HOA's Limiting Personal Freedoms

I am going to tackle the flag issue head on for you. It is the most media darling subject and hinges on the whole "freedom" issue. We had the issue becuase I fired the lawncare guy who lived in our HOA. He had put up a flagpole at the front entrance. He removed it and put it in his backyard. Which upset people to no longer have a flag. So we voted to replace it properly.

I bring this up as I believe deciding as a group to fly and maintain a flag in a central place in your HOA is essential to keeping respect for country and home. There are regulations flying the flag respectively that individual owners do not know or do not follow. We installed a light and replaced the flag when tattled. We could never request or enforce that rule without the person screaming we stepped on their freedom flag rights.

I also do not believe any of us are more American or more proud to be an American than another. That is why I found having a singular flag for ALL members to appreciate and view essential to have. If you explain and handover a copy of proper flag flying "rules" most may start to agree a communal one is best.

JohnC,

good luck finding requested article supporting abridgement of constitutional rights

imo: if H/Os had realized what they were signing and the ramifications BEFORE purchasing they most likely would NEVER have purchased

Who realized the Constitution guarantees us the right to contractually sign away our rights? Just like waiving them !

I am soooooo happy to have seen my comrades (in arms) LITERALLY spill their guts to protect said document.

However, I would do so again IF NECESSARY.

.....rant over

The lawncare guy bought that flag pole that is why he took it back. We allowed flags to be flown individually as well as we had flag holders on the homes. However, most liked the tall pole up front. When first put pole up the Veterans were upset. They let me know the rules on flying flags. So we installed a light.

I am typing on a tablet and it does not account for spelling mistakes.

John,

Here are some articles that may give you ideas:

Homeowners associations: Good or bad? 2009 article

Why we love HOAs Your thoughts on what makes an HOA the place to be 2012 article from the Las Vegas Sun

Ten Great Benefits of HOAs from a community managers website

City Data forum - Let's Talk HOAs I list this because of one post that showed how the same issues can be both good and bad:

I recently moved into my 5th HOA. Like anything else, there are pros and cons.

PROS

1. Amenities. You could not normally afford like pools, tennis, etc.
2. Architectural Control. One cannot build/add anything without permission. No rusty storage sheds.
3. Landscape Control. One must adhere to set standards. No crappy looking lawns.
4. Vehicle Storage. Control of amount and type of vehicles. No dead junkers.
5. Overall Control. Ability to keep neighborhood looking good. Keep it from from becoming trashy looking.

CONS

1. Amenities. The more there are, the higher the dues will and the more issues will arise because of them.
2. Architectural Control. If you want your place to look different/unique, you will not be able to do so.
3. Landscape Control. If you do not like and adhere to community standards, you will taken to task.
4. Vehicle Storage. If you like cars and stuff around, you might have issues.
5. Overall Control. If you do like to conform to a standard set by others, you will not be happy.

A friend just asked me about buying a metal storage shed. I said go vinyl as they look better and will not rust out. He said vinyl cost more and let someone else worry about the rust in the future. He would have trouble living in an HOA.

If considering an HOA then get a copy of the CC&Rs, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations. Read them carefully. Seek guidance/advice on things you do not understand. If you say these are not for me then fine. Make it easy on all. Look elsewhere.

Say, JohnC, I think there are lotsa gems in articles that Tim listed. Be creative with your cutting & pasting and you can get a very nice upbeat news item.

But I still think your subject line is misleading? We all give up some personal freedoms to any group that we belong to, whether it's a club, theater group, political campaign, school, family, religion, sports team. etc. All groups have rules. One of the very first things the survivors of the crashed plane in the Andes that was the movie, "Alive!," was to make rules and assign tasks.