NA1 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 190
Posts: 190
Posted:
https://youtu.be/qrizmAo17Os
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John Oliver on HOAs
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CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
GuyM1 (Ohio)
Posts: 318
Posts: 318
Posted:
LOVE IT!!!!!!
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420
Posts: 4,420
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
MaxB4
Posts: 3,513
Posts: 3,513
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By NA1 on 04/10/2023 6:57 AM
https://youtu.be/qrizmAo17Os
https://youtu.be/qrizmAo17Os
SPOT ON!
MaxB4
Posts: 3,513
Posts: 3,513
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses.
The list has to include board members who govern HOAs with an iron fist.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MaxB4 on 04/10/2023 9:02 AM
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses.
The list has to include board members who govern HOAs with an iron fist.
Absolutely. I've said a number of times when people come here complaining about their boards that homeowners by and large don't understand what they're buying and that *this is the ignorant pool* from which board members are chosen. I don't know why people are surprised when the outcome is so predictable.
Just recently we've seen threads where posters complained about boards that hadn't enforced the CC&R or did some other boneheaded maneuver, leaving the current crop of directors up a creek when all of a sudden this matters.
There are times when a (gloved) fist may be appropriate. There are times when it won't be. Reasonable people can disagree about the whens and wherefores. No director, - no matter how skilled - is going to please everybody or even a small majority. Some people make it their hobby to disagree about everything. HOAs seem to attract them. People who don't like to be told what to do will very likely find HOA living distasteful, even if the board is being negligent on enforcement.
Know thyself, know what you're getting into, and know when it's time to get out of it.
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Yup.
For the record, I really like John Oliver because there have been some great features on his show. However, this one was clearly slanted towards the homeowners. They talk about how ridiculous some of the rules are, and we know from this website some communities have come up with some crazy ones. It reminds me of a lot of state legislators- have no clue or the will to address problems like the infrastructure, so they pass rules banning books about Rosa Parks and drag shows.
There are some petty and power hungry board members- we read about them all the time on this website - but this story didn't mention homeowner apathy which causes these people to exist. Nor did it mention how people will yell and scream about the assessments being too high - but then demand that the roofs be replaced although there's no reserve fund because homeowners opted out of having one
(All those hurricanes in Florida - how's that opting out rule working out?)
Regarding the section 8 situation, I'm not surprised at this rule- sadly, I see too many novel ways to discriminate against people for dumb reasons like race or nationality. News flash to the haters: women aren't going back in the kitchen and bd content with birthing babies, black folk aren't returning to the plantation, gays aren't returning to the closet (equipped with a lock you use from the inside, and everyone will keep their religion or no religion at all. This is a diverse society whether you like it or not - get used to it.
(I guess this works in Florida or is it Flori-duh?)
Bottom lines:
1. Now that we know 82% of communities are governed by a HOA, it would beehive any potential owner to fo his/her homework and find out as much about the community before buying. That responsibility should be placed on the seller. If you can't get a copy of the rules, budget information and whatever you need to mske a decision, don't buy the house.
2. There was a conversation on whether HOAs should be abolished- perhaps they are more appropriate for condis and high rise buildings. If that's the case, everyone in a detached single family home will need to pony up and pay the taxes it takes to provide the sidewalks, streets, trash collection, etc. As for the pink house John Mellencamp sang about - you'll just have to learn to live with it.
3. If you want to be a HOA board member, take the time to find out what tbe hell you're supposed to do (reading those documents you set aside at closing would be a start). Do your best. - no one expects perfection - but if you're given something to review, do it before the meeting. Don't be afraid of asking questions and remember, you're making decisions in the best interests or the entire community. And stop being cheap - you don't have to get the most expensive, but do your due diligence 9get tge biggest bang for the buck
4. No one will ever care about your home as much as you do, so you should at least attend the annual meeting and vote.
I have more, but I'll stop now. Feel free to add your own!
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
vis ta vie
JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631
Posts: 1,631
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 6:14 AM
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
While I generally agree with your sentiments regarding lawyers, how much blame do you accept for not doing your part and researching the HOA before you purchased the home? Sometimes it's much easier to ignore our own ignorance and lay the blame on others. For what it's worth I also failed to do any research on the HOA community where I purchased my condo.
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/12/2023 6:26 AM
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 6:14 AM
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
While I generally agree with your sentiments regarding lawyers, how much blame do you accept for not doing your part and researching the HOA before you purchased the home? Sometimes it's much easier to ignore our own ignorance and lay the blame on others. For what it's worth I also failed to do any research on the HOA community where I purchased my condo.
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
vis ta vie
JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631
Posts: 1,631
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:27 AM
While I generally agree with your sentiments regarding lawyers, how much blame do you accept for not doing your part and researching the HOA before you purchased the home? Sometimes it's much easier to ignore our own ignorance and lay the blame on others. For what it's worth I also failed to do any research on the HOA community where I purchased my condo.
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/12/2023 6:26 AM
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 6:14 AM
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
While I generally agree with your sentiments regarding lawyers, how much blame do you accept for not doing your part and researching the HOA before you purchased the home? Sometimes it's much easier to ignore our own ignorance and lay the blame on others. For what it's worth I also failed to do any research on the HOA community where I purchased my condo.
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
It seems taking 0% responsibility is the in thing these days....
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/12/2023 7:48 AM
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:27 AM
While I generally agree with your sentiments regarding lawyers, how much blame do you accept for not doing your part and researching the HOA before you purchased the home? Sometimes it's much easier to ignore our own ignorance and lay the blame on others. For what it's worth I also failed to do any research on the HOA community where I purchased my condo.
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/12/2023 6:26 AM
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 6:14 AM
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
While I generally agree with your sentiments regarding lawyers, how much blame do you accept for not doing your part and researching the HOA before you purchased the home? Sometimes it's much easier to ignore our own ignorance and lay the blame on others. For what it's worth I also failed to do any research on the HOA community where I purchased my condo.
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
It seems taking 0% responsibility is the in thing these days....
Well said.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Took the time to view it.
Mixed in with the comedy and horror stories, there is a lot of good information.
Unfortunately, and likely planned, the way it is being delivered is very negative to Associations.
We all know that there are bad boards, which create bad associations.
We also all know that there are good boards which create good associations.
Mixed in with the comedy and horror stories, there is a lot of good information.
Unfortunately, and likely planned, the way it is being delivered is very negative to Associations.
We all know that there are bad boards, which create bad associations.
We also all know that there are good boards which create good associations.
MaxB4
Posts: 3,513
Posts: 3,513
Posted:
I purchased into my only HOA in 2008 and only glanced over the documents that came in at closing (not before). At the time, I worked for the largest mortgage company in America at the time, so I had heard of them, but had no idea what was involved. My first experience with the HOA was two months after I moved in and I received a pre-lien notice from the management company. It appears the escrow company didn't know where to send the impounded HOA dues.
As I quickly learned, it wasn't bad boards, it was bad management companies and worse attorneys. I ran for the Board a year after I moved in. The attorney canceled the elections without allowing the membership to vote to adjourn to a lower quorum percentage (although that was the practice for the previous 8 years).
Even though we blast the people who don't read their documents before moving in, I suspect that most of the regular posters here didn't either. Maybe they did on their 2nd or 3rd HOA.
Fool me once, shame on me.
As I quickly learned, it wasn't bad boards, it was bad management companies and worse attorneys. I ran for the Board a year after I moved in. The attorney canceled the elections without allowing the membership to vote to adjourn to a lower quorum percentage (although that was the practice for the previous 8 years).
Even though we blast the people who don't read their documents before moving in, I suspect that most of the regular posters here didn't either. Maybe they did on their 2nd or 3rd HOA.
Fool me once, shame on me.
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:27 AM
Youâre entitled to your opinion, but sorry, thatâs not an excuse. Part of the problem is many people look at homebuying the same way they look at buying groceries, but this is not an everyday occurrence and you spend a helluva lot more time, money and resources in buying a house. Why doesnât it dawn on people that they donât know what they donât know, so maybe they should take some time to ask questions and crack open a few books to find out. Thereâs tons of information all over the internet on homebuying and HOAs â some of itâs BS, but some of itâs quite helpful. You may not know the difference at first, which is why you keep looking at a variety of sources and talk to as many people as possible â youâll find out quickly who knows their stuff vs. the people who canât buy a clue.
Thatâs the primary issue with people these days, regardless of age â no critical thinking skills whatsoever. The developer and realtor want you to buy so they can make money and will usually make things look a lot simpler than what they really are. And donât ask people to READ anything â my mother often said the quickest way to keep people ignorant is to write it down and hand it to them â theyâll either toss it, put it down and forget about it, or read the first two or three paragraphs and get bored because there arenât any pictures and words that have more than two syllables.
Things are not all black or white â most stuff comes in varying shades of gray, and sometimes you do everything you can and still wind up with a bad deal. Thatâs a pain in the ass, but not necessarily your fault â it simply turned out to be a bad deal and no one could have predicted it.
I agree there needs to be more disclosure before you buy, but whatâs the point of that if people still wonât take the time to read the stuff and ask about anything you donât understand? At some point, you have to take responsibility for your life and stop blaming God, your parents, âthe man,â the HOA board, the property manager, your next door neighbor or your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. If you donât understand something, thatâs your clue to slow down and investigate. If you still canât get your questions answered or people stonewall, ignore you altogether or keep saying âthatâs not importantâ or âoh, donât worry about that,â you may find it necessary to tell them to have a nice day and move on.
I was a first time homebuyer at 40 and didnât know a ton about the process and nothing about HOAs (I though they were neighborhood block clubs on steroids at first). Fortunately there was a local program that works with first time homebuyers that walk you through everything, from getting your credit straight to what to expect during the closing process. I also talked to A LOT OF FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS about their experiences (at that time everyone said avoid adjustable rate mortgages or HOAs either. Fortunately, there was a local program that works with first time homebuyers on everything, from getting a copy of your credit report and helping you make a plan to pay down bills and budget for a house to what to expect during the closing process. I also talked to a lot of friends and co-workers (some of them had also been first time homebuyers) and thatâs when I started hearing more HOAs.
The program didnât get into a ton of detail, but the instructors did recommend getting a copy of the budged and six monthsâ worth of board meeting minutes and newsletters to get a feel for what were the major issues. They also suggested walking around the community to note how people cared for their homes and if it looked like the association was current in maintaining the common areas. Everything looked ok, so I bought, but like Max, I didnât pay much attention to the documents either.
Eventually, I joined the board because my home inspector noticed there werenât enough roof vents â he said the roof was probably built at a time when the building code didnât require them, but if something happened, the manufacturer might nix honoring the warranty because it wasnât installed to their specifications. I started learning about a lot of things after that, but overall, Iâd say the association is running as best as it can, although I worry how long weâll have our current board (I served with all of them and that was nearly 10 years ago).
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/12/2023 6:26 AM
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 6:14 AM
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
Youâre entitled to your opinion, but sorry, thatâs not an excuse. Part of the problem is many people look at homebuying the same way they look at buying groceries, but this is not an everyday occurrence and you spend a helluva lot more time, money and resources in buying a house. Why doesnât it dawn on people that they donât know what they donât know, so maybe they should take some time to ask questions and crack open a few books to find out. Thereâs tons of information all over the internet on homebuying and HOAs â some of itâs BS, but some of itâs quite helpful. You may not know the difference at first, which is why you keep looking at a variety of sources and talk to as many people as possible â youâll find out quickly who knows their stuff vs. the people who canât buy a clue.
Thatâs the primary issue with people these days, regardless of age â no critical thinking skills whatsoever. The developer and realtor want you to buy so they can make money and will usually make things look a lot simpler than what they really are. And donât ask people to READ anything â my mother often said the quickest way to keep people ignorant is to write it down and hand it to them â theyâll either toss it, put it down and forget about it, or read the first two or three paragraphs and get bored because there arenât any pictures and words that have more than two syllables.
Things are not all black or white â most stuff comes in varying shades of gray, and sometimes you do everything you can and still wind up with a bad deal. Thatâs a pain in the ass, but not necessarily your fault â it simply turned out to be a bad deal and no one could have predicted it.
I agree there needs to be more disclosure before you buy, but whatâs the point of that if people still wonât take the time to read the stuff and ask about anything you donât understand? At some point, you have to take responsibility for your life and stop blaming God, your parents, âthe man,â the HOA board, the property manager, your next door neighbor or your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. If you donât understand something, thatâs your clue to slow down and investigate. If you still canât get your questions answered or people stonewall, ignore you altogether or keep saying âthatâs not importantâ or âoh, donât worry about that,â you may find it necessary to tell them to have a nice day and move on.
I was a first time homebuyer at 40 and didnât know a ton about the process and nothing about HOAs (I though they were neighborhood block clubs on steroids at first). Fortunately there was a local program that works with first time homebuyers that walk you through everything, from getting your credit straight to what to expect during the closing process. I also talked to A LOT OF FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS about their experiences (at that time everyone said avoid adjustable rate mortgages or HOAs either. Fortunately, there was a local program that works with first time homebuyers on everything, from getting a copy of your credit report and helping you make a plan to pay down bills and budget for a house to what to expect during the closing process. I also talked to a lot of friends and co-workers (some of them had also been first time homebuyers) and thatâs when I started hearing more HOAs.
The program didnât get into a ton of detail, but the instructors did recommend getting a copy of the budged and six monthsâ worth of board meeting minutes and newsletters to get a feel for what were the major issues. They also suggested walking around the community to note how people cared for their homes and if it looked like the association was current in maintaining the common areas. Everything looked ok, so I bought, but like Max, I didnât pay much attention to the documents either.
Eventually, I joined the board because my home inspector noticed there werenât enough roof vents â he said the roof was probably built at a time when the building code didnât require them, but if something happened, the manufacturer might nix honoring the warranty because it wasnât installed to their specifications. I started learning about a lot of things after that, but overall, Iâd say the association is running as best as it can, although I worry how long weâll have our current board (I served with all of them and that was nearly 10 years ago).
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420
Posts: 4,420
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 6:14 AM
North Carolina requires disclosure of HOAs and the existence of governing documents. See for example https://www.ncrec.gov/Forms/Consumer/rec422.pdf . Where I have lived, realtors set a schedule for the buyer to initial this and other documents, in advance of closing. in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
If you want to complain that this is too much legalese for an owner to digest, okay. But complaining that you were not forewarned does not seem fair to the process.
What is it you want? Do you want the law to require buyers to check off that they have read each governing document?
As for the attorney's shorthand, I think chances are high that there was little chance of buying a home, in the condition you desired, not subject to a HOA.
BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 971
Posts: 971
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By NA1 on 04/10/2023 6:57 AM
https://youtu.be/qrizmAo17Os
https://youtu.be/qrizmAo17Os
As much as I like John Oliver ⌠I think itâs just an issue with Journalism in general that itâs damn near impossible to fully and accurately report on *anything*. I donât think Oliver was being intentionally deceptive. But I think he and his staff used their judgement to decide what bits needed to stay / had to go, and - they could have done a better job of it. Iâm not trying to apologize for him. Iâm sure that everyone in this forum knows a LOT about some area - and when it somehow makes it into the news, the reporting makes you cringe because they lack the experience and knowledge that you possess. Had I world enough and time - yes, Iâve read a poem - it would be an interesting exercise to go through the entire segment and âaccuratizeâ it. But why?
Two comments:
1. I donât think they followed up about the guy with the shed in his back yard. I know that in my neighborhood they would have grandfathered it in unless there was some kind of blatant issue with safety.
2. The bit about home buyers not having access to the Bylaws et al - that might still be true in some places, but I think most neighborhoods keep that stuff online and openly available?
MHO: a lot of the problem is simply ignorance and lack of education. Iâm not certain how to fix that. When I was in high school so many years ago we had a required Consumer Education class. Which was arguably a step in the right direction, except that my high school sucked. And I dislike playing the âageâ card alongside the âparentâ card, but Iâve got two kids in their late 20s and theyâre not dumb - but they lack experience in sooo many things{1}.
Bill
{1} after years of effort, one of them has come to understand that when I make suggestions, Iâm not trying to force them to do stuff my way; Iâm trying to help them avoid the painful mistakes Iâve made. The other one is working on their PhD and I no longer even try.
HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA
âYou canât put too much water in a nuclear reactorâ
Austin, Texas USA
âYou canât put too much water in a nuclear reactorâ
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/12/2023 7:48 AM
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:27 AM
While I generally agree with your sentiments regarding lawyers, how much blame do you accept for not doing your part and researching the HOA before you purchased the home? Sometimes it's much easier to ignore our own ignorance and lay the blame on others. For what it's worth I also failed to do any research on the HOA community where I purchased my condo.
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/12/2023 6:26 AM
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 6:14 AM
Posted By CathyA3 on 04/10/2023 7:44 AM
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Mildly amusing for about five minutes, and then we're onto the "Oh Those Awful HOAs" shtick. Not surprising. Oliver is a comedian, not a journalist, and HOAs are low-hanging fruit.
Personally, I'm so tired of the performative outrage spouted by people who clearly didn't understand the terms of the contracts they were signing and who spread misinformation among the already uninformed masses. The HOA has stupid rules, yeah? You willingly signed a contract agreeing to abide by the stupid rules, yeah? And you expected what, exactly? And this is someone else's fault, for reasons you can't articulate?
Playing a sad tune on the world's smallest violin here... ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
While I generally agree with your sentiments regarding lawyers, how much blame do you accept for not doing your part and researching the HOA before you purchased the home? Sometimes it's much easier to ignore our own ignorance and lay the blame on others. For what it's worth I also failed to do any research on the HOA community where I purchased my condo.
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
It seems taking 0% responsibility is the in thing these days....
you mean 23 years ago
vis ta vie
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By ElleN on 04/12/2023 4:20 PM
If you want to complain that this is too much legalese for an owner to digest, okay. But complaining that you were not forewarned does not seem fair to the process.
What is it you want? Do you want the law to require buyers to check off that they have read each governing document?
As for the attorney's shorthand, I think chances are high that there was little chance of buying a home, in the condition you desired, not subject to a HOA.
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 6:14 AM
North Carolina requires disclosure of HOAs and the existence of governing documents. See for example https://www.ncrec.gov/Forms/Consumer/rec422.pdf . Where I have lived, realtors set a schedule for the buyer to initial this and other documents, in advance of closing. in North Carolina where attourney's are required for closing on a home, they want the buyer/seller in and out in 15 minutes.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
I know because I pissed off mine when I spent a whole 1.5 hours reading the stack of papers they wanted me to sign.
Guess when I first heard about HOA's, reading the Home owner disclosure form. I asked my lawyer what this hoa fee was for and he said dont
worry about it, just some fellow neighbors keeping the place nice. F him for lying to me. and F him for not having the HOA docs in the closing paper work.
the problem again is lawyers don't care, they just want your money and could care less and lets face it no one reads the whole stack of papers at a home closing, so HOA issues are hidden and most home buyers barely understand the truth in lending doc much less anything else.
If you want to complain that this is too much legalese for an owner to digest, okay. But complaining that you were not forewarned does not seem fair to the process.
What is it you want? Do you want the law to require buyers to check off that they have read each governing document?
As for the attorney's shorthand, I think chances are high that there was little chance of buying a home, in the condition you desired, not subject to a HOA.
didn't have a realtor, didn't presign anything.
what do i want? how about the lawyer I paid to close and help me to advise me correctly.
how the heck do you know if there was a chance of buying a home in the condition I desired not subject to an HOA 23 years ago? The next street over doesnt' have an HOA and I could of easily moved there. Seems strange to even suggest something so biased.
vis ta vie
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By SheliaH on 04/12/2023 11:04 AM
seriously just SU. I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages and this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know. same goes to john and john who never contribute any knowledge, and who's comments boil down to a like button
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:27 AM
Youâre entitled to your opinion, but sorry, thatâs not an excuse. Part of the problem is many people look at homebuying the same way they look at buying groceries, but this is not an everyday occurrence and you spend a helluva lot more time, money and resources in buying a house. Why doesnât it dawn on people that they donât know what they donât know, so maybe they should take some time to ask questions and crack open a few books to find out. Thereâs tons of information all over the internet on homebuying and HOAs â some of itâs BS, but some of itâs quite helpful. You may not know the difference at first, which is why you keep looking at a variety of sources and talk to as many people as possible â youâll find out quickly who knows their stuff vs. the people who canât buy a clue.
Thatâs the primary issue with people these days, regardless of age â no critical thinking skills whatsoever. The developer and realtor want you to buy so they can make money and will usually make things look a lot simpler than what they really are. And donât ask people to READ anything â my mother often said the quickest way to keep people ignorant is to write it down and hand it to them â theyâll either toss it, put it down and forget about it, or read the first two or three paragraphs and get bored because there arenât any pictures and words that have more than two syllables.
Things are not all black or white â most stuff comes in varying shades of gray, and sometimes you do everything you can and still wind up with a bad deal. Thatâs a pain in the ass, but not necessarily your fault â it simply turned out to be a bad deal and no one could have predicted it.
I agree there needs to be more disclosure before you buy, but whatâs the point of that if people still wonât take the time to read the stuff and ask about anything you donât understand? At some point, you have to take responsibility for your life and stop blaming God, your parents, âthe man,â the HOA board, the property manager, your next door neighbor or your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. If you donât understand something, thatâs your clue to slow down and investigate. If you still canât get your questions answered or people stonewall, ignore you altogether or keep saying âthatâs not importantâ or âoh, donât worry about that,â you may find it necessary to tell them to have a nice day and move on.
I was a first time homebuyer at 40 and didnât know a ton about the process and nothing about HOAs (I though they were neighborhood block clubs on steroids at first). Fortunately there was a local program that works with first time homebuyers that walk you through everything, from getting your credit straight to what to expect during the closing process. I also talked to A LOT OF FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS about their experiences (at that time everyone said avoid adjustable rate mortgages or HOAs either. Fortunately, there was a local program that works with first time homebuyers on everything, from getting a copy of your credit report and helping you make a plan to pay down bills and budget for a house to what to expect during the closing process. I also talked to a lot of friends and co-workers (some of them had also been first time homebuyers) and thatâs when I started hearing more HOAs.
The program didnât get into a ton of detail, but the instructors did recommend getting a copy of the budged and six monthsâ worth of board meeting minutes and newsletters to get a feel for what were the major issues. They also suggested walking around the community to note how people cared for their homes and if it looked like the association was current in maintaining the common areas. Everything looked ok, so I bought, but like Max, I didnât pay much attention to the documents either.
Eventually, I joined the board because my home inspector noticed there werenât enough roof vents â he said the roof was probably built at a time when the building code didnât require them, but if something happened, the manufacturer might nix honoring the warranty because it wasnât installed to their specifications. I started learning about a lot of things after that, but overall, Iâd say the association is running as best as it can, although I worry how long weâll have our current board (I served with all of them and that was nearly 10 years ago).
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/12/2023 6:26 AM
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 6:14 AM
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
zero %. never heard of an HOA before. you are crazy to think a 25 year old who sat reading mortgage docs with the only reference to an hoa being a yearly fee would have any notion or clue of the power they have. typical hoa power trip mentality, you should of known what you dont' know even thought you spent hours researhing your first home buy. get real.
Youâre entitled to your opinion, but sorry, thatâs not an excuse. Part of the problem is many people look at homebuying the same way they look at buying groceries, but this is not an everyday occurrence and you spend a helluva lot more time, money and resources in buying a house. Why doesnât it dawn on people that they donât know what they donât know, so maybe they should take some time to ask questions and crack open a few books to find out. Thereâs tons of information all over the internet on homebuying and HOAs â some of itâs BS, but some of itâs quite helpful. You may not know the difference at first, which is why you keep looking at a variety of sources and talk to as many people as possible â youâll find out quickly who knows their stuff vs. the people who canât buy a clue.
Thatâs the primary issue with people these days, regardless of age â no critical thinking skills whatsoever. The developer and realtor want you to buy so they can make money and will usually make things look a lot simpler than what they really are. And donât ask people to READ anything â my mother often said the quickest way to keep people ignorant is to write it down and hand it to them â theyâll either toss it, put it down and forget about it, or read the first two or three paragraphs and get bored because there arenât any pictures and words that have more than two syllables.
Things are not all black or white â most stuff comes in varying shades of gray, and sometimes you do everything you can and still wind up with a bad deal. Thatâs a pain in the ass, but not necessarily your fault â it simply turned out to be a bad deal and no one could have predicted it.
I agree there needs to be more disclosure before you buy, but whatâs the point of that if people still wonât take the time to read the stuff and ask about anything you donât understand? At some point, you have to take responsibility for your life and stop blaming God, your parents, âthe man,â the HOA board, the property manager, your next door neighbor or your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. If you donât understand something, thatâs your clue to slow down and investigate. If you still canât get your questions answered or people stonewall, ignore you altogether or keep saying âthatâs not importantâ or âoh, donât worry about that,â you may find it necessary to tell them to have a nice day and move on.
I was a first time homebuyer at 40 and didnât know a ton about the process and nothing about HOAs (I though they were neighborhood block clubs on steroids at first). Fortunately there was a local program that works with first time homebuyers that walk you through everything, from getting your credit straight to what to expect during the closing process. I also talked to A LOT OF FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS about their experiences (at that time everyone said avoid adjustable rate mortgages or HOAs either. Fortunately, there was a local program that works with first time homebuyers on everything, from getting a copy of your credit report and helping you make a plan to pay down bills and budget for a house to what to expect during the closing process. I also talked to a lot of friends and co-workers (some of them had also been first time homebuyers) and thatâs when I started hearing more HOAs.
The program didnât get into a ton of detail, but the instructors did recommend getting a copy of the budged and six monthsâ worth of board meeting minutes and newsletters to get a feel for what were the major issues. They also suggested walking around the community to note how people cared for their homes and if it looked like the association was current in maintaining the common areas. Everything looked ok, so I bought, but like Max, I didnât pay much attention to the documents either.
Eventually, I joined the board because my home inspector noticed there werenât enough roof vents â he said the roof was probably built at a time when the building code didnât require them, but if something happened, the manufacturer might nix honoring the warranty because it wasnât installed to their specifications. I started learning about a lot of things after that, but overall, Iâd say the association is running as best as it can, although I worry how long weâll have our current board (I served with all of them and that was nearly 10 years ago).
seriously just SU. I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages and this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know. same goes to john and john who never contribute any knowledge, and who's comments boil down to a like button
vis ta vie
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:42 PM
this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know.
this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know.
Expecting you are in your first HOA, I do understand.
Living in your first HOA is similar to serving on your first HOA Board.
You think you are prepared then when it happens the real education begins.
Quote:
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:42 PM
I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages
I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages
After living in my first HOA, I spent 5 years looking for our current home.
I never wanted to live in an HOA again.
My wife liked some of the aspects of HOA living.
Regardless of any State statute, I insisted on reading the governing documents before an offer was made.
We refused to make an offer on several homes we liked because of what I found in the documents.
After an offer was made (and we pulled the trigger several times) I insisted on reviewing financials and being able to walk away if I didn't like them.
With the knowledge I gained having lived in an HOA and serving on it's board, I was also able to look at many developments with an open eye:
Streets too narrow and short driveways - parking issues in the future
Garages full of stuff vs. vehicles - sheds are likely not allowed
Everything too uniform - potential too strict of enforcement
common area run down - potential assessment increase in the future
etc.
We were lucky enough to locate a home in a great area and a great HOA -
No common areas
No common amenities
No services
fixed Assessment amount written in the covenants with zero ability for board to change without amending covenants
Reasonable restrictions
JeanneH3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 158
Posts: 158
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By TimB4 on 04/12/2023 11:44 PM
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:42 PM
this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know.
this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know.
Expecting you are in your first HOA, I do understand.
Living in your first HOA is similar to serving on your first HOA Board.
You think you are prepared then when it happens the real education begins.
Quote:
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:42 PM
I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages
I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages
After living in my first HOA, I spent 5 years looking for our current home.
I never wanted to live in an HOA again.
My wife liked some of the aspects of HOA living.
Regardless of any State statute, I insisted on reading the governing documents before an offer was made.
We refused to make an offer on several homes we liked because of what I found in the documents.
After an offer was made (and we pulled the trigger several times) I insisted on reviewing financials and being able to walk away if I didn't like them.
With the knowledge I gained having lived in an HOA and serving on it's board, I was also able to look at many developments with an open eye:
Streets too narrow and short driveways - parking issues in the future
Garages full of stuff vs. vehicles - sheds are likely not allowed
Everything too uniform - potential too strict of enforcement
common area run down - potential assessment increase in the future
etc.
We were lucky enough to locate a home in a great area and a great HOA -
No common areas
No common amenities
No services
fixed Assessment amount written in the covenants with zero ability for board to change without amending covenants
Reasonable restrictions
My husband is very mindful about reading governing documents, financials, etc prior to committing to buy but one lesson we've learned is to request the BOD meeting minutes for the prior two years. Had we done so with our most recent purchase, we would have discovered there were no minutes at all. A significant red flag.
JeanneH3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 158
Posts: 158
Posted:
The outrage in the video over Ted's bench is based on a faulty understanding of common versus limited common areas, imo. Ted put the shed in the common area of the HOA. I expect my HOA to enforce our rules restricting owners from placing their personal items in the common areas. If there is a vote in Ted's HOA asking owners to approve the conversion of common to limited common to accommodate Ted's bench, and the majority approve it per the bylaws and state law, great! Ted gets a bench.
JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631
Posts: 1,631
Posted:
"seriously just SU. I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages and this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know. same goes to john and john who never contribute any knowledge, and who's comments boil down to a like button"
In your honor I will share some knowledge now. People who share your personality type are dangerous as Board members. You obviously have a severe problem taking criticism and when this happens you turn into a Karen and resort to childish insults. Board members like this are not capable of listening and learning and this ultimately stunts their growth when it comes to learning. It also prevents the Board member from reaching compromises when needed and fuels any conflict that comes about.
In addition people like you that can't admit when they are wrong will have a hard time interacting with other Board members and community members. Furthermore, people like you that deflect blame will hold up the resolution of problems.
As for what I share here it is often about people/management skills which in my opinion are the number one requirements of an effective Board member. I rarely respond to legal issues because I'm not qualified. While I did take the time to familiarize myself with our governing documents and applicable state laws I did not feel the need to become an expert in this area since I had access to a lawyer when needed.
The bottom line is when you don't like, or agree, with something that is said you become nasty and your initial reaction is to attack. I am thankful that we didn't have someone like you on our Board. From your posts here I readily admit that you do have some strengths but the weaknesses I just described far outweigh them.
In your honor I will share some knowledge now. People who share your personality type are dangerous as Board members. You obviously have a severe problem taking criticism and when this happens you turn into a Karen and resort to childish insults. Board members like this are not capable of listening and learning and this ultimately stunts their growth when it comes to learning. It also prevents the Board member from reaching compromises when needed and fuels any conflict that comes about.
In addition people like you that can't admit when they are wrong will have a hard time interacting with other Board members and community members. Furthermore, people like you that deflect blame will hold up the resolution of problems.
As for what I share here it is often about people/management skills which in my opinion are the number one requirements of an effective Board member. I rarely respond to legal issues because I'm not qualified. While I did take the time to familiarize myself with our governing documents and applicable state laws I did not feel the need to become an expert in this area since I had access to a lawyer when needed.
The bottom line is when you don't like, or agree, with something that is said you become nasty and your initial reaction is to attack. I am thankful that we didn't have someone like you on our Board. From your posts here I readily admit that you do have some strengths but the weaknesses I just described far outweigh them.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
I agree about the bench issue. Most people who have no experience with HOAs view this as a nasty, power-hungry board giving an old man a hard time. But viewed through the lens of many CC&Rs, this is one owner converting some of the common elements to personal use and depriving all other owners of their lawful right to use that space themselves. If, for example, we wanted to allow such a conversion in my community (condos), it would require unanimous approval of the amended Declaration(*). Not gonna happen. Insurance/liability may also play a role here.
(* This is because our assessments are based on percentage-of-ownership, and a change in one unit's percentage would force a change to all others since they have to add up to 100%. An amendment that changes how assessments are calculated requires unanimous approval by our membership.)
I think the fundamental problem is that when people buy into an HOA/COA, they think they're buying a house with some stupid rules attached. Actually, they're buying "shares" in a corporation that owns residential assets and whose business is maintaining those assets. It's the business part that's missing from most buyers' calculations. Anybody who buys into a business without first learning a whole lot about laws, accounting, physical plant maintenance, etc. before signing the closing papers is going to run that business right into the ground. If the buyer has spent time in the corporate world, they'll at least have some inking of the machinery underlying a successful business and how many people it takes to keep the machinery running. But a lot of buyers don't have that experience.
You don't know what you don't know, and you don't know how much you don't know unless you have learned at least enough to realize that Here Be Dragons. Most people don't meet The Dragons until they get elected to the board and spent that first year alternating between panic and feeling that they're messing up (they are, at least some of the time and hopefully in minor ways).
(* This is because our assessments are based on percentage-of-ownership, and a change in one unit's percentage would force a change to all others since they have to add up to 100%. An amendment that changes how assessments are calculated requires unanimous approval by our membership.)
I think the fundamental problem is that when people buy into an HOA/COA, they think they're buying a house with some stupid rules attached. Actually, they're buying "shares" in a corporation that owns residential assets and whose business is maintaining those assets. It's the business part that's missing from most buyers' calculations. Anybody who buys into a business without first learning a whole lot about laws, accounting, physical plant maintenance, etc. before signing the closing papers is going to run that business right into the ground. If the buyer has spent time in the corporate world, they'll at least have some inking of the machinery underlying a successful business and how many people it takes to keep the machinery running. But a lot of buyers don't have that experience.
You don't know what you don't know, and you don't know how much you don't know unless you have learned at least enough to realize that Here Be Dragons. Most people don't meet The Dragons until they get elected to the board and spent that first year alternating between panic and feeling that they're messing up (they are, at least some of the time and hopefully in minor ways).
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/13/2023 5:11 AM
"seriously just SU. I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages and this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know. same goes to john and john who never contribute any knowledge, and who's comments boil down to a like button"
In your honor I will share some knowledge now. People who share your personality type are dangerous as Board members. You obviously have a severe problem taking criticism and when this happens you turn into a Karen and resort to childish insults. Board members like this are not capable of listening and learning and this ultimately stunts their growth when it comes to learning. It also prevents the Board member from reaching compromises when needed and fuels any conflict that comes about.
In addition people like you that can't admit when they are wrong will have a hard time interacting with other Board members and community members. Furthermore, people like you that deflect blame will hold up the resolution of problems.
As for what I share here it is often about people/management skills which in my opinion are the number one requirements of an effective Board member. I rarely respond to legal issues because I'm not qualified. While I did take the time to familiarize myself with our governing documents and applicable state laws I did not feel the need to become an expert in this area since I had access to a lawyer when needed.
The bottom line is when you don't like, or agree, with something that is said you become nasty and your initial reaction is to attack. I am thankful that we didn't have someone like you on our Board. From your posts here I readily admit that you do have some strengths but the weaknesses I just described far outweigh them.
"seriously just SU. I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages and this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know. same goes to john and john who never contribute any knowledge, and who's comments boil down to a like button"
In your honor I will share some knowledge now. People who share your personality type are dangerous as Board members. You obviously have a severe problem taking criticism and when this happens you turn into a Karen and resort to childish insults. Board members like this are not capable of listening and learning and this ultimately stunts their growth when it comes to learning. It also prevents the Board member from reaching compromises when needed and fuels any conflict that comes about.
In addition people like you that can't admit when they are wrong will have a hard time interacting with other Board members and community members. Furthermore, people like you that deflect blame will hold up the resolution of problems.
As for what I share here it is often about people/management skills which in my opinion are the number one requirements of an effective Board member. I rarely respond to legal issues because I'm not qualified. While I did take the time to familiarize myself with our governing documents and applicable state laws I did not feel the need to become an expert in this area since I had access to a lawyer when needed.
The bottom line is when you don't like, or agree, with something that is said you become nasty and your initial reaction is to attack. I am thankful that we didn't have someone like you on our Board. From your posts here I readily admit that you do have some strengths but the weaknesses I just described far outweigh them.
you are some awesome John. thanks for the pep talk, one day I want to be like you. Now I know 23 years ago when I was 25 years old buying my first house what a noob I was.
I should of known to just tell my lawyere to stop the closing because I needed to research what this $150 HOA fee exactly entailed. I should of read his mind to discover the CCR, Bylaws and AIO where missing from the closing packet and taken 100% responsibility.
People like you make horrible board members, I'm glad you aren't running our HOA too. every post you make is pro HOA board power, I'm sure you rule whatever benefits you and could care less about yoru membership. last time you took a survey was probably never.
vis ta vie
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By TimB4 on 04/12/2023 11:44 PM
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:42 PM
this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know.
this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know.
Expecting you are in your first HOA, I do understand.
Living in your first HOA is similar to serving on your first HOA Board.
You think you are prepared then when it happens the real education begins.
Quote:
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/12/2023 7:42 PM
I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages
I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages
After living in my first HOA, I spent 5 years looking for our current home.
I never wanted to live in an HOA again.
My wife liked some of the aspects of HOA living.
Regardless of any State statute, I insisted on reading the governing documents before an offer was made.
We refused to make an offer on several homes we liked because of what I found in the documents.
After an offer was made (and we pulled the trigger several times) I insisted on reviewing financials and being able to walk away if I didn't like them.
With the knowledge I gained having lived in an HOA and serving on it's board, I was also able to look at many developments with an open eye:
Streets too narrow and short driveways - parking issues in the future
Garages full of stuff vs. vehicles - sheds are likely not allowed
Everything too uniform - potential too strict of enforcement
common area run down - potential assessment increase in the future
etc.
We were lucky enough to locate a home in a great area and a great HOA -
No common areas
No common amenities
No services
fixed Assessment amount written in the covenants with zero ability for board to change without amending covenants
Reasonable restrictions
sounds perfect! glad you found a nice HOA.
vis ta vie
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420
Posts: 4,420
Posted:
Wendy, I grant that disclosure requirements everywhere are much more extensive today than 23 years ago.
BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 971
Posts: 971
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By WendyM5 on 04/13/2023 5:56 AM
Posted By JohnT38 on 04/13/2023 5:11 AM
"seriously just SU. I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages and this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know. same goes to john and john who never contribute any knowledge, and who's comments boil down to a like button"
In your honor I will share some knowledge now. People who share your personality type are dangerous as Board members. You obviously have a severe problem taking criticism and when this happens you turn into a Karen and resort to childish insults. Board members like this are not capable of listening and learning and this ultimately stunts their growth when it comes to learning. It also prevents the Board member from reaching compromises when needed and fuels any conflict that comes about.
In addition people like you that can't admit when they are wrong will have a hard time interacting with other Board members and community members. Furthermore, people like you that deflect blame will hold up the resolution of problems.
As for what I share here it is often about people/management skills which in my opinion are the number one requirements of an effective Board member. I rarely respond to legal issues because I'm not qualified. While I did take the time to familiarize myself with our governing documents and applicable state laws I did not feel the need to become an expert in this area since I had access to a lawyer when needed.
The bottom line is when you don't like, or agree, with something that is said you become nasty and your initial reaction is to attack. I am thankful that we didn't have someone like you on our Board. From your posts here I readily admit that you do have some strengths but the weaknesses I just described far outweigh them.
"seriously just SU. I spent weeks looking for a home, read 2 or 3 books the the whole process that were each over 100 pages and this HOA bullSHI* blindsided me, even thought I read everythign and hired a lawyer. no wonder people hate hoa's cause you got people like you that ass-ume everyone should be born knowing what you know. same goes to john and john who never contribute any knowledge, and who's comments boil down to a like button"
In your honor I will share some knowledge now. People who share your personality type are dangerous as Board members. You obviously have a severe problem taking criticism and when this happens you turn into a Karen and resort to childish insults. Board members like this are not capable of listening and learning and this ultimately stunts their growth when it comes to learning. It also prevents the Board member from reaching compromises when needed and fuels any conflict that comes about.
In addition people like you that can't admit when they are wrong will have a hard time interacting with other Board members and community members. Furthermore, people like you that deflect blame will hold up the resolution of problems.
As for what I share here it is often about people/management skills which in my opinion are the number one requirements of an effective Board member. I rarely respond to legal issues because I'm not qualified. While I did take the time to familiarize myself with our governing documents and applicable state laws I did not feel the need to become an expert in this area since I had access to a lawyer when needed.
The bottom line is when you don't like, or agree, with something that is said you become nasty and your initial reaction is to attack. I am thankful that we didn't have someone like you on our Board. From your posts here I readily admit that you do have some strengths but the weaknesses I just described far outweigh them.
you are some awesome John. thanks for the pep talk, one day I want to be like you. Now I know 23 years ago when I was 25 years old buying my first house what a noob I was.
I should of known to just tell my lawyere to stop the closing because I needed to research what this $150 HOA fee exactly entailed. I should of read his mind to discover the CCR, Bylaws and AIO where missing from the closing packet and taken 100% responsibility.
People like you make horrible board members, I'm glad you aren't running our HOA too. every post you make is pro HOA board power, I'm sure you rule whatever benefits you and could care less about yoru membership. last time you took a survey was probably never.
People, people: canât we all just get along?
Seriously: if you are a regular in this forum, then I believe you are ipso facto and ex facie better than most of the board members out running in the streets today, simply because you put the time and effort into keeping yourselves informed and current on HOA matters.
Bill
HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA
âYou canât put too much water in a nuclear reactorâ
Austin, Texas USA
âYou canât put too much water in a nuclear reactorâ
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By ElleN on 04/13/2023 6:43 AM
Wendy, I grant that disclosure requirements everywhere are much more extensive today than 23 years ago.
Wendy, I grant that disclosure requirements everywhere are much more extensive today than 23 years ago.
yes and so was knowledge about HOA's. I read a few books on buying my first home. none of them mentioned what an HOA was or even talked about it. And then there is the internet that was still pretty new in 2000 with very little social media.
vis ta vie
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
I have been a member of 6 HOA's beginning in 1976. Two in IL, two in MA, two in SC including my present one. I knew nothing about HOA when I purchased my first. I had no issues so I just rolled along. I got a little more involved in my 2nd one and have been involved with all of them since.
Nowadays one can literally find information on anything and have been able to do so since the advent of the Internet so I have little pity for those that do not search/learn things.
Nowadays one can literally find information on anything and have been able to do so since the advent of the Internet so I have little pity for those that do not search/learn things.
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By JohnC46 on 04/13/2023 11:23 AM
I have been a member of 6 HOA's beginning in 1976. Two in IL, two in MA, two in SC including my present one. I knew nothing about HOA when I purchased my first. I had no issues so I just rolled along. I got a little more involved in my 2nd one and have been involved with all of them since.
Nowadays one can literally find information on anything and have been able to do so since the advent of the Internet so I have little pity for those that do not search/learn things.
I have been a member of 6 HOA's beginning in 1976. Two in IL, two in MA, two in SC including my present one. I knew nothing about HOA when I purchased my first. I had no issues so I just rolled along. I got a little more involved in my 2nd one and have been involved with all of them since.
Nowadays one can literally find information on anything and have been able to do so since the advent of the Internet so I have little pity for those that do not search/learn things.
Some people might have bought a home 23 years ago in an HOA before the internet was as robust as it is now and still be stuck under those rules. Some people move as much as you do.
some people dont' assume other's situations are the same as their own and therefore can more easily relate to their different circumstances.
also no one cares what you know till they know that you care.
vis ta vie
ValK2 (Tennessee)
Posts: 65
Posts: 65
Posted:
Understandably, many HOA Boards are like little gestapos. It's like they have something in them which years for power and control, and they have found it and are going to run with it at every chance--even those chances which they make up.
We have the other problem. A reasonable set of Covenants and By-Laws. Nowhere near as restrictive as i would like, but generally just enough to keep the community from turning into a dump.
Our problem is we don't enforce anything. "He's old. They don't have any money. They have a "LOT" of money, we don't want to enforce against them". And every excuse imaginable.
As such, little by little our community is turning into a $hithole.
And because our Board is SO bad no one wants to be the icebreaker and start to take control. Not every HOA needs to be a little Hitler operation. But they can be firm and fair with the right people. Ten years ago we had a great Board, lots of communication, great financials. And now we have law suits, dumpy properties, complete disregard of our covenants, and the results show around the community.
We have the other problem. A reasonable set of Covenants and By-Laws. Nowhere near as restrictive as i would like, but generally just enough to keep the community from turning into a dump.
Our problem is we don't enforce anything. "He's old. They don't have any money. They have a "LOT" of money, we don't want to enforce against them". And every excuse imaginable.
As such, little by little our community is turning into a $hithole.
And because our Board is SO bad no one wants to be the icebreaker and start to take control. Not every HOA needs to be a little Hitler operation. But they can be firm and fair with the right people. Ten years ago we had a great Board, lots of communication, great financials. And now we have law suits, dumpy properties, complete disregard of our covenants, and the results show around the community.
ValK2 (Tennessee)
Posts: 65
Posts: 65
Posted:
Understandably, many HOA Boards are like little gestapos. It's like they have something in them which years for power and control, and they have found it and are going to run with it at every chance--even those chances which they make up.
We have the other problem. A reasonable set of Covenants and By-Laws. Nowhere near as restrictive as i would like, but generally just enough to keep the community from turning into a dump.
Our problem is we don't enforce anything. "He's old. They don't have any money. They have a "LOT" of money, we don't want to enforce against them". And every excuse imaginable.
As such, little by little our community is turning into a $hithole.
And because our Board is SO bad no one wants to be the icebreaker and start to take control. Not every HOA needs to be a little Hitler operation. But they can be firm and fair with the right people. Ten years ago we had a great Board, lots of communication, great financials. And now we have law suits, dumpy properties, complete disregard of our covenants, and the results show around the community.
We have the other problem. A reasonable set of Covenants and By-Laws. Nowhere near as restrictive as i would like, but generally just enough to keep the community from turning into a dump.
Our problem is we don't enforce anything. "He's old. They don't have any money. They have a "LOT" of money, we don't want to enforce against them". And every excuse imaginable.
As such, little by little our community is turning into a $hithole.
And because our Board is SO bad no one wants to be the icebreaker and start to take control. Not every HOA needs to be a little Hitler operation. But they can be firm and fair with the right people. Ten years ago we had a great Board, lots of communication, great financials. And now we have law suits, dumpy properties, complete disregard of our covenants, and the results show around the community.
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By ValK2 on 04/27/2023 9:41 AM
Understandably, many HOA Boards are like little gestapos. It's like they have something in them which years for power and control, and they have found it and are going to run with it at every chance--even those chances which they make up.
We have the other problem. A reasonable set of Covenants and By-Laws. Nowhere near as restrictive as i would like, but generally just enough to keep the community from turning into a dump.
Our problem is we don't enforce anything. "He's old. They don't have any money. They have a "LOT" of money, we don't want to enforce against them". And every excuse imaginable.
As such, little by little our community is turning into a $hithole.
And because our Board is SO bad no one wants to be the icebreaker and start to take control. Not every HOA needs to be a little Hitler operation. But they can be firm and fair with the right people. Ten years ago we had a great Board, lots of communication, great financials. And now we have law suits, dumpy properties, complete disregard of our covenants, and the results show around the community.
Understandably, many HOA Boards are like little gestapos. It's like they have something in them which years for power and control, and they have found it and are going to run with it at every chance--even those chances which they make up.
We have the other problem. A reasonable set of Covenants and By-Laws. Nowhere near as restrictive as i would like, but generally just enough to keep the community from turning into a dump.
Our problem is we don't enforce anything. "He's old. They don't have any money. They have a "LOT" of money, we don't want to enforce against them". And every excuse imaginable.
As such, little by little our community is turning into a $hithole.
And because our Board is SO bad no one wants to be the icebreaker and start to take control. Not every HOA needs to be a little Hitler operation. But they can be firm and fair with the right people. Ten years ago we had a great Board, lots of communication, great financials. And now we have law suits, dumpy properties, complete disregard of our covenants, and the results show around the community.
about 20 years ago I remember an HOA member coming to a meeting and basically spouting off the sames things you are saying. Funny thing is, when I drive around looking at different neighborhoods and see things like kids bikes in the front yard, purple mailboxes, front perennial gardens I see it as signs of beautiful life, while others see it as a $hithole.
It is unusual to have more lawsuits with less enforcement. Generally speaking HOA's biggest source of lawsuits is from ARC requests and violations, so if those are not being enforced, who exactly suing whom for what.
maybe you should get on the board and make some changes? be part of the solution as you see it at least?
vis ta vie
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