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Granted, I am not interested in painting my home neon green. Nor are we the type of people to blast music through the night but, I want to retain as much control as possible over my privately owned property. Isn't that the point of homeownership?
Unfortuntely not every one thinks this way and some people do want to paint their house neon green.
I think it's easy to hate HOAs and blame them for everything. But if you had to deal with everything that they are supposed to do and if you had your neighboor building a 100ft tall new structure right in front of your window and you had to fight for it on your own you would think differently.
Nope, don't hate HOAs. It's just not the right situation for me and my family, as stated.
And, I have had to deal with difficult neighbors before and I have also been on the receiving end of what I felt was unjustified attacks by our neighbors, which I felt was at least partially racially motivated.
Again, I understand the attraction some people have to HOAs. But I also see the downside, and it's scarier to me than having to deal with a neighbor and their actions one-on-one.
HOAs are elected boards comprised of homeowners working in tandem with management companies. In new developments the developer runs the association until a required number of homes are sold and then the developer cedes his authority to the homeowners. In most cases the HOA governs on the basis of the legal covenants (deed restrictions) that were developed by the developer when the subdivision was planned. Changes to the covenants require voting by the homeowners to approve and then they are legally filed with the state. For those of you who don't like HOAs - "We have met the enemy and it is us." HOAs are no different than any other governmental body, they are only as good (or bad) as the people who serve on them. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of homeowner apathy which keeps really qualified people from agreeing to serve on these boards. It is time-consuming and thankless work for which no one gets paid. So when homeowners don't get involved they shouldn't really complain about the few who do.
Oh, I forgot to mention in my previous post - the management companies are hired by the HOAs to act as the "enforcers" for the association. So if you get a nasty letter about your yard, it has likely been sent by the management company on behalf of the association.
I like HOA's. I prefer to to have to look at a trashy $199 above ground pool from Wal-Mart or a 1986 Camaro on cinder blocks in the front yard across the street.
Well I live in a n'hood with an active HOA and it hasn't stopped my neighbor from letting his property be totally trashed for the past 7 years. Like a PP said, your HOA is only as good as the people running it and apparently my HOA sucks LOL.
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