Are you for or against HOAs?

[lniles]

I would never buy a SFR in a place with an HOA. Aside from someone else telling you how to decorate your landscape and outside walls, where you park your car, and so on, you have someone else controlling money you put into a fund and making decisions on how to spend your money. You can expect a lifetime of HOA dues increases, and on top of that you might expect “special assessments” in which they require each owner to put in thousands of dollars for “special” projects (building a playground for little Jimmy next door, fixing the sidewalk that little Jimmy later drove his monster truck onto, putting in a stop sign because little Jimmy killed some pedestrians there, painting the clubhouse that little Jimmy’s friends sprayed graffiti on, whatever).

The management of your HOA is completely unregulated, undemocratic, and allows for rampant waste and poor management, even if the board members live in the complex. It sounds like another conspiracy theory but when you take normal people and put them in control of funds from a large group of people (in my complex the reserve is in the millions) then strange things occur.

Please read the section called “Lack of Checks and Balances” in wikipedia’s page on homo-asses. In fact, read the whole page, it’s a great and unbiased viewpoint on HOAs with all the pros and cons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeowners’_association

[davelj]

I own a condo that (obviously) has an HOA. I’ve had no problems with it. I’ve done two fairly major projects, both of which I was supposed to get approval for. I blew them off. They know that I blew them off and they’ve done nothing about it, nor do they have any plans to. My logic is that as long as you’re doing something that the majority of the residents won’t have a problem with, you’re ok. And if the majority of the residents do have a problem with it, then it’s probably something screwy that you shouldn’t be doing anyway. Most HOA regulations are really just to keep the really crazy sh*t from happening. My thought process prior to my two projects was, “Is any resident of this building going to be bothered by what I’m doing here?” If the answer is “no” then it’s unlikely that the HOA is going to come after you about it. The reason is simple: Ultimately, the HOA represents the residents; if the residents don’t want the HOA to pursue something, they wont. It’s the residents’ money, after all. Just my 2 cents.

[davelj]

I own a condo that (obviously) has an HOA. I’ve had no problems with it. I’ve done two fairly major projects, both of which I was supposed to get approval for. I blew them off. They know that I blew them off and they’ve done nothing about it, nor do they have any plans to. My logic is that as long as you’re doing something that the majority of the residents won’t have a problem with, you’re ok. And if the majority of the residents do have a problem with it, then it’s probably something screwy that you shouldn’t be doing anyway. Most HOA regulations are really just to keep the really crazy sh*t from happening. My thought process prior to my two projects was, “Is any resident of this building going to be bothered by what I’m doing here?” If the answer is “no” then it’s unlikely that the HOA is going to come after you about it. The reason is simple: Ultimately, the HOA represents the residents; if the residents don’t want the HOA to pursue something, they wont. It’s the residents’ money, after all. Just my 2 cents.

[davelj]

I own a condo that (obviously) has an HOA. I’ve had no problems with it. I’ve done two fairly major projects, both of which I was supposed to get approval for. I blew them off. They know that I blew them off and they’ve done nothing about it, nor do they have any plans to. My logic is that as long as you’re doing something that the majority of the residents won’t have a problem with, you’re ok. And if the majority of the residents do have a problem with it, then it’s probably something screwy that you shouldn’t be doing anyway. Most HOA regulations are really just to keep the really crazy sh*t from happening. My thought process prior to my two projects was, “Is any resident of this building going to be bothered by what I’m doing here?” If the answer is “no” then it’s unlikely that the HOA is going to come after you about it. The reason is simple: Ultimately, the HOA represents the residents; if the residents don’t want the HOA to pursue something, they wont. It’s the residents’ money, after all. Just my 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

As a former condo HOA board member myself (in an 81 unit downtown area building) I’ve gotta say that davelj’s response was probably the most balanced response I’ve read so far. My criterion as a board member was: If I allow YOU to do “X”, then I have to allow EVERYONE to do “X”. So if everyone did “X”, what would the effect on the building be?

If “X” involved planting flowers in window boxes on the railing of your balcony, I’m for it so long as you maintain them.

If “X” involves putting faded sheets up in your windows instead of drapes or blinds, I have a problem with that because if everyone did it, the building would look like a third world ghetto.

If “X” involved using your balcony as a storage closet for bikes, ice chests, empty bird cages, scuba diving wetsuits and moving boxes as yet unpacked, then I have a problem with that because your balcony is not a storage locker and it looks like hell when you treat it like one.

If “X” involves parking in the designated no-parking fire lane in the underground garage instead of in your parking space for “just for a few minutes” while you run upstairs then I have a problem with that because a) it’s a fire lane b) your car leaks oil which people will slip on and c) because “a few minutes” in your language translates to half an hour or more in real time. Stop being selfish and lazy and park your car in your assigned space which is no more than 50′ away from an elevator lobby.

If “X” involves propping the emergency exit perimeter doors of the building open while you run a “quick errand” to the nearest mini-mart across the alley and down the street (so you don’t have to come around to the building’s front entrance and use your key), then I have a problem with that because a) by wedging something between the door jamb and the door you are repeatedly tweaking the hinges, eventually requiring an expensive repair, b) you’ve compromised the security of the building and c) by allowing the riff-raff from the alley into the building you’ve exposed your neighbors’ units to being ripped off. Ironically, your unit will never be broken into because your broke tenant ass doesn’t have anything worth stealing.

If “X” involves being unwilling to wait the 10 seconds it takes for the garage gate to close when you enter or leave the garage, then I have a problem with that because you’ll eventually allow the previously mentioned riff-raff from the alley to dart into the “secure” garage before the gate closes and they then proceed to break into your neighbors cars. They might even pull a knife on one of your neighbors if confronted or surprised. (Don’t laugh – I had one pull a knife on me AND I had my car broken into!) Ironically, your car won’t be broken into and you’ll never be confronted because you’re the nice person who let them in.

I’m sure none of the readers of this site would be that selfish or inconsiderate towards their neighbors. I’m sure that all of you want to live in beautiful neighborhoods and complexes that you can be proud of. It’s “the others” that live around you that ruin it for everyone.

[Anonymous]

As a former condo HOA board member myself (in an 81 unit downtown area building) I’ve gotta say that davelj’s response was probably the most balanced response I’ve read so far. My criterion as a board member was: If I allow YOU to do “X”, then I have to allow EVERYONE to do “X”. So if everyone did “X”, what would the effect on the building be?

If “X” involved planting flowers in window boxes on the railing of your balcony, I’m for it so long as you maintain them.

If “X” involves putting faded sheets up in your windows instead of drapes or blinds, I have a problem with that because if everyone did it, the building would look like a third world ghetto.

If “X” involved using your balcony as a storage closet for bikes, ice chests, empty bird cages, scuba diving wetsuits and moving boxes as yet unpacked, then I have a problem with that because your balcony is not a storage locker and it looks like hell when you treat it like one.

If “X” involves parking in the designated no-parking fire lane in the underground garage instead of in your parking space for “just for a few minutes” while you run upstairs then I have a problem with that because a) it’s a fire lane b) your car leaks oil which people will slip on and c) because “a few minutes” in your language translates to half an hour or more in real time. Stop being selfish and lazy and park your car in your assigned space which is no more than 50′ away from an elevator lobby.

If “X” involves propping the emergency exit perimeter doors of the building open while you run a “quick errand” to the nearest mini-mart across the alley and down the street (so you don’t have to come around to the building’s front entrance and use your key), then I have a problem with that because a) by wedging something between the door jamb and the door you are repeatedly tweaking the hinges, eventually requiring an expensive repair, b) you’ve compromised the security of the building and c) by allowing the riff-raff from the alley into the building you’ve exposed your neighbors’ units to being ripped off. Ironically, your unit will never be broken into because your broke tenant ass doesn’t have anything worth stealing.

If “X” involves being unwilling to wait the 10 seconds it takes for the garage gate to close when you enter or leave the garage, then I have a problem with that because you’ll eventually allow the previously mentioned riff-raff from the alley to dart into the “secure” garage before the gate closes and they then proceed to break into your neighbors cars. They might even pull a knife on one of your neighbors if confronted or surprised. (Don’t laugh – I had one pull a knife on me AND I had my car broken into!) Ironically, your car won’t be broken into and you’ll never be confronted because you’re the nice person who let them in.

I’m sure none of the readers of this site would be that selfish or inconsiderate towards their neighbors. I’m sure that all of you want to live in beautiful neighborhoods and complexes that you can be proud of. It’s “the others” that live around you that ruin it for everyone.

[Anonymous]

As a former condo HOA board member myself (in an 81 unit downtown area building) I’ve gotta say that davelj’s response was probably the most balanced response I’ve read so far. My criterion as a board member was: If I allow YOU to do “X”, then I have to allow EVERYONE to do “X”. So if everyone did “X”, what would the effect on the building be?

If “X” involved planting flowers in window boxes on the railing of your balcony, I’m for it so long as you maintain them.

If “X” involves putting faded sheets up in your windows instead of drapes or blinds, I have a problem with that because if everyone did it, the building would look like a third world ghetto.

If “X” involved using your balcony as a storage closet for bikes, ice chests, empty bird cages, scuba diving wetsuits and moving boxes as yet unpacked, then I have a problem with that because your balcony is not a storage locker and it looks like hell when you treat it like one.

If “X” involves parking in the designated no-parking fire lane in the underground garage instead of in your parking space for “just for a few minutes” while you run upstairs then I have a problem with that because a) it’s a fire lane b) your car leaks oil which people will slip on and c) because “a few minutes” in your language translates to half an hour or more in real time. Stop being selfish and lazy and park your car in your assigned space which is no more than 50′ away from an elevator lobby.

If “X” involves propping the emergency exit perimeter doors of the building open while you run a “quick errand” to the nearest mini-mart across the alley and down the street (so you don’t have to come around to the building’s front entrance and use your key), then I have a problem with that because a) by wedging something between the door jamb and the door you are repeatedly tweaking the hinges, eventually requiring an expensive repair, b) you’ve compromised the security of the building and c) by allowing the riff-raff from the alley into the building you’ve exposed your neighbors’ units to being ripped off. Ironically, your unit will never be broken into because your broke tenant ass doesn’t have anything worth stealing.

If “X” involves being unwilling to wait the 10 seconds it takes for the garage gate to close when you enter or leave the garage, then I have a problem with that because you’ll eventually allow the previously mentioned riff-raff from the alley to dart into the “secure” garage before the gate closes and they then proceed to break into your neighbors cars. They might even pull a knife on one of your neighbors if confronted or surprised. (Don’t laugh – I had one pull a knife on me AND I had my car broken into!) Ironically, your car won’t be broken into and you’ll never be confronted because you’re the nice person who let them in.

I’m sure none of the readers of this site would be that selfish or inconsiderate towards their neighbors. I’m sure that all of you want to live in beautiful neighborhoods and complexes that you can be proud of. It’s “the others” that live around you that ruin it for everyone.

[oshens]

Hey there, new to the board but been reading it for awhile. I’m in Hawaii and looking to relocate to SD in a year or so.
We pay two association fees, one for the town we live in (to utilize pools, rec centers etc), and a second one for the neighborhood due to our living in a single family home under condominium ownership. We always get hassled like being fined for putting up a swing set, even though we’ve had it for two years, and putting up a tarp in the front of our house for our kids birthday, which we hadn’t even had up for 24 hours. We never pay and the evil bastards eventually go away. However I have to say that we do get to go to the pools and take advantage of the rec centers, and our house structure is insured, all for 100 bucks a month so all in all it’s worth it in the end.
It also helps to have our entire culdesac volunteer to be the president, vice president, and treasurer of the neighborhood association so that we can have our way.

[oshens]

Hey there, new to the board but been reading it for awhile. I’m in Hawaii and looking to relocate to SD in a year or so.
We pay two association fees, one for the town we live in (to utilize pools, rec centers etc), and a second one for the neighborhood due to our living in a single family home under condominium ownership. We always get hassled like being fined for putting up a swing set, even though we’ve had it for two years, and putting up a tarp in the front of our house for our kids birthday, which we hadn’t even had up for 24 hours. We never pay and the evil bastards eventually go away. However I have to say that we do get to go to the pools and take advantage of the rec centers, and our house structure is insured, all for 100 bucks a month so all in all it’s worth it in the end.
It also helps to have our entire culdesac volunteer to be the president, vice president, and treasurer of the neighborhood association so that we can have our way.

[oshens]

Hey there, new to the board but been reading it for awhile. I’m in Hawaii and looking to relocate to SD in a year or so.
We pay two association fees, one for the town we live in (to utilize pools, rec centers etc), and a second one for the neighborhood due to our living in a single family home under condominium ownership. We always get hassled like being fined for putting up a swing set, even though we’ve had it for two years, and putting up a tarp in the front of our house for our kids birthday, which we hadn’t even had up for 24 hours. We never pay and the evil bastards eventually go away. However I have to say that we do get to go to the pools and take advantage of the rec centers, and our house structure is insured, all for 100 bucks a month so all in all it’s worth it in the end.
It also helps to have our entire culdesac volunteer to be the president, vice president, and treasurer of the neighborhood association so that we can have our way.

[gracie]

After living in a neighborhood where all of the sudden everyone bought a boat and or RV and parked them all over our street(in a nice community)and having people refuse to pick up their lawns and side yards…we moved to an area that has a stong HOA. I would never live again without one. It killed me to see how other people cared so little about other neighbors….and I like boats but…I don’t wish to have my street and the driveways filled with them.

Like I said….never again for us…only HOA!!

[gracie]

After living in a neighborhood where all of the sudden everyone bought a boat and or RV and parked them all over our street(in a nice community)and having people refuse to pick up their lawns and side yards…we moved to an area that has a stong HOA. I would never live again without one. It killed me to see how other people cared so little about other neighbors….and I like boats but…I don’t wish to have my street and the driveways filled with them.

Like I said….never again for us…only HOA!!

[gracie]

After living in a neighborhood where all of the sudden everyone bought a boat and or RV and parked them all over our street(in a nice community)and having people refuse to pick up their lawns and side yards…we moved to an area that has a stong HOA. I would never live again without one. It killed me to see how other people cared so little about other neighbors….and I like boats but…I don’t wish to have my street and the driveways filled with them.

Like I said….never again for us…only HOA!!

[novice1027]

I have live with a HOA for 17 years, and would never live in a neighborhood without one, unless I lived miles away from my cloesest neighbor.
Our dues started around $42/mo and now are $71/mo. I added a deck and had no issues with them. They are fairly leniant sp?. In the past we have had a few Hitler types over the years, but it was still well worth not having the sheets for window coverings, x-mas lights year round, and the dreaded lime green house.
I’m all for HOA’s

[novice1027]

I have live with a HOA for 17 years, and would never live in a neighborhood without one, unless I lived miles away from my cloesest neighbor.
Our dues started around $42/mo and now are $71/mo. I added a deck and had no issues with them. They are fairly leniant sp?. In the past we have had a few Hitler types over the years, but it was still well worth not having the sheets for window coverings, x-mas lights year round, and the dreaded lime green house.
I’m all for HOA’s

[Author]

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