like homeowners associations.

[kalm]

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/ ... k3%7C73851

I mean, even leaving the emotional thing about this aside, I never have liked homeowners associations. Dislike the whole concept of these psuedo governmental entities that make all sorts of stupid, petty rules. And what if it did make property values go down? It really hacks me off that people are allowed to control what other people do with their property because of concerns about effects on property values.

Like I remember one time my wife told me about this guy who lived in a subdivision where the houses were mostly brick but had some wood areas. The guy wanted to paint the wood on his house blue. Either that or maybe he did it. Anyway he got all SORTS of group from the homeowner's association because it wasn't an "approved" color.

To me people who get involved in homeowners associations need to get a life. Or I guess that's plural (get some lives). Kind of like people who type on message boards all the time I guess.

But anyway. I do NOT like homeowners associations.

Reminds me of the saying 'committees are groups of people who take minutes and waste hours'.

[AZGrizFan]

Have not ever, do not now and will not ever live in a home controlled by an HOA. They are as close as you can come to communism and still live in the United States.

[UNHWildCats]

While I think what the HOA did is pathetic... the bottom line is, if you dont want to live by the rules of a HOA dont live where theres one.

[SDHornet]

While I think what the HOA did is pathetic... the bottom line is, if you dont want to live by the rules of a HOA dont live where theres one.

This.

[JohnStOnge]

That is not easy where I live. I moved to a subdivision with a HOA and didn't even realize it until after I moved here. Fortunately everybody ignored it in terms of participation and the nerds who were all into it finally went away. I remember one time there was this guy who worked for ATF who built a playhouse for his kids in his back yard and they tried to make him get rid of it. LOL! Not that I'm a big fan of ATF.

Actually he moved out of the neighborhood so I'll never know whether they finally left him alone or he just decided to go live somewhere else.

I'm sure my wife knows but I wonder how they even get the legal authority to tell other people to do with their property. I guess it must be something you must sign when you move in. But where does it start?

I know my wife says that around here all the new subdivisions have a rule that you have to have centipede grass. You can't, say, have St. Augustine if you want to. I mean really. Luckily that apparently wasn't a rule in our subdivision.

Getting back to the "it's not easy" thing though. Seriously, if you live around here it's hard to find a house for sale that's not in a subdivision with a HOA and the geeks that get into that sort of thing.

[UNHWildCats]

That is not easy where I live. I moved to a subdivision with a HOA and didn't even realize it until after I moved here. Fortunately everybody ignored it in terms of participation and the nerds who were all into it finally went away. I remember one time there was this guy who worked for ATF who built a playhouse for his kids in his back yard and they tried to make him get rid of it. LOL! Not that I'm a big fan of ATF.

Actually he moved out of the neighborhood so I'll never know whether they finally left him alone or he just decided to go live somewhere else.

I'm sure my wife knows but I wonder how they even get the legal authority to tell other people to do with their property. I guess it must be something you must sign when you move in. But where does it start?

I know my wife says that around here all the new subdivisions have a rule that you have to have centipede grass. You can't, say, have St. Augustine if you want to. I mean really. Luckily that apparently wasn't a rule in our subdivision.

Getting back to the "it's not easy" thing though. Seriously, if you live around here it's hard to find a house for sale that's not in a subdivision with a HOA and the geeks that get into that sort of thing.

thats your problem for making such a big investment without thoroughly investigating it.

[Wedgebuster]

Clean up your fuckin' trash John, for christ sake, if you want to live like a swamp Okie, go buy some acreage.


Fuckin' doh!!!

[Grizalltheway]

That is not easy where I live. I moved to a subdivision with a HOA and didn't even realize it until after I moved here. Fortunately everybody ignored it in terms of participation and the nerds who were all into it finally went away. I remember one time there was this guy who worked for ATF who built a playhouse for his kids in his back yard and they tried to make him get rid of it. LOL! Not that I'm a big fan of ATF.

Actually he moved out of the neighborhood so I'll never know whether they finally left him alone or he just decided to go live somewhere else.

I'm sure my wife knows but I wonder how they even get the legal authority to tell other people to do with their property. I guess it must be something you must sign when you move in. But where does it start?

I know my wife says that around here all the new subdivisions have a rule that you have to have centipede grass. You can't, say, have St. Augustine if you want to. I mean really. Luckily that apparently wasn't a rule in our subdivision.

Getting back to the "it's not easy" thing though. Seriously, if you live around here it's hard to find a house for sale that's not in a subdivision with a HOA and the geeks that get into that sort of thing.

YOU, calling someone a nerd??

[houndawg]

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/ ... k3%7C73851

I mean, even leaving the emotional thing about this aside, I never have liked homeowners associations. Dislike the whole concept of these psuedo governmental entities that make all sorts of stupid, petty rules. And what if it did make property values go down?It really hacks me off that people are allowed to control what other people do with their property because of concerns about effects on property values.

Like I remember one time my wife told me about this guy who lived in a subdivision where the houses were mostly brick but had some wood areas. The guy wanted to paint the wood on his house blue. Either that or maybe he did it. Anyway he got all SORTS of group from the homeowner's association because it wasn't an "approved" color.

To me people who get involved in homeowners associations need to get a life. Or I guess that's plural (get some lives). Kind of like people who type on message boards all the time I guess.

But anyway. I do NOT like homeowners associations.

Absolutely, John. If I want to put a trailer park or titty bar in your neighborhood, that is my right to do so without having to listen to the bleating of a bunch of simps worried about the value of their property.

[Ibanez]

That is not easy where I live. I moved to a subdivision with a HOA and didn't even realize it until after I moved here. Fortunately everybody ignored it in terms of participation and the nerds who were all into it finally went away. I remember one time there was this guy who worked for ATF who built a playhouse for his kids in his back yard and they tried to make him get rid of it. LOL! Not that I'm a big fan of ATF.

Actually he moved out of the neighborhood so I'll never know whether they finally left him alone or he just decided to go live somewhere else.

I'm sure my wife knows but I wonder how they even get the legal authority to tell other people to do with their property. I guess it must be something you must sign when you move in. But where does it start?

I know my wife says that around here all the new subdivisions have a rule that you have to have centipede grass. You can't, say, have St. Augustine if you want to. I mean really. Luckily that apparently wasn't a rule in our subdivision.

Getting back to the "it's not easy" thing though. Seriously, if you live around here it's hard to find a house for sale that's not in a subdivision with a HOA and the geeks that get into that sort of thing.

The developer has the HOA there to maintain comformity and you signed a letter agreeing to abide by thier rules. You can say you didn't, but if you bought a house in a HOA subudivison, you've signed an agreement letter. I hate HOA's, and I've ignored mine for the past 3 years.


Which reminds me, thier tribute of $170 is due tomorrow.

[ASUMountaineer]

That is not easy where I live. I moved to a subdivision with a HOA and didn't even realize it until after I moved here. Fortunately everybody ignored it in terms of participation and the nerds who were all into it finally went away. I remember one time there was this guy who worked for ATF who built a playhouse for his kids in his back yard and they tried to make him get rid of it. LOL! Not that I'm a big fan of ATF.

Actually he moved out of the neighborhood so I'll never know whether they finally left him alone or he just decided to go live somewhere else.

I'm sure my wife knows but I wonder how they even get the legal authority to tell other people to do with their property. I guess it must be something you must sign when you move in. But where does it start?

I know my wife says that around here all the new subdivisions have a rule that you have to have centipede grass. You can't, say, have St. Augustine if you want to. I mean really. Luckily that apparently wasn't a rule in our subdivision.

Getting back to the "it's not easy" thing though. Seriously, if you live around here it's hard to find a house for sale that's not in a subdivision with a HOA and the geeks that get into that sort of thing.

thats your problem for making such a big investment without thoroughly investigating it.

Perhaps your best post ever, anti-Yankees posts notwithstanding.

[GannonFan]

HOA's are what people make of them. 99% of them are completely innocuous and never cause any grief. It's the 1% of them that tend to make the news that makes it seem like they are truly the devils work.

[Appaholic]

That is not easy where I live. I moved to a subdivision with a HOA and didn't even realize it until after I moved here. Fortunately everybody ignored it in terms of participation and the nerds who were all into it finally went away. I remember one time there was this guy who worked for ATF who built a playhouse for his kids in his back yard and they tried to make him get rid of it. LOL! Not that I'm a big fan of ATF.

Actually he moved out of the neighborhood so I'll never know whether they finally left him alone or he just decided to go live somewhere else.

I'm sure my wife knows but I wonder how they even get the legal authority to tell other people to do with their property. I guess it must be something you must sign when you move in. But where does it start?

I know my wife says that around here all the new subdivisions have a rule that you have to have centipede grass. You can't, say, have St. Augustine if you want to. I mean really. Luckily that apparently wasn't a rule in our subdivision.

Getting back to the "it's not easy" thing though. Seriously, if you live around here it's hard to find a house for sale that's not in a subdivision with a HOA and the geeks that get into that sort of thing.

thats your problem for making such a big investment without thoroughly investigating it.

+1

[Appaholic]

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/ ... k3%7C73851

I mean, even leaving the emotional thing about this aside, I never have liked homeowners associations. Dislike the whole concept of these psuedo governmental entities that make all sorts of stupid, petty rules. And what if it did make property values go down?It really hacks me off that people are allowed to control what other people do with their property because of concerns about effects on property values.

Like I remember one time my wife told me about this guy who lived in a subdivision where the houses were mostly brick but had some wood areas. The guy wanted to paint the wood on his house blue. Either that or maybe he did it. Anyway he got all SORTS of group from the homeowner's association because it wasn't an "approved" color.

To me people who get involved in homeowners associations need to get a life. Or I guess that's plural (get some lives). Kind of like people who type on message boards all the time I guess.

But anyway. I do NOT like homeowners associations.

Absolutely, John. If I want to put a trailer park or titty bar in your neighborhood, that is my right to do so without having to listen to the bleating of a bunch of simps worried about the value of their property.

A nice daycare or dog kenneling service is right up there as well......

[Cap'n Cat]

Have not ever, do not now and will not ever live in a home controlled by an HOA. They are as close as you can come to communism and still live in the United States.

Gonna call bullshit on this one, Z. I'll bet a month's pay you aren't allowed to leave a boat or a camper in your driveway and there are plat restrictions regarding fences and outbuildings and types of landscaping and all sorts of other sh*t in that gated community you live in, Whispering Desert Zephyrs of Avondale.

[AZGrizFan]

Have not ever, do not now and will not ever live in a home controlled by an HOA. They are as close as you can come to communism and still live in the United States.

Gonna call bullshit on this one, Z. I'll bet a month's pay you aren't allowed to leave a boat or a camper in your driveway and there are plat restrictions regarding fences and outbuildings and types of landscaping and all sorts of other sh*t in that gated community you live in, Sedona's Desert Zephyrs.

Wrong, as usual. I live in a county island, unincorporated, on a dirt road, off of another dirt road, in an area zoned for horses. Pretty much anything goes in my neighborhood...

edit: Besides, homes inside HOA's don't provide for defensible areas and clear firing lanes....too many houses crammed together. I needed a bigger "kill zone" buffer around my house for when the raghead hoard comes over the hill.

[Cap'n Cat]

Gonna call bullshit on this one, Z. I'll bet a month's pay you aren't allowed to leave a boat or a camper in your driveway and there are plat restrictions regarding fences and outbuildings and types of landscaping and all sorts of other sh*t in that gated community you live in, Sedona's Desert Zephyrs.

Wrong, as usual. I live in a county island, unincorporated, on a dirt road, off of another dirt road, in an area zoned for horses. Pretty much anything goes in my neighborhood...

edit: Besides, homes inside HOA's don't provide for defensible areas and clear firing lanes....too many houses crammed together. I needed a bigger "kill zone" buffer around my house for when the raghead hoard comes over the hill.

You have some restrictions, T. Guarantee it.


Re: "raghead hoard" -

[ASUG8]

Our first house was in a neighborhood with an HOA. As long as they aren't overbearing I kind of get it. In one sense, it keeps your neighbor from building some god-awful 20 ft. high purple fence next to you and helps to preserve property values somewhat. On the other hand, in our neighborhood all the houses looked pretty much the same from the same color pallette. If you're looking for the ability to personalize your property a bit, look elsewhere. I painted my mailbox post white to match the trim on my house and got a letter saying that it had to be changed to Glidden Ivory Beige or I'd be assessed the cost of them doing it for me. We moved not long afterward.

[AZGrizFan]

Wrong, as usual. I live in a county island, unincorporated, on a dirt road, off of another dirt road, in an area zoned for horses. Pretty much anything goes in my neighborhood...

edit: Besides, homes inside HOA's don't provide for defensible areas and clear firing lanes....too many houses crammed together. I needed a bigger "kill zone" buffer around my house for when the raghead hoard comes over the hill.

You have some restrictions, T. Guarantee it.


Re: "raghead hoard" -

Only in the sense that a restriction would apply to everyone in the county. I have a powerline easement across the front of my property, and an abandoned road easement to the east of my property but other than that it's fuckin' freeforall out here.

A guy down the road built a quanset hut, my next door neighbor has cars, rabbit cages, a boat, etc., in his back yard, you can paint your house any color you want, plant whatever fuckin' trees or bushes you want, do whatever you want to your house (as long as you get the proper county permits )...I'm tellin' you, it's heaven on earth.


Well...given that it's suppose to be 117 on Saturday, maybe it's HELL on earth, but you get my drift.

[AZGrizFan]

I painted my mailbox post white to match the trim on my house and got a letter saying that it had to be changed to Glidden Ivory Beige or I'd be assessed the cost of them doing it for me. We moved not long afterward.

I'd have firebombed the HOA president's house and fucked his daughter first.

[Cap'n Cat]

You have some restrictions, T. Guarantee it.


Re: "raghead hoard" -

Only in the sense that a restriction would apply to everyone in the county. I have a powerline easement across the front of my property, and an abandoned road easement to the east of my property but other than that it's fuckin' freeforall out here.

A guy down the road built a quanset hut, my next door neighbor has cars, rabbit cages, a boat, etc., in his back yard, you can paint your house any color you want, plant whatever fuckin' trees or bushes you want, do whatever you want to your house (as long as you get the proper county permits )...I'm tellin' you, it's heaven on earth.


Well...given that it's suppose to be 117 on Saturday, maybe it's HELL on earth, but you get my drift.

OK, you win. I believe you.

Cap'n Cat has had the misfortune to live in several neighborhoods with restrictions. The most despicable ones were not being able to build a fence. Also, not being able to leave my boat in the driveway. Has to be stored in the garage or offsite somewhere, the fvcks.

[AZGrizFan]

Only in the sense that a restriction would apply to everyone in the county. I have a powerline easement across the front of my property, and an abandoned road easement to the east of my property but other than that it's fuckin' freeforall out here.

A guy down the road built a quanset hut, my next door neighbor has cars, rabbit cages, a boat, etc., in his back yard, you can paint your house any color you want, plant whatever fuckin' trees or bushes you want, do whatever you want to your house (as long as you get the proper county permits )...I'm tellin' you, it's heaven on earth.


Well...given that it's suppose to be 117 on Saturday, maybe it's HELL on earth, but you get my drift.

OK, you win. I believe you.

Cap'n Cat has had the misfortune to live in several neighborhoods with restrictions. The most despicable ones were not being able to build a fence. Also, not being able to leave my boat in the driveway. Has to be stored in the garage or offsite somewhere, the fvcks.

The closest HOA to us is about a mile down the road, and we got some friends who live in there. He had his boat (a 21' Sea Ray) in his back yard (mind you, every home has an RV gate with a 6' privacy fence hiding the back yard) and he got a letter from the HOA stating that he had to move his boat because you could see the top 6-inches of the boat over the fence.

He told them to go pound sand. That boat stayed there for about 2 years until he finally sold it...but he never moved it, and they never did anything.

[ASUG8]

OK, you win. I believe you.

Cap'n Cat has had the misfortune to live in several neighborhoods with restrictions. The most despicable ones were not being able to build a fence. Also, not being able to leave my boat in the driveway. Has to be stored in the garage or offsite somewhere, the fvcks.

The closest HOA to us is about a mile down the road, and we got some friends who live in there. He had his boat (a 21' Sea Ray) in his back yard (mind you, every home has an RV gate with a 6' privacy fence hiding the back yard) and he got a letter from the HOA stating that he had to move his boat because you could see the top 6-inches of the boat over the fence.

He told them to go pound sand. That boat stayed there for about 2 years until he finally sold it...but he never moved it, and they never did anything.

Some HOA's have some teeth - if you don't comply with the bylaws they can put a lien on the property. When you buy the house signing the HOA agreement is in the closing package, so you're effectively entering into a contract.

[Cap'n Cat]

The closest HOA to us is about a mile down the road, and we got some friends who live in there. He had his boat (a 21' Sea Ray) in his back yard (mind you, every home has an RV gate with a 6' privacy fence hiding the back yard) and he got a letter from the HOA stating that he had to move his boat because you could see the top 6-inches of the boat over the fence.

He told them to go pound sand. That boat stayed there for about 2 years until he finally sold it...but he never moved it, and they never did anything.

Some HOA's have some teeth - if you don't comply with the bylaws they can put a lien on the property. When you buy the house signing the HOA agreement is in the closing package, so you're effectively entering into a contract.

G8 is right. Grandma Cat lives in a very restrictive rural WI subdivision and the HOA has a circle jerk with the county by which they can legally enforce bylaws and even fine your ass for misdeeds.