Pre or Post Sale House Inspection (HOA fees, condo, how much)

[WILWRadio]

Do any of the cities or towns in central Indiana have a requirement to fix up a property that is purchased by a new owner either from the seller or new owner?

I noted some suburbs in the Cleveland area have a Point of Sale inspection and repairs must be made by the new owner of a home before occupancy. I would like to avoid such a community when I am ready start looking for another house.

[sweetana3]

I have never in Indiana, NC or Alaska had any such requirement. Now if you buy in a historic neighborhood, be careful that your house complies with all the requirements because a new owner might not (probably is not) grandfathered in when there are problems. For example, our neighbor put on an aluminum storm door on a historic house. No one has said anything but it will be a problem if the code enforcement people ever find out.

PS: I would not buy again in a historic neighborhood.

Cannot give any info on HOA requirements for "problem" properties when they change hands.

[Southside Shrek]

Originally Posted by sweetana3

I have never in Indiana, NC or Alaska had any such requirement. Now if you buy in a historic neighborhood, be careful that your house complies with all the requirements because a new owner might not (probably is not) grandfathered in when there are problems. For example, our neighbor put on an aluminum storm door on a historic house. No one has said anything but it will be a problem if the code enforcement people ever find out.

PS: I would not buy again in a historic neighborhood.

Cannot give any info on HOA requirements for "problem" properties when they change hands.

Sweetana
Those old historic homes can indeed be costly to fix up. A friend of mine who works on them tried to find some curved glass for a window. He looked all over the country to find a place that sells curved glass and he was quoted $800. The owner will probably go with plexiglass instead since plexiglass bends and can somewhat resemble curved glass. Going with plexiglass is a lot cheaper than buying curved glass.

[sweetana3]

Tell him to be careful because even plexiglass might not be allowed. The rules are unbelieveable and are different for each neighborhood and sometimes each type of property, contributing and noncontributing, within a district. Each district has a huge book of requirements and can be found at the City County Building and purchased. They dont care how much it will cost to repair a historic property.

[Southside Shrek]

Originally Posted by sweetana3

Tell him to be careful because even plexiglass might not be allowed. The rules are unbelieveable and are different for each neighborhood and sometimes each type of property, contributing and noncontributing, within a district. Each district has a huge book of requirements and can be found at the City County Building and purchased. They dont care how much it will cost to repair a historic property.

That old historic home is not in Indy but somewhere else where the requirements apparently are not as stringent.

[WILWRadio]

Good. I will never live in a neighborhood that has an HOA. I just wanted to make sure I would not get any surprises if I start looking to buy a house in the Indy area later this year.

[ReblTeen84]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

Good. I will never live in a neighborhood that has an HOA. I just wanted to make sure I would not get any surprises if I start looking to buy a house in the Indy area later this year.

I like our HOA. Faster plowing than VDOT, nice looking neighborhood and keeps the rifraff under control...no jacked up houses, cars on blocks, etc.

Sent from my SCH-I815 using Tapatalk 2

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by ReblTeen84

I like our HOA. Faster plowing than VDOT, nice looking neighborhood and keeps the rifraff under control...no jacked up houses, cars on blocks, etc.

Sent from my SCH-I815 using Tapatalk 2

HOA's are too rigid for my taste.

[sweetana3]

HOAs are just an alternative for those that like them. And there is a place for them. However, it is wise to understand what you are buying whether a HOA, a historic district, a condo with financial issues, etc.

Too many still fall in love with the house and dont even think about these things until something happens they dont like.

[Southside Shrek]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

HOA's are too rigid for my taste.

Our HOA isn't too bad at all. However, it seems like they are more interested in collecting the annual HOA fee which keeps going up and up and up. At times we wonder what we are getting for the money. There certainly wasn't much snow removal this past winter because we hardly had any snow. Maybe the HOA will send everybody a refund for unearned HOA fees.

Sweetana, have you ever heard of an HOA refunding an unearned HOA fee?