HOAs (Homeowners' Associations) -- Are they really that bad?

[scotpens]

Lately, it seems that the internet and social media have been overflowing with horror stories about HOAs (homeowners' associations). From what I can gather, these organizations appear to be nothing more than petty dictatorships enforcing arbitrary and senseless rules. It makes one wonder why anyone would move into a neighborhood that has an HOA in the first place. Has anyone here ever been a member of an HOA? What was your experience with it? Do countries other than the U.S. have anything similar or roughly equivalent?

 

[Non Sync]

My general take is that, like most things, there are great HOAs and then there are horrible HOAs. The Internet has provided an overly amplified soapbox, so the really horrible ones end up getting more attention leading to the conclusion that they're all bad.

Unfortunately, a good number of them have turned the day-to-day management to an external HOA company with little oversight by the HOA boards.

I'm renting a house in an HOA that I'd give them a B rating. As a renter, I have a copy of the CC&R and they don't seem too egregious.

 

[fireproof78]

It makes one wonder why anyone would move into a neighborhood that has an HOA in the first place.

It's affordable, the CC&R's are not that restrictive or people don't read them.

I've lived in three. One was ok, one was unreasonable and one doesn't give a shit.

So, it depends. And HOA horror stories are not new.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Do countries other than the U.S. have anything similar or roughly equivalent?

Meanwhile in Canada... I have never lived in one, and in fact had never really even heard of them before seeing people mention them on this board. Of course, I live in only one small part of a vast country. A little rudimentary Googling tells me that some American-style HOAs do exist in Canada, but they are very much less common, and don't have the same kind of powers that American HOAs have.

 

[Non Sync]

I'm sure home owner apathy goes a long way with the bad ones, where owners are not involved and allow the power-hungry to maintain and fortify their positions.

 

[Colonel Midnight]

The most annoying part about HOAs is that typically the ‘president’ or leader of the HOA is some nosey stay-at-home sticky beak type who has nothing else to do but watch everybody to ‘screw up’, so they can get their Power Trip fix.

I had a rather contentious relationship with my HOA president in Virginia. The condo I bought was near a Metro station, so I commuted to/from work 90% of the time by it. So my car was parked (in my assigned spot) usually all week.

She tried to get on my case once because of that, saying ‘It wasn’t good for the parking spot.’

She didn’t like my answer of ‘Well, it’s a parking spot. That’s its job!’

Cheers,
-CM-

 

[bdub76]

Some are better than others. I prefer to live in one as long as I'm walking distance to my neighbors.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I'm so glad I'm not in a HOA. I would never want a cadre of busybodies looking over my shoulder telling me what I can and can't do WITH MY OWN FUCKING HOUSE.

I do what I want with my house. It's as simple as that. If somebody thinks my lawn is too long, or there's no trees, or my car is the wrong color, or there is a Federation flag hanging from the pole? Fuck 'em.

 

[Marc]

Meanwhile in Canada... I have never lived in one, and in fact had never really even heard of them before seeing people mention them on this board. Of course, I live in only one small part of a vast country. A little rudimentary Googling tells me that some American-style HOAs do exist in Canada, but they are very much less common, and don't have the same kind of powers that American HOAs have.

Condo associations are problaby the closest thing though they don't make the news as much (probably read more about them in advice columns where the body is run by tin-pot dictator types and how to do with matters).

 

[Avro Arrow]

Condo associations are problaby the closest thing

Probably true, but I was deliberately not counting condo associations. There are apparently some actual American-style HOAs in some newer developed neighbourhoods here and there. Condo associations are probably more common, though.

 

[Amaris]

I'm against them as they are.

 

[fireproof78]

I'm so glad I'm not in a HOA. I would never want a cadre of busybodies looking over my shoulder telling me what I can and can't do WITH MY OWN FUCKING HOUSE.

I do what I want with my house. It's as simple as that. If somebody thinks my lawn is too long, or there's no trees, or my car is the wrong color, or there is a Federation flag hanging from the pole? Fuck 'em.

One would certainly hope that if bought a house in an HOA you would be made aware. At least in my state part of the real estate dealings is requesting any and all CC&R's related to the property you wish to purchase. As it was, my wife and I did not purchase ten acres of undeveloped land because it was already in an HOA that said "No Animals" despite being out in the middle of No and Where.

 

[Timby]

When my ex-wife and I were house-shopping (nine years ago, Jesus tap dancing Christ), I made it explicitly clear that I wouldn't even look at a listing for a house that was under the purview of an HOA.

 

[JD]

I really think the idea of HOAs really isn't bad, I can see wanting to keep your neighborhhood from looking like a garbage dump, but the problem is a lot of them just go completely overboard to ridiculous extremes. We've lived in HOA neighborhood most of my life, and we've been lucky enough to avoid major issues.
The one rules that really bug me is they won't allow permanent basketball hoops, which is just ridiculous. Oh, and when we first moved into our current neighborhood, you weren't allowed to park work vehicles in driveway or the street. That one really bugged me, because for a lot of people that's their only vehicle, and it's stupid to not let them park it in front of their house. They did eventually let you park them, if you cover up the logo, which to me looks even worse then the logo would.

One would certainly hope that if bought a house in an HOA you would be made aware. At least in my state part of the real estate dealings is requesting any and all CC&R's related to the property you wish to purchase. As it was, my wife and I did not purchase ten acres of undeveloped land because it was already in an HOA that said "No Animals" despite being out in the middle of No and Where.

No animals at all? Not even house pets?

 

[fireproof78]

No animals at all? Not even house pets?

None.

 

[JD]

That's stupid, I couldn't imagine living in a neighborhood that didn't allow any animals. I'm 35 and think in my whole life we've only gone a couple months without some kind of animals in the house.
I know a lot of people have hidden banned animals in their house, but we're not that lucky, we'd end up giving ourselves away somehow.

 

[Amaris]

That's stupid, I couldn't imagine living in a neighborhood that didn't allow any animals. I'm 35 and think in my whole life we've only gone a couple months without some kind of animals in the house.
I know a lot of people have hidden banned animals in their house, but we're not that lucky, we'd end up giving ourselves away somehow.

"Is that a dog?"
"Excuse me? Did you just call my child with a severe glandular problem a dog?"
"I-"
"Leave immediately, and never speak to me or my son again."

 

[JD]

Basically yeah.
Or I've heard several stories about people who had house pigs in areas where pigs aren't allowed since they're technically farm animals.
So I guess in that case you'd just pretend they're a very funny looking dog.

 

[fireproof78]

That's stupid, I couldn't imagine living in a neighborhood that didn't allow any animals. I'm 35 and think in my whole life we've only gone a couple months without some kind of animals in the house.

*shrugs* my wife found it similarly dumb so we didn't buy. I'm 39 and am indifferent to animals. I will pet them, care for them, etc but I will not go out of my way to interact with them.

 

[JD]

That's pretty much how I feel about people... well, except for the petting part.
I've changed my whole bike route just because I saw a dog or horse that I wanted to pet or even just get a closer look at as passed by me.