HOA’s and their nonsense

[Clonehomer]

I am on the HOA board for my townhome association. I am on there due to poor spending, financial planning and oppressive management.

We replaced 18 roofs in September and replacing driveways this summer. Trying to atone for the awful decisions from the past.

That said, everyone complains about everything. Can’t make anyone happy and am done trying.

I feel like there’s two very different types of HOA’s. For the single family homes that the HOA is there to enforce the covenant, there’s not much for them to do and they don’t bother people for the most part.

For condos or developments that the exteriors and yards are maintained by the HOA, it’s a different story. The fees can vary and change quite dramatically from what you expect when you moved in. If you get any major weather event, expect to get absolutely rocked with insurance premiums even if your house was not affected. And you always question if the services are chosen because of a relationship or some kind of kickback. I never want to deal with that as a homeowner or member of the HOA board.

 

[Bipolarcy]

Anyone ever have to deal with an HOA? Who are these people and their stupid rules. Sorry I’m just so exausted with dealing with them. They should be outlawed

HOAs: Created by Karens, for Karens so Karens can be in charge of other Karens who like to rat on their neighbors.

 

[cyups2323]

Spent about 4 hours one Saturday slowly hauling my friends plastic style storage shed from nevada to bondurant to hos new house. The shed kept coming unstrapped so it took forever. Once we finally got it there and unloaded it an old man on a golf cart came driving up saying no no no you can't have that. The shed has to have shingles that match the house.

 

[brianhos]

I had them send me a letter that our fence was not approved by the HOA, except it was here when we bought the house. So stupid.

 

[kcdc4isu]

When I moved to the Des Moines area we bought a home in Clive that was in HOA. The fee was very small because it was a large development and only had a small amount of common ground that needed mowed. Ten years ago I downsized and moved to a townhome development. When the last home was finished the builder turned it over to us. I was on the first board and we hired a company to manage us. We went thru the covenants and got rid of some and revised and added some. One major change was we banned rentals as we had a couple whose renters had caused issues. As was noted our dues have gone up due to rising costs of services. We have lawn care, snow removal, waste removal and insurance because the association has to maintain the exteriors of our homes and the streets. As was stated the one nice thing is you can control how the area looks you just have to keep rules that most agree with.

 

[chuckd4735]

Spent about 4 hours one Saturday slowly hauling my friends plastic style storage shed from nevada to bondurant to hos new house. The shed kept coming unstrapped so it took forever. Once we finally got it there and unloaded it an old man on a golf cart came driving up saying no no no you can't have that. The shed has to have shingles that match the house.

Pretty normal regulation. Most cities have similar regulations where accessory buildings (depending on size) need to match the principal structure.

 

[CloniesForLife]

We have an HOA. I complain every year when I have to write the stupid check. The only people that regularly attend the meetings are the retired boomers with nothing else to do. I don’t really have any beef with the rules we have here. Keeps people from letting their home value go to crap so that’s good. Outside of that giant waste of money

So it keeps home values up but outside of that large financial boost it's a waste of money? Isn't that proving the point that it's useful?

 

[CyCrazy]

I couldnt live in an HOA.

 

[Cychl82]

You mean the rules you likely signed an agreement to follow? No one held you hostage and demand you sign it. If you don't like it, move.

I don't love some of the rules of ours but I'm glad some ******* can't put a tiny house or trailer, etc. on the empty lots next to me and destroy our property's value. I'm glad someone can't be like the ******* who used to live across the street from us who had his motor home in the street for 5 months. I'm glad the developer of our subdivision can't just say f it and put a Verizon tower in the middle because lots aren't selling as quickly as they would like.

Our HOA meeting includes a discussion about not allowing a neighbor to have their trash bin outside of their garage. Keep in mind you can barely see it even as you drive by even though it’s just kept outside because they have 3 kids in diapers but a board member wants to fine them. There’s extremes on both ends

 

[FriendlySpartan]

HOA’s suck but you also know what you’re getting into when you buy into one. I could never live with an HOA and find a lot of them to produce the most sterile bland neighborhoods possible but for some areas they are hard to avoid.

 

[IcSyU]

Our HOA meeting includes a discussion about not allowing a neighbor to have their trash bin outside of their garage. Keep in mind you can barely see it even as you drive by even though it’s just kept outside because they have 3 kids in diapers but a board member wants to fine them. There’s extremes on both ends

Again, when the buyer bought the house that was disclosed to them. I'm pretty sure ours has the same type of stipulation that our bins can only be out day before, of, and after garbage collection. If you don't want to play by the rules you agreed to don't get in the game.

This is like being mad at getting a ticket for 60 in a 55. It is petty? Yes. Is it explicitly stated what the rules we are all supposed to be playing by are? Yes. The next neighbor wants their bins outside because of their cat's litter. The next neighbor wants it outside because of the bags of dog poop from walks. The next neighbor wants it outside because they want to store something in their garage.

People do what they say they're going to do: no issues.

People don't? Holding people accountable to what they said they were going to do isn't the HOA's problem. It's the person who thinks they're special.

Our neighborhood has people with their bins out. I don't give a ****. Our house doesn't meet the rules because we have more than 12" of foundation showing. If someone were to enforce that it's my responsibility for not ensuring my house met the rules at construction. The HOA should have every right to enforce the rules I agreed to and neglected to follow.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Again, when the buyer bought the house that was disclosed to them. I'm pretty sure ours has the same type of stipulation that our bins can only be out day before, of, and after garbage collection. If you don't want to play by the rules you agreed to don't get in the game.

This is like being mad at getting a ticket for 60 in a 55. It is petty? Yes. Is it explicitly stated what the rules we are all supposed to be playing by are? Yes. The next neighbor wants their bins outside because of their cat's litter. The next neighbor wants it outside because of the bags of dog poop from walks. The next neighbor wants it outside because they want to store something in their garage.

People do what they say they're going to do: no issues.

People don't? Holding people accountable to what they said they were going to do isn't the HOA's problem. It's the person who thinks they're special.

Our neighborhood has people with their bins out. I don't give a ****. Our house doesn't meet the rules because we have more than 12" of foundation showing. If someone were to enforce that it's my responsibility for not ensuring my house met the rules at construction. The HOA should have every right to enforce the rules I agreed to and neglected to follow.

It’s pretty common for agents to make the buyer aware of the HOA but it’s far less common for people to read through the whole HOA rules/bylaws before buying. Especially if people had bought recently where there were multiple offers on houses and you had to move fast.

While yes it’s technically the buyers responsibility often when buying a house your not thinking about mundane things like when trash cans can be placed or the color of your fence that is years away.

Like many things the intent behind HOA’s is good and often they work really well but some have just some draconian rules that make living in that neighborhood a dystopian cookie cutter nightmare.

 

[KennyPratt42]

If you are buying real estate that’s in an HOA always request a copy of their most recent financials and minutes from the most recent meetings. Both will give you a much better picture of how the HOA is run and if you will run into issues with either assessments/increased HOA fees or over enforcement of minor bylaw infractions than you would by just getting a copy the bylaws.

 

[Sousaclone]

Normally it's not really the HOAs that are the problems, its the people on the HOA. Which can be said for any sort of volunteer activity from the people running an 8yr kids soccer team, to the HOA board, to people running a church bake sale.

Am I at times mildly annoyed by my HOA in Washington? Yeah. However, they do a good job of policing places from getting overgrown/overrun or people parking in their front lawns and leaving cars half built in their driveway for years. They also maintain about 4-5 miles of walking trails on the hills around the neighborhood, 4 smaller parks and a nice big 10 acre open common area with views of the mountains. Am I annoyed that I got a letter saying the my driveway needed to be pressure washed? Yeah. It also had moss growing on it, so it's probably a fair statement. I read the covenants when I bought that place so I knew what I was getting into.

Now, are there HOAs that take it way to far? Yeah. Plenty of horror stories. Places that were on lakes but you couldn't ever have a boat trailer in your driveway. Lawn not being at the correct height, trash cans left outside past 8 PM on day of collection. Trash cans being put out before 6 AM on the day of collection, etc.

Let's also that remember that it's people on both sides fo the spectrum that cause the problems. I can drive around the neighborhood that I'm living in in the UP of michigan at the moment and send you tons of pictures that would drive people to go to HOAs. Just random piles of stuff in yards. Guy a couple blocks over has had a stripped down Honda CRV in his side yard along the street for over a year now.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

It’s pretty common for agents to make the buyer aware of the HOA but it’s far less common for people to read through the whole HOA rules/bylaws before buying. Especially if people had bought recently where there were multiple offers on houses and you had to move fast.

While yes it’s technically the buyers responsibility often when buying a house your not thinking about mundane things like when trash cans can be placed or the color of your fence that is years away.

Like many things the intent behind HOA’s is good and often they work really well but some have just some draconian rules that make living in that neighborhood a dystopian cookie cutter nightmare.

Then it's on them to read the rules before they purchase. When we bought last year, we read through the HOA agreement before we put our bid in to purchase the property. Is there things in there I wish were not, sure, but nothing that was large enough to make it a deal breaker and keep looking for house.
Our HOA says all fences have to be white vinyl only, when we called the people to put it in, he stated that our HOA would have no problem putting in a metal fence because of the high winds that had knocked over and was causing one of them to lean.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Then it's on them to read the rules before they purchase. When we bought last year, we read through the HOA agreement before we put our bid in to purchase the property. Is there things in there I wish were not, sure, but nothing that was large enough to make it a deal breaker and keep looking for house.
Our HOA says all fences have to be white vinyl only, when we called the people to put it in, he stated that our HOA would have no problem putting in a metal fence because of the high winds that had knocked over and was causing one of them to lean.

Honestly it’s more on the agent. If I remember correctly you’re a bit older with fully grown kids. Most people buying a place for the first time might not even know about HOA’s or to check all the details. That’s when having a good agent comes in handy but not all are good or some are just looking for a commission.

When the home market was scorching hot there wasn’t a lot of time to make this decision as well which got a lot of people in trouble

 

[wxman1]

We had a great one when we lived in Andover, Kansas (Just outside Wichita). If I remember correctly it was $250 or $300/year for an excellent well maintained neighborhood. The fees went towards the maintenance and upkeep of the common areas including two parks with equipment, two pools and two lakes. I would definitely do that again.

 

[IcSyU]

Honestly it’s more on the agent. If I remember correctly you’re a bit older with fully grown kids. Most people buying a place for the first time might not even know about HOA’s or to check all the details. That’s when having a good agent comes in handy but not all are good or some are just looking for a commission.

When the home market was scorching hot there wasn’t a lot of time to make this decision as well which got a lot of people in trouble

I don't understand how ignorance is an excuse. I don't disagree that agents can be a problem but the buck stops at the people signing the purchase agreement.

I'm guessing the same people upset about the HOA stuff are the people who get upset their homeowners insurance policy doesn't cover flood damage when they go to file a claim. Or someone who carries liability only on a vehicle and then tries to file a claim because they were hit by an uninsured motorist and then is pissed their policy isn't paying out. Or a renter whose rental has a loss of some sort that they think is covered by the owner's policy. Now you certainly have situations where agents suck but at the end of the day unless you can win a professional liability lawsuit it's your ass, not theirs.

If the covenants say X and you aren't doing X, no matter how petty, it isn't the HOA who is out of line. Get active in the HOA board and amend the covenants. People are quick to ***** about things and ridiculously slow to actually get involved and be part of the solution.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Honestly it’s more on the agent. If I remember correctly you’re a bit older with fully grown kids. Most people buying a place for the first time might not even know about HOA’s or to check all the details. That’s when having a good agent comes in handy but not all are good or some are just looking for a commission.

When the home market was scorching hot there wasn’t a lot of time to make this decision as well which got a lot of people in trouble

My age really was nothing to do with the discussion, but if you are buying a new home, would that not be one of the questions you are asking? Is this home part of an HOA and what are the regulations, if so?
Hell no matter how hot the market it is, when you are walking the property with the agent, why would you not ask those things before you leave? If you fail to do so, I would say that is on you, for not doing your due diligence before you purchase.

 

[MeowingCows]

My age really was nothing to do with the discussion, but if you are buying a new home, would that not be one of the questions you are asking? Is this home part of an HOA and what are the regulations, if so?
Hell no matter how hot the market it is, when you are walking the property with the agent, why would you not ask those things before you leave? If you fail to do so, I would say that is on you, for not doing your due diligence before you purchase.

I can answer this, since last week, I bought a house in an HOA hood.

The (online) listing did say it was in an HOA but gives little details beside that. My realtor had to work multiple times with the seller's realtor to get all of the HOA docs and related info. It's on the seller to collect and exchange that info, and if they drag their feet, it's a PITA for you. That being said, they are legally required to inform you of this info. If they don't, you can back out of the sale entirely for free. It'll also be mentioned in your purchase agreement and you'll also have a sign a document saying you agree to the HOA terms. Again, realtors help or hinder a lot here.

Buyer then has to somewhat read them. In my case and I'm sure many others, you receive a PDF that has what appears to be scanned versions of faxed versions of 20 year old pages of poorly digitized paper. Some of the info in here will not match what you actually see in the neighborhood, and different neighbors will give you different interpretations of how things go on. Hopefully, it's pretty light duty and the covenants really just keep the riffraff out and provide a few other small amenities on the side.