[Axius]

My HOA is ran by retards. Why even be a part of their facebook in the first place, the fact they banned him is not only hilarious but also a blessing.


What will they do next, ban him from the neighborhood?

[David70]

Personally I am glad I am not in one and don't understand the number of people that buy a house in an area that has an HOA and then complains about the rules they then have to follow. I also wonder how many people get a list of the rules they are about to buy into and ask people already living there how the rules are enforced or what they think of them or just buy the house with the rules and then complain about it.

[BMW F22]

I personally don't like HOA fees. I don't like having restrictions or having to ask for permission to change the color of my drapes or paint my house to neon yellow. Also, some HOA fees are so high. Let's say $350 a month for a nice area. You multiply that by 12 months/yr and by 30 years and it's a nice sum. Some people look at the lower cost of a townhouse or condo and say "oh yeah this is cheaper than a house" and yet don't factor in HOA fees.

[PoorLurker]

Originally Posted by David70

Personally I am glad I am not in one and don't understand the number of people that buy a house in an area that has an HOA and then complains about the rules they then have to follow. I also wonder how many people get a list of the rules they are about to buy into and ask people already living there how the rules are enforced or what they think of them or just buy the house with the rules and then complain about it.

I don't know the rules nor do I know the consequences of the violations.

I live a pretty straight forward lifestyle and doubt that I will ever face a consequence. Personally, I enjoy the fact that my neighbors need to come to me seeking my permission on a color to paint their house or build a structure that may or may not impede the feel of my property.

I live in So. Cal so we are basically living on top of each other. In some areas where you learn things called "acreage" a structure in the that backyard or front yard has very little impact on one's property. Here it's different

[David70]

Originally Posted by PoorLurker

I don't know the rules nor do I know the consequences of the violations.

I live a pretty straight forward lifestyle and doubt that I will ever face a consequence. Personally, I enjoy the fact that my neighbors need to come to me seeking my permission on a color to paint their house or build a structure that may or may not impede the feel of my property.

I live in So. Cal so we are basically living on top of each other. In some areas where you learn things called "acreage" a structure in the that backyard or front yard has very little impact on one's property. Here it's different

You don't know the rules but you are happy they are there, I guess as long as you stay in bounds or ask permission before you do anything you will be fine.

I can't imagine showing my neighbors color options for my house and asking them to approve them. I am also happy to not have the fees that come with the HOA's.

My neighbor on one side is 12' away, just enough to drive my car through and on the other they are 8' away, no "acreage" so we are basically living on top of each other also (old neighborhood). City has rules but nearly as oppressive as an HOA.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

I personally don't like HOA fees. I don't like having restrictions or having to ask for permission to change the color of my drapes or paint my house to neon yellow. Also, some HOA fees are so high. Let's say $350 a month for a nice area. You multiply that by 12 months/yr and by 30 years and it's a nice sum. Some people look at the lower cost of a townhouse or condo and say "oh yeah this is cheaper than a house" and yet don't factor in HOA fees.

My dues are $215/quarter and my HOA has no approval of anything inside the house, including window treatments of any kind. Yes, it can be a PITA to get a color approved for the exterior, it is once every 7-10 years and I would never consider painting neon yellow anyway.

Townhouse / condo fees are a little different in that they typically include structural insurance costs that a homeowner pays separately through homeowners insurance. Some also may have a community pool, cable or other amenities. So I would expect a condo fee to be higher than an HOA fee in the same area. You just have to look at what you get for the money because not all fees are created equally.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by David70

I can't imagine showing my neighbors color options for my house and asking them to approve them. I am also happy to not have the fees that come with the HOA's.

It's not like all your neighbors vote. There is usually a set of guidelines (and sometime preapproved colors to choose from) and a committee confirms what was requested conforms to guidelines.

There are definitely some municipalities that are more difficult to deal with than some HOAs, including getting paint color approved. Coral Gables, FL comes to mind.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

My dues are $215/quarter and my HOA has no approval of anything inside the house, including window treatments of any kind. Yes, it can be a PITA to get a color approved for the exterior, it is once every 7-10 years and I would never consider painting neon yellow anyway.

Townhouse / condo fees are a little different in that they typically include structural insurance costs that a homeowner pays separately through homeowners insurance. Some also may have a community pool, cable or other amenities. So I would expect a condo fee to be higher than an HOA fee in the same area. You just have to look at what you get for the money because not all fees are created equally.

For sure. It is different in different areas. Around here it's expensive. The neon yellow was just an example to say that if you want to do something different to your house it requires approval.

[pz619]

I pay $330/month in HOA dues. Obviously I want to pay zero but there is good value in it. Everything around here is on point and landscaping on all properties is provided. Only thing I don't like is the gate since it provides no security and someone just rams it once a month by not realizing it's there. We end up just paying the gate repair guy a ton of money. Some of the rules are kind of weird though. For example, I own my front door, but the HOA owns the paint that is on it.

I think there is a large spread between quality of HOAs. I've been lucky.

[PoorLurker]

Originally Posted by David70

You don't know the rules but you are happy they are there, I guess as long as you stay in bounds or ask permission before you do anything you will be fine.

I can't imagine showing my neighbors color options for my house and asking them to approve them. I am also happy to not have the fees that come with the HOA's.

My neighbor on one side is 12' away, just enough to drive my car through and on the other they are 8' away, no "acreage" so we are basically living on top of each other also (old neighborhood). City has rules but nearly as oppressive as an HOA.

When I lived in a townhome, the association covered a lot of items. They covered all exterior paint including the trim. They also took care of the roof. If you had termite damage, they would repair it. They also took care of all landscaping and paved the road frequently.

In addition, our community had several slab leaks which caused thousands of dollars to repair. The association covered the repairs as well as helping to prevent any pin hole leaks through pipe coating that cost several thousands of dollars.

[j_marinelli]

I have the pleasure of dealing with HOAs on a regular basis. I design swimming pools and help submit the plans on behalf of the customer. Some HOAs are crazy.

I have had one HOA require me mail them samples of the stones, tile, and decking finish for them to approve.

Than my personal favorite is this upscale neighborhood that requires the 2,500.00 just to review the pool plans. The customer/builder can get half the money back if no its deemed no damage is done. The plans that are required in this neighborhood included mapping all trees on the lot and if any are to be removed, we are to show where the replacement is going and have the tree approved as well.

In this neighborhood one time we had an incident where the plaster rig's hose blew and got blue plaster over the neighbors shrubs along with driveway. The driveway was cleaned and the shrubs are rinsed off but that was not enough. The HOA required us to hire a botanist to oversee the cleaning of the shrubs which ended up being one leaf at a time.

at my last neighborhood I lived in, if I didnt do a good job edging on the sidewalk I would always get a nasty letter.

[csu87]

ive lived in places that didnt have an HOA and it sucked. My neighbor ripped out all his grass in his front lawn cause he couldnt keep it green (He'd mow it as short as possible every week and barely water and couldnt figure out why it would die) and replaced it with rock and parked his cars there. While I was glad he wasnt parking them in front of my house, in his front yard wasnt a desirable location either. Had several people who wouldnt mow or pull weeds either and it just made the neighborhood look like shit.

Keep in mind, this is one of the nicer areas of the city in a desirable area/school district.

My current neighborhood has an HOA and they keep people on their toes when it comes to maintenance. Several people have gotten fined for not keeping up their yards and the neighborhood looks so much better. Also dont have cars parked on the streets for extended periods of time or in front yards and trailers arent kept on the street.

[Axius]

My HOA dues are $175 for the entire year, and yet again, I do not know what they do or why they should even be paid.

[rohitsja]

Originally Posted by Axius

My HOA dues are $175 for the entire year, and yet again, I do not know what they do or why they should even be paid.

If they are charging $175 for the entire year, I don't think i would expect them to do anything - I'd be happy if they blow the leaves from my driveway 1x/yr or an exterior power wash?

[Axius]

Originally Posted by rohitsja

If they are charging $175 for the entire year, I don't think i would expect them to do anything - I'd be happy if they blow the leaves from my driveway 1x/yr or an exterior power wash?

They literally don't do shit. They sent me a notice back in June that I needed to power wash my house. So I did the house, driveway, sidewalk, etc. Then I got another notice about two weeks after saying I needed to power wash my house.

[John 070]

Funny one cannot express their view because the HOA is in bed with the co. "Bad experience with Cox, switching to xxxxxx." Probably would have had the same result. Vote, please, what a joke.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by rohitsja

If they are charging $175 for the entire year, I don't think i would expect them to do anything - I'd be happy if they blow the leaves from my driveway 1x/yr or an exterior power wash?

Can you imagine, there are people who get off on that? In other words, they are not big boys, who can play the politics and do the heavy lifting necessary to coach 4 y.o. ice hockey or soccer, so instead they become board members on a HOA.

[David70]

Originally Posted by jpnh

Been there
Done that
Got the merit badge

Been on city water and sewer and have seen lots of nasty HOA bullschtein

I'm on a private well and septic now with no HOA in a state that generally speaking respect private property rights

I agree with you but this is the opposite of what the HOA is trying to accomplish. The big part of the point of the HOA is to let the small community you live in decide what is right or wrong with what you want to do with your property. As said above it has both benefits and negatives, depending on where you live and how much your neighbors need to be controlled or told what meets the groups standards.

HOA - When Federal, State, County and City rules just don't do enough to keep our neighborhood up to the group's standards.

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by David70

I agree with you but this is the opposite of what the HOA is trying to accomplish. The big part of the point of the HOA is to let the small community you live in decide what is right or wrong with what you want to do with your property. As said above it has both benefits and negatives, depending on where you live and how much your neighbors need to be controlled or told what meets the groups standards.

HOA - When Federal, State, County and City rules just don't do enough to keep our neighborhood up to the group's standards.

Thats the problem though

Altogether too frequently the type of person seeking to run an HOA is a nosy busybody tyrant

Hate to say it but its not all that different from your mall cop....the type person that didnt make the cut to be a police officer, meter maid or even TSA worker........

HOA's are the devil

[dzvero]

end of the world, hes not in their friends list on facebook

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by dzvero

end of the world, hes not in their friends list on facebook

IF that is the way the HOA disseminates information regarding upcoming issues, or discusses present issues, it IS a big deal to restrict access to a paying member of the HOA.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by rohitsja

If they are charging $175 for the entire year, I don't think i would expect them to do anything - I'd be happy if they blow the leaves from my driveway 1x/yr or an exterior power wash?

I had one house like that. Paid for general maintenance and such but no landscaping. Also a fee that pid for extra street lights not run by city