HOA news

[Greasymechtech]

My short commute house is in a city. Its like a HOA but vastly bigger. The punishment for not mowing lawns, junk cars, uncontrolled pets,... can get you big fines or land you in jail. Skip the water/sewer/garbage/tax bill and they'll simply auction of your house, pay your bill, and then keep the change.

In the country, our house is in a HOA that is kept under a short lease. We don't need it at all as most as civilized. And, the residents keep the HOA budget in check... no debt and minimal expense.

 

[brianl703]

I haven't lived in one where the streets were part of the HOA but the HOA makes sure the county properly maintains them and rate walkways, way more than areas without an HOA.
Oh and that goes for drainage too.

Sure, the HOA is able to tell the county how to do their job. Does that work better when someone from the county lives in that neighborhood and is on the HOA board, maybe?

The places I've lived in with an HOA vs. the ones without, I saw NO difference in how the county or state maintained anything in the neighborhood, except that some had HOA-maintained streets.

 

[alarmguy]

Sure, the HOA is able to tell the county how to do their job. Does that work better when someone from the county lives in that neighborhood and is on the HOA board, maybe?

The places I've lived in with an HOA vs. the ones without, I saw NO difference in how the county or state maintained anything in the neighborhood, except that some had HOA-maintained streets.

I cant say anyone would see a difference, except in some challenging cases. More or less just because you as one person never saw a difference doesn't mean it doesnt happen. It's actually just common sense that it does happen.

Example, a homeowner in our community in the low part of a cul de sac during bad thunderstorms once in a great while the water rushing down the street and also from the woods would flood into his garage.
Instead of having to deal with the county alone the HOA got involved, added a paved (hump) in the road before the cut de sac, to limit the water entering the cul-de-sac and dug up the road and doubled the size of the street drain near his driveway. It was a big job for just one house, but the HOA was a big help.
Also as other have posted, it's EASY in our area to tell which communities have a strong HOA and which do not as far as the look and resale value of many homes. But even then, not a blanket statement at all but an HOA for some, like me and others (74 million) is an insurance policy.

 

[dnewton3]

An HOA is no different than any other form of governing body. It has pros and cons. It's a tool that can either be used properly or abused.

We used to live on acreage in a rural, unincorporated area with no HOA. The various neighbors we lived (survived) through were some of the most atrocious folks around. We had both good and bad neighbors in the 16 years we lived there. Without an HOA, there's no limit to the stupidity of actions at any time, day or night. I'm pro-gun, but we don't want to hear shotguns errantly going off at 11pm on a Tuesday school-night for no reason other than those folks were drunk and stupid. Or the UTV blasting up and down the shared gravel easement; tearing up the driveway by doing donuts and slinging gravel into the grass. Or having parties on weeknights because someone was just fired and they needed to blow off steam, blasting Bocephus throught their crackling walmart speakers in the back of their truck bed. Or their near-ferral dogs running loose, chasing my wife and kids, and getting into our trash. Or burning refuse and asphalt shingles when the wind is blowing towards our house. I could go on and on ...

We moved to a neighborhood with an HOA on purpose. It is NOT an overbearing HOA. Our HOA holds the residents accountable for:
- construction standards of housing, size of barns, etc; helps to keep the home values up
- asthetic and maintenance standards; again - keeps the 'hood from looking like a dump and therefore keeps home values up (no cars on blocks in the yard for example)
- standards of conduct outside the home; keeps noise pollution to a minimum - no loud parties, guns blazing, or ATVs tearing about
Our HOA governing documents are not overwhelming; about 8 pages total for the C&Rs. While that may seem like a lot, consider that the HOA directly next to us has 67 (sixty-seven!) pages of governance. That kind of puts us in a better perspective of "moderate" rules. Our HOA does not micro-manage. Further, our annual dues are only $250, because we're small, and we have no shared ammenities other than the private gravel road we manage cooperatively (we have no clubhouse, no pool, no tennis courts).

Here's the most important thing to understand about living in an HOA ... IT'S A CHOICE! For us, it was the right choice. It won't be the right choice for everyone. IT's OK to be different. It's also OK to conform. If you live in an HOA, the amount of expected conformity will vary with the HOA. NOT ALL HOAs ARE EVIL. Some folks would say that HOAs are stupid or unnecessary. That's easy to say when you've never lived next door to horrible neighbors and had them disrupt nearly every aspect of your life.

 

[brianl703]

I cant say anyone would see a difference, except in some challenging cases. More or less just because you as one person never saw a difference doesn't mean it doesnt happen. It's actually just common sense that it does happen.

It's also common sense that it does happen that an HOA mismanages funds and things the HOA is supposed to maintain don't get maintained.

It happened with an HOA here. They were responsible for maintaining the streets. They didn't. They streets fell into disrepair and the HOA did not have enough funds to resurface them. Were the assessments not high enough? Did the HOA management embezzle funds? Who knows. The fact is that the work needed to be done and the money was not there to do it.

The city had to levy a special tax assessment on the houses in the HOA to fund the repairs to the road.

 

[brianl703]

That's easy to say when you've never lived next door to horrible neighbors and had them disrupt nearly every aspect of your life.

I lived next door to horrible neighbors. In fact it was a townhouse so I shared a wall with them. The woman and her live-in boyfriend constantly argued. One time she was out of town and he threw a party. There were people next door screaming at 3 in the morning. The HOA was useless in dealing with the situation. I just moved. To a house with no HOA and the nearest neighbors 300 feet away.

 

[wings&wheels]

Add me to the short list that likes having an HOA. I don’t like living where anything goes with regards to property. I like yards to be mowed, no junk cars, nicely landscaped common area, no above ground pools or dog kennels.

Us also... However, our HoA's are relatively unintrusive, both are in traditional single family neighborhoods; one exists only to maintain the common areas, small beaches and boat ramp as well as advocate for the 'hood w/ the Town and State on lake management matters (millfoil eradication), and the other does commons plus enforce standards on vehicles and maintaining properties. Neither are excessive and if one winds up on the wrong side of one, there is a reason.

We like living in nice neighborhoods in nice towns and we feel an obligation to our neighbors to maintain our properties both as a courtesy and for value and expect the same. We also understand the limitations of the HoA...we read and agreed to them.

RTM applies....'read the manual' or agreement in this case...and if you don't like what the HoA is doing, get involved.

 

[PontiacHO]

Recently sold a condo in a marina community on the coast. HOA was really expensive for the dwelling and boat slip. There were very questionable financial decisions and projects being made by the board that more times than not never took place. It became a reactive approach to maintaining the buildings, grounds, and marina. Patch jobs were the usual methods of upkeep. The repeated observations year to rear with outgoing board members were they would sell out and move. Not just a few but all of them. My guess is with money in their pockets. It’s akin to a money laundering scheme with the participants forced to get gone or else…
Here’s another twist…
The owner of the “contracted maintenance company” also participated on the board.
How’s that for a conflict of interest?

 

[ATex7239]

My HOA is worthless. Most people in the neighborhood keep up with their homes and property. A few always leave rubbish out front or start outdoor projects but seemly never finish them. Also we have one decor hoarder who’s yard is littered with “decorations.” It looks ridiculous.

I wish HOAs weren’t so bipolar. Either it’s a horror story with Karens and Kens acting like Nazis or some absentee president who lets things go to crap but still collects the dues.

 

[Donald]

And then we have our HOA that hasn't been a problem at all and we're happy to live here.

Was getting worried the weekly HOA bash wasn't going to happen this week.

@Donald, didn't you just move there?

Correct, at the beginning of this year. But have owned it since mid 2017 and used it for long weekends and vacation.

 

[Donald]

I agreed to take on this position as everyone one the current board had been on the board at least two terms and was tired. And few volunteers interested in being on the board. I view it more of a service position. With about 25 houses, a few of which are elderly people, and three people needed on the board, every homeowner should take a stink.

 

[JustinH]

Waah its so terrible. We have a Gym, Two Pools, Lounge area, gas fireplace with rocking chairs, and we have trips to seaworld and the hill country for wine and booze trips. We rent buses and go to the football games.

We have gourmet cooking classes in the great room, and can rent the facility for our own events.

The common areas are landscaped with desert rocks, and palms.

Downside though, I have to upkeep my house and not have five junk cars parked in the lawn.

My dues are about $700/year.

Take a drive around south san antonio there are no HOA's and the houses are literally falling over, and there are roosters running in the road, and people have junk cars and trash everywhere. Yards full of weeds, and pitbull chained up in the front yard. But they have their freedom lol.

HOA next to us has waterslides, swimming with lifeguard, snack bar, fishing area with dock, an elementary school, and tennis courts in addition to all the stuff we have.

 

[brianl703]

Take a drive around south san antonio there are no HOA's and the houses are literally falling over, and there are roosters running in the road, and people have junk cars and trash everywhere. Yards full of weeds, and pitbull chained up in the front yard. But they have their freedom lol.

You can draw some conclusions about places when people act like that when there's no HOA.

Pardon me if I'd rather not be surrounded by people who need to be coerced by an HOA into acting civilized.

 

[brianl703]

There is no HOA here:

 

[Donald]

Local governments LOVE HOAs because many times the streets are maintained by the HOA, not the locality.

Not that you save anything in property taxes for this.

Our road is maintained by the HOA. Our yearly HOA fees are $1000. No pool or tennis courts or clubhouse.

 

[Speedbird001]

Mine (SMALL neighborhood) is relatively low cost; trash, snow and common area mait. I wish SO much it was a little more empowered.

Cac_suckers next door are straight-up trash; only 2 drivers but 6-7 cars. None in the garage mind you and only 2 run. Christmas lights up for 10 years straight, trash in the yard etc. If I had more money... the dreams I've had [sigh]... Well, there probably is a number of houses struck by lightning and burned to the ground every year... with any luck this will be the one theirs is reduced to a smoldering hole.

 

[KrisZ]

As of the annual meeting today I am the HOA president.

Come on, tell us who is your favorite dictator?
Kidding, but I sure hope you don’t become one and that you will lead this HOA with some common sense.

 

[Dave Hess]

https://www.local10.com/news/local/...-homeowners-100000-pickup-truck-out-of-sight/

 

[aquariuscsm]

HOAs are basically for people who don't want to be homeowners. They're nothing more than huge apartment complexes.

 

[PF52]

Take a drive around south san antonio there are no HOA's and the houses are literally falling over, and there are roosters running in the road, and people have junk cars and trash everywhere. Yards full of weeds, and pitbull chained up in the front yard. But they have their freedom lol.

Obviously there can be no in-between. Total polar opposites, always.

You forgot to mention the derelict appliances rusting away in the front yard.