Homeowner's Associations (Atlanta, Powder Springs, Alto: best neighborhoods, homeowners association, lawyer)

[vst]

Why are there so many of these crazy institutions in Atlanta?

Are there any new communities being built without them?

Who here likes HOAs? Why or why not?

Personally, I don't see how HOAs can survive 20 - 30 years from now. I mean, just think for a minute: you are paying for an extra layer of government instead of self-governing your residence.

[sweettea1]

No new communities without HOAs, but you can still get a new home on an older street that doesn't have one. Benefits are visible to the eye. Drive into a neighborhood with an HOA and landscape is nice, street lamps are lit, sidewalks are repaired. Move onto a street without an HOA and it's every man for himself. Many people do take pride in their landscape, but the few who don't often ruin the curb appeal for the others. Choices abound so it's up to you.

[dlh891]

Originally Posted by sweettea1

No new communities without HOAs, but you can still get a new home on an older street that doesn't have one. Benefits are visible to the eye. Drive into a neighborhood with an HOA and landscape is nice, street lamps are lit, sidewalks are repaired. Move onto a street without an HOA and it's every man for himself. Many people do take pride in their landscape, but the few who don't often ruin the curb appeal for the others. Choices abound so it's up to you.

I agree. I have never lived in a neighborhood with an HOA before, but I moved from Florida where the HOA's are $500 per MONTH, not per YEAR like here. I have no problem forking out that money each year to live in a beautifully kept neighborhood like I live in.

[DoveDiva]

Originally Posted by vst

Why are there so many of these crazy institutions in Atlanta?

Are there any new communities being built without them?

Who here likes HOAs? Why or why not?

Personally, I don't see how HOAs can survive 20 - 30 years from now. I mean, just think for a minute: you are paying for an extra layer of government instead of self-governing your residence.

There are some new homes being built that aren't in a subdivision...just ask your agent to find the new homes that are NOT in a S/D. I've seen a few out here in the western suburbs.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by vst

Who here likes HOAs? Why or why not?

It's nice to have some common recreation facilities. I'm not sure I'm all that thrilled with the convenants which enforce things like parking limits or lawn care, but they don't have much impact on what I would normally do.

I don't mind the HoA where I live.

[BobKovacs]

I like having limits on parking, lawn care, fences, etc. While it may seem draconic to some, it's usually the people who would cause the neighborhood to look like crap who complain about the HOA's.

I've lived in subdivisions both with them and without them, and even though the ones with them were lower-cost homes that those without, they still ended up looking better. There's always some idiot who wants to work on his ratty old '56 Hudson "Rat Rod" on the front lawn, or if he's kind enough to put it in the garage, with the door wide open, the radio blasting, and a grinder squealing all day on Sunday. This is usually the same guy who can't find 30 minutes to cut the lawn, but can find hours on end to sit on the back deck drinking with the game on the radio at full volume. Sorry, but I'm not in the mood to listen to how the San Diego Padres are doing on Sunday afternoon.

Bob

[uscgart]

I agree that a HOA can be a good thing however my HOA is contemplating on raising the monthly dues/fee because the deadbeat homeowners are not paying their fees. The attorney fees are rising and no solution is in sight unless I can get someone to give us some kind of corrective action against the beadbeats. Leins have little power in this case in Florida. Any ideals for the HOA in Ft. Myers, Fl.?

[atlantagreg30127]

HOAs can be good if they're put together right, and worded correctly. Not all of them are.

A well worded one will work for the community if you get that dimwit who moves in and decides to paint their home purple with orange shutters, or the guy who likes to let his grass grow to 15 inches before mowing it, etc. If it's NOT worded correctly, people can do these things anyway and it'll take years in court to get them to stop. A good lawyer with the ability to think ahead and think of multiple scenerios is who needs to write these. Again, not all are. Also if no pricing restrictions are plainly laid out in writing on a HOA, then you can potentially get shafted over it... they could raise it from $100 a month to $1,000 a month and if there's nothing that prevents them from doing that in the contract, you have to pay it.

Personally I live in an older neighborhood that doesn't have one, and the city/town I live in (Powder Springs) has a code enforcement department. Many things you see on basic HOAs are part of the city codes, and they'll fine people who break them, so I've been lucky and not had to deal with a HOA recently, myself.

[Vampgrrl]

My HoA when I lived in Atlanta was $120 a month which I found excessive. And the property management co. hired to take care of things pretty bad.

[BWag]

VST, If you do not want a homeowners association you can have a home built by an independent builder. There are some builders that only build a few homes on a small street or a small community. The trend is to have a HOA to keep yards up, community standards up, maintain common areas, lawn maintainance, etc. any community that has a swimming pool or tennis courts will probably have a HOA. If you decide to move into one of these types of communities you need to get involved in the meetings and your community. Do not just let them do whatever they want. That is what usually happens and then people complain about thier decisions and rulings. Less than 20% of homeowners attend HOA meetings. People that run HOAs (the board members) usually have their own agenda and their own needs in mind (kinda like politicians), they get voted into office and do what they want uncontested. Some communities have great HOAs, but many are not. While you are looking to purchase a home, go to a builder, or buy an older home ( a lot of older homes have some sort of HOA to keep the older neighborhoods up). The main purpose is so you don't have to put up with 25 people living in one house with 15 cars, your neighbor never cutting grass, vehicles parked in back yard or front yard, or just not keeping up their homes and this happens in the best neighborhoods whether they are large or small. if you ever had a neighbor with 10 dogs and 15 cats you will wish you had one. I dislike ours, but if I don't like something, I voice my opinion about it. The thing you want to do is talk to yor REALTOR about this and they can hook you up with a builder or search for neighborhoods that do not list a HOA. They are the professionals and have the tools to find what kind of home you want. They can let you know about the neighborhoods before you even look. Let me know if I can help in any way...Bill