My take on this thread is that some of wouldn’t want to be neighbors.
^This. I'm living it right now.Something sounds amiss, because they can't just change the rules. If the rules are spelled out - it requires a vote, and in my case for example 60% of the owners must vote to change. Not 60% of the vote, an actual 60% of all owners must vote for the change...
Something sounds amiss, because they can't just change the rules. If the rules are spelled out - it requires a vote, and in my case for example 60% of the owners must vote to change. Not 60% of the vote, an actual 60% of all owners must vote for the change.
Now of course 60% of my neighbors could decide lawn chairs are trash then I would be SOL.
Generally, condo and shared wall type properties are far more restrictive than single family HOA's - but yes anything is possible.
Of course lots of people here complain constantly because they can't permanently park their RV or commercial van overnight. I don't want a long line of commercial vehicles and RV's lining the street. So I am OK with this rule.![]()
I have traveled extensively thought-out South America. In some countries you can have a tire or transmission shop right next door to a single family house. While zoning prevents this in the U.S -HOA's prevent someone opening up a side hustle on the weekends next to my home.
Sorry-I don't want someone dropping a transmission or pulling a motor next door to me. Rent a commercial garage somewhere.
Selling properties as an agent and owning properties myself I think it truly depends on the person.Something sounds amiss, because they can't just change the rules. If the rules are spelled out - it requires a vote, and in my case for example 60% of the owners must vote to change. Not 60% of the vote, an actual 60% of all owners must vote for the change.
Now of course 60% of my neighbors could decide lawn chairs are trash then I would be SOL.
Generally, condo and shared wall type properties are far more restrictive than single family HOA's - but yes anything is possible.
Of course lots of people here complain constantly because they can't permanently park their RV or commercial van overnight. I don't want a long line of commercial vehicles and RV's lining the street. So I am OK with this rule.![]()
Selling properties as an agent and owning properties myself I think it truly depends on the person.
I hate to generalize but as I see it, an HOA forces everyone to "fit in" to a standard. Thats okay as that standard may be exactly what that person wants in his home and neighborhood. No wrong or right way to do it as we are all built different and have different wants and needs.
Perhaps that home with a .25 to .56 acre with that nice yard, all well maintained houses, nice sidewalks for the family to walk in the evening, no cars parked on the street etc fits exactly what I think most people in my area want. My coastal retirement area and life style attracts folks that would buy a home in a HOA and is mostly all you will find if you want to buy a home in my area. But then then you have a few people built like me.
The kind of person that can't fit in and conform to HOA rules and regs...
I simply can't conform, My DNA won't allow it. I'm the kinda person who won't do social media, I won't buy a Honda accord or Toyota or a Tesla as nice and well built as those cars are. When I walk out of a grocery store I don't have to hunt for my car in a sea of all cars look the same...
I own 2 utility trailers, one large and enclosed, a work van ( not used for work, I wanted a work van so thats what I have ), a Ram 3500, a Dodge Hellcat thats loud as hell when I start it and NOT exactly neighbor friendly.
I own 3 Harley bikes that is also loud as hell. a Club Car golf cart, a retired police Crown Vic and a Snapper Lawn mower! a wife and almost grown children all with cars, NO RV or Boat but I have a place to park them and I CAN park them IF I ever buy one or both or three.
I like to do lots of my own oil changes, deep detail wash and polish my bikes and have no issue doing those oil changes / detail under a temporary canopy tent I set up in my driveway when bike week comes to town so I can wash and service all my bikes as I come and go those 2 weeks, twice a year all without upsetting anyone... I do it because I want to and I can.
Life outside of a HOA is THE stuff I live for, The stuff I LOVE from simply setting up and tent and change my oil in my driveway or parking my van with a ladder on top with out a HOA sending me a letter is a life I MUST have!
I love my House, I live in a busy high $ coastal area. I'm actually zoned commercial so I can and do run (3) small business from my home. I'm 100 yards to the Inlet ( Ocean ) and a mile from the intracoastal ( I need a boat ). My neighbors are more a mix of AirBnb homes than a traditional neighbor now. YES, with NO HOA I can rent my home weekly via AirBnb If I wish and I can say bring your boat! ( I still have a few normal real people neighbors that I can call on for anything ) but I would NOT have it any other way because as long as its legal I can do whatever the freak I want to do period. No HOA = Total freedom, not for everyone but a must for me!
PontiacHO, about the same time you sold yours I was involved ( didn't own but involved as an agent) with a Condo not far from you in Garden City beach SC. This was a 4 story condo complex built in the 80's, Nothing fancy about like most other condos in the area, had a value of about $70 - $80K, 20 years ago.
Well at a annual meeting someone suggested a Elevator for the building would be a great idea ( NOT replace an old elevator but build a new one for this 4 story now 30+ year old building). A vote, bids and then You guessed it, SPECIAL ASSESSMENT!
$12,000 PER unit ! So a homeowner that may have paid $35K in 1988 gets a bill in the mail for $12K on his $70K unit!
IF YOU live on the 4 th floor that may be a great idea but what about that guy on the 1st floor with a $12K bill that if he don't pay he can sell or loose his condo!
That opened my eyes, I did buy a Condo in Garden City but as a agent in the business I know what property management company was best and what complexes had the stronger HOA, I purchased it short term to flip and did my research but it was a risk as all it takes is someone on the 4th floor suggesting a elevator, or a pickleball court or a lazy river, or whatever the new thing is at the time and would be a good idea and next thing you know you got a $12K+ bill you must pay!
After seeing that elevator thing happen I decided dealing with the County is hard enough with a possible surprise tax increase
I find I must be the ONE who decides how and on what I spend MY money, not a HOA.
I also understand and would tell my customers that owning beach property is VERY risky, You want to live near the coast you must be willing to pay to play and accept the risk and I actually had a form to sign saying that...
Lots to be said for having a boat and not, you know the old saying...I do miss the convenience of stepping out of our condo and onto my boat. 5 minutes from the Little River Inlet and I was fishing. Other than that I’m over it…
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This. You voluntarily surrender certain rights. This may be good for some, and that's great. But you must realize there is always the possibility of that "Karen" showing up. It's part of it, period.As someone who wants absolutely no part of being in an HOA, I never understood the people complaining about living in one. You bought the property, they make it clear it's in a HOA, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Pay someone to give me more rules to live by under threat of state sanctioned violence? Oh yes government me harder daddy.....
Hard pass.
It's a symbiotic relationship. Once can't exist without the other.I guess its lost on those arguing that HOA's shouldn't exist - is essentially Karen telling other people how to live.![]()
That’s not by Archie’s is it?I do miss the convenience of stepping out of our condo and onto my boat. 5 minutes from the Little River Inlet and I was fishing. Other than that I’m over it…
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That's on them. Our first house was in a HOA, which really just covered garbage pick up ($300/year) and that was it. But I read all the stuff before I placed an offer and even called the office to ask questions. Thankfully they were an otherwise hands off HOA. If I can manage that at 20 years old without my parents help, I have absolutely zero sympathy for people who don't do that.My opinion . most people move into a HOA situation without knowing exactly what is in the rules , etc. They ask " How much are the dues ? " and that's about it .
Absolutely, but lots of people say this and then things change. So just understand how EXACTLY new rules are implemented. Majority? 2/3 vote? Some other method? Can you protest? Can you be grandfathered in with new rules?That's on them. Our first house was in a HOA, which really just covered garbage pick up ($300/year) and that was it. But I read all the stuff before I placed an offer and even called the office to ask questions. Thankfully they were an otherwise hands off HOA. If I can manage that at 20 years old without my parents help, I have absolutely zero sympathy for people who don't do that.