25 Worst things living in a HOA Article

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I found this on Msn.com recently. Thought it was pretty nail hitting. Enjoy (Or not)!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/25-worst-things-about-homeowners-associations/ss-AAGbnE0?ocid=spartandhp

Former HOA President

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,061

Posted:

As is typical of news networks, they got some of it right and some of it wrong.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Probably click bait. "Top Ten Things to Know....", "25 Things to Do Before You....."

Best to ignore and keep going. No article headlined like that is worth the oxygen it takes to read it.

MarkW18
Posts: 1,290

Posted:

Every one is true, maybe not in yours or the one someone might buy into, but they are all factual. The article deals with what what have the authority and often do.

There are a few good ones out there that I can count on my last three fingers of my right....lol

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

No it isn't "click bait". It was an article I saw on Msn.com. Think put out by a Realtor group. Thought many of the items are things we have discussed on this site a few times. There were a few "odd ball" ones but overall pretty accurate. Didn't get into every detail of course. It's just a slideshow.

For me, I would live in another HOA. Just would be smarter about it before purchasing. Would know what to look for. Considering the expenses living outside an HOA and what dues cover in a HOA, it can be a bit cheaper. My lawncare alone is nearly twice my HOA dues. Don't even get access to a pool or other benefits.

Former HOA President

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

They are all true though some were the antics of a stupid HOA (like the garage door open) and others do no not apply to all HOA's such as pet weight restriction.

PestY
Posts: 128

Posted:

Subject: 25 Worst things living in a HOA Article :

HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA
HOA

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,061

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MarkW18 on 09/21/2019 11:07 AM
Every one is true, maybe not in yours or the one someone might buy into, but they are all factual.

we will have to agree to disagree

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

There are too many examples of rare or a few instances of nonsense, yet the author seems to generalize as if there are "a lot" or "many." Its strength is showing everyone to read every thing before they purchase. As PestY often used to see Caveat Emptor!

Closed blinds would be a deal killer for me.

The piece's weakness is that it says nothing about was or abusive board or el jefe tip presidents who dominate all (because their boards let them) an may even retaliate against those who disagree.

Our retirement dream was to be in a high rise boiling the ocean with views and in the heart of urban setting so we could dump one car and walk virtually to al series we need. We also love locking the door and traveling abroad for 7 weeks as we id recently with our only concern that our neighbor actual does come in and water ur houseplants. . Where we are, that gives us only the choice of HOAs. Fine with us.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Maybe PaulJ6 should read this, as he's been asking several questions as to why HOAs appear to be complete shitshows.....

The end of the slideshow says it all - READ THE RULES BEFORE YOU BUY so you'll know what they are and can decide what you can and can't live with. It also shows the documents shouldn't be set in stone. As the community ages, homeowners will move in and out, so the things the originals loved may not be an issue with the new bunch, or the rule isn't necessary or needs some tweaking. A HOA is only as good as the people who live in it, so if you can find folks who are happy with identical houses, great (I find them boring myself). On the other hand, flexibility is important because our needs, wants and values do change over time and you need to be able to adapt.

As some have noted, it's a danger to say "most or all" when it comes to HOAs. Some really do have silly rules like "no repair projects on the weekend" (people WORK Monday-Friday, so perhaps this is the only time it can be done). I don't have a pet, but have often wondered if these weight restrictions do any good - little dogs can be just as annoying as the big ones, and they will all crap everywhere if the owners don't clean up after them. And rules about keeping your garage doors up are ridiculous - there's something called crime and keeping your doors secured is a good way to reduce the risk of you becoming a victim.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Maybe PaulJ6 should read this, as he's been asking several questions as to why HOAs appear to be complete shitshows.....

The end of the slideshow says it all - READ THE RULES BEFORE YOU BUY so you'll know what they are and can decide what you can and can't live with. It also shows the documents shouldn't be set in stone. As the community ages, homeowners will move in and out, so the things the originals loved may not be an issue with the new bunch, or the rule isn't necessary or needs some tweaking. A HOA is only as good as the people who live in it, so if you can find folks who are happy with identical houses, great (I find them boring myself). On the other hand, flexibility is important because our needs, wants and values do change over time and you need to be able to adapt.

As some have noted, it's a danger to say "most or all" when it comes to HOAs. Some really do have silly rules like "no repair projects on the weekend" (people WORK Monday-Friday, so perhaps this is the only time it can be done). I don't have a pet, but have often wondered if these weight restrictions do any good - little dogs can be just as annoying as the big ones, and they will all crap everywhere if the owners don't clean up after them. And rules about keeping your garage doors up are ridiculous - there's something called crime and keeping your doors secured is a good way to reduce the risk of you becoming a victim.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

NOTE on the keeping the garage door opening. The article did NOT encompass the whole situation nor outcome. Here is what happened. A homeowner converted their garage to house some illegals. It was discovered by the HOA that people had converted their garages outside of being used for car parking. Hence they decided that the garage doors MUST be kept open during the daylight hours to CONFIRM no one was living in the garages. This outraged many as you can imagine. It lasted just maybe a few weeks at most. Believe lawsuits were up in the air etc... I believe now they decided to no longer enforce the garage rule. It's basically making sure no one has converted their garage to additional living space without knowledge/permission.

Former HOA President

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Whoever came up with this idea gets my vote for the Darwin Award.