HOA's are fantastic if you are the guy writing all the bylaws. They aren't so nice if you are anyone else.
Thankfully, this isn't North Korea, Cuba, or a few other spots that come to mind: don't like HOA's? -don't live in a place governed by one!
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HOA's are fantastic if you are the guy writing all the bylaws. They aren't so nice if you are anyone else.
Thankfully, this isn't North Korea, Cuba, or a few other spots that come to mind: don't like HOA's? -don't live in a place governed by one!
Wow, after reading all the above, I guess our POA covenants are really relaxed. Of course, instead of a HOA, we have a POA (property owners assn.) We are at least five miles out of town, way down on the extreme South end of the State. Out here we do have EXTREMELY relaxed "rules" but no one ever seems to complain about anything that I am aware of. In the seventeen years that we have been in this POA, I have never regretted having to be in this Association.
Guess we really lucked out moving down here.[Beer]
Up in the General Discussion thread about "Target shooting on your own land", I commented about my target shooting on my little place.
Ill get flamed for this by the majority but here goes.
Im in north stongeate, Windrift to be exact. Never had an issue but then again I keep my $hit tidy and squared away. Never had an issue when I lived in south stonegate either.
Personally I dont mind HOA's, keeps you guys with 7 cars, boats and RV's from making a storage lot out of things and it looking like a dump.
Your garage is for your cars and toys, not the 2000 boxes you were too freaking lazy to unpack when you moved in 5 years ago. My RV goes in a storage lot, so should yours.
Mow the damn yard once a week, its not that hard and also I make my kids pickup their trash, scooters and bikes every night when they come in. Its called making them responsible.
We ain't got nuttin up here. County won't even enforce property clean up. So we drive by and throw our shit on the trashy neigbor he never notices cause of all the shit he already has.
That way only one dump in the whole area.
Wow...thanks for the lesson on how to be a better person than everyone else. [/sarcasm]Quote:
Originally Posted by AK47 Ranger
One way to deal with HOA's is to have toothless ones. I owned my first house in an area where the HOA had gone defunct and people rather liked it that way. RV's were parked in front of some houses. A few houses had rock gardens instead of front lawns and such. A few busybodies decided to bring the HOA back. Those of us who didn't like the idea packed the meeting and voted in a friendly board. It sponsored useful activities with volunteers such as Santa Claus visits and Easter Egg hunts. The RV's and rock gardens were left alone.
When I was moving into a community NW of Sedalia of about 150 houses it had covenants and an HOA and I was worried so I got a copy of the covenants. They'd either been written by a closet anarchist or retards. (I work in tech and have had to read & write requirements. I don't know law but I know logic.) There were multiple versions set up with none being the final one and they mostly contradict each other. Basically I don't think the board can disapprove almost anything the county allows. The only consistencies are a 3 horse limit and a ban on nonfunctional junker vehicles. (If they can be pushed they might be regarded as functional.)
Before I moved in there one fellow was excavating so he had a lot of dirt and built a berm along the road. A busybody HOA board sent him a letter that he couldn't have 'unimproved berms'. He put a couple of cheap pink flamingos on top of the berm and it ended there. That's how to treat an HOA.
Steve
I do the exact same thing, but I don't see the point in paying $45 a month for it. If someone isn't responsible for their crap, then so be it, as long as it doesn't affect me or my property. I just hate paying money when I am the responsible one. If they want to have an HOA and charge no dues, or only enough money to cover a nice pool or rec center that only the people within the HOA can use, then fine. But right now I feel like I pay $540 a year for nothing other than trash service.Quote:
Originally Posted by AK47 Ranger
HOA's? We just bought another house in Pine, unincorporated Jeffco. I told our realtor that I wouldn't even look at anything with an HOA, regardless of the price or location. She took us to King's Valley- BIG sign " no outdoor use of water" enforced by whatever HOA. So.. you can't wash your car, or water your garden, etc..? Bite me. She got the message. You can pretty well tell if you're moving in next to the Clampetts...
I've lived in the mountains for 23 years, always felt that if someone could afford to live in the same place, that's good enough for me. Live in an HOA-controlled neighborhood? I'd rather stick needles in my
eyes.
as long as the Clampetts don't move in after you. People move all the time (we've lived in 4 states in 6 years)Quote:
Originally Posted by motorep
Something about being on the HOA board changes people, it's a power trip. They were given the power and they are going to use as much as they can. Several of us got tired of the crap and we elected those (like us) that used (un)common sense. Now it's not so bad. However, my wife is now sick of the crap and wants to move where we have some acrage (a clear shot 500 yards in any direction).
HOAs are more powerful than the IRS. If you get sideways with the IRS and they come for your house to sell it for whatever reason, they are second in line to any $$$ you owe the HOA. Bet some of you didn't know that.
I had 3 trees in the front of my house when I bought it, one died. They (HOA) sent me a letter informing me that in case I didn't notice, one of my trees in the front of my house died (duh, I see the front of my house every day).
I then cut the dead tree down to the ground, then the HOA sent me a letter stating I had to replace the cut down tree and I had 3 weeks in which to do it because I am required to have 2 trees in the front of my house. I sent them a letter I have two trees in front of my house.
I had to send a picture of the front of my house showing the 2 trees I still have in front of my house before they would leave me alone.
Did I mention HOAs suck?[Bang]
I bet you mow your yard in January too...Quote:
Originally Posted by AK47 Ranger
Freaking hoa's! I don't wanna even start!
So, was it '06 when the big snow storms hit the front range? Well I own a condo in the Fort. Got that huge snow storm, was driving an A4 at the time. Had to park 3 blocks away at the elementary school for over a month cause we weren't plowed out.
Get a letter im the spring saying everyone owes like $300 extra this year for the snow plowing. WTF!?! So I went to the next meeting. They say they spent over $40k in snow removal during the winter! I couldnt fn drive to my garage for a month!
I said hell, if you got a 40k budget on snow removal, just pay me! I could go rent a bobcat when it snows, clean the whole complex in a day, and not have to all year!! Filthy fuckers!
Now I rent the condo......whole nother can 'o worms!
[Bang]
My father always told me, "Son, never start a fight with an HOA, but if a fight does start, make sure you end it."
AK47 Ranger supporter
disappointing to learn even though their numbers are few that we have any HOA Nazi's on the forum. For shame.
Mine's 75 bucks a year and thats it. I pay my own trash etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sniper7
Nope. Im such a rich ass MOFO that every fall I tear the lawn out and put heated artifical tuff in so my yard always looks great no matter summer or fall. ETA or the dead of winter :)
Dont be butthurt Byte
Quote:
Originally Posted by Byte Stryke
As I stated, my HOA doesnt mess with me and I never hear from them.
You guys that live rural or in the Mts on land that I get and I would agree with you about hoa's up there.
My hoa keeps the common area lawns mowed, trees pruned, mulch looking nice and fences painted and for the $75 bucks a year i pay for it that money is well spent and I could care less.
Im a smart enough guy to know that when the paint on my house looks like ass after 10 years its prolly time to paint it. I dont need big brother sending me a note telling me to. Its common sense and I handle it.
Call me a hoa nazi all you want. In MY situation it doesnt bother me...YMMV.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bailey Guns
We moved to our property in 1985, and at the time didn't have an POA (HOA). I believe it was either 98 or 99 that a POA was formed, and then a few years later some Californians decided they wanted to get on the board and make some changes. They decided they didn't want anyone shooting on their land. We had a range that had been established since we bought the place. They tried everything, including calling the Sheriff on us. The Sheriff told them there was nothing he could do, as we are in the county and on private property. They began calling my parents and telling them they couldn't shoot on their property, so my parents called the Sheriff and told them the POA was harassing them. The calls stopped quickly.
We paid our dues every year, but since we were the only ones that lived on the west side of the canyon, the roads were not maintained. When we asked why, they said they could only maintain the east side of the canyon because that is where the majority of the people lived.
What I got out of the entire issue was, they want our money, they want to tell us what we can and can't do on our property, but they don't want to do anything for those requests. We do whatever we want on our property within the LAW, not the POA. Why should we have to change things we have been doing for well over 20 years now because some new comers don't like it.
So do you still pay the dues since they don't plow?
Like encorehunter, we have a similar POA out where I live. There are, I believe, about 99 "ranchetts" all with 35 +/- acres and only about 40 some are actually occupied. Our roads are promptly plowed when we have 4-inches or more of snow and this along with road maintainence is covered with our annual dues. We are allowed to have up to two (houses) per property but as many out buildings as desired. As indicated in my earlier post, we have NEVER encountered any problems with our POA as this is a very low key, live and let live area and we thank God for that.
We do have posted speed limits of 30 MPH on all roads but the only problem is, what do or can we do about speeders. The County Sheriff won't come out to patrol since this is a private area. I guess that speeding (which is really not that common) is the ONLY "fly in the ointment". With so much wildlife roaming around here, slow driving is really required.
wait a sec , you mean to tell me that you blaster"heavy foot" bob can drive 30 mph ?? [ROFL1]Quote:
Originally Posted by BlasterBob
My parents still pay the dues, but I don't know why. I don't think we have ever received anything for them, other than going once or twice to the yearly picnic. Since they called the Sheriff on us, we haven't been to the picnic.
Hell yes, I ALWAYS maintain my speed at the posted 30MPH or less, depending on conditions such as switchbacks and other road conditions, especially since I am so critical of the damn speeders. [Tooth]Quote:
Originally Posted by alxone
i hear ya , i hate speeders especially off the highwayQuote:
Originally Posted by BlasterBob
The recourse the POA's have if dues are not paid, is to levy a lien on your property and interest will accumulate on the unpaid dues. They have the delinquent owners by the balls. Of course, most buyers of the properties sign and agree to the covenants when their property is purchased.Quote:
Originally Posted by encorehunter
I'm not sure if my parents ever signed on with the POA, as the property was purchased before the POA was formed. I know at the time it was formed, they promised everything, and after they gave basically nothing. I think the dues are around $50 a year, so it isn't going to break the bank, but it can be annoying by getting nothing for it.
here's another tidbit about Denver HOA's
http://www.myfoxny.com/story/1884756...#ixzz1ySwuJdaU