7 insane HOA rules.

[winmutt]

http://theweek.com/article/index/104150/top-7-insane-homeowners-association-rules


1. Thou shalt not plant too many roses
A Rancho Santa Fe, California, homeowners' association targeted Jeffery DeMarco for exceeding the prescribed number of rose bushes allowed on his four-acre property. When DeMarco balked, the HOA levied monthly fines, threatened foreclosure, and ultimately defeated DeMarco in court. After a judge ruled that the willful rose enthusiast had violated the community's architecture design rules, DeMarco was forced to pay the HOA's $70,000 legal bill — and lost his home to the bank.

2. Thou shalt not use "inconsistent" shingles — even after a plane destroys thy house
After a plane crashed into the Sanford, Florida, home of Joe Woodard, killing his wife, Janise, and their infant son, he decided to rebuild a new home on the same lot. But his reconstruction came to a screeching halt when his HOA informed him that he'd positioned the new structure unacceptably and failed to achieve a perfect shingle match with his neighbors' homes. Threatened with a lawsuit, the grieving widower told a local reporter that he'd hoped to change things up to avoid "reliving" painful memories — but eventually capitulated to the unsympathetic HOA.

3. Thou shalt not post a "For Sale" sign
When Denise Hicks placed a "For Sale" sign in front of her Lebanon, Tennessee, residence, the Spence Creek homeowners association quickly reprimanded her for a breach of contract, citing a rule prohibiting signs, banners or billboards. Ultimately, Hicks was forced to display her realtor's signs in her home's windows, hidden from view.

4. Thou shalt not offer thy homeless granddaughter shelter
Assuming guardianship of their six-year-old granddaughter, Kimberly, after her drug-addict mother was ruled unfit, Jimmy and Judy Stuttler brought the child to live with them in their Clearwater, Florida, retirement village. Since Kimberly was not technically "over 55" or arguably "retired," the alarmed HOA tried to force the girl out. Attempting to move, the Stuttlers failed to sell their home even after slashing its price from $250,000 to $129,000 and were eventually sued by the HOA. Kimberley's fate is now in the hands of the courts.

5. Thou must carry thy dog at all times
After Pamela McMahan, a geriatric who walks with a cane, was fined $25 every time she failed to carry her cocker spaniel through the lobby of her Long Beach, California condominium, which stipulates that pets' feet must never touch the floor of common areas. "There are just too many things going on in the lobby," said Stormy Jech, the building's assistant property manager. "The dog might jump on someone or go to the bathroom." After racking up hundreds of dollars in fines, McMahan was forced to move.

6. No smoking — even in thy own bathroom
HOAs' ban on smoking in all public areas — including balconies, patios, courtyards, and swimming pool areas — has recently been extended into residents' homes. Citing the negative health effects of secondhand smoke, multiple court hearings have ruled in favor of HOAs. As Realty Times points out, "The Constitution does not guarantee Americans the right to smoke in their homes...."

7. Thou shall maintain a consistently green lawn

The Beacon Woods Civic Association in Bayonet Point, Florida, took 66-year old resident Joseph Prudente to court for failing to properly maintain his lawn after a $600-per-month increase to his adjustable rate mortgage threw him on hard times. Though Prudente was ultimately jailed for failing to resod his lawn, other members of the community took pity on the faulty landscaper, and paid for new sod, flowers, mulching, and functioning sprinklers. Their charity was enough to spring their elderly neighbor from the slammer, but Prudente still faces court and association fines.

[frogger4thga]

no way id live with a hoa id end ip shooting one of those morons

[Wheedle]

6. No smoking — even in thy own bathroom
HOAs' ban on smoking in all public areas — including balconies, patios, courtyards, and swimming pool areas — has recently been extended into residents' homes. Citing the negative health effects of secondhand smoke, multiple court hearings have ruled in favor of HOAs. As Realty Times points out, "The Constitution does not guarantee Americans the right to smoke in their homes...."

What the hell...

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

My parents own several properties in 55+ communities, and we get weird looks when we go to any of them. My dad's only 46, and my stepmom's 35, and I'm weird looking. They stare, and are sometimes rude. Also, there's an HOA down here that won't let you move in if you own a motorcycle or a pickup truck. It's not the "type of image they want to present". No joke.

[Georgiacbr]

My parents own several properties in 55+ communities, and we get weird looks when we go to any of them. My dad's only 46, and my stepmom's 35, and I'm weird looking. They stare, and are sometimes rude. Also, there's an HOA down here that won't let you move in if you own a motorcycle or a pickup truck. It's not the "type of image they want to present". No joke.

Thats lame some pickup trucks cost 40 to 50k and loaded with all the Luxury you want in a luxury car. These people are stupid ..

[KTM Rider]

I lived in a condo in buckhead for 14 years. It was built in 1969 and wasnt a highrise. It was nice and each unit was 2 stories with parking spaces directly in front. They didnt permit trucks or motorcycles and I had both!! :lol:

They used to bitch at me but I told them my truck cost more than almost any car in there and if I had to sell it, I was going to buy an old hearse and paint it pink with polka dots on it. They bitched about the bike and thought they had won but really I built a "handicap" ramp over my steps "so my old grandmother could come visit" (which she did:lol:) and just stored my bikes in my house. At one point, I had a Ducati 999S, a CBR1000RR, an Aprilia RS250 track bike and a WR400F all in the house:lol:

****in HOAs

[DecepticonDon]

Totalititarians.....the lot of 'em

[Dan43]

I'll be damned if I ever sign an HOA agreement.

[Back Marker]

one thing that has been overlooked, covenants can be changed. i had an issue with my HOA when i lived in FL. basket ball goals were to be stored when not in use. my driveway was on an incline and it was difficult to roll the water filled base up into my garage each time the kids wanted to play. so i read the statutes regulating HOA's and i put it up to a vote, only 20% of the homeowners were needed to change the covenant. it wasn't difficult to find enough parents with basket ball goals on their driveway to vote down that rule.

if you want to change the rules, there is a process for it. why don't these homeowners read the statutes before doing something against the covenant regulations. my HOA was very strict. someone checks the height of the lawn every week.

-a|ex

[Karl Hungus]

Don't sign the paper if you don't want to follow the rules. The only one I have a problem with is the no smoking one. But even then, don't live there if you don't like it.

[Karl Hungus]

my HOA was very strict. someone checks the height of the lawn every week.

-a|ex

I wish they did that in my neighborhood. We have a lot of reasonable rules and no enforcement.

[Hammerhead]

Also, there's an HOA down here that won't let you move in if you own a motorcycle or a pickup truck. It's not the "type of image they want to present". No joke.

Sounds like a neighborhood for pussies.

[Todd]

Don't sign the paper if you don't want to follow the rules. The only one I have a problem with is the no smoking one. But even then, don't live there if you don't like it.
im still amazed at people that cant figure this out. If youre not buying a house out in BFE, then more than likely, youre going to buy in a subdivision where there is an HOA or even if not an HOA, a set of covenants that was set in place by the property developer. BEFORE YOU BUY, request a copy of the covenants, if you dont like what you see, then dont be that dumbass that moves in, and bitches about the rules that YOU agreed to follow when you purchased the home. wtf is so hard about that?

[Back Marker]

im still amazed at people that cant figure this out. If youre not buying a house out in BFE, then more than likely, youre going to buy in a subdivision where there is an HOA or even if not an HOA, a set of covenants that was set in place by the property developer. BEFORE YOU BUY, request a copy of the covenants, if you dont like what you see, then dont be that dumbass that moves in, and bitches about the rules that YOU agreed to follow when you purchased the home. wtf is so hard about that?

when you purchase a house in an HOA and you forget to sign the covenant agreement and the sale concludes, then you don't have to follow the covenants. it's a technicality that does work in court. HOA's always produces the signed agreement, if they can't, then it's not valid.

-a|ex

[Karl Hungus]

when you purchase a house in an HOA and you forget to sign the covenant agreement and the sale concludes, then you don't have to follow the covenants. it's a technicality that does work in court. HOA's always produces the signed agreement, if they can't, then it's not valid.

-a|ex

No, that doesn't work. It sounds like an urban legend to me. The signed document is filed at the courthouse. It's a legal condition of your ownership of the house. The lawyer who does the closing isn't going to let you "forget" to sign the document.

[Todd]

No, that doesn't work. It sounds like an urban legend to me. The signed document is filed at the courthouse. It's a legal condition of your ownership of the house. The lawyer who does the closing isn't going to let you "forget" to sign the document.:lol: i know theyve NEVER let me forget.

my problem with people bitching about HOA's: Most of the people that live where there is an HOA, especially a strict one, did so for a reason. If you want to live there, respect the rules and abide by them, or GTFO, hence why i say, when youre looking for a home, get the Realtor to get you a damn copy so you know what the rules are.

I personally would RATHER live in a subdivision where there is an HOA, albeit not a really STRICT one. Keeps the riff raff out.

[Back Marker]

No, that doesn't work. It sounds like an urban legend to me. The signed document is filed at the courthouse. It's a legal condition of your ownership of the house. The lawyer who does the closing isn't going to let you "forget" to sign the document.

you forget, if you never signed the covenant, then you aren't obligated. during closing, we almost missed the covenant and signed it the next day. this was a time when there were 20 closings in the same day. the housing bubble in FL. what sucked was when i received my warranty deed, my first name was incorrect.

-a|ex

[Carbon Can Kat]

im still amazed at people that cant figure this out. If youre not buying a house out in BFE, then more than likely, youre going to buy in a subdivision where there is an HOA or even if not an HOA, a set of covenants that was set in place by the property developer. BEFORE YOU BUY, request a copy of the covenants, if you dont like what you see, then dont be that dumbass that moves in, and bitches about the rules that YOU agreed to follow when you purchased the home. wtf is so hard about that?If you agree to HOA rules and covenants you can expect at some time in your home ownership to run afoul of them in some degree. Sorry no sympathy here from me if you sign the HOA agreement then you can't bitch about their stupid inane rules. This is one person who will as long as he is alive will NEVER sign a HOA agreement or live in a neighborhood with a HOA.

[0hi0]

Yea, learning to hate HOA's.
Got my "for sale" sign confiscated from my yard when I relocated last year. Funny thing is the builder has massive amounts of their signs everywhere in the development.
Couple weeks ago I got a "weeds in the flowerbed" citation.

[Back Marker]

Yea, learning to hate HOA's.
Got my "for sale" sign confiscated from my yard when I relocated last year. Funny thing is the builder has massive amounts of their signs everywhere in the development.
Couple weeks ago I got a "weeds in the flowerbed" citation.

in our old HOA, the for sale signs were standardized. same where i'm at now, all yard signs are regulated by the city.

-a|ex

[scoot]

This is why I love living out in the woods on my own property. I would friggin snap if some "organization" told me I needed to cut my grass, or I can not have a motorcycle, or a pickup truck, or a dog that walks on the ground. I would end up as property of the state..............***k a HOA

[scoot]

Yea, learning to hate HOA's.
Got my "for sale" sign confiscated from my yard when I relocated last year. Funny thing is the builder has massive amounts of their signs everywhere in the development.
Couple weeks ago I got a "weeds in the flowerbed" citation.
Man that is just insane

[0hi0]

This is why I love living out in the woods on my own property. I would friggin snap if some "organization" told me I needed to cut my grass, or I can not have a motorcycle, or a pickup truck, or a dog that walks on the ground. I would end up as property of the state..............***k a HOA

I'd love that! But I have a couple princesses who need the conveniences of life to be at least five minutes away. Suppose it is really easy to say "you signed the paper work" but reading all the stuff during closing is quite unlikely. Unfortunately, most people make X amount of dollars and the houses that they can afford are in these developments.

[Dan43]

:lol: i know theyve NEVER let me forget.

my problem with people bitching about HOA's: Most of the people that live where there is an HOA, especially a strict one, did so for a reason. If you want to live there, respect the rules and abide by them, or GTFO, hence why i say, when youre looking for a home, get the Realtor to get you a damn copy so you know what the rules are.

I personally would RATHER live in a subdivision where there is an HOA, albeit not a really STRICT one. Keeps the riff raff out.The problem with that is that you have very little control over how strict the HOA might become AFTER you have bought your house and moved in.

[MrBlah]

we had some neighbors that turned everyone in for little shit, there's a website that you can do it on.

but the last 2 years either they moved, got tired of reporting everyone, or the other subdivisions around us have too many empty lots for the managmeent company to keep up with

[Trey]

I read my covenants before I moved in my townhouse.. All seemed reasonable to me...

But what you don't realize, is they make these covenants very vague... Like stating: "cannot hamper the beautification of the land area"... Well ok... sounds simple.. Then i get a notice that I need to lay mulch down UNDERNEATH my deck (which has nothing but pine straw under it now anyway... not like its trash).. Oh and the deck is in the back ofcourse, not in the public's view, and is certainly not "tampering with the beautification" of the neighborhood.. I obliged ofcourse (was wanting to remulch ALL of my landscaping anyway), but I can tell this HOA board is gonna be a royal pain.. And yes, I will be very vocal about it if need be..

[Spicoli]

I like my HOA... We have keggers and food down at the club house several times a year.

[SpeedGeek]

I HATE HOA's...

One day I was in an elevator in an old office.. Some guys were in there and one was bitching how he was going to get the HOA after his neighbor who had installed a DirectTV dish on his house... Because of the direction the house faced, he had to position it on the front of the house, but tastefully. The guy was pissed and didn't think it belonged there... NEVERMIND the whole point of Physics and Line of Site and that there was no other way to mount the thing to get said line of sight...

When my DirectTV installer came, he was telling me how he was getting yelled at by his HOA because he parked his DTV Van in the driveway at night... With the rack on the roof it wouldn't fit in the garage. The neighbors didn't care and hated it... So... What's the guy supposed to do? Not work??? How the HELL does a NICE, CLEAN, Installation van degrade the look of YOUR property?

I don't have a problem with REASONABLE HOA's that are looking out to make sure you don't have run down houses full of scumbags, but some people take it WAYYYYY too far.

My feeling - As long as what I'm doing on my property doesn't directly impact either your home's value, nor is "in your face" bothering you, shut your F'ing mouth - When *YOU* pay the mortgage then you can have a say... Until then F.O. A-hole!

I'm actually just about ready to get the county after my next door neighbor who has the old Hardiplank siding rotting and falling off his house, rotted out corners, etc. and hasn't done JACK SHIT to maintain it since he and his family moved in 3 years ago.... Did I bitch when the wife started running a Day-care out of the house, with the kids running all over the back yard (INCLUDING MY back yard)? NO... Did I complain when they put up a stupid looking Orange plastic construction fence to try to keep the kids somewhat managed? NO... But I've HAD it with looking out my kitchen window and seeing "SHITHOLE" next door. It's not like I haven't given them plenty of time to get their financial issues resolved so they could fix things up... How much do a couple sheets of Hardiplank, a gallon of paint and a couple corner molding boards cost? $100?

[MrBlah]

I had molding do that, and I got a letter for it, I would have never noticed it, I do not spend any time outside looking at the house

[SpeedGeek]

Agreed... I mean, it's one thing if you have non-licensed/tagged junk heaps up on blocks in the driveway... It's quite another to have a properly maintained, licensed, tagged, insured motor vehicle in your driveway... How does ME owning a truck or motorcycle impact YOU Mr. Neighbor????

Mind your own GD business! If you don't like it, don't look at it!

[Todd]

I HATE HOA's...

One day I was in an elevator in an old office.. Some guys were in there and one was bitching how he was going to get the HOA after his neighbor who had installed a DirectTV dish on his house... Because of the direction the house faced, he had to position it on the front of the house, but tastefully. The guy was pissed and didn't think it belonged there... NEVERMIND the whole point of Physics and Line of Site and that there was no other way to mount the thing to get said line of sight...

When my DirectTV installer came, he was telling me how he was getting yelled at by his HOA because he parked his DTV Van in the driveway at night... With the rack on the roof it wouldn't fit in the garage. The neighbors didn't care and hated it... So... What's the guy supposed to do? Not work??? How the HELL does a NICE, CLEAN, Installation van degrade the look of YOUR property?

I don't have a problem with REASONABLE HOA's that are looking out to make sure you don't have run down houses full of scumbags, but some people take it WAYYYYY too far.

My feeling - As long as what I'm doing on my property doesn't directly impact either your home's value, nor is "in your face" bothering you, shut your F'ing mouth - When *YOU* pay the mortgage then you can have a say... Until then F.O. A-hole!

I'm actually just about ready to get the county after my next door neighbor who has the old Hardiplank siding rotting and falling off his house, rotted out corners, etc. and hasn't done JACK SHIT to maintain it since he and his family moved in 3 years ago.... Did I bitch when the wife started running a Day-care out of the house, with the kids running all over the back yard (INCLUDING MY back yard)? NO... Did I complain when they put up a stupid looking Orange plastic construction fence to try to keep the kids somewhat managed? NO... But I've HAD it with looking out my kitchen window and seeing "SHITHOLE" next door. It's not like I haven't given them plenty of time to get their financial issues resolved so they could fix things up... How much do a couple sheets of Hardiplank, a gallon of paint and a couple corner molding boards cost? $100?:lol: sounds like you NEED an HOA.

[Todd]

Mind your own GD business! If you don't like it, don't look at it!no, if you dont like it, then move, after all, the HOA covenants were already in place before you moved in. If they werent, then yea, you'd have a gripe.

[0hi0]

Agreed... I mean, it's one thing if you have non-licensed/tagged junk heaps up on blocks in the driveway... It's quite another to have a properly maintained, licensed, tagged, insured motor vehicle in your driveway... How does ME owning a truck or motorcycle impact YOU Mr. Neighbor????

Mind your own GD business! If you don't like it, don't look at it!

A perk of my relocation was a company vehicle. Apparently here in Texas the bigger the truck the better and more of a status symbol it is. I'm a PLC and HMI programmer for this company. Imagine my surprise when they gave me the keys to a freaking 3500HD, 4X4, diesel, extended cab dually with a service bed that includes a crane and air compressor.

My neighbor down the street has a F150 and works for Texas DOT.

Because he has signage on his truck it has to be kept in the garage. My monstrosity of a truck which is more of an eye sore gets parked in the street!

[SpeedGeek]

No, there is a COUNTY for that sort of thing. I don't see the need to have an HOA micromanaging and being nosey when I can get what I need accomplished through the County itself...

[SpeedGeek]

no, if you dont like it, then move, after all, the HOA covenants were already in place before you moved in. If they werent, then yea, you'd have a gripe.

But you're not following what I'm saying... If I work for somebody like DirectTV why SHOULDN'T I be able to park my truck in the driveway at night? It's my JOB! Why SHOULD'T I be able to own a motorcycle if I want to? How exactly do either of those things negatively impact YOUR house and thus give you (and the HOA) the right to tell me that I can't have it?

All I'm saying is that some of these HOAs have insanely stupid rules that only serve to make neighbor hate neighbor rather than try to create harmony and make for a nice neighborhood. There's ALWAYS some busy body bitching to the HOA about something THEY don't like, rarely with taking into account the situation of the homeowner... (like the old man who couldn't afford the higher mortgage PLUS yard service, or the guy who was in the Army and deployed and COULDN'T be there to mow his lawn or finish some project on the house...)

Flexilibity and consideration is all that's required but some people just want what they want when and how they want it and use the HOA's to their favor, damn common sense and reason.

[Todd]

dude, i understand exactly what youre saying, and to SOME extent, i agree. BUT, you buy into a neighborhood with an HOA and the rules are laid out and set in place before you move in, then YOU dont have a right to bitch about them.

And the county thing? :rofl: youre gonna depend on government to make sure joe schmuck keeps his home up? :lol: THATS a good one!

[Back Marker]

I HATE HOA's...

One day I was in an elevator in an old office.. Some guys were in there and one was bitching how he was going to get the HOA after his neighbor who had installed a DirectTV dish on his house... Because of the direction the house faced, he had to position it on the front of the house, but tastefully. The guy was pissed and didn't think it belonged there... NEVERMIND the whole point of Physics and Line of Site and that there was no other way to mount the thing to get said line of sight...

When my DirectTV installer came, he was telling me how he was getting yelled at by his HOA because he parked his DTV Van in the driveway at night... With the rack on the roof it wouldn't fit in the garage. The neighbors didn't care and hated it... So... What's the guy supposed to do? Not work??? How the HELL does a NICE, CLEAN, Installation van degrade the look of YOUR property?

I don't have a problem with REASONABLE HOA's that are looking out to make sure you don't have run down houses full of scumbags, but some people take it WAYYYYY too far.

My feeling - As long as what I'm doing on my property doesn't directly impact either your home's value, nor is "in your face" bothering you, shut your F'ing mouth - When *YOU* pay the mortgage then you can have a say... Until then F.O. A-hole!

I'm actually just about ready to get the county after my next door neighbor who has the old Hardiplank siding rotting and falling off his house, rotted out corners, etc. and hasn't done JACK SHIT to maintain it since he and his family moved in 3 years ago.... Did I bitch when the wife started running a Day-care out of the house, with the kids running all over the back yard (INCLUDING MY back yard)? NO... Did I complain when they put up a stupid looking Orange plastic construction fence to try to keep the kids somewhat managed? NO... But I've HAD it with looking out my kitchen window and seeing "SHITHOLE" next door. It's not like I haven't given them plenty of time to get their financial issues resolved so they could fix things up... How much do a couple sheets of Hardiplank, a gallon of paint and a couple corner molding boards cost? $100?

we had a DTV installer that lived in our HOA, all he did was put white magnetic sheets over the company logos and it passed. no logo, no work van.

-a|ex

[Dan43]

dude, i understand exactly what youre saying, and to SOME extent, i agree. BUT, you buy into a neighborhood with an HOA and the rules are laid out and set in place before you move in, then YOU dont have a right to bitch about them.

And the county thing? :rofl: youre gonna depend on government to make sure joe schmuck keeps his home up? :lol: THATS a good one!And what do you do when the HOA makes a new rule after you move in the you don't like? Or when you get a new group running the HOA who want to be assholes about enforcement? I think somebody on here posted about that exact problem reguarding waterhoses. He said the HOA required waterhoses to be rolled up on a holder. The new HOA board started sending out violation letters for hoses being unrolled WHILE THEY WERE IN USE!

[Todd]

Trust me, Dan, i UNDERSTAND what youre saying, really, i do. In ANY of my posts, have i given the scenario you just did? Nope. I just see people bitching about HOA's, and MY POINT IS (for the umpteenth time), if those rules were in place when you moved in, YOU as a homeowner should A) know what those rules are and abide by them or B) should have asked for (if they werent volunteered either by the closing atty or the agent you worked with), read them at that time, and not purchased the home if you couldnt live with them.

Now, what do i think about them CREATING new rules once your in? Most people are either too lazy or too busy to get involved with the HOA's, hell, i know im not involved with mine but this is a 30 year old neighborhood, prices (pre-housing tank) ranging in the $200K - $500K, and everyone in here abides by what few rules were set out. BUT, if you know you have a strict HOA, then get involved. Some dumbass rule about water hoses being rolled up i'd be willing to bet a paycheck was created by a small handful of people that are on the HOA board and no one in the neighborhood had any idea that was happening. Once it does tho, its time to get active and get to know your neighbors if you dont already, and petition to have that rule thrown out. HOA's SHOULD be about what the people in the subdivision want. Since most of them knew of the original covenants when they bought their homes, anything frivolous like that can be changed. Its just a matter of people getting involved. :up:

Again, most homeowners would rather bitch about it than actually DO something about it. :)

[Dan43]

Trust me, Dan, i UNDERSTAND what youre saying, really, i do. In ANY of my posts, have i given the scenario you just did? Nope. I just see people bitching about HOA's, and MY POINT IS (for the umpteenth time), if those rules were in place when you moved in, YOU as a homeowner should A) know what those rules are and abide by them or B) should have asked for (if they werent volunteered either by the closing atty or the agent you worked with), read them at that time, and not purchased the home if you couldnt live with them.

Now, what do i think about them CREATING new rules once your in? Most people are either too lazy or too busy to get involved with the HOA's, hell, i know im not involved with mine but this is a 30 year old neighborhood, prices (pre-housing tank) ranging in the $200K - $500K, and everyone in here abides by what few rules were set out. BUT, if you know you have a strict HOA, then get involved. Some dumbass rule about water hoses being rolled up i'd be willing to bet a paycheck was created by a small handful of people that are on the HOA board and no one in the neighborhood had any idea that was happening. Once it does tho, its time to get active and get to know your neighbors if you dont already, and petition to have that rule thrown out. HOA's SHOULD be about what the people in the subdivision want. Since most of them knew of the original covenants when they bought their homes, anything frivolous like that can be changed. Its just a matter of people getting involved. :up:

Again, most homeowners would rather bitch about it than actually DO something about it. :)I know exactly what to do about HOA rules. Stay the hell out of neighborhoods with an HOA.

[Todd]

I know exactly what to do about HOA rules. Stay the hell out of neighborhoods with an HOA.see, THATS what i'm talking about! :lol: :up:

[0hi0]

I know exactly what to do about HOA rules. Stay the hell out of neighborhoods with an HOA.

Have you purchased a house within the last 10 years?
It is almost impossible to find affordable housing without having a HOA. That is if you don't want to live in BFE.

[MrBlah]

we bought 10 years ago, we could not find any that were not inside a HOA that would work for us, the few we did find were built in the 70's and had all those issues, like tiny kitchens and very tiny rooms.

your only real choice now days is build your own home, not many can do that

[Dan43]

Have you purchased a house within the last 10 years?
It is almost impossible to find affordable housing without having a HOA. That is if you don't want to live in BFE.I have bought two houses in the last 10 years. The last one was bought in Aug of 08. It is less than a mile from where I work and right on the edge of the most rapidly developing area of Columbus. I didn't sign an HOA agreement for either of them.

[Dan43]

we bought 10 years ago, we could not find any that were not inside a HOA that would work for us, the few we did find were built in the 70's and had all those issues, like tiny kitchens and very tiny rooms.

your only real choice now days is build your own home, not many can do thatThe subdivision I am in now is for the most part less than 10 years old. My house was built in 2004. No HOA.

[0hi0]

I have bought two houses in the last 10 years. The last one was bought in Aug of 08. It is less than a mile from where I work and right on the edge of the most rapidly developing area of Columbus. I didn't sign an HOA agreement for either of them.

Columbus Ga is BFE right?

[Dan43]

Columbus Ga is BFE right?Only if you think Atlanta is the entirety of GA.

BTW: I feel the same way about Atlanta that I do about HOAs.

[Ablev1]

Boortz is talking about this now...hilarious.

[G_MAN]

I know exactly what to do about HOA rules. Stay the hell out of neighborhoods with an HOA.

Or better yet do like I did BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE HOA. Not hard to do in my neighborhood, only about 10 household participated so getting the necessary votes was a breeze, matter of fact I was "drafted" into service by the active members. I set one major policy for my "administration" (LOL-that is so funny) if you have something ie pool, motorcycle, etc. that is against the rules, but you keep it stored in your back yard FINE. No complaints will be entertained about any potentially violative item/condition unless they are brough by the neighbor(s) of the person in violation. We used to have this crazy lady that would ride around the neighborhood look for stuff, she would even go into folks yards. I told her at one meeting, "Look lady you are tresspassing going into folks yards. People have a right to privacy and the right to own guns. Put the 2 together and guess what's going to happen to you if I catch you in my yard without permission. EXACTLY!" Needless to say my neighbors were sad to see me leave when we moved 2 years ago.

[Karl Hungus]

HOA is telling this guy to take down his Don't Tread on Me flag.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/us/politics/31flag.html

[MrBlah]

the guy with the us flag here in georgia just won his lawsuit against his homeowners association nazi's

[Karl Hungus]

the guy with the us flag here in georgia just won his lawsuit against his homeowners association nazi's

I'm not familiar with that one. They didn't allow a US flag?

[MrBlah]

I'm not familiar with that one. They didn't allow a US flag?

they did not like it

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/canton-man-wins-flagpole-lawsuit-082610

[Back Marker]

i'm glad he won, we had a similar incident that was never resovled. flags aren't banned, flag poles in the front yard are. homeowners are allowed to display flags using pole mounts on the side of houses. the association was split on this issue because they didn't want many flagpoles in the community (not just u.s. flags but other countries of origin).

-a|ex