Originally Posted By: Astro14
Originally Posted By: andrewg
HOA's are the result of poor neighbors to begin with. Many neighborhoods would degrade quickly without them. I've lived in neighborhoods that didn't have them...and I prefer those that do.
HOA's aren't hidden. Any prospective homeowner can read the bylaws and decide for themselves BEFORE they purchase...if that type of structure is for them.
It always irks me when dolts get all upset with HOA's when THEY signed the agreed upon contract. It's akin to getting a drivers license then being upset that YOU must obey traffic laws.
Yes...an overly zealous HOA committee and/or president can be a cause for concern. But that is why you get to VOTE them in or out of that position. Or...you can even run for it yourself.
In my opinion the only thing worse than a control freak HOA president....is one that does NOTHING about enforcing the HOA rules.
After all....you pay HOA dues for a reason.
They can be tough. Quick HOA story: when I lived in Colorado, I was in a nice neighborhood with an HOA. One of the HOA rules: no cars parked in driveways overnight (missed that rule in reading through them). So, my three car garage held: Packard, woodworking tools, Mercedes 240D. Out in the driveway: 4 Runner, Volvo 240 Wagon.
I got a letter informing me that I couldn't park the truck (4 Runner) in my driveway. No problem, I thought, and swapped it out for the MB in the garage. Someone complained.
I got another letter informing me that I couldn't park anything in my driveway.
Hmm...doing the math, unless I sold two cars, what was I supposed to do?
So, I called the city. Parking on the street was allowable by city ordinance. Parking on the street was not covered in the HOA rules.
I moved my cars to the street. Impeding traffic, reducing visibility and safety, but now in complete compliance with the HOA rules and city ordinance.
After a week, I called the president of the HOA and asked whether he would prefer the cars be back in the driveway and out of everyone's way, or would he prefer that I continue to leave them in the street.
He told me that I could put them back in the driveway, that was a better solution for all concerned.
I thought so too...
It's too bad that you didn't read and interpret the rules properly.
In my opinion, you didn't regard the HOA agreement as important as your own personal choices.
When others find loopholes with HOA's such as you did......it only benefits you and not your neighbors. That's not exactly good ethics nor being a respectful neighbor.
I would think that somebody that owned 4 vehicles PLUS needed space for woodworking tools....would have had the foresight to read the HOA much more closely.
I'm surprised.
