HOAs too Oppressive? (buying a home, neighborhoods, buying)

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by KoryO

I grew up in Phoenix in a neighborhood without an HOA....and it's still a desirable place to live. (Ever see the website "modernphoenix"? Yeah....it's on there. I bet your neighborhood isn't.)

Older neighborhood does not equal ghetto, overgrown lawns and funky colored houses, ok?

And even though I haven't been to notoriousM3's hood, I have heard plenty from my friends in HOA's who have gotten "special assessments" to cover shortfalls from owners and REO's who can't/won't pay their monthly fees.

(BTW, notoriousM3....there may be another option if your city allows it. You might be able to start a movement to get rid of your HOA in your neighborhood. My neighborhood in Florida used to be a HOA one. The neighbors got rid of it.....funny thing is, the place is still desirable and one of the higher priced ones in the zipcode. Maybe your part of AZ has the same laws....hope so for your sake.)

Wow, I would share a few choice words with you, but since I'm a mod here I can't really do that.

I have been here my whole life as well, but that doesn't really matter. I have traveled a LARGE portion of the valley and have seen what I claim. I KNOW there are neighborhoods without an HOA that are fine. My old neighborhood is a very desirable place without an HOA. But, I also know there are an awful large amount of areas that are not this way. It's usually the cheaper (lower income) areas that attract a certain crowd that have NO regard of others.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Wow, I would share a few choice words with you, but since I'm a mod here I can't really do that.

I have been here my whole life as well, but that doesn't really matter. I have traveled a LARGE portion of the valley and have seen what I claim. I KNOW there are neighborhoods without an HOA that are fine. My old neighborhood is a very desirable place without an HOA. But, I also know there are an awful large amount of areas that are not this way. It's usually the cheaper (lower income) areas that attract a certain crowd that have NO regard of others.

I could not agree more, Sablebaby.

HOAs would not exist if neighbors would only respect neighbors.

Unfortunately, RESPECT is almost a forgotten commodity nowadays thereby making HOAs a basic necessity.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Bummer

I could not agree more, Sablebaby.

HOAs would not exist if neighbors would only respect neighbors.

Unfortunately, RESPECT is almost a forgotten commodity nowadays thereby making HOAs a basic necessity.

I could not agree more -

We have homes in Arizona - in a very rural setting - no close neighbors - and no need for an HOA.

Our other home is in Las Vegas - in a VERY surburban setting - with VERY close neighbors - and a very well run HOA. Our HOA fee is $160.00 a month and very well worth it.

[Prinny]

We have a rental property w/ a HOA and now they want to make it so they are changing the CC&R's cause they don't like renters at the townhomes. This isn't how it was when we rented it out and the CC&R's are /w the HOA's attorneys now as they are trying to get it changed. We can't see w/ the market being what it is. How is that for unreasonable? The HOA where our rental is never did like renters and they are making it very clear.

[KoryO]

Look, you may not like what I said about HOA's, especially the part about getting rid of one that isn't working. Say that around some people, and they act like you just suggested they barbecue their youngest child and serve them as an entree at their next dinner party.

But the fact of the matter is, they aren't helping your property values like you think they are. If that was the case, the properties tanking hardest in Arizona and elsewhere would be the ones without HOA's.

Uh....not happening. Sorry to burst your bubble. They're falling just as fast as everyone else's. Maybe more if your HOA has a bad reputation.

In fact, it might even make your property less valuable in the future, even if you have a "good" HOA. Learn from Florida. We're ahead of AZ right now in regards to real estate. It crashed here first, and we're still digging out of the mess. HOA's have become a liability in places, because of the "special assessments" to make up for residents who aren't paying....maintenance that isn't getting done, even though the residents are paying their fees...and on and on.

But yeah, I know....it's different out there.....and can't happen there.....because everyone wants to live there......

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by KoryO

Look, you may not like what I said about HOA's, especially the part about getting rid of one that isn't working. Say that around some people, and they act like you just suggested they barbecue their youngest child and serve them as an entree at their next dinner party.

But the fact of the matter is, they aren't helping your property values like you think they are. If that was the case, the properties tanking hardest in Arizona and elsewhere would be the ones without HOA's.

Uh....not happening. Sorry to burst your bubble. They're falling just as fast as everyone else's. Maybe more if your HOA has a bad reputation.

In fact, it might even make your property less valuable in the future, even if you have a "good" HOA. Learn from Florida. We're ahead of AZ right now in regards to real estate. It crashed here first, and we're still digging out of the mess. HOA's have become a liability in places, because of the "special assessments" to make up for residents who aren't paying....maintenance that isn't getting done, even though the residents are paying their fees...and on and on.

But yeah, I know....it's different out there.....and can't happen there.....because everyone wants to live there......

Wait a minute, you don't even live here anymore?

[KoryO]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Wait a minute, you don't even live here anymore?

You're right. Guilty as charged.

My family has only lived in AZ for about 45 years. I spent the first 37 years of my life in PV. My family, a lot of friends, and some business associates still are there. I travel there about 3-4 times a year for business purposes.

I haven't breathed in the "brown cloud" since early March. If anything major has changed in Phoenix since then, besides the daily high temperature, that's news to me and the people I talk to regularly.

So yeah....I'm completely clueless about what is going on in my native city....

[zoomzoom3]

I just stumbled upon this thread & thought I'd chime in. My aunt & uncle have big problems with their HOA where they live. Instead of threatening people with jail time for breaking the rules, they just fine you. They leave a violation ticket on your door with an envelope for payment. Real nice huh?

When I'm ready to own a home, I'm buying my own land and building on it. HOA's = communism.

[notoriousM3]

zoomzoom you are soo right about the communist comment. these folks are living in a dream world and obviously love throwing money away. I just can't believe probably 95% of the country live without an HOA and these fools believe its for the betterment of mankind. Property owners rights mean nothing. Just drive around tartesso and you'll see its a wasteland. Oh yeah be careful not to disagree with a certain moderator or your comments will be deleated for the common good, free speach does NOT apply here! What a joke

[poolgirl51]

Oh for goodness sakes you folks are taking this discussion to the extremes. A little common sense needs to prevail here. Not all HOAs are good and certainly not all HOAs are bad.

During the boom time here in AZ, and in a lot of the country, developers got greedy, homes went up way too fast and developers did not reserve enough to properly fund the HOAs. It works like this; when a community is first developed the developer is responsible for the HOA. Then at some point, when the community is near completion, the HOA is transitioned to the homeowners and run by their elected board most likely with the help of a management company. This is a critical time as the homeowners need to insure that the developer has completed all the infrastructure and has that they have provided sufficient reserves. I would guess that, in the newer communities around the valley with big HOA related issues, they never transitioned to the owners or they did without the developer completing the infrastructure and/or not having enough $$ in reserves.

When done properly and HOA can add value to a community. It is critical, during the transition from the developer to the homeowners for the elected homeowner board to be extremely diligent regarding the quality and condition of the infrastructure, common areas and financial reserves.

I have said it before but it is worth repeating here; if you don't want to own in an HOA community DON'T buy in one. If you do plan to buy in one READ the rules first. It is really not that complicated.