These threads just remind me that I'm probably going to be a terrible homeowner. I hate mowing, I'm fond of vehicles that people don't like, and I still want a treehouseboat.
These threads just remind me that I'm probably going to be a terrible homeowner. I hate mowing, I'm fond of vehicles that people don't like, and I still want a treehouseboat.
Chadeux said:...and I still want a treehouseboat.
Something I never knew I always wanted.
I understand its not technically against the HOA rules, but I can see why the neighbors would be annoyed.
Every time the phrase "HOA" shows up on this website, everyone bitches about the busybodies getting in their business.
Yet every single time anyone has EVER bought a property in an HOA neighborhood, they have done so voluntarily, with full disclosure off the rules before they purchased.
I think the whiners need to stop bitching about the fact that they don't feel like abiding by the rules they agreed to and chose voluntarily.
I am closing on a property in 2 days in an HOA neighborhood, and I have done my due diligence. I know the rules, I know my potential conflicts, I know what other people are doing, I have spoken to every member of the HOA board, and several people who live in the neighborhood. I have read the newsletters, and the FaceBook page. It's MY choice. I do so willingly. And, if someone starts bitching about the contract we have ALL agreed to, berkeley 'em.
No one has to live in an HOA neighborhood.
SVreX said:No one has to live in an HOA neighborhood.
I owned one townhouse/condo in an HOA neighborhood (HOAs are pretty much unavoidable for townhouses), and while it wasn't a total disaster, it gave me enough of a taste of it that I have no intention of ever doing so again.
One thing to keep in mind is that HOAs change. Current owners sell, new owners buy, the composition and attitude of the board changes, and that board has the power to change the rules. You're not just agreeing to the rules as they stand now, you're also agreeing to the new rules that may be imposed on you in the future by those new people who you can't know anything about at this point.
(And no, I'm not trying to talk you out of buying that property, I'm just pointing out that it's not quite as simple as all that)
I, personally, am amused by the zoning laws where we live. One is allowed to keep up to one (1) unregistered car on their property, unless one owns more than three (3) acres of land, in which case, one is allowed to keep up to three (3) unregistered cars on their property. Of course, this only applies for vehicles kept outside in plain view. One can have dozens of unregged cars stashed away in outbuildings. I'm almost positive this rule was put in place for guys who own circle track cars, so they can keep them outside.
No HOA here. Thankfully.
Toyman01 said:We have a voluntary HOC, or Home Owners Club. We pay $35 a year in dues to keep the entrances mowed and trimmed. That's all it does.
About once a year, someone will get on the neighborhood FB page and whine about starting a HOA because some house didn't mow their grass this week or that house left their trashcan out for 3 days.
The laughter and derision is pretty deafening as the entire neighborhood mercilessly mocks the person that suggested it. It's great fun.
That is kind of the way our neighborhood is, only we don't have a FB page to whine to. Our dues are a handsome $25/yr.
We do have covenants that come with the the deed, but that is mainly for builders. Also, there is no-one to enforce them. Only 1 or 2 lots left and the developers are dead.
All of the subdivisions around here started since the 1990s have HOAs.
I lived in a neighborhood that had an HOA... (rental house)... I had some fun with them complaining about my poor edging of the grass a few times... prob cause I didn't have a working edger/trimmer doh...
but the real fun was the complains and threats of fines for keeping the trash can up between my car and the garage door... the trash never stayed at the street for more than 24hrs... but apparently being by the garage door was unacceptable... they sent the exceprt from the rules that it couldn't be visable from the street (we never did get a full copy of the rule book even after asking)... if I had owned the house I'd have taken a picture of the trash can in it's location then made a small fence covering and cover it with a copy of that photo (vinal overlay)...
Our HOA is pretty good. Every so often we get a nasty gram from them about something, with a picture. The picture of the offending house is never ours, so a quick call to them gets an apology and we're on our way...
What I don't get is why was there not a conversation from a neighbor or the HOA prior to the letter with a picture of the vehicle? Seems like a quick phone call to the effect of "Hey Bob, this is Fred with the HOA, how's the kids? Good to hear. Well, as you're probably guessing, I'm calling about the weird car in the drive. What's the deal? OK, well, if it's really just a temporary thing, I'll see what I can do with who called about it. If it's possible to park in the garage at all, we'd appreciate it. Thanks, Bob, see ya." The written letter comes off as adversarial to begin with. Not the most effective way to achieve "harmony"..
I believe that most HOAs work on the passive-agressive standard.
As to the original point of this post, I would expect that once the fact that this is actually a registered and insured driven car, the whole thing would be put to rest. If not, I would be taking a picture of the compaliners wife or kids and filing the same grievance.
I would never survive in an HOA, 25 years in my house and I dont even know the last name of my closest neighbours; we get along fine both times a year that we talk. I think the topic of conversation has been who has a better crop of weeds now that hebicides have been banned.
I like it that way.
Bobzilla said:and this is just another reason I refuse to live inside town limits and with HOA's. berkeley em. I pay the taxes to live there, not them so STFU and find something productive to do and leave everyone else alone.
Couldn’t agree more. Hoa’s Are for retired law enforcement so they can feel like productive ppl again. Hoa=communist bastards. (I live in Naziville right now, better Check my garbage can spacing...)
have an HOA, havent had any grief. attended a meeting, only things they were complaining about were someone storing a half dozen snowplows on their driveway and someone else with a rooster (that had been driving all of us nuts).
Reasonable things to complain about.
codrus said:SVreX said:No one has to live in an HOA neighborhood.
I owned one townhouse/condo in an HOA neighborhood (HOAs are pretty much unavoidable for townhouses), and while it wasn't a total disaster, it gave me enough of a taste of it that I have no intention of ever doing so again.
One thing to keep in mind is that HOAs change. Current owners sell, new owners buy, the composition and attitude of the board changes, and that board has the power to change the rules. You're not just agreeing to the rules as they stand now, you're also agreeing to the new rules that may be imposed on you in the future by those new people who you can't know anything about at this point.
(And no, I'm not trying to talk you out of buying that property, I'm just pointing out that it's not quite as simple as all that)
That may be true in a townhouse. It's rarely true in an HOA neighborhood.
Every covenant I've ever read required the majority of the property owners to agree to any changes in the covenants. That's almost impossible once a neighborhood is occupied.
Many neighborhoods have different covenants fir different phases of the development
Yes, I've seen people try to change the covenants. Unsuccessfully.
...BUT, boards may change, and therefore priorities and enforcement.
My folks live in a very strictly controlled neighborhood. They complain if you leave your garage door open at night. They complain and give you worthless tickets if you park on the street in front of their house. No vans or pickups with any professional lettering on them are allowed in overnight.....etc.
I could never live there, but it works for them.
Joe Gearin said:No vans or pickups with any professional lettering on them are allowed in overnight.....etc.
What about pickups or vans with non-professional lettering?
Made me think of this: https://www.autoblog.com/2017/10/02/man-parks-sherman-tank-in-swank-neighborhood-and-hoa-declares-w/
I love the quote: "They can ticket it or they can try to tow it, but the truth is unless I decide to move it, it's not going anywhere."
AngryCorvair said:Joe Gearin said:No vans or pickups with any professional lettering on them are allowed in overnight.....etc.
What about pickups or vans with non-professional lettering?
I have an shiny happy person streak at times as a reflection to shiny happy people...this would be in the driveway!
Chadeux said:These threads just remind me that I'm probably going to be a terrible homeowner. I hate mowing, I'm fond of vehicles that people don't like, and I still want a treehouseboat.
You can live next to me. I won't now either. Well tell them it's for the environment
Driven5 said:Chadeux said:...and I still want a treehouseboat.
Something I never knew I always wanted.
PuppyMonkeyBaby.
kazoospec said:Made me think of this: https://www.autoblog.com/2017/10/02/man-parks-sherman-tank-in-swank-neighborhood-and-hoa-declares-w/
I love the quote: "They can ticket it or they can try to tow it, but the truth is unless I decide to move it, it's not going anywhere."
Beat me to it.

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