HOA vs HOME MECHANIC

[Trey T]

Agree! A lot ppl don't even read the sales contract before they sign it; all they think about is getting into the home. I understand it's a whole ream of paper to read through but it's your responsibility to read prior signing papers to close on your home. If you don't read them, accept that responsibility.

I'm sorry but I got NO sympathy for irriresponsible people bc all they do is complain, complain, and complain. Come on, guys...!!

For those of you who don't know the rules of the HOAs before you purchase the property, my advise to you would be to get better real estate agents. I live in an HOA and I knew exactly what I was getting in to before I even made an offer on the house. I had a copy of CC&Rs, understanding of the amount of dues, etc. once we had an interest in the house. At signing we had to initial each page of the CC&Rs in front of a witness at the title company. there is no excuse for not knowing the rules when you buy a property.

 

[Wuaname]

I made sure to get a copy of the rules, even before I signed a contract on the property that we are now building within an HOA community.

Let me give you the other side of the coin, for us "normal" middle income folks who can't afford the vast properties most here reside on. I live in the suburbs of a large major city, so "out in the country" for us would be , no feasible, plus we still work, long way from retirement.

The bad?

• I won't be able to have a car in the parking lot to work on / restore for my 14 years old when he starts driving.
• If I have guests, parking will be tight.
• I won't be able to build a shed in the back yard
• I won't be able to keep my motorcycle trailer. It will have to be sold when we close, as it isn't going in the garage

The good?

1. My neighbor won't have an old car sitting on blocks while he waits to have time to work on his project.
2. I won't have 40 cars parked on the street on the weekends
3. I won't have to see sheds and awnings of all different colors and shapes throughout the neighborhood.
4. I won't have to deal with neighbors having work trucks, trailers, boats on stands, etc...what an eye sore.

So pros / cons, but in my case, the SAME cons are MY pros for the most part.

The worst part will be working on the car on the weekends. HOA rules say "no working on cars", but how black / white strict it will be, no one knows. I do KNOW that I will be part of the HOA committee lol


MY PET PEEVE on HOA's? The freakin satellite dishes!!!!!!! They look like **** , even on the side or back of the house... With all the cable technology nowadays, there is no need to have a satellite dish if you are in a major city

 

[dsp1]

Let me give you the other side of the coin, for us "normal" middle income folks who can't afford the vast properties most here reside on. I live in the suburbs of a large major city, so "out in the country" for us would be , no feasible, plus we still work, long way from retirement.

I guess it depends what part of the country you are in. This whole state is slowly dying so everything seems to be more affordable. I know a lot of people who put a modular on 5-10 acres of property for way less money than than a row house, let alone a large stand alone house in the nearest developments about 20 miles away. I'm in my early 30's and I wish I was middle income, it would be a nice pay raise. The trick is not having any other debts. If you don't mind living in the middle of nowhere, driving an hour to work and driving 30 minutes to do your shopping then there is a very strong possibility you can get yourself a vast property for the same or less than most people pay for a large 4-5 bedroom on 1/4-1/2 acre in town.

 

[KEH]

Re satellite dishes vs cable: Do the math. Generally cable is more expensive, plus the cable companies keep raising the rates because they have no competition. All this may vary depending on your location. If the HOAs were looking after the best interests of their members, maybe they could negotiate better rates.

KEH

 

[Lassen Forge]

...The trick is not having any other debts. If you don't mind living in the middle of nowhere, driving an hour to work and driving 30 minutes to do your shopping then there is a very strong possibility you can get yourself a vast property for the same or less than most people pay for a large 4-5 bedroom on 1/4-1/2 acre in town.

Word.

We got the shop and home and a couple acres for a price that wouldn't buy you a slum hovel in the bad part of the city we left.

Downsides - 45 miles to the "big city". 10 miles from the nearest store. Snows like hell in the winter. Frequent power outages. Remote possibility of forest fire. Call 911, and you got a wait. (even if you sub to a helecopter ambulance service).

Upsides - we know our neighbors - both the permanents and the cabin-eers. 200+ foot trees. almost non-existant crime (and a pro-gun pro-hunting pro-outdoor population making said crime even less likely! ... Fresh air. No traffic. Self-sufficiency. If I want to build a shop addition or storage shed or hatnot, we do it. And did I mention... NO HOA!!!

Is it worth the drive? To an outsider, they say no, I need my Starbucks and Movie and walk to a restaurant and dealer mc dope, and choice of yuppie supermarkets and the cops minutes away (when seconds count...). To one of us - we wouldn't trade what we got for the world.

Sadly - we have a couple developers trying to sell lots to the "city folk" - and it has us worried. Because we LEFT those areas for what we have now, and we DON'T want them to move in and impose their urban values on our home. So there's the rub...

 

[volleyball]

It's not just HOA's. Not long ago, a subdivision went up in a rural area sprouting the rural farm like setting. There were working farms nearby. All was good until farming happened. They tried to get the farm shut down as they didn't like the smell and noise of cows and such.

 

[rmmiller]

My ***** is ours is lead by spineless pussies that won't enforce the rules. Homes with weeds and grass growing in the landscape, fences that are in ****** condition, houses that are in dire need of paint and the list goes on. We moved here to get away from the lazy people not be surrounded by lazy fucks with money. For what these idiots pay the security companies they could pay a landscape company to maintain their house.

You know.. HOAs are actually a racket pushed by realtors and house flippers who only see every neighborhood as their potential cash cow. The thing that matters to them is raising and maintaining market value with sales-brochure perfect neighborhoods. They don't plan to live there and raise generations of family, they intend to sell for a profit and move on to the next property.

Real life is a bit gritty--enjoy it.

Not true here, the developer lives in the neighborhood as do several real estate agents including our agents mother.

 

[CJM8515]

Word.

We got the shop and home and a couple acres for a price that wouldn't buy you a slum hovel in the bad part of the city we left.

Downsides - 45 miles to the "big city". 10 miles from the nearest store. Snows like hell in the winter. Frequent power outages. Remote possibility of forest fire. Call 911, and you got a wait. (even if you sub to a helecopter ambulance service).

Upsides - we know our neighbors - both the permanents and the cabin-eers. 200+ foot trees. almost non-existant crime (and a pro-gun pro-hunting pro-outdoor population making said crime even less likely! ... Fresh air. No traffic. Self-sufficiency. If I want to build a shop addition or storage shed or hatnot, we do it. And did I mention... NO HOA!!!

Is it worth the drive? To an outsider, they say no, I need my Starbucks and Movie and walk to a restaurant and dealer mc dope, and choice of yuppie supermarkets and the cops minutes away (when seconds count...). To one of us - we wouldn't trade what we got for the world.

Sadly - we have a couple developers trying to sell lots to the "city folk" - and it has us worried. Because we LEFT those areas for what we have now, and we DON'T want them to move in and impose their urban values on our home. So there's the rub...

I lived in a area like you do now when I was a kid. Nearest store was easily 15 mins away, power outages all the time, alot of snow, etc. Traded that when I moved with my family to the burbs and honestly I liked the country better.

 

[Danver]

Re satellite dishes vs cable: Do the math. Generally cable is more expensive, plus the cable companies keep raising the rates because they have no competition. All this may vary depending on your location. If the HOAs were looking after the best interests of their members, maybe they could negotiate better rates.

KEH

Not only that but seriously, who gets annoyed by a dish on their neighbor's house? It's not like the old days when a dish was ten feet high and standing alone in the middle of the yard. If someone is truly that troubled by a satellite dish maybe the money that would otherwise be paid to the HOA would be better spent on a psychiatrist.

 

[DekeT]

Sadly - we have a couple developers trying to sell lots to the "city folk" - and it has us worried. Because we LEFT those areas for what we have now, and we DON'T want them to move in and impose their urban values on our home. So there's the rub...

Did you think you were going to close the door behind you?

 

[dsp1]

It's not just HOA's. Not long ago, a subdivision went up in a rural area sprouting the rural farm like setting. There were working farms nearby. All was good until farming happened. They tried to get the farm shut down as they didn't like the smell and noise of cows and such.

This is still happening in a small town about 30 miles south of me. A bunch of very wealthy people built some large houses decided to move out of the city to a small and quaint town of mostly Amish. After all, what is more rural and "country" than a town full of Amish? It didn't take more than a couple of months before complaints started about horses pooping on the street, buggies, wagons and tractors going too slow and impeding traffic and the smell. Dear god, that foul, horrible, unforgivable aroma that has been natural to farms since we first ceased our nomadic hunter/gatherer ways. You all know of the evil of which i speak. Yes my friends, it is....... MANURE!!! That most ghastly and terrible thing. Though I do admit the liquid stuff is pretty wretched but I have never really minded the smell of the natural stuff. Anyhow, they have been trying unsuccessfully for years now to create and pass ordinances that would effectively ban the Amish and other farmers from traveling and operating in and around the town. Which is pretty damn funny since that was the reason they moved their in the first place. Thankfully where I live is deemed too undesirable since the only thing within an hours drive are a few pretty small towns.

Did you think you were going to close the door behind you?

It would be best if it was closed and locked, but the least they can do is check their screwed up belief system at the door before they come through.

 

[miner]

My ***** is ours is lead by spineless pussies that won't enforce the rules. Homes with weeds and grass growing in the landscape, fences that are in ****** condition, houses that are in dire need of paint and the list goes on. We moved here to get away from the lazy people not be surrounded by lazy fucks with money. For what these idiots pay the security companies they could pay a landscape company to maintain their house.

Grass in the mulch?! WEEDS!? How do you survive in such a hellhole?

 

[volleyball]

They need to hire a landscape company to use toxic chemicals to drench their property so they have time to do their protesting for all those environmental organizations.

 

[AndrewnTX]

I previously lived in a more rural setting but it was new homes on 1/2 acre minimum lots. Two ponds that were dried up due to watering restrictions and some flower beds at the entry. NO pools or common areas. HOA was run by a corporation and was not worth the mandatory $850 per year to me. No personal interaction, just review the forms and collect money. There was a two rail wood fence around the place I should mention.

Since then I moved into a typical subdivision area, in the suburban city, the homes built in the late 80's. I would say I must be in a unique position as you will see. We moved in about 4 yrs ago, and my kids and I have always felt so welcomed and it's been the best home ever. It's a high visibility lot w/ swing drive so the garage and drive are very open. The HOA is voluntary for the subdivision of over 300 homes, and there are like 280 who are members, including me since the day I moved in. Reason being, we had long wanted to be in this area - loved how the parks and trails were kept and now living here really appreciate the 4 annual events in the park. The homes are very well kept and the trees and everything are really nice.

So it wasn't long that neighbors figured out I was the "car guy" as I had several classic and hot rods in the garage and always out tinkering. Putting in a lift in Bay 1 sealed the deal. I must say the entire time here has been great, I have no complaints about the HOA. People always stop by, admire the rides, ask questions, bring their cars by to say hello etc.

Now out of respect for my neighbors and ensuring that I keep a nice place, I always mow, edge, keep the lawn green and nice...have bushes trimmed, keep things neat. I never leave projects or parts or junk out on the driveway. All cars are inside. I try not to run the compressor real early or way late at night. But the cars are loud and I do come in late now and then. When I close up the doors it looks nice and neat, just like every other house around.

Now the funny part, the HOA people started calling me a few months ago. At first I was kinda worried.. turns out they wanted to put me on the ballot for HOA President for next year! and why me, who knows.

I resisted and told them I have no knowledge of any of that, so busy with work, kids and travel.. but they insisted..

So yes here you have a very unique case of car guy/hot rodder, who is now the HOA President elect..

And true this is a voluntary HOA and I'm sure very different than most out there, but had to share this positive story that there is hope for gearheads!

 

[rmmiller]

Grass in the mulch?! WEEDS!? How do you survive in such a hellhole?

Seems trivial to you but I paid a lot for my house and I bought in an area where this is something you shouldn't see. My wife and I take great care and pride in the things we own and would like to live around people that do the same. That is why we moved into a "nice" neighborhood with covenants. If I wanted to live near people that don't give a damn about their home I would have spent $150,000 less and not cared either.

 

[cactiki]

Seems like it all boils down to this-some people have very sensitive eyes and get "offended"or "annoyed" by what happens on their neighbors property. " Different colored sheds all over the neighborhood"? "Grass and weeds in the landscape"? Personally I couldn't care less what my neighbors do with their "landscape" . But then I am the guy with broken cars sitting in my driveway for years.....
If you paid more for your house because the neighborhood "looks nice" and you want to protect your "property values" ($$$$$$$$) by telling your neighbors they can't work on their own car in their own driveway, then IN MY OPINION you are a snob and need a HOA. You would call me a slob and never live in my neighborhood. And that is fine with me. That is why there are different neighborhoods
. To me, property values means being free to do what I want with my property, not being able to sell it for more money someday.

 

[skyking]

I dont waste my time watching my neighbors . I have a nice life of my own to live. I purchased my home to enjoy and realize that that stops at my property line.
My neighbor lady has beautiful large **** and mows in a tiny top. I do watch that !!

 

[Lassen Forge]

... Sadly - we have a couple developers trying to sell lots to the "city folk" - and it has us worried. Because we LEFT those areas for what we have now, and we DON'T want them to move in and impose their urban values on our home. So there's the rub...

Did you think you were going to close the door behind you?

Ya know... if people moved up here for what we have to offer, and not import their HOA-esque urban values crapola with them, then I'd welcome them with open arms (why not? They'd be business for my little shop!!)... What we seem to get (fortunately not very often) are people who would move under the flight path of an airport and then sue to close the airport because they didn't like the noise...

Example. We're hunters and fisherpeople up here. We have an informal shooting range a few miles away. Strong constitutionalists for the most part, regardless of party affiliations. NOT what people think of when they think California.

Then... A couple moved in not long ago, in one of the subdivisions a few miles down the road, who were not only *horrified* that there were so many guns up here, they vowed to take it to the board of supes to get gun legislation started to restrict all these evil guns in this county, get rid of all those scary CCW permits, etc... because some child could wander in and get hurt. Or "Its a Columbine waiting to happen". (??!!??)

OF course, the supes basically laughed them out of the office - so they're trying to get a recall campaign going to get them replaced with "more rational-minded people"... that will get some "good laws" passed like they had back where they came from. (Strangely, same place *we* came from and escaped!!)

It's not going anywhere... thank God... but that's what we contend withup here. Shut the door behind us? From people like that, I wish we could!

 

[Big Gus]

You guys enjoy your "communities", I'd rather not live in a housing development anyways, I prefer houses to not all look the same.

I agree. I've never understood the appeal to living in a subdivision and probably never will.

 

[rmmiller]

Seems like it all boils down to this-some people have very sensitive eyes and get "offended"or "annoyed" by what happens on their neighbors property. " Different colored sheds all over the neighborhood"? "Grass and weeds in the landscape"? Personally I couldn't care less what my neighbors do with their "landscape" . But then I am the guy with broken cars sitting in my driveway for years.....
If you paid more for your house because the neighborhood "looks nice" and you want to protect your "property values" ($$$$$$$$) by telling your neighbors they can't work on their own car in their own driveway, then IN MY OPINION you are a snob and need a HOA. You would call me a slob and never live in my neighborhood. And that is fine with me. That is why there are different neighborhoods
. To me, property values means being free to do what I want with my property, not being able to sell it for more money someday.

You seem to make a lot of assumptions. I did not once mention resale value, I just want to live in a place that doesn't look like ****. Regarding people working on cars in their driveway, happens here and I don't give a damn, hell, I have a Maverick Grabber project car in my garage. I have a problem with people that let their house get to the point that it looks abandoned.

Why is it wrong for me to want to live like this? You guys condemn those of us that like living in nice burbs and yet we say nothing about your choice to live outside of them. Kind of like dealing with the left, you don't like it so it's wrong.