I don't get it, why buy a house in an hoa?

[Alpine]

I live in a rural (County) area, and the previous subdivision I lived in, the HOA was a NAZI org. The President always voted himself back in since his family owned the majority of the vacant lots, and each lot is worth a vote. They charge $300 a quarter for Water and Sewer, and you're not even allowed to wash your car or water your garden. Hell, when I lived in Ft Collins, I watered my lawn three times a week, washed my two vehicles once a week, etc. My highest water/sewer bill was $33 for a one month period. Anyhow, they pick the rules they want to enforce, and ignore the rules they don't want to enforce. For example, we have rules on dogs at large (leash law) and barking dogs (noise ordanance), and they choose not to enforce those. They tried to restrict snowmobiles in the subdivision when 98% of the homeowners own and ride snowmobiles... that didn't last more then a few months. Glad I sold my house and moved the hell out of there.

The subdivision I'm living in now is great. I have a 100-meter range in my back yard and shoot one or two times a week. Mostly 5-round groups for accuracy, so I'm not doing any full-auto mag dumps or crazy stuff like that. I never shoot after 7 PM.
Last HOA meeting, the Pres. brings up the subject of shooting in the subdivision (someone must have complained), so I immediatly respond by saying; I'd like to comment. I'm the one who probably shoots the most (there are others who also shoot). When I was looking for land to build a house, I researched and studied the HOA rules (which doesn't restrict shooting), I spoke with the current HOA Pres. at the time, and also asked my neighbors on both sides of me if they mind if I shoot. I have a backstop, so no bullets are leaving my propery. If any one has any concerns, please come over to my house and I'll show you where I shoot.
Then one of the board members replied, can we come over and shoot at your place, and I replied yes!
The Pres. then said Ok, next item on the agenda.

After the meeting we had our HOA BBQ, and I had quite a few neighbors come to me and say, hey I'm glad we have you in our neighborhood, if we ever have any trouble, we know who to turn to for help. One guy even said, if they ever tell you that you cannot shoot anymore, you're welcome to come over to my place to shoot (he has land bordering our subdivision that doesn't fall under any HOA rules.

We need an HOA in our neighborhood to deal with road maintenance and snow removel since the County is not responsible (Private Roads), and with the HOA there to force everyone to pay their fair share, it works out. When I say fair share, it really is fair The snow removel company charges x-amount, the HOA divides that X-amount evenly by number of lots, and that's what we pay. No more, no less.

[DangerLee_Industries]

Another thumbs down for HOA. No way in heck I would ever buy in a neighborhood with one I enjoy my hobbies too much. I have enough people trying to tell me what to do on a daily basis I sure as hell don't need anyone telling me what I can and can not do to my own home or yard (not counting laws obviously).

I am very active around my house but also very respectful of my neighbors. I'm always tinkering, welding, running an impact or painting something in my garage. But I never do it at odd hours and if I'm making noise I try to do it as quickly as possible. My neighbors don't care because I'm usually the first person they turn to when they need help with a project or a vehicle and I help them every time...

Now do I want 22 illegals living in a 3 bedroom house next to me? No way but I'd rather take that chance then have a room of jack wagons giving me a ticket or whatever they do because I have a rolling chassis in my driveway since I'm painting the tub at the moment in the garage. Or have them tell me that I can't paint my house a certain color and that I can't leave my recycle bin on the side of the house.

I close on a place in Elizabeth next week and couldn't be happier. I'll make the drive into the city 5 days a week to be left alone and have the space to do what I do...

[Bailey Guns]

I'll make the drive into the city 5 days a week to be left alone and have the space to do what I do...

Ain't that the truth? I've lived in Bailey for 22 years. Yes it was a bit of a drive to work...and still is for the wife. But when we bought our first house it was way cheaper here than in the city. Not so much now.

And...not an HOA in sight.

I can pee off of my deck and walk around in my underwear if I choose to. I can park my car/RV anywhere I want. I can shovel/plow when I get around to it. Nobody tells me when/what color to paint my house. I take care of my trash bill. I shoot a reasonable amount when I feel like it. Something goes wrong it's up to me to fix it. Nobody comes up my drive uninvited unless they're driving a UPS or FedEx truck...or something with "Sheriff" markings on it. Property taxes for house, 30x40 shop and 16 acres is $1600.

That's why the wife and I put up with the drive.

[trlcavscout]

We decided when we first started house hunting that we didnt even want to look at anything with an hoa, its suprisingly scary how many hoods have them and how few of them actually do anything besides just cash checks.

[Lurch]

Ain't that the truth? I've lived in Bailey for 22 years. Yes it was a bit of a drive to work...and still is for the wife. But when we bought our first house it was way cheaper here than in the city. Not so much now.

And...not an HOA in sight.

I can pee off of my deck and walk around in my underwear if I choose to. I can park my car/RV anywhere I want. I can shovel/plow when I get around to it. Nobody tells me when/what color to paint my house. I take care of my trash bill. I shoot a reasonable amount when I feel like it. Something goes wrong it's up to me to fix it. Nobody comes up my drive uninvited unless they're driving a UPS or FedEx truck...or something with "Sheriff" markings on it. Property taxes for house, 30x40 shop and 16 acres is $1600.

That's why the wife and I put up with the drive.

This ^^^^^^. I live out in Elizabeth. Hate the drive at times but I also haven't mowed my grass errrr natural prairie in 5 years. Wanted to build a 28 x 40 shop went to the county and said I'm building a shop and they said are you adding on to your driveway, I said no and they said OK here is a permit. Hell I even forgot to call them on a couple of steps in the building process and they just asked well how did you build it. I told them and they signed off on the C/O.

[waxthis]

I'm on the board for our HOA. If I had my way I would disolve it and give the common areas back to the city. In addition, I would give the city our water rights if they agreed to maintain said common areas.

[tmckay2]

I'm not huge hoa supporter but live ext to enough jackasses without an hoa and you start to appreciate them a bit. MOST have reasonable rules that really just tries to block complete laziness and stupidity. They make sure your neighbor can't trash the hell out of his place which actually lowers the perceived value of your place. Also, my hoa has paid for a lot of stuff it would have sucked for me to pay myself such as when the roots of a big ass tree obstructed my plumbing. 9k in cost and I didn't pay anything. I also don't have to remove snow, cut my grass, fix my deck, weed whack, maintain the pools, tennis courts or roads in the community. Not too bad really. The only rule they have I dont like is no fog can be off leash. This sucks for people like me with well behaved dogs but I get why it's a necessary rule.

[tmckay2]

Also all the hoas Ive been in warn you before fines

[00tec]

I used to rent a house in Dacono. HOA was like $350 a year, all they did was have a guy come out and mow a 200yd stretch when you first enter the subdivision. No trash pickup, no snow removal, no playground, pool, or anything. Didn't even mow the vacant lots.

They sent me a notice for not shoveling the sidewalk. I lived between 2 vacant houses and their sidewalk wasn't clear, so there wasn't much point in me doing it.

[JoeT]

I never lived in a HOA until I moved out here. I was a little apprehensive from all I heard about them...but I gotta tell you. Ours is pretty good.

For $62 a month, we get pool, trash and common areas taken care of. a couple of my neighbors are on the board, they're good people and very realistic on what they "expect/inspect". And none of our neighbors seem to "neglect their property, so I would think the board has it pretty easy.

The next subdivision over is managed by the same HOA...Their fees were almost double ours and the neighborhood is more run down (it is 5 years older). I drive through to get my kids too and from school, and have said a few times, "I'm glad I'm not their neighbor" .

I think they have their merits ....and it really is about who's involved on the board. If I'm going to live in suburbia with 1/4 acre lots(or smaller), I'll live in another HOA. but ideally I'd like acreage without neighbors too