Posted March 27, 200619 yr This series appeared in the 3/26/06 Middletown Journal: HOA: Whose Home? About the series HOAs represent fastest-growing segment of U.S. housing Everyone’s lawn is landscaped. Every home is painted a hue similar to its neighbors. There are no cute figurines in the front yards, or sheds in the back. No cars on cider blocks in the driveway. http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/03/26/mj032606hoaintro.html HOA: About homeowners associations Love it or hate it: Area residents have a lot to say about HOAs Meghan Crosby Cox News Service Any housing development with one or more shared common area — a park, a pool, a drainage basin — must be maintained by a homeowners association. Why? Because after a developer completes a subdivision, it is up to the homeowners to collectively maintain their community. http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/03/26/mj032606hoaabout.html HOA: LOVE IT — Couple takes a lead role in managing community Paying your dues: ‘Mini governments’ regulate community Maintaining property values or pitting neighbor against neighbor? Couple takes a lead role in managing community MASON — There’s no doubt Pam and Patrick Grimes work as a team. Married for seven years, their neighbors also see their partnership in work within their neighborhood: they lead the Deerfield Village Homeowners Association. They consider the volunteer assignment as fun, challenging and rewarding. Pam Grimes recently assumed the top title as president, a role her husband previously held, while Patrick is now vice president. In the past, she has served as social chairwoman on the four-seat association board. http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/03/26/mj032606hoaloveit.html HOA: HATE IT — Fees nearly cost Monroe couple their home HOA fees nearly cost Monroe couple their home MONROE — They picked Monroe because it reminded them of home. But three years after they built their four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home on a quaint cul-de-sac in one of the area’s newest subdivisions — the couple was threatened with foreclosure. Jack and Cindy Annichenne have never missed a mortgage payment since they moved here from Hillsville, Pa., a small town that hugs the Ohio boarder just northwest of Pittsburgh. http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/03/26/mj032606hoahateit.html
March 27, 200619 yr We have much the same debate here in Columbus over the various neighborhood commissions. They serve in an advisory capacity only to the local planning and zoning board, but (in most cases) their opinions and recommendations are taken seriously by the city. They are good in that they serve as a valuable buffer between the neighborhoods and what happens to the properties within that neighborhood. They are (in the view of some) an obstruction to development that may benefit the neighborhood. My experience with them has generally been good, especially after several of my neighbors successfully fought off the efforts of a local developer who wanted to put a two-story "row" house on a lot that was a virtual postage stamp in terms of its size. The project presented several problems: sitting right on top of the entrance to an alley (creating a traffic and visibility problem) and it would have destroyed a large old-growth tree in a neighbor's yard. The fact that the developer also had a reputation for being somewhat of a shoddy builder and something of a slumlord also factored in to the opposition. We successfully stopped the development and my neighbor bought the sliver of land and turned it into greenspace. On the other hand, in some Columbus neighborhoods, commissions have also seemingly overstepped their authority: stopping homeowners from using certain paint colors, adding on to their homes or building garages.... even when those plans seem to be nothing outlandish. The only thing with homeowner associations is that they sometimes carry the legal authority to stop things from happening, for better or worse.
March 27, 200619 yr I think that they are a good option. Some people are well-suited to living inside the box all the time. But the devil's in the details. HOA rules can definitely go too far, especially when it comes to landscaping, paint colors, fence choices, etc.
March 27, 200619 yr I'm only against certain restrictions they put on houses. Like this one place we used to live at, you could only have a back yard fence that's 5 feet and 1/4 of an inch tall. What if I found a fence that was 5'2'' and was on some huge sale? 5'2'' is not very tall anyway. My Grandparents live in a gated community...more like a gated mountain, called "Big Canoe" a little north of Atlanta. Your name has to be on a list, for them to let you in through the gate making it hard for visitors to get in. You also have to paint your house grey or brown or some other natural color that gets approved by the association. You can't take rocks or sticks or anything else that you find inside the mountain. Pretty lame if you ask me. I'm all for maintaining the neighborhood but they take it too far.
March 27, 200619 yr I can understand having a HOA if there are common areas or shared walls. It's pretty much necessary then. Other than that, I do not think that I would like living in one. If it's my house, I should have the right to paint it whatever color I want. If I want to put a political sign in my yard or a sign advertising a church festival, I should have that right. I've heard that some HOA's will not allow gardens. I also do not see why it's that big of a deal if a neighbor is very busy and doesn't take their Christmas lights down until February. There are so many more important things to worry about. And if someone wants to put up a pink flamingo lawn display to celebrate their birthday, then go for it! Bottom line - I would hate to pay someone so they can tell me what color I must paint my house or that I'm only allowed to hang white Christmas lights on my house. And of course, the lights must be taken down on January 1.
March 27, 200619 yr I just dont see the purpose of HOA. Most of the negatives that HOA seek to estinguish (rusted stuff on lawn, unkempt yard and house) are easily taken care of by city ordinances and code enforcement officers. They generaly do a good job of going after the offenders and taking corrective actions. HOA are just used to nitpick at eachother to death.
March 27, 200619 yr So is there like HOA police that handcuff you and take you to jail for not taking your christmas lights down? But seriously, what would they do if you didn't follow their rules? They can force you to move?
March 27, 200619 yr They are stuctured in such a way that they own the land that your house is on. They end up fining you alot and forcing foreclosure on your house. All over something like your shutters are to blue.
March 27, 200619 yr HOAs ensure that every house in a neighborhood will always be average. Average houses for average people.
March 27, 200619 yr I think in lots of cases they go WAY overboard with things people choose to do to their homes like painting or landscaping, however they do come in handy when you have neighbors that don't keep there property looking nice and their yards become eyesores.
March 28, 200619 yr My major issue with HOAs is that they're not accountable to anybody. They're not transparent. If you dispute something and wish to see their records, good luck. Meanwhile, they can rain terror down on you by going out of their way to spot "violations" and force you to go to court and prove them wrong, and all of that will be paid for on your own dime. Rephrased, they're corporations that act as governments, but without the accountability. Here's part two of the series from the 3/27/06 Hamilton JournalNews: HOA Day 2 Intro David Mitchell makes his living by enforcing the rules. When you buy a home, condominium, or townhouse in a homeowners association (HOA), you agree to follow the rules. That means, as a member of a HOA, you likely can’t erect a shed or chain-link fence in your backyard. http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/news/stories/2006/03/26/mj032706hoaintro_S.html Violations could lead to fines, finger-pointing Cedarbrook LIBERTY TOWNSHIP — Tearing down a storage shed was the least of Melisa Klusman’s worries. The realization that she had offended a neighbor devastated the homeowner who thought she got along well with everyone on her block. Melisa and Jeff Klusman park both cars in the garage. They keep the bushes trimmed. They don’t collect lawn ornaments, and would never intentionally cause grief to neighbors. http://www.journal-news.com/local/content/news/stories/2006/03/26/mj032706hoashed_s.html One hour in the life of a HOA Manager FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP — In this job, you should never forget your walking shoes. From sun-up to sun-down, David Mitchell’s job is to walk the streets and yards of nearly 20 subdivisions governed by homeowners associations, or HOAs. He is a community manager, and he spends his days following up on complaints and scoping homes for HOA violations. http://www.journal-news.com/local/content/news/stories/2006/03/26/mj032706hoamanager_s.html
March 29, 200619 yr Day three of the series. Frankly, I find the attitudes expressed in the third article rather frightening. What they're saying is that Monroe is unwilling to supply some basic city services to new subdivisions. Therefore, the require that each one has an HOA, which will take care of some of these services. So the city gets the tax money generated by uncontrolled growth but divests itself of many of the resulting problems? HOA Turnovers: From developer to HOA The Middletown Journal After a developer sells all the homes in a community and moves on to build another project, it is up to the homeowners to collectively maintain their community. Typically, when a development of single family homes or condominiums is about 75 percent built out, the association is transferred from the developer to a homeowner controlled board of directors. “Once you build out and sell the homes, there has to be an entity to manage the services,” said Frank Rathbun, vice president of the Community Associations Institute. http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/news/stories/2006/03/28/mj032906hoachecklist_S.html 30-year-old condo HOA still working Manager says biggest issue is uninformed buyers Thirty years ago, $34,000 could buy a coveted spot in Middletown’s new and first condominium community, the Eldorado Estates. That’s how much Rick Turpin paid for his two-bedroom condo there in 1976. He was one of the first to move into the neighborhood, and today, with condos selling for upwards of $90,000, he is the manager of Eldorado’s homeowners association. http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/news/stories/2006/03/28/mj032906hoamidd_S.html Monroe takes on changing landscape HOAs mandatory for new subdivisions MONROE — If you’re looking to buy or build a home in this fast-growing Butler County city, you likely have considered moving into a subdivision. “If you want to move into a new house in a Monroe subdivision, it will be tough to find one without an HOA in place,” said the city’s development director, Jay Stewart. That’s because all new planned unit developments in Monroe must have a HOA. http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/news/stories/2006/03/28/mj032906hoacityacts_S.html Residents address grievances to representative body Board meetings not so well attended MONROE — The format is similar to a city council meeting. The board members are seated at the front of the room, facing the participants sitting at tables. Board President Tom Lofquist asks for motions and seconds to the motions. He mediates discussion and fields questions. The Drees local division manager is one of three company representatives that sits on the Bridal Creek board. Association manager Towne Properties has two representatives and two homeowners have been added to represent the Monroe homeowners. Eventually the board will consist completely of homeowners and possibly a manager if they decide to rehire Towne Properties. http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/news/stories/2006/03/28/mj032906hoaboardmeeting_S.html
March 29, 200619 yr They are stuctured in such a way that they own the land that your house is on. They end up fining you alot and forcing foreclosure on your house. All over something like your shutters are to blue. False! You still own your house. The property disclosure laws are such that the buyer is supposed to have full disclosures of assessments, deed restrictions etc on the parcel, and HOA fees and rules; so if you don't like the rules of the particular HOA then you shouldn't buy that house. I didn't want that, so the HOA in my neighborhood we selected has no "teeth" and is more of a social club anyway, they do maintain some small entrance landsaping though. The houses were built in the 1985 to 1995 range
March 30, 200619 yr More, from 3/29/06: Fees maintain neighborhood MONROE — Members of homeowner associations or HOAs pay mandatory dues, from $100 to $10,000 a year depending on what amenities a community offers. These fees are levied to maintain a neighborhood’s common areas, such as pools, parks and tennis courts. HOA fees may increase from year to year as expenses and insurance premiums rise. http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/03/29/mj032906hoamoney.html Learning to prevent the need to mend fences How to get along with your neighbors and live in a HOA MIDDLETOWN — In poet Robert Frost’s, “Mending Wall,” a character in the poem says “good fences make good neighbors.” That opinion really depends on which side of the fence you’re on, and what your homeowners association says about fences. Each HOA has a different rule about fences. Some forbid them, while others permit only certain types. But most restrict where those fences may be placed. http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/03/29/mj032906hoarules.html
March 30, 200619 yr I would never move into a neighborhood that disallowed useful, tasteful backyard fencing. Fences do make it a lot safer to let children and dogs play, and the privacy can be nice. Split-rail fences look cheap and are cheap. They don't keep anything in or out, so what's the point. I suppose they're ok aesthetically if you have 10 open acres and you want to delineate the space, but they are inappropriate in a residential neighborhood.
October 11, 200618 yr From the 10/8/06 Dispatch: PHOTO: Randy Young agreed to a list of homeowner regulations before moving to his Grove City subdivision. But he thinks a warning against a sign for firefighters on his garage door goes too far. Neighborhood a bully, Grove City man says Sunday, October 08, 2006 Kirk D . Richards THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Homes in Fountainview at Parkway can have an Ohio State University flag, but only on game days during football season. There can be no swing sets, wreaths, flower pots or wind chimes in the Grove City subdivision. Hanging laundry outside is a no-no. http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/10/08/20061008-C1-04.html
October 11, 200618 yr Without homeowners' associations Grove City wouldn't be the showplace it is, now would it.
October 12, 200618 yr So here's my two cents: If you want to ensure that you won't live next to a house with a washer and dryer on the front porch, then you can chose to live in a community with an HOA with covenents which mach your desires. If you want to live in a house where you can keep your washer and dryer on the front porch, then live somewhere without a HOA. The only real problem I see is that people can buy a house unaware that an HOA even exists for the property until after the closing. That's just plain wrong.
October 12, 200618 yr I think general HOA structure should allow for precincts; this would give a more weighted voice to the individual within the community and force neighbors to work together to solve problems and push back against unworkable covenants. I also think HOAs should have courts of appeals comprised of the 10 closest neighbors to the appellant. Also, I think HOAs are a creepy, regressive afront to the spirit of the constitution of the United States of America and the letter of about every local law vetted by due process, and that anybody who signs away their rights to an HOA is a nincompoop and deserves what they get. Harumph.
October 12, 200618 yr The one thing that a homeowners association cannot regulate are the placement of the satalite dishes. I recall reading some news article about some man having one in his yard, HOA said no, put liens on property. Man takes it to court, wins. ~a bit vague on details exactly~ But it came down to that only FCC could regulate the placement and positioning of said dishes,
October 12, 200618 yr ^The cable and satellite lobby ramrodded language through that effectively overrules HOA covenants. The only areas that are exempt from the language are historical districts; they can jump all over your ass for putting up a satellite dish. And here in IV, that can be taken literally. Here are a couple of links that talk about the law: http://www.angius-terry.com/nv-articles-satellite.htm -and- http://www.skycasters.com/fcc-rules.html
October 12, 200618 yr What about plain old antennas? Our HOA bans antennas on the house - states they should be located in the attic instead? Its just one of a long list of things that are banned in my neighborhood, including clotheslines, fences, sheds, pools, decks, vegetable gardens, and more. We even have a list of banned trees including magnolias, crabapples, silver oaks, and even buckeye trees. At some point this has gotten ridiculous - developer turned the HOA over to the residents three years ago - the group of old farts that runs the HOA includes a retired judge who runs the meetings like a courtroom, and they meet at his house on some random weekday at 10 am - very convenient for those of us who work for a living. Meanwhile the list of banned things continues to grow. My neighbor was cited for putting in one of those rainbow playsets in his yard, because the red-yellow-blue canopy didn't match his house colors. It's time for a mutiny I think.
October 12, 200618 yr One of the next boom towns, Franklin Tennessee; even the color of your awnings is regulated. These restrictive communities seem to be really successful in a lot of cases though. Homeowners find comfort in knowing the status quo is maintained.
October 13, 200618 yr Also, I think HOAs are a creepy, regressive afront to the spirit of the constitution of the United States of America and the letter of about every local law vetted by due process, and that anybody who signs away their rights to an HOA is a nincompoop and deserves what they get. Harumph. Yes! Amen! Well said, right straight down to the harumph!
October 13, 200618 yr What about plain old antennas? Our HOA bans antennas on the house - states they should be located in the attic instead? I'm afraid the antenna lobby isn't nearly as influential as it used to be. Yes! Amen! Well said, right straight down to the harumph! Let's leave my harumph out of this, mister.
March 26, 200718 yr BUMP! Came across this on bankrate.com: Homeowner horror stories: Associations are heaven or hell By Paul Bannister • Bankrate.com To many people it's Shangri-La. Heaven. Paradise. Everybody's lawn is manicured. No one's gone to an electric chartreuse and fuchsia color scheme. No one's got her granny panties -- or thongs, for that matter -- flapping on a clothesline. No junk cars in the side yard. No sofas on the front porch. Everything looks wonderful. http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/real-estate/HOA-horrors1.asp
March 26, 200718 yr I think those detached home developments are the worst. In a condo, its not nearly as bad.
March 29, 200718 yr I think the biggest point about HOA's though is that you have to SIGN UP to be a part of one. That being said, you are making a conscious decision to enter into an agreement to keep your shutters a certain color and keep your fence a certain height. In reality, its just a group of people thinking of their neighborhood as "bigger" than any one person's individual whims. I bought a house last month and move in on 5/31 in an HOA. My exterior has been decided by the developer. I'm buying a fence for my little back yard, however, and he challenged me. I came up with a logical reason, gave him rational conversation that it would be in good taste for the neighborhood, and everyone approved. It's not like a fascist government. It's just a group of homeowners that get together and try to think of something as a group. In my mind, its the most simple form of democracy and I think its great for our nation as a whole to have people who care enough to volunteer for something like this. I know that I'll attend our meetings.
June 7, 200817 yr Swing set’s future is up to boy’s neighbors Jason Hawk | The Chronicle-Telegram NORTH RIDGEVILLE — An 8-year-old autistic boy will likely get to keep the jungle gym he almost lost because of homeowner’s association bylaws — as long as his mother gets the OK from their neighbors. Post edited 9-5-09 to comply with terms of use. http://www.chroniclet.com/2008/06/06/swing-sets-future-is-up-to-boys-neighbors/
June 7, 200817 yr My one and only salient thought is homeowner associations are only useful in situations where your unit is attached to another unit. All other times it just seems to be a bunch of people micromanaging the lives of others to create homogeniality. Its purpose is to "preserve the value" of the neighborhoods, but I wouldn't pay other people to enforce a mythical value on a house.
June 7, 200817 yr Well I love my HOA. I don't shovel, take out trash, valet service and other white glove services. The buildings are maintained wonderfully. I wish I had them in Harlem. Now if I lived in a "planned (gated) community" in suburbia, I doubt I would want one as they are two restrictive as to what you can or cannot do in your own home.
June 10, 200817 yr ^ I guess they didn't provide much security with that thug sitting on YOUR steps. ;)
June 10, 200817 yr ^ I guess they didn't provide much security with that thug sitting on YOUR steps. ;) My HOA in Cleveland is fabulous. I live in a SFH in New York, so no HOA. Trust me he wasn't a thug, he is a punkb-tch!
October 10, 200816 yr I've read so many bad HOA stories over the years. This one is one of the worst: Kennewick reservist faces threats over landscaping Lt. Burke Jensen was called five months ago to serve his country in Kuwait. Now he is being told to get an irrigation system and landscaping on his property as soon as possible or face legal action from the Oak Hill Country Estates Homeowners' Association. By John Trumbo, Tri-City Herald, October 6, 2008 KENNEWICK — Burke Jensen moved to Kennewick about a year ago, bought a nice house in the country south of the city and began to settle into a new job at Energy Northwest. Then came the call five months ago to serve his country in Kuwait. So Jensen, who says he is an involuntarily mobilized reservist, headed off, leaving behind a pregnant wife, a young son and a 2.5-acre lot with not a spot of landscaping.
October 10, 200816 yr ....and the "Biggest -sshole in the US" award for October 2008 goes to....Chick Edwards!
October 10, 200816 yr Wow, that is just awful! It sounds like the owner of the HOA is power hungry. :(
October 10, 200816 yr Wow, that is just awful! It sounds like the owner of the HOA is power hungry. :( No, hes just as X described. An @$$hole!
March 22, 201015 yr Hah! (Was there some reason for the thread-bump?) My take: There are two kinds of condo/homeowners' associations: necessary evils and unnecessary evils. The only thing I vary on is what portion falls into each category.
March 27, 201510 yr Great documentary on the many problems with condo ownership: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFb9TUw9A5s
March 20, 20196 yr Trouble in paradise down in suburban Nashville: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/sumner/2019/03/19/cambridge-farms-residents-overflow-hoa-meeting-major-dues-increase/3213776002/ I assumed, given the dramatic headline, that annual dues were going from something like $1,000 to $2,500. No -- just a monthly increase of $12.91! Still under $500 per year!
March 23, 20196 yr On 3/19/2019 at 11:56 PM, jmecklenborg said: Trouble in paradise down in suburban Nashville: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/sumner/2019/03/19/cambridge-farms-residents-overflow-hoa-meeting-major-dues-increase/3213776002/ I assumed, given the dramatic headline, that annual dues were going from something like $1,000 to $2,500. No -- just a monthly increase of $12.91! Still under $500 per year! I had to chuckle when I saw $12.91. I've often thought when someone is that upset over a fee so small, are they financially prepared to maintain a home?
March 25, 20196 yr On 3/23/2019 at 11:51 AM, Mendo said: What is with the Nashville obsession? My parents have lived there for 23 years so I follow the news.
March 25, 20196 yr On 3/23/2019 at 11:35 AM, MyTwoSense said: I had to chuckle when I saw $12.91. I've often thought when someone is that upset over a fee so small, are they financially prepared to maintain a home? Both sets of my grandparents moved to the same condo complex in the late 1980s. One set lived in Phase 1 and the other in Phase 2. The buildings were identical EXCEPT for the balcony railings. Phase 1 was wood and Phase 2 was metal. FFWD to about 2000 and the wood balcony railings all started rotting and had to be replaced. Phase 1 tried to get Phase 2 to help pay. Chaos ensued. People stopped talking to one another. It caused a rift between my two sets of grandparents.
March 30, 20196 yr On 3/25/2019 at 1:16 PM, jmecklenborg said: Both sets of my grandparents moved to the same condo complex in the late 1980s. One set lived in Phase 1 and the other in Phase 2. The buildings were identical EXCEPT for the balcony railings. Phase 1 was wood and Phase 2 was metal. FFWD to about 2000 and the wood balcony railings all started rotting and had to be replaced. Phase 1 tried to get Phase 2 to help pay. Chaos ensued. People stopped talking to one another. It caused a rift between my two sets of grandparents. This set up sounds like a great reality TV program. @jmecklenborg can host and narrate!
March 30, 20196 yr When I was in law school, I clerked for a firm that represented solely HOA and Condo Associations - from my experience, I'd recommend against it. But it depends, HOA's where most of the occupants are below 50 tend to be more innocuous. If you live in a community with a majority of residents at 50+, I'd personally steer clear. I have seen some abuses of power you would not believe by retired persons who turned the HOA into their power vessel within the community. Moreover, we almost always won in court when challenged by individual owners.
Create an account or sign in to comment