Poll:How do you live?

[calmloki]

Wondering how many own or are are buying their homes or are condo owners or renters - and how many are subject to HOAs! While there are benefits to HOAs there are some restrictions that might rankle. An example of some of the restrictions is here:
Top 7 insane homeowners association rules - The Week

I'm a home buyer, have been a renter before, never dealt with a HOA.

 

[Purron]

Home owner. Never dealt with a HOA, don't want to. DH and I don't like all the rules.

 

[FIREd]

Homeowner, no HOA by choice.

 

[REWahoo]

Since we live in a rural subdivision with no zoning laws, I felt a HOA with limited restrictions - no "stupid" rules - was important. I don't want someone raising pigs on the lot next to me.

But in spite of our best efforts, it looks like the ranch adjoining our subdivision is going to finally get the necessary permits to open a rock quarry.

 

[bbbamI]

But in spite of our best efforts, it looks like the ranch adjoining our subdivision is going to finally get the necessary permits to open a rock quarry.

Oh...REW...I'm sorry. I thought y'all had 'em run out of there.

 

[kumquat]

Home owner. I have also owned a condo, where our kids lived during university, which was subject to condo association rules. Some stupid things that happened include:

• Condo association rules decreed that curtains visible outside must be white. We ignored the violation when kids' were beige.
• Condo association was down on rental units. We didn't consider ours to be that. Sent a letter with DD (who was interested in this stuff) appointing her "our agent" to attend the association meeting. They decried that as a "renter" (I wish she had paid some rent) she was ineligible.

We sold it (since kids had graduated) about a year ago and will probably never own another. Condo association? YECCHH

Up here in the frozen north, an HOA is unknown. Sounds like a condo association for people who hold property free and clear. WADR, what is it and how is it formed?

• Are you informed of their power before purchase?
• Can one be formed after you buy?
• Can you opt out?

Any other info appreciated. DW and I are considering (but not seriously, at this point) buying a snow-bird property. Don't want to have to deal with a PITA like this.

 

[LOL!]

We live in a master-planned community with lots of rules that are not bad. Mostly residents use them to take on the businesses in the community and not other home owners. However, having a lighted hockey rink in your backyard was too much when the lights for midnight practices were on and 6 inches above code.

Folks wouldn't move here if they didn't like having like-minded neighbors and that suits us just fine. You need approval for paint colors, shingle colors, etc but all the tradespeople know this and won't paint your house without an approved color. Indeed, the local stores won't carry house paint in non-approved colors.

 

[haha]

Indeed, the local stores won't carry house paint in non-approved colors.

Pleasantville.

I look off and on for a condo or coop, and if I buy one I necessarily will have rules for the first time in my life other than apartments.

I look for a goodly number of younger professional type people and try to avoid buildings that cater to the senior set. (Although I am that myself) Young people are preoccupied with their jobs, social life and sex, and they aren't likely to spend much time complaining about any nuisance that I could create. Also, they are better looking in the hallways, gym, and around the pool.

Ha

 

[Moemg]

Home owner in a quiet street without a HOA . I formerly lived in a house inside a HOA and except for the association bullies it was fine and would not hesitate to do it again . In Florida most of the nicest areas are in HOA's . We're luck in that our street is small with just a few houses which are all very nice or in the family forever and when they sell they are gutted and rebuilt since we are on the water .

 

[WhoDaresWins]

I live in a single family home on the outskirts of a small city. My lot is small, but the neighbors on either side of me are amiable...elderly widow who travels a lot on one side; pleasant quiet young couple on the other and an empty field that is a designated green space across the street. Backyard borders on a narrow strip of woods beyond which is a public golf course. I think I picked a good spot. No one bothers me.

 

[FIREd]

I look for a goodly number of younger professional type people and try to avoid buildings that cater to the senior set. (Although I am that myself) Young people are preoccupied with their jobs, social life and sex, and they aren't likely to spend much time complaining about any nuisance that I could create. Also, they are better looking in the hallways, gym, and around the pool.

Ha

My mom lives in a building with a large number of younger professionals. They might not spend their time complaining about nuisances, but they want a building that reflects their financial standing. They constantly push for expensive upgrades and the condo fees have increased so much that retirees are being pushed out because they can't afford to live there anymore.

 

[samclem]

Homeowner on a regular ol' suburban street, no HOA. Houses in HOA neighborhoods were generally out of our price range, and I'm happy to be without one. A construction dumpster sat in our driveway for about 2 months while we got the place sorted out, and other times big piles of gravel or sand sat there for almost that long. I'm fairly sure that would have caused angst among the typical HOA zealots, but as it was our neighbors were delighted that someone was finally lavishing some TLC on this midcentury atomic-era brick ranch "mansion."

I don't get upset when a neighbor gets a week behind on mowing the lawn or puts the car up on jackstands in the driveway for a week or two. This is a neighborhood where people live their lives and carry on their hobbies, it's not a movie set or a museum

 

[tmm99]

I rent, but not because it's a hassle to own something, but because it is too expensive.

 

[kyounge1956]

you need an option for "other". I live in a zero lot-line townhouse, which is in between a detached house with no HOA and a condo with no HOA. Unlike a detached house, I share a wall and a driveway. Unlike a condo, I own my unit from the foundation to the roof (as I understand a condo, your ownership stops at the inner wall surface of your unit, and what's inside the walls, such as plumbing problems, or on the exterior and roof of the building are dealt with by the HOA). There are 8 units—four duplex buildings—where there used to be a little ol' house on a big ol' lot. Each unit, which includes a small garden area, is individually owned, and each owner is responsible for upkeep and repair on his/her own unit. Mine was built in 1997, and I'm starting to think, even despite the downturn in real estate prices, I will be glad to be out of it not much past its 15th birthday. I don't think I want to know what happens when, for example, I need to replace my half of the roof, and the owners of the other side don't want to do theirs yet, or vice versa.

 

[Dreamer]

We are homeowners and we have never been in a HOA. We never want to either. I agree with Purron, too many rules.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

But in spite of our best efforts, it looks like the ranch adjoining our subdivision is going to finally get the necessary permits to open a rock quarry.

Bummer. Start a new thread and tell us what happened, if you have the energy.

 

[audreyh1]

Around here if you buy/build in an area without a HOA, you might as well move south of the border!

Audrey

 

[Darryl]

+1 to the Samclem story. Quiet suburban neighborhood. If I was going to complain about anybody in the neighborhood it would probably have to be me and I think/hope we are doing the right things to stay in good relations. Not interested in subjecting myself to anymore rules if I can avoid it.

 

[REWahoo]

Around here if you buy/build in an area without a HOA, you might as well move south of the border!

What Audrey said...

 

[Alan]

Home owner for 27 years (5 houses), fully paid off the mortgage after 23 years, then started renting 6 years ago as part of our new mobile, "lock and leave" life style. Already moved city 3 times since renting started and are enjoying the lifestyle.

Don't rule out buying a home again in a later phase of our life.

 

[W2R]

I own my own home in a nice, well kept neighborhood of 40-year-old homes and no HOA. Most of the homes are occupied by the original owners, or their children. Everyone keeps their grass neatly trimmed and all the yards are attractive. Many have flowers or statuary in their front yards, and I suppose an HOA might object to some of the religious statuary that is so common in this very Catholic region. But I think it is nice.

Of course, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina eventually there were FEMA trailers and huge dumpsters in some yards, and big piles of storm debris at curbside. But that was unavoidable. We all worked hard in getting the neighborhood back to normal.

 

[scrabbler1]

You should have included "co-op" as a choice although it is most similar to "Condo with HOA" because of the presence of a co-op board of directors.

 

[Tesaje]

Homeowner, no HOA and don't want one. Controlling neighbors make me want to do things they don't want just to spite them. Normally, I like a nice house and yard with subdued colors.

 

[REWahoo]

Bummer. Start a new thread and tell us what happened, if you have the energy.

I posted an update here: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/a-new-year-and-a-new-adventure-48295-4.html#post975079

 

[Nords]

Calmloki, could you add a second vote for me, please? We own a home in one HOA and a rental house in another HOA.

We probably live in the island's largest HOA-- 14,000 homes & condos built over 40 years. The common areas include seven recreational centers (with swimming pools) and acres upon acres of sidewalks & street medians. The landscaping crew has nearly 30 employees and the HOA actually runs its own nursery to keep up with the plants. All this for "only" $33/month, but heaven help you if you don't get a permit for that basketball backboard hanging off your garage.

Our rental's HOA is in a much smaller neighborhood but still maintains a lot of common-area landscaping. However they hit the jackpot about 10 years ago-- the city was widening the highway along one side and condemned a big slice of the common property. The payoff has funded the reserves for a couple decades; they just raised us from $7.50/month to $10/month.

I think the larger HOAs have a deeper gene pool to draw upon for their board talent, but one of ours is so apathetic that they actually had to pass a rule allowing the "majority" vote to be anything over 35%. Even with a bigger community and a better-quality board, we still encounter plenty of petty [-]tyrants[/-] bureaucrats. I can't see myself ever putting up with a stint of board duty.

Around here if you buy/build in an area without a HOA, you might as well move south of the border!

Even when you're in the HOA it's hard to tell that they're enforcing the [-]liens[/-] rules.