4 ms·

I've heard about HOAs, and I think you're probably right. There's no such thing over here, and if there was, people just wouldn't listen. I'm regularly amazed p

I've heard about HOAs, and I think you're probably right. There's no such thing over here, and if there was, people just wouldn't listen. I'm regularly amazed people in the US put up with them whenever I heard about them. What would happen if you ignored them? As long as you aren't renting, you can't be kicked out; do they just give a UN-style "Please stop or we will have to give you a disapproving note"?

stock_toaster 12y ago
> What would happen if you ignored them? As long as you aren't renting, you can't be kicked out Actually, it depends. If you don't pay your HOA fees, or HOA imposed fines, some contracts (you have to sign before buying the home in the HOA) say they can foreclose your property and sell it at auction for whatever -- I think it has to be at least the amount of the unpaid fees though.
- blueskin_ 12y ago
  I guess then my reaction is "what idiot would sign a contract like that?", but I guess desperation in most areas if there is a lack of other housing. After all, some people put up with living in London/San Francisco/New York/etc. where they will likely never own a home unless they win the lottery, so I guess if the need is high enough, people will put up with some truly terrible situations with where they live.
  - eitally 12y ago
    The reason people "put up" with HOAs is that nearly all HOAs are benevolent, passive organizations that do little more than keep the books and ensure common areas are adequately maintained. The most draconian most get is enforcement of landscaping standards and parking rules, which to me is 100% ok. I'm joining my HOA's board this summer, and the only thing I really intend to try and do that goes beyond that is to add a basketball court at one end of the swimming pool parking lot, and to repair some of the broken fencing along the greenways. The worst the current board infringed upon my rights was to deny my request to paint my front door red, using the justification that it doesn't go with the neighborhood's color palette. <banghead> They're right, but considering what some other neighbors have done with their doors (stick on faux stained glass anyone?), I was a bit miffed. For all the horror stories you hear about HOAs, there are thousands of them that are not overbearing and do serve the general interest of the community without irritating the homeowners.
    - blueskin_ 12y ago
      Myself, I find that overbearing and authoritarian. I definitely wouldn't live under their control (especially not if they have the power to make me homeless), but each to their own, I guess.
- wil421 12y ago
  I have never heard of HOA having a foreclosure clause. Most apply a lien on your home so you cant sell until you reconcile with the HOA. Most times I have heard they will remove the lien just so you will leave.
wil421 12y ago
If you dont obey the rules or pay them they will get a lien put on you mortgage and you will unable to sell the home. Dont believe the fear mongering on the internet, most HOAs arent terribly bad (you only hear the horror stories). As long as you dont paint your house a crazy color or park a massive RV in the driveway they will not be too much of a bother. If anything they are usually just doing things to protect the community or make it more desirable, its just sometimes they screw a few residents over for the better of the community.
- Someone1234 12y ago
  > As long as you dont paint your house a crazy color or park a massive RV in the driveway they will not be too much of a bother. If anything they are usually just doing things to protect the community or make it more desirable, its just sometimes they screw a few residents over for the better of the community. How does stopping someone parking their vehicle on their private property or painting their own house any colour they choose "protecting the community?" You say that "HOAs aren't as terrible [as the internet would have you believe]" but based on what you said next I'm starting to wonder if they in fact are, but your standards for what they should be allowed to do are far too lax. The only things I'd want a HOA to do is deal with noise violations, illegal parking, and maybe issues from a property which directly impact people living either side (e.g. smells, health issues -- like trash piling up, noise, etc).
  - wil421 12y ago
    There were two parts I said. Protecting the community or make it more desirable, the latter is what the painting/RV issue would fall under. For some people the Stepford Wive's type of place is very desirable, for people like us probably not...HN doesnt seem like the cookie cutter crowd. >The only things I'd want a HOA to do is deal with noise violations, illegal parking, and maybe issues from a property which directly impact people living either side (e.g. smells, health issues -- like trash piling up, noise, etc). In my experience this is what kind of issues the HOA dealt with when I lived in a town home and a condo community (2 separate places). For example, where my parents live they have much more restrictions but now that the community is over a decade old they are relaxing some restrictions. There are ways around this, buy your own property and build a house on it then join the closest tennis/pool membership you can find, most older neighborhoods allow outside residents to join. To each his own my friend. HOAs are allowed to do this because the residents support it and often times encourage the practices. If this is a major problem dont move into an HOA neighborhood plain and simple. I dont live in one right now and my grass is very high :-). If someone has a problem with that they can see my middle finger.

stock_toaster 12y ago

> What would happen if you ignored them? As long as you aren't renting, you can't be kicked out Actually, it depends. If you don't pay your HOA fees, or HOA imposed fines, some contracts (you have to sign before buying the home in the HOA) say they can foreclose your property and sell it at auction for whatever -- I think it has to be at least the amount of the unpaid fees though.

blueskin_ 12y ago
I guess then my reaction is "what idiot would sign a contract like that?", but I guess desperation in most areas if there is a lack of other housing. After all, some people put up with living in London/San Francisco/New York/etc. where they will likely never own a home unless they win the lottery, so I guess if the need is high enough, people will put up with some truly terrible situations with where they live.
- eitally 12y ago
  The reason people "put up" with HOAs is that nearly all HOAs are benevolent, passive organizations that do little more than keep the books and ensure common areas are adequately maintained. The most draconian most get is enforcement of landscaping standards and parking rules, which to me is 100% ok. I'm joining my HOA's board this summer, and the only thing I really intend to try and do that goes beyond that is to add a basketball court at one end of the swimming pool parking lot, and to repair some of the broken fencing along the greenways. The worst the current board infringed upon my rights was to deny my request to paint my front door red, using the justification that it doesn't go with the neighborhood's color palette. <banghead> They're right, but considering what some other neighbors have done with their doors (stick on faux stained glass anyone?), I was a bit miffed. For all the horror stories you hear about HOAs, there are thousands of them that are not overbearing and do serve the general interest of the community without irritating the homeowners.
  - blueskin_ 12y ago
    Myself, I find that overbearing and authoritarian. I definitely wouldn't live under their control (especially not if they have the power to make me homeless), but each to their own, I guess.
wil421 12y ago
I have never heard of HOA having a foreclosure clause. Most apply a lien on your home so you cant sell until you reconcile with the HOA. Most times I have heard they will remove the lien just so you will leave.

wil421 12y ago

If you dont obey the rules or pay them they will get a lien put on you mortgage and you will unable to sell the home. Dont believe the fear mongering on the internet, most HOAs arent terribly bad (you only hear the horror stories). As long as you dont paint your house a crazy color or park a massive RV in the driveway they will not be too much of a bother. If anything they are usually just doing things to protect the community or make it more desirable, its just sometimes they screw a few residents over for the better of the community.

Someone1234 12y ago
> As long as you dont paint your house a crazy color or park a massive RV in the driveway they will not be too much of a bother. If anything they are usually just doing things to protect the community or make it more desirable, its just sometimes they screw a few residents over for the better of the community. How does stopping someone parking their vehicle on their private property or painting their own house any colour they choose "protecting the community?" You say that "HOAs aren't as terrible [as the internet would have you believe]" but based on what you said next I'm starting to wonder if they in fact are, but your standards for what they should be allowed to do are far too lax. The only things I'd want a HOA to do is deal with noise violations, illegal parking, and maybe issues from a property which directly impact people living either side (e.g. smells, health issues -- like trash piling up, noise, etc).
- wil421 12y ago
  There were two parts I said. Protecting the community or make it more desirable, the latter is what the painting/RV issue would fall under. For some people the Stepford Wive's type of place is very desirable, for people like us probably not...HN doesnt seem like the cookie cutter crowd. >The only things I'd want a HOA to do is deal with noise violations, illegal parking, and maybe issues from a property which directly impact people living either side (e.g. smells, health issues -- like trash piling up, noise, etc). In my experience this is what kind of issues the HOA dealt with when I lived in a town home and a condo community (2 separate places). For example, where my parents live they have much more restrictions but now that the community is over a decade old they are relaxing some restrictions. There are ways around this, buy your own property and build a house on it then join the closest tennis/pool membership you can find, most older neighborhoods allow outside residents to join. To each his own my friend. HOAs are allowed to do this because the residents support it and often times encourage the practices. If this is a major problem dont move into an HOA neighborhood plain and simple. I dont live in one right now and my grass is very high :-). If someone has a problem with that they can see my middle finger.