Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese (Post 11051831)

WTF is the benefit of an HOA?

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile (Post 11051845)

My last place didn’t have one and I had to deal with stupid redneck neighbors swilling beer, blasting Skynard, having half-disassembled cars all over their lot from the “body shop” they were running and a few other goodies. Generally speaking it wasn’t as much of a bother as one might expect since it was rural and it was about 200+ yards to that property line - the other one was about twice that far , the third was conservation land and the fourth was a roadway that had vacant land (woods) across. So it generally was ok and didn’t bother me but just seeing that some people could and really did live like that was enough for me to understand that in denser situations HOAs do have their role to play.

That said, anyone who buys a place with an HOA and doesn’t thoroughly read the by-laws before signing on the dotted line is asking for it. I walked away from a couple of accepted offers in the mid-2000s for precisely that reason. A low stress HOA that has common sense bylaws that were revised 5 or 10 years ago is what I’d look for. One that’s got an “active” HOA that’s constantly tweaking / rewriting rules is a HUGE red flag (busybody alert!)

I rent now (happily) but still familiarized myself with the HOA bylaws from the guy I rent from - firstly because I want to be good to him and not land him in trouble and secondly for the reasons above (I didn’t agree to become his tenant until I knew and understood what the rules were...). The bylaws were last updated in I think 2007 and that was to impose a rule prohibiting people from having dogs more than 25 pounds in the complex - something I’m totally fine with. I’ve never had an issue. If things go well maybe I’ll buy the unit from him or grab another one in the same complex (they come up from time to time). Pleasant place, quiet, no hillbillies, a few neighborhood kids that are generally good, etc. The way things should be.

I echo what the others said about getting on the board. Then be someone else’s pain in the rear for a change. :)

Originally Posted by wdfifteen (Post 11051724)

Interesting to see how other people live.
Your HOA fees are 50% of my property taxes, and I live on 5 acres.
Living out here in the sticks has its disadvantages, but reading stories like these make me like it more all the time.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen (Post 11052102)

the HOA tax is the penalty for not being as well armed as the riff raff..

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese (Post 11051831)

WTF is the benefit of an HOA? Is it a BDSM thing?

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese (Post 11052341)

well armed... Ah. so it IS a BDSM thing.

Thankfully I've never had live anywhere where the riff raff arent into that. Not that theres anything wrong with it.

Originally Posted by red-beard (Post 11052579)

Pictures?

Originally Posted by red-beard (Post 11052392)

Some areas, like mine do not have zoning. The HOA becomes the defacto zoning board. The idea is low level uniformity, to prevent idiots from ruining the property values.

My neighborhood is gated. And we own the streets. So the HOA also takes care of community maintenance.

We also have amenities like 2 pools, tennis courts, playground, community center and a guard shack.

$1500/yr

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese (Post 11052606)

I just want a nice cabin out in the boonies. Sit on my porch with my Mossberg. Hey, you with the red beard... GET OFF MY LAND!

Originally Posted by jyl (Post 11052617)

My sister lives in a HOA area. The board was being unreasonably picky with neighbors. Her husband and some other neighbors got together, ran for the board, won, and put things on the right track.

My friend bought a condo, which has the equivalent of a HOA. The board was refusing to maintain the building and dock. He and other neighbors got on the board and fixed the problem.

I’ve never lived anywhere with a HOA. If I did, I’d get on the board and do my part to make sure things were running well.