Comments on: Home-Owners Associations: Vigilant or Vigilante?

By: James

James — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:13:28 +0000

Well, I currently live in an community with an HOA and can’t wait to move out. I am even part of the board. Ours is not very tyranical, but still it hampers peoples right to do what they want with their largest investment.

For those complaining about high grass etc. Call code complience. Almost all cities and counties in the country have ordinaces that restice overgrown lawns. San Antonio btw, is 12 inches.

Same goes for junked cars. Almost most things HOAs “take care” for you can be done through code compliance and without the cost and fees.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:37:17 +0000

I would hope that if you dropped 500k on a house, you’re not living in a neighborhood where people are putting cars up on blocks on the front yard or driving big rigs. Otherwise, daayyyuummm, that’s a pretty ritzy trailer park ya got there.

By: Jose

Jose — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:08:17 +0000

When it comes time to sell that home you’ve sunk $500,000 into, you’re going to hope you’ve got a HOA that has kept property values up. Never mind unkempt lawns, think about the asshole neighbor who starts running a used car lot from his front yard, or parks his semi tractor trailer rig in front of his house every day. Try selling that home to a prospective buyer.

By: katybear

katybear — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:43:56 +0000

For the record, I’m not wild about the idea of HOAs infringing on my rights to live as I choose on my own property. It’s really scary that, at least here in Texas, the HOA has the power to get a lien (and eventually even foreclose) on your house if you fail to pay your HOA assessments.

That having been said, the restrictions, etc. from our HOA are relatively minimal compared to some neighborhoods in my area. And what Bleh said is true: If you have a neighbor who has a big forest of 5′ weeds for a front lawn, it is nice to have the HOA around to be the heavy so you don’t run the risk of animosity with your neighbor. In addition, our HOA dues go to building and maintenance of our neighborhood’s common areas like playgrounds, parks, even the maintenance of streetlamps.

By: CanesFan

CanesFan — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:12:26 +0000

Having lived in both an area that has an HOA and one that doesn’t, I don’t see myself moving to a house that has an HOA once I sell where I’m at. I prefer to move into an established neighborhood that has maintained itself rather than be in a community that has the strict rules everyone has mentioned already. I don’t mind some of the rules, but what typically happens is that the slobs will not live where the HOA is present and thus the rules go overboard and end up punishing what are otherwise good homeowners.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:45:29 +0000

As a new first-time home buyer, we specifically made sure *NOT* to get a house in a HOA. Mostly, we were looking for something more in the country and remote anyhow, and hated the “country subdivisions” that the HOA’s tended to be a part of. But also, *I’m* buying a house to live in as I see fit. If I wanted someone to tell me how to live in my own place, why wouldn’t I just keep living in an apartment?

Of course, I want my place to look as good as I can make it, so maybe there’s a pride thing there that I’ll take care of my place. There aren’t really any close neighbors, but I don’t really mind if their yards are shaggy or anything, either. As long as it’s not directly impacting me, I don’t see a problem.

On a side note, hasn’t the housing market bubble already burst? EErrrrr, what’s the bubble? All while looking at houses we kept hearing that it’s a “buyer’s market” and really, we pretty much had our pick of places. Here in the midwest, there’s tons of people selling, not many buying. Wohooo!

By: NastyFingers

NastyFingers — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:08:37 +0000

Although I’m a renter in a condo-complex that has a HOA, my complaints to them were listened to just as closely as owners…most likely due to the fact that my landlord still pays HOA fees.

They sent notice to my upstairs neighbor about her dog’s URINE repeatedly dripping down the exterior of the building (thus staining the building, and puddling onto my balcony). Things are better now, and I have their influence to thank.

That being said, I will try to avoid buying into a HOA-ruled property - I don’t like more rules than are needed.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:01:09 +0000

HOAs are great if yu live next to a slob. They help with those that let their yard get a foot tall or worse. Also if they have broke down cars, etc in front of their house. They work to keep the neighborhood up and property value up as well. My house is not under a HOA and it does irk me when others in my small neighborhood leave crap out in their yards or don’t mow. I knew when I bought the house that it may be an issue one day.
On the other hand my little brother leaves a few miles away in a similar type neighborhood and has a HOA. They do have a few nice things like a community pools, etc. but are hardcore on people and their landscaping. One of his neighbors recently got a “ticket” for a yellow spot in his grass. Here is TX it is something hard to avoid especially as summer comes on strong.
Over all people complain alot about HOAs but they do have lots of benifits, but I am glad I don’ t have to deal with one myself.

By: Bleh

Bleh — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:47:58 +0000

dukerayburn- the covenants of the HOA are attached to the property deed(s) when the association is 1st organized. Thus when you buy a property (in the HOA) you must live under the auspices of the HOA just like any other deed restriction.

HOA’s do hold elections (at least the ones I am familiar with) on an annual basis. See my earlier comment that mentions people that run for the board.

By: dukerayburn

dukerayburn — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:21:24 +0000

I think an NA is pretty different from an HOA in some ways, particularly in its more democratic nature. But I agree with TEC that in a neighborhood where there’s good to be done then an NA will tend to do that good. But in a new development there is absolutely no reason for people to go around telling you how you can or cannot decorate your lawn, maintain your house, etc.

What I’m confused on is how an HOA can fine owners within the boundaries of the law. If they aren’t elected officials then how do they have any jurisdiction over the way you live your life with your own private property? I guess I just don’t really understand that.

By: tec

tec — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:25:48 +0000

I’m not real clear on the difference between neighborhood associations and HOAs (except maybe that NAs include renters?), but my neighborhood (Strawberry Hill, KCKS) has been completely turned around for the better by our NA. In the past decade, they’ve driven out slumlords and drug dealers, built parks and community gardens, gotten many historic homes restored, brought in new development, and reduced the crime rate to almost nothing despite being surrounded by the worst neighborhoods in the state. They really aren’t assholes about anything (although they’re a little more vehement about graffiti and off-leash animals than I personally think is necessary) and they’ve really created a little oasis for families. The property values are still low because of the zip code but it’s definitely headed upwards, especially with the new condo development that’s going in next year. It’s my suspicion that HOAs in new developments tend toward the evil, while associations started in older, failing neighborhoods probably do more good.

By: Bleh

Bleh — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:17:57 +0000

I’ve lived with an HOA in my community for better than 14 years.

Benefits:
- They make sure that your neighbors keep their lawn mowed, etc.

Negatives:
- They make sure you mow your lawn, etc.

Net: A pleasant neighboorhood to live in that better maintains its value.

More benefits:
-They are the ones forcing a neighbor to take care of their property, not you. You can maintain a nicer relationship with the neighbor (if you choose).

-When one home burned to the ground, the HOA was proactive in getting it rebuilt sooner rather than later.

More negatives:
-Generally, the best people in the community know the pain of serving on the HOA board and thus don’t run for election. Thus the board consists of people that, while generally well meaning, aren’t the best qualified.

-Association fees are set by the board and always go up, sometimes in large increments. While the reasoning for the increases are justifiable (usually), they do cause some hardship for some homeowners.

-As a ham radio operator, I am not allowed to have an antenna outside. This is a major hassle for hams.

Final thought: Next time, I will look for a home without a HOA. Unless I am old and retired… then it probably would make more sense.

By: Rye

Rye — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:51:10 +0000

There are no positive HOA stories, they are a contradiction in terms. HOAs are excuses for people who have no power in their own lives to try and exert power over other people’s lives. I know it sounds mellowdramatic but its a sad reality.

By: Wimpanzee

Wimpanzee — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:07:37 +0000

I would never consider purchasing a home with an HOA. In my lowly, meager and worthless opinion, they are an illegal form of government. There are no elections, hearings or petitions to change policy, but they can have a legal impact on you.

By: YesYes

YesYes — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:00:44 +0000

I live in a neighborhood with an extremely strict set of covenants and a HOA to back them up. Restrictions are so detailed that the garage must be closed when not being used for ingress/egress. For a free-thinker like myself, this is a bitter pill to swallow and often makes me feel as though I made a mistake buying a house here — until I drive through and see the results. It does feel a but Stepford Wives, but it works.

Now if I can just get past feeling like I’m Doug Rich. I mean, aren’t we all just pretending to some degree?