How to fight Homeowners Association (for sale, lawyer, house)

[Loganlane]

I live in a covenanted neighborhood. My neighbor (who sits on the board) applied for a darker trim, was approved and has since had the trim painted. I applied for the same or lighter color and have been denied on three applications for approval. The reasoning of the board is that my neighbors color has had a “negative response” and will not be allowed again
I have asked to be given the same consideration as my neighbor to no avail. What are my options?

[ej62]

How does a person deal with a homeowner association???? Can you direct me to info???

[Iconographer]

If the restrictive covenants of your HOA give them veto power over your color choices, then there is little if nothing you can do...you signed on for it, after all, and that sword cuts both ways. Best you can hope for is a more amenable board come election time.
My friend is in a similar situation...she chose a lovely celery green for her house trim that was a beautiful complement to her orange-tinged brick. But green had never been "tried" in the neighborhood, and the HOA was not comfortable with approving anything but white, cream or beige. So cream it was.

[Loganlane]

BUt the board approved my neighbor's dark color and will not give me the same approval for the same color

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Loganlane

BUt the board approved my neighbor's dark color and will not give me the same approval for the same color

Yes, it sounds like they had 'buyer's remorse' over approving your neighbor's choice and now you're paying for it...it sounds like they have the power to do this as granted by the HOA agreement.
You could have a lawyer review the agreement to see if they do in fact have this power.

[Dave1215]

Get elected to the board

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by ej62

How does a person deal with a homeowner association???? Can you direct me to info???

If the neighbor was an exception and they've decided that similar exceptions aren't worth it in the future, you might be out of luck, at least until there's some turnover in the HOA board and/or committees in question.

I would spend some time talking to the folks making the decision to get some feel for how strongly they oppose it. It could be that they're still uncertain, but unless you socialize a little you won't know...

[dvcgal]

HOA's are in place to protect you and other homeowner's in the neighborhood. When you enter into a neighborhood that has an HOA you should be fully aware that they have the right to tell you what you can and cannot do and if you choose not to listen, then they have the right to pursue the issue through the courts and most of the time, the court will side with the HOA.
Not to echo what everyone else has said on here, but...sounds like they decided that they did not like the color that your neighbor has and in reality, they can make that neighbor repaint in the future so it's best to just let it be and find another color that makes you just as happy!
Good luck! HOA's can be very difficult at times but in the long run they really try to preserve the beauty of a neighborhood which helps with the value of your house!
You have to take the good and the bad!

[atlantamoi]

We repainted our home last year from a very light gray to a darker gray and the first color choice was denied by our HOA because it was too close in color to our neighbors. I had no problem at all giving them my 2nd choice. Then again, you are talking about trim, which might seem like a smaller issue. We just make everyone have the same trim color here and be done with it.

[CityFan]

Try to threat neighborhood you are going to put the house for sale and deep discount it if you don't get what you want. This way you can lower the value of properties in the neighborhood.