Home Owners Association
MSN had an article about buying condo's. Considering the market, I took a glance at it, but what caught my eye was something else. This statement:
"Some Florida associations hard-hit by foreclosures are demanding that new buyers make a down payment and demonstrate a minimum level of income." It ended with advising the reader to look for the "homeowners association board's minutes for the last two or three years" as a reference tool of trouble.
I live in an established neighborhood. Before Katrina, it was VERY difficult to find a home in the area that went up for sale, because people, quite honestly, didn't move. It stayed in the family, that's what having deep roots is all about. Thankfully most of the neighbors did come back after Katrina. It's a good place to live, minus a few trees. Our home owners association is quiet. It's understood that you take care of your yard, that you respect your neighbors, etc.
But other neighborhoods? I read a story recently about a lady who said that her vehicle was towed because she parked THE WRONG WAY in her OWN DRIVEWAY! Another friend told me about the home owners association INSISTING that all the homes have the exact same mail box!
I wouldn't want to live in a place that abuses the power. New home owners going into the market won't have a clue just how demanding an association can be. We don't have fees in our neighborhood. Supposedly there are meetings, but our HOA is quiet and we like it that way.
And, yes, before any of you write back and slam me for this post ~ I understand that HOA's can be helpful. There's the flip side of the coin that some neighbors are slobs and won't take care of their property unless forced to do so (hence the need for HOA). How a neighbor keeps his/her property can determine the value of your own. I understand this philosphy.
My post is about the extreme and the power play that people get caught up in.
"Some Florida associations hard-hit by foreclosures are demanding that new buyers make a down payment and demonstrate a minimum level of income." It ended with advising the reader to look for the "homeowners association board's minutes for the last two or three years" as a reference tool of trouble.
I live in an established neighborhood. Before Katrina, it was VERY difficult to find a home in the area that went up for sale, because people, quite honestly, didn't move. It stayed in the family, that's what having deep roots is all about. Thankfully most of the neighbors did come back after Katrina. It's a good place to live, minus a few trees. Our home owners association is quiet. It's understood that you take care of your yard, that you respect your neighbors, etc.
But other neighborhoods? I read a story recently about a lady who said that her vehicle was towed because she parked THE WRONG WAY in her OWN DRIVEWAY! Another friend told me about the home owners association INSISTING that all the homes have the exact same mail box!
I wouldn't want to live in a place that abuses the power. New home owners going into the market won't have a clue just how demanding an association can be. We don't have fees in our neighborhood. Supposedly there are meetings, but our HOA is quiet and we like it that way.
And, yes, before any of you write back and slam me for this post ~ I understand that HOA's can be helpful. There's the flip side of the coin that some neighbors are slobs and won't take care of their property unless forced to do so (hence the need for HOA). How a neighbor keeps his/her property can determine the value of your own. I understand this philosphy.
My post is about the extreme and the power play that people get caught up in.
Comments
Did you see the one today with the guy who turned his house into a haunted house and the HOA is going to fine him $2500 a day if he operates it? Poor guy...should've asked first!
~K
The mail box being standardised was a height that i had not imagined !
not at all !
Here in Mumbai, most of us live in apartments which are generally part of what are called Co-operative Housing Societies. They have managing committees and stuff, and most of the rules pertain to recurring expenses for upkeep of the building/security stuff etc. I dont think anyone here would dare to make rules about color and where to hang out the clothes to dry , etc, unless we talk about very posh localities... No one would listen anyway. In fact I know some retired types, who attend these meetings and pull up the committee members on ponit of procedure etc, simply because they like to do that ......
of course everyone should be required to take care of their house and yard, but the different ways in which they do it are what makes a neighborhood beautiful.
I love your blogs. Thank you for stopping by my blog page and leaving a comment.
Are these stories true? I'm glad that they are not true for you, or for houses in your neighbourhood, because a distress-sale for a house seems to me a very cataclysmic thing.
On a happier note, I have an award for you on my other blog, http://whynotblogitout.blogspot.com/
Hi Kavi ~ It's not found everywhere. But where there is power and where there is someone who wants that power ~ there are foolish actions taken. It is a scary thing.
Hi Lauren ~ I'm glad you appreciated the post. When I first bought a home, I didn't know what an HOA was or that there were neighborhood rules. I learned them and didn't rock the boat. But there are some associations that take things too far.
Hi Lilly ~ You hit the nail on the head ~ brings out the best and worst, just depending upon how one person reacts to power. One of my friends used to be a member of an HOA. She had to deal with the likings of people hanging their laundry out to dry... in the front yard... of a corner house.. off of the main street going into the subdivision. Things like this need to be addressed, surely. On the flip side, is it necessary to pay HOA fees? And where do they go to? Thankfully we don't have HOA fees in my area.
Hi Dysfunctional Mom ~ My Mom would say the exact same thing. If she wanted to paint her house purple, by golly she was going to do it (no, she didn't, but it's the principle of the matter).
Hi Ugich Konitari ~ When I learned of the friend who's vehicle was towed because it was parked the wrong way in her own driveway, my response was, "If someone dared to do this, I would be tempted to park my car upside down or sideways the next day, just to prove a point. And then sit in my front yard with a lawyer on my side, daring anyone to step foot on my private property." Of course, I wouldn't do something drastic, but it's the thought of going on to someone's private land and making demands of them. For apartment or condo complexes, I understand a shared living fee of building and security, but nothing beyond this.
Hi Mommy ~ Hmm, what about air freshners in the hallway? Baking soda is good for soaking up smells, maybe a box of that right inside your door to stop the smell from coming in? I could never live with someone smoking close by, I start coughing and would make me sick too.
Hi Tammie ~ "sameness" ~ cookie cutter homes. I used to own one too. Makes the neighborhood look uniform and the personalities therein look boring, which is a shame. I agree with you ~ having the ability to decorate and paint gives a home personality. That said, the person who used to own the house I am in now ~ well, I called it the "Pepto Bismol" house when I bought it. It was painted THAT color pink on the outside AND on the inside. My neighbors thanked me after I painted.
Hi Gail ~ Isn't that horrible though? If the HOA didn't want them to have that mailbox, they should pay them back for the difference. People need to be made aware at the act of sale or before about the subdivision. But it's on the "buyer beware" to become knowledgeable. That's why I blogged and hopefully other people will do so as well.
Hi Sucharita Sarkar ~ Hmm, 1600 dollar homes? Find me one and I'll buy it! You actually touched on a subject that I plan to blog about today, so I'll leave that for the post. I went to your blog, but I didn't see the award. But thank you for the thought!