6 ms·

You only hear the horror stories. My HOA is very reasonable and just wants to make sure no one doing anything stupid. They don’t even enforce their own bylaws i

by wil421 4y ago

You only hear the horror stories. My HOA is very reasonable and just wants to make sure no one doing anything stupid. They don’t even enforce their own bylaws in most cases or fine people. People outside the US have HOAs they are just called something different in apartments/condos or even when the local city runs things. Not sure why people complain about HOAs when they bought the house knowing full well what they were in for. I had to agree to the HOA rules well before I bought the house.

ricardobeat 4y ago
> Not sure why people complain about HOAs when they bought the house knowing full well what they were in for Ah, the old fallacy of choice, usually heard as “you can choose to work somewhere else”. If most homes are under a HOA and they all have similar policies, complaining is well justified.
- zaphar 4y ago
  Here in the US you have lots of non-HOA options. Even in the areas with lots of HOA options you can read the rules beforehand and choose the HOA ruleset you prefer. Myself I don't like any of the HOA rulesets so I avoid them It's never been a hindrance to me. It's largely not a fallacy of choice here.
- samatman 4y ago
  It's about 28% of US homes which are under community associations, this includes condos and HOAs. My home is not; it's the city which gets interested in my lawn when it's looking wilder than statute dictates.
HarryHirsch 4y ago
They don’t even enforce their own bylaws in most cases Ah, selective enforcement. We know why that's a bad idea when the cops do it, but when the HOA does it it's all good. Not sure why people complain about HOAs when they bought the house knowing full well what they were in for. HOA's are like Wikipedia admins, perhaps well-meaning, definitely with an agenda, and 100 % unaware of best practice. Back then, we had civil servants upholding city code. Nowadays we have HOA's where they won't hesitate to fine you for the wrong shade of paint and will do jack shit about the neighbour who breeds mosquitoes in his flowerpot dishes. (For those who don't know, standing water rich in organic materials is mosquito paradise.)
delecti 4y ago
I'm in the process of buying a house (closed last week) and couldn't realistically have accessed the HOA's bylaws before placing an offer. At least speaking from my experience, you don't really know what you're signing up for when you buy a house in an HOA, you just know that you're signing up for something.
- kleinsch 4y ago
  They’re a standard step in disclosures and if you don’t like them you can walk away. If you didn’t choose to read them or waived the right to walk away, that’s your choice.
  - jjeaff 4y ago
    Any set of rules can seem reasonable on paper. It's the implementation of those rules that can vary greatly based on the HOA board. So that takes more investigation to figure out. And it is impossible to know who might be elected to the board next and who might become your neighbors next who may vote differently.
    - frenchy 4y ago
      > Any set of rules can seem reasonable on paper Maybe to some people, but when we were last buying a property, one of the places we put an offer on had a rule that you weren't allowed to hang clothes to dry on your balcony. We did make an offer, but that rule made me a lot less interested in putting in a generous offer.
- wil421 4y ago
  I had the bylaws in hand within 48 hours of putting in an offer. It was also one of the first things I had to sing post escrow and whatnot.
InCityDreams 4y ago
>or fine people Only the law fines me (EU), not some randos making up their rules. As this part of hoa's is part of the horror stories, what happens if you do indeed tell them to shove it, and dont pay?
- NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
  People talk about the HOA "fining" them, but really it's just they signed up to a contract that has certain penalties in it for non-compliance. If you don't pay, they have to go to court to collect, at least in California. It's the same kind of "fine" that video rental stores used to have if you didn't return the movie on time.
- CyanLite2 4y ago
  In the USA, most HOAs have the ability to place a lien on your house. When you try to sell your property, you have to pay that fine or your house can't be sold. They can also file a lawsuit against you in court which the court can force you to take down whatever objectionable material you have outside your own and/or require you to pay the fine and penalties.
- wil421 4y ago
  I highly doubt condos in the EU would let you replace your door or paint the outside of your unit. Or do things like install a billboard on your deck. In the UK I’m sure the local concils have their own rules and function similar to an HOA. There is a historic district in my city that is “controlled” by the historic society and city.

by wil421 4y ago

ricardobeat 4y ago

> Not sure why people complain about HOAs when they bought the house knowing full well what they were in for Ah, the old fallacy of choice, usually heard as “you can choose to work somewhere else”. If most homes are under a HOA and they all have similar policies, complaining is well justified.

zaphar 4y ago
Here in the US you have lots of non-HOA options. Even in the areas with lots of HOA options you can read the rules beforehand and choose the HOA ruleset you prefer. Myself I don't like any of the HOA rulesets so I avoid them It's never been a hindrance to me. It's largely not a fallacy of choice here.
samatman 4y ago
It's about 28% of US homes which are under community associations, this includes condos and HOAs. My home is not; it's the city which gets interested in my lawn when it's looking wilder than statute dictates.

HarryHirsch 4y ago

They don’t even enforce their own bylaws in most cases Ah, selective enforcement. We know why that's a bad idea when the cops do it, but when the HOA does it it's all good. Not sure why people complain about HOAs when they bought the house knowing full well what they were in for. HOA's are like Wikipedia admins, perhaps well-meaning, definitely with an agenda, and 100 % unaware of best practice. Back then, we had civil servants upholding city code. Nowadays we have HOA's where they won't hesitate to fine you for the wrong shade of paint and will do jack shit about the neighbour who breeds mosquitoes in his flowerpot dishes. (For those who don't know, standing water rich in organic materials is mosquito paradise.)

delecti 4y ago

I'm in the process of buying a house (closed last week) and couldn't realistically have accessed the HOA's bylaws before placing an offer. At least speaking from my experience, you don't really know what you're signing up for when you buy a house in an HOA, you just know that you're signing up for something.

kleinsch 4y ago
They’re a standard step in disclosures and if you don’t like them you can walk away. If you didn’t choose to read them or waived the right to walk away, that’s your choice.
- jjeaff 4y ago
  Any set of rules can seem reasonable on paper. It's the implementation of those rules that can vary greatly based on the HOA board. So that takes more investigation to figure out. And it is impossible to know who might be elected to the board next and who might become your neighbors next who may vote differently.
  - frenchy 4y ago
    > Any set of rules can seem reasonable on paper Maybe to some people, but when we were last buying a property, one of the places we put an offer on had a rule that you weren't allowed to hang clothes to dry on your balcony. We did make an offer, but that rule made me a lot less interested in putting in a generous offer.
wil421 4y ago
I had the bylaws in hand within 48 hours of putting in an offer. It was also one of the first things I had to sing post escrow and whatnot.

InCityDreams 4y ago

>or fine people Only the law fines me (EU), not some randos making up their rules. As this part of hoa's is part of the horror stories, what happens if you do indeed tell them to shove it, and dont pay?

NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
People talk about the HOA "fining" them, but really it's just they signed up to a contract that has certain penalties in it for non-compliance. If you don't pay, they have to go to court to collect, at least in California. It's the same kind of "fine" that video rental stores used to have if you didn't return the movie on time.
CyanLite2 4y ago
In the USA, most HOAs have the ability to place a lien on your house. When you try to sell your property, you have to pay that fine or your house can't be sold. They can also file a lawsuit against you in court which the court can force you to take down whatever objectionable material you have outside your own and/or require you to pay the fine and penalties.
wil421 4y ago
I highly doubt condos in the EU would let you replace your door or paint the outside of your unit. Or do things like install a billboard on your deck. In the UK I’m sure the local concils have their own rules and function similar to an HOA. There is a historic district in my city that is “controlled” by the historic society and city.