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[StateofMajora]

I'd like to hear what you guys think about home owners association neighborhoods.

I've always had this image in my mind of some Karen yelling at me about my mailbox not being up to code and thinking to HELL with that lol. But we are looking at houses and some of these are really nice and within our budget... And we tried to save money by getting an apartment but it has not been good, so we need to go.

Maybe they are not so bad and I am overthinking it? Ideally I would not want to pay a HOA but, maybe.

 

[Synless]

Almost all homes in South Carolina that are in a sub division we’re part of an HOA. I never minded, they pretty much just make sure your yard doesn’t look shit and you don’t make your house some stupid ass color. Usually the amenities they offer are nice too. What is annoying is the committees to vote on shit. You will want to brain people after one of those.

 

[Nobody_Important]

I do right now. It's got it's ups and downs. They make sure that the neighborhood looks great and that people don't have random shit all over the place like shitty cars in the drive, garbage isn't out until the day before trash comes, everyone has to have manicured lawns, fences have to be repaired, neighborhood watch, etc etc. It keeps the neighborhood nice and protects the value of the homes.


But every now and then you get some silly bullshit like mailboxes not allowed to be personalized. Every single mailbox in the neighborhood has to be the exact same. Same height. Same color. Same design. Same thickness of wood. It's ridiculous. I actually got a notice from the HOA a few weeks ago that the bushes in front of my house had gotten to big and that I needed to have them trimmed. Just small stuff that can get annoying after a bit.


I have heard some horror stories though of some crazy nitpickers on a power trip. So I guess it just depends on your luck and where you are.

 

[StateofMajora]

But every now and then you get some silly bullshit like mailboxes not allowed to be personalized. Every single mailbox in the neighborhood has to be the exact same. Same height. Same color. Same design. Same thickness of wood. It's ridiculous. I actually got a notice from the HOA a few weeks ago that the bushes in front of my house had gotten to big and that I needed to have them trimmed. Just small stuff that can get annoying after a bit.


I have heard some horror stories though of some crazy nitpickers on a power trip. So I guess it just depends on your luck and where you are.

Hmm you made me a bit nervous, haha. This is some of the stuff I heard about.

Suppose I could always ask the neighbors what their HOA is like.

 

[Kilau]

Lived in an HOA neighborhood for 12 years now. It's fine, the fee is just $50 a month. You have to get approval to paint and other stuff but it's never been a hassle. We never get letters or complaints about our yard or dog or anything else.

They make sure that the neighborhood looks great and that people don't have random shit all over the place like shitty cars in the drive, garbage isn't out until the day before trash comes, everyone has to have manicured lawns, fences have to be repaired, neighborhood watch, etc etc. It keeps the neighborhood nice and protects the value of the homes.

This is the big plus, drive around other non HOA neighborhoods and they look awful.

 

[Vyse]

Almost all homes in South Carolina that are in a sub division we’re part of an HOA. I never minded, they pretty much just make sure your yard doesn’t look shit and you don’t make your house some stupid ass color. Usually the amenities they offer are nice too. What is annoying is the committees to vote on shit. You will want to brain people after one of those.

Pretty much the same for me in Las Vegas. I have noticed some differences depending who is on the board. I get notices every month if my address light is out or if we leave a car on the street overnight. I pretty much ignore them, but the neighborhood looks great. Bunch of old people watch around and report shit that bothers them.

 

[StateofMajora]

Lived in an HOA neighborhood for 12 years now. It's fine, the fee is just $50 a month. You have to get approval to paint and other stuff but it's never been a hassle. We never get letters or complaints about our yard or dog or anything else.



This is the big plus, drive around other non HOA neighborhoods and they look awful.

Makes the one I'm looking at not bad at all, the fee is $120 a year apparently.

 

[Kev Kev]

Fuck no and I never will

 

[jshackles]

I've always had this image in my mind of some Karen yelling at me about my mailbox not being up to code and thinking to HELL with that lol.

I don't live in an area with an HOA, but had almost this exact thing happen to me. Except the "some Karen" was my mail delivery person who outright refused to delivery my mail until I relocated my mailbox from the right side of my driveway (where all the communal mailboxes were) to the left side of my driveway - where I had to dig a hole to plant a post in concrete and buy a mailbox. I had just bought my house and was like "what the fuck"?

Turns out, they had put a bid on my house and (obviously) I had outbid them, and they were being a little bitch about it. Wasn't worth complaining to the local postmaster about.

 

[StateofMajora]

I don't live in an area with an HOA, but had almost this exact thing happen to me. Except the "some Karen" was my mail delivery person who outright refused to delivery my mail until I relocated my mailbox from the right side of my driveway (where all the communal mailboxes were) to the left side of my driveway - where I had to dig a hole to plant a post in concrete and buy a mailbox. I had just bought my house and was like "what the fuck"?

Turns out, they had put a bid on my house and (obviously) I had outbid them, and they were being a little bitch about it. Wasn't worth complaining to the local postmaster about.

That's pretty sad! He/she didn't deserve the house then.

 

[AJUMP23]

I was the president of the HOA I lived in for 11 years. I can probably answer any questions you have.

My main modus operandi was conversations no fines. And that worked. I really made sure that I talked to people and explained the issue face to face. That worked almost every time. I did fine one house a couple of times for constantly leaving junk (and I mean scrap metal) in their front yard.

I also tried to provide a solution instead of just say you have a violation.

Leadership matters in the HOA. And they are there for your protection as well as your neighbors when it comes to property values.

Ask me any questions you want.

 

[StateofMajora]

I was the president of the HOA I lived in for 11 years. I can probably answer any questions you have.

My main modus operandi was conversations no fines. And that worked. I really made sure that I talked to people and explained the issue face to face. That worked almost every time. I did fine one house a couple of times for constantly leaving junk (and I mean scrap metal) in their front yard.

I also tried to provide a solution instead of just say you have a violation.

Ask me any questions you want.

Hmm what were the rules of your neighborhood regarding notice of fines? Could you give fines without warning (if you wanted to) and if you did was there anything they could do if it was unreasonable?

Generally I want to keep my front of the house looking as good as possible but did you have any say for the backyard, if visible?

 

[AJUMP23]

Hmm what were the rules of your neighborhood regarding notice of fines? Could you give fines without warning (if you wanted to) and if you did was there anything they could do if it was unreasonable?

Generally I want to keep my front of the house looking as good as possible but did you have any say for the backyard, if visible?

Depending on the covenant they have a say on the entire exterior. I had the authority to open my neighbors fence and inspect their yards. But I would never do that because I am not a tyrannical moron.

All fines came after a warning. And warnings and fines were written. Some places give fines for not getting your garbage can in. I would actually just roll someone’s can up their driveway for them if I noticed.

A shed and any buildings or fences normally have to be approved by the Hoa.

 

[SpiceRacz]

HOAs are bullshit. Just find a nice neighborhood that doesn't have one.

 

[Ryu1999]

I worked as a lawyer specializing in HOA law a few years ago. Ask me anything

 

[StateofMajora]

I worked as a lawyer specializing in HOA law a few years ago. Ask me anything

Well, I asked a realtor to send me the HOA rules, so I'll take a look at it when I get it. I appreciate the help.

It does sound like, from the realtor, they can't go inside my back yard though lol.

 

[Winter John]

Christ no. I wouldn't take too kindly to some jumped up pod person coming over to inspect my yard.

 

[natjjohn]

HOAs are generally fine. Im sure there are crazy ones out there but unlikely you’ll experience one that is crazy. Will be just like living anywhere else but get some varying degree of amenities

 

[Ryu1999]

Well, I asked a realtor to send me the HOA rules, so I'll take a look at it when I get it. I appreciate the help.

It does sound like, from the realtor, they can't go inside my back yard though lol.

Yeah, generally they can't go onto your property to take any "remedial measures" without a court order, but it really depends on the jurisdiction and the association's covenants recorded in the land records.

 

[poppabk]

Yeah generally they aren't a big deal. Never got anything, the worst I heard about was someone being told to remove an Xmas decal thing from their mailbox.

 

[Pagusas]

yes and I love our HOA, we built here and the Hoa is run by a company (not home owners, so no crazies in charge of things). it’s been wonderful, all of our yard maintainance is handled by the lawn crews, all homes have front facing security cameras for security and 20+ miles of managed trails/mountain bike trails/gardens and ponds. The rules are great (like no parking on the street for more than 6+ hours) and you have to submit major exterior changes to a board for review, which is a super simple process that takes 48 hours for approval (for things like adding back yard swimming pools, or redoing the color of your house). some people would hate that, I love it as it keeps people from turning the neighborhood into an ugly mess.

 

[Hari Seldon]

No and I told my realtor to not even show me houses in an HOA. I also aesthetically hate the dystopian sameness of HOA plans.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

yes, it was an absolute nightmare

let my ex wife keep it in the divorce. now she can deal with all that nonsense.

 

[Aesius]

Technically my neighborhood has one but the dues are $50/year and are solely to maintain the entrance/sign. There are also no rules but I kinda wish there were, at least in regards to lawn upkeep. 90% of the houses look good but there are a few eyesores.

 

[StateofMajora]

No and I told my realtor to not even show me houses in an HOA. I also aesthetically hate the dystopian sameness of HOA plans.

I agree with regards to the outside appearance but I guess I don't care as much since the inside is what I'll be looking at.

 

[StateofMajora]

yes, it was an absolute nightmare

let my ex wife keep it in the divorce. now she can deal with all that nonsense.

What state and what happened? super tyrannical rules?

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

What state and what happened? super tyrannical rules?

California. HOA was managed poorly and the operating and reserve funds were both low due to a variety of bullshit reasons over the years.

well, we had some fairly serious flooding one year, which really isn't all that common in California but definitely happens during heavy rains. everyone believed their damages should be covered by HOA funds, and it became a total shitshow.

the only way I could see to help fix the situation was to get involved with the HOA. which ultimately became it's own sort of nightmare. getting emails from your neighbors bitching about the stupidest shit that really has nothing to do with an HOA. so you explain this to them, and then they go off on you.

the whole process was fucking horrible. I'm sure my HOA was exceptionally shitty, but I'll never go through that again.

edit: tl;dr some HOAs are run by the people who simply live there, and people are fucking idiots. probably wouldn't be as bad if it was professionally run

 

[Torrent of Pork]

It's bad enough that if I don't pay the government their extortion money for property I supposedly 'own' they'll send people with guns to to confiscate it while putting me in a cage. Any random jackass that thinks they can tell me what I can and cannot do with my own property can sit on it and twirl.

Fuck HOAs, I would never even consider living in one.

 

[bitbydeath]

I don’t know what HOA means so I’m just reading it all as HOE which makes for a much more interesting read.

I actually got a notice from the HOE a few weeks ago

Suppose I could always ask the neighbors what their HOE is like.

I don’t want to know, this is better.

 

[StateofMajora]

It's bad enough that if I don't pay the government their extortion money for property I supposedly 'own' they'll send people with guns to to confiscate it while putting me in a cage. Any random jackass that thinks they can tell me what I can and cannot do with my own property can sit on it and twirl.

Fuck HOAs, I would never even consider living in one.

I agree in spirit. That's exactly how I view property tax.

But honestly if it can help keep the price of the home high, and they can only remind me to put my garbage bins up/cut the grass... I wouldn't mind. Not like I wouldn't be doing that anyway.

Ultimately I'd like to live in the country with a really big house and some land but, I can't afford it just yet. Not in this market.

 

[Warnen]

My old house was in a HOA. Didn’t have much of an issue with it besides some shady shit they did, worse of all was house/fence paint could only be purchased at a board member store….

Fees covered front lawn sprinklers and common area maintance so wasn’t to bad. Rules kept the place looking nice and they weren’t to pushy. They got kinda bad with guest parking towards the end (had to get a tag for dashboard for guest that stayed over night… like u gotta get permision to have people over…)


Glad my new house doesn’t have one. That said there is a house at end of the road that looks like shit, if they were my neighbors I’d be pissed.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Never been in one. Never heard of it either. My house is freehold.

But it sounds like HOA is like being in a condo structure. You pay some monthly money and got to follow the rules where you cant or have limited ability to do shit to your unit (especially the exteriors). And if you do you get in shit.

Many friends I know are in townhouses which are part of the condo consortium, and you cant be a rebel and do your own paint colour unless it's allowed by the rules.

 

[Duellist]

Hahaha that be the day that I would live where some turd could come to my house and tell me what to do. I pay my mortgage, I pay my taxes, I make the decision’s.

 

[Durien]

I'm in one now in Washington state.Pretty much our dues pay for the upkeep of the parks and greenspaces (mowing, new bark, etc) in our division Our neighborhood is pretty mellow. I painted my house without needing anyone's permission (painted it a normal color). If they collect enough money one year and don't use all of it, then we aren't charged anything the following year.

 

[Meicyn]

One of my rental properties is part of an HOA. The HOA is annoying. Was my first house and boy did I learn some lessons. Have no intentions to sell and my property manager handles that nonsense on my behalf. For any future purchases, an HOA is an immediate dealbreaker, no thank you.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Hahaha that be the day that I would live where some turd could come to my house and tell me what to do. I pay my mortgage, I pay my taxes, I make the decision’s.

At least for HOA and condo townhome neighbourhoods the fees are cheap.

Sounds like you never lived in condos before. I have way back. Not only do you have to follow the condo rules of the building, but I was paying $500/mth maintenance fees to the building.

That $500 ($6000/yr) paid for the idiot security guard at the front desk, a shitty gym, and year round lawning mowing, parking garage washing, and condo fees always cover the monthly water. I still had to pay for electricity and gas on my own.

I checked what the monthly fees are now since I moved 7-8 years ago for similar units (fees are based on square footage of your unit), people are now paying $800/mth. So almost $10,000/year for glorified front door guards, lawn mowing, snow removal and once a year parking garage power washing.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

HOAs are bullshit. Just find a nice neighborhood that doesn't have one.

It most likely won’t be as nice then. Sometimes people need to be forced to obey the rules.

I live in a 19th century building with HOA, however the management of amenities is actually subcontracted to a different company. They kinda do a shit job at it so I’m thinking of putting the notion to kick them out.

 

[TylerD]

I have one, $169 a year. It's managed by a third party company. I have received 1 notice in 4 years and it was regarding my lawn being too tall due to not being able to cut it before leaving for a 2 week vacation. I had 1 week before I was going to receive a 2nd notice by the time I got back. I attend the meetings and there are some annoying people but all in all it has been fine and a net positive for helping to ensure people keep up their properties. They have done some nice updates to our little park and medians, signs and lighting around the neighborhood too.

 

[Nobody_Important]

I don’t know what HOA means so I’m just reading it all as HOE which makes for a much more interesting read.


I don’t want to know, this is better.

I hate when the HOE puts me on notice

 

[p_xavier]

I can't be part of a communist/socialist organization. Condo living was hell because of those people.

 

[Azzurri]

HOA fees in condos and some townhomes are so fucking expensive here. I'm talking like some are $500-1.5k a MONTH.

 

[Thaedolus]

No, but I rented a room from a guy who did for about 6 months and they were complete assholes. On the other hand, I have some friends that pay about $150/mo and all their lawn care and snow shoveling is taken care of and they get gigabit internet, on top of all the parks and trails and stuff that are maintained within walking distance....so they seem super hit and miss.

 

[Duellist]

At least for HOA and condo townhome neighbourhoods the fees are cheap.

Sounds like you never lived in condos before. I have way back. Not only do you have to follow the condo rules of the building, but I was paying $500/mth maintenance fees to the building.

That $500 ($6000/yr) paid for the idiot security guard at the front desk, a shitty gym, and year round lawning mowing, parking garage washing, and condo fees always cover the monthly water. I still had to pay for electricity and gas on my own.

I checked what the monthly fees are now since I moved 7-8 years ago for similar units (fees are based on square footage of your unit), people are now paying $800/mth. So almost $10,000/year for glorified front door guards, lawn mowing, snow removal and once a year parking garage power washing.

Nope never lived in a condo. Wouldn’t pay to live in a glorified apartment.

 

[Ryu1999]

Also bad news for most of you who don't want to live in a HOA, almost any new development in a metro area or suburb of a metro area (at least in the U.S.) going to be subject to a HOA, and local governments "encourage" developers to create HOAs in order to pass the buck on certain maintenance items (stormwater drains, retention ponds, trash, etc.)

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Also bad news for most of you who don't want to live in a HOA, almost any new development in a metro area or suburb of a metro area (at least in the U.S.) going to be subject to a HOA, and local governments "encourage" developers to create HOAs in order to pass the buck on certain maintenance items (stormwater drains, retention ponds, trash, etc.)

Not necessarily HOA related though.

In any new development, home building permits are granted by government on the deal the builder pays for all that shit. The builder just builds that into the price of the home. I dont think many people know that. It's government's way of getting free streets, parks, road signs etc...

Near most condo complexes will be some small park all condo owners share. Most people probably think the government built that for people because it looks like any other small park in old neighbourhoods. The condo built that off people buying units.

 

[Ryu1999]

Not necessarily HOA related though.

In any new development, home building permits are granted by government on the deal the builder pays for all that shit. The builder just builds that into the price of the home. I dont think many people know that. It's government's way of getting free streets, parks, road signs etc...

Near most condo complexes will be some small park all condo owners share. Most people probably think the government built that for people because it looks like any other small park in old neighbourhoods. The condo built that off people buying units.

I think we're in agreement; the government requires the developer/builder subject the new development to a HOA in order to for it to pick up a lot of the costs that the government would otherwise be responsible for.

 

[RJMacready73]

This sounds like such an American thing

 

[StateofMajora]

The seller already accepted an offer on the 2nd day! Some of this market is still insane. I couldn't even get out to look at it fast enough due to work/kid.

And the other thing is they're not letting houses sit on the market to create fomo right before the market goes down. "Seller is accepting offers until the day after it goes up!!!"

Probably will end up getting a house without a HOA but I'll keep it in mind if it's a good deal.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

The seller already accepted an offer on the 2nd day! Some of this market is still insane. I couldn't even get out to look at it fast enough due to work/kid.

And the other thing is they're not letting houses sit on the market to create fomo right before the market goes down. "Seller is accepting offers until the day after it goes up!!!"

Probably will end up getting a house without a HOA but I'll keep it in mind if it's a good deal.

Its tough. But good luck.

The house I have now bought way back wasnt my first choice either. I got outbid on a few others and took the plunge on this one.

One house I liked based off pics said they were going to do an open house on a weekend, so I told my agent lets check it on Saturday. I think I saw the property and told my agent on a Wednesday.

My agent got back to me the next day and said they cancelled the open house because someone came in with a bully offer $130k over ask and they took it. So technically nobody even set one foot in it and some guy offered a price just going off pictures.

 

[StateofMajora]

Its tough. But good luck.

The house I have now bought way back wasnt my first choice either. I got outbid on a few others and took the plunge on this one.

One house I liked based off pics said they were going to do an open house on a weekend, so I told my agent lets check it on Saturday. I think I saw the property and told my agent on a Wednesday.

My agent got back to me the next day and said they cancelled the open house because someone came in with a bully offer $130k over ask and they took it. So technically nobody even set one foot in it and some guy offered a price just going off

130k over asking is insane... Investor maybe.