Georgetown 'hoods with no HOA? (Austin, Waco: sale, house, transfer)

[TexasHorseLady]

Well, the OP stated that she had issues with HOA's other than just the lawn, with asking permission to do anything to her own property, so an HOA is not for her. It's not for a lot of people, I'm finding out, as that is often a requirement that buyers give me: "ANYWHERE but an HOA". Fortunately, there are plenty of non-HOA neighborhoods where someone who is convinced that the only way people will take care of their property would swear IS in an HOA, so people who want to control the property they make the payments on have choices. Not as many new houses (except in the very high end range) as cities try to foist off some of their responsibilities for infrastructure onto HOAs and encourage them, but plenty of established neighborhoods, and SOME new ones as builders figure out the demand.

For many people, city regulations are sufficient. The OP appears to be one of those.

[curmudgette]

Thank you again, TexasHorseLady. You are very kind to assume the best in people!

Indeed, my front is carefully xeriscaped and hardscaped. In the small, fenced-in backyard, my dogs run around and they tore up what little grass there was. When it's time to move, I will make it look it nice again.

HOAs also require permission to add things like storage sheds. In my case, I built myself a "deerwatch" -- an elevated platform treehouse-like structure where I sit to do wildlife photography:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/95854225@N02/sets
In addition, I bring my telescope up to do stargazing. It's a simple structure that I built myself, but I would have had to get permission from an HOA, which usually involves providing drawings, measurements, and a long time and a lot of bureaucracy.

So, yes, an HOA is not for me.

Again, thank you, THL -- you are quite kind and have been really helpful!

[Trainwreck20]

Just as an FYI, your "deerwatch" could likely require a permit (and permission) from a city, even w/o an HOA.

[curmudgette]

It's easily movable, takedownable. I've had chickens and a goat, as well, in the past, right in Austin city limits. I guess I live dangerously.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by curmudgette

Part of the reason I don't want an HOA is that I don't want to have to deal with officially checking with their management about anything.
However, regarding Texas law, a realtor told me that 25% of one's front yard must be grass according to Texas law. That's a ridiculous, backwards, wasteful, and environmentally unfriendly rule. I think they should be *encouraging* xeriscaping, zeroscaping, hardscaping, and edible landscaping.

Don't take legal advice from a real estate agent or broker - or random people on the internet. A license to sell real estate does not equate to a license to practice law.

You are wise to avoid HOA burdened properties. It's amazing how often real estate folks try to steer you into these places or expect you to defend your decision. Bottom line is some folks learned they don't want perpetual liens that can never be paid off, junk fees for the vendors, the legal entanglement, or having individuals or management companies threatening them with private "fines" and tacky letters.

The vast majority of housing built in the last few decades around Austin has involuntary membership HOAs. These weren't created to meet any market demand by buyers but rather for the benefit of local government and the developers under the guise of a "private agreement among the homeowners" who weren't even sitting at the table when these documents were drafted. Local government policies pretty well tend to mandate them. You will likely have to find older housing or new housing built in older neighborhoods to avoid HOAs. You'll enjoy much better quality of life without one.

[curmudgette]

Thank you, IC_deLight! Yes, I have *always* avoided HOAs, and it's the first thing I've always specified to a realtor.

Why would a real estate agent steer a client toward an HOA neighborhood? Does it somehow benefit the agent ??

[TexasHorseLady]

Not to my knowledge, curmudgette.

What really benefits an agent is not a commission (though that's really nice, just like anyone's paycheck is to them ), but a happy and satisfied customer who is not only likely to return but to spread the word about what a great job you did. That pays off a whole lot more than a particular kind of neighborhood, the prices being equal.

[curmudgette]

By the way, the HOAs I've seen in Georgetown are operated by highly obnoxious third-party management companies whose only job is to collect money, levy fines, and harass residents. They'll send you a 50-page document of their rules if you ask questions. They remind me of the apartment rental companies that I had to deal with back when I was a student in the early '80s.

I'm spoiled from living in no-HOA areas -- I can buy a cute tree from Lowes on a whim or get a storage shed.

[AuburnAL]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Well, the OP stated that she had issues with HOA's other than just the lawn, with asking permission to do anything to her own property, so an HOA is not for her. It's not for a lot of people, I'm finding out, as that is often a requirement that buyers give me: "ANYWHERE but an HOA". Fortunately, there are plenty of non-HOA neighborhoods where someone who is convinced that the only way people will take care of their property would swear IS in an HOA, so people who want to control the property they make the payments on have choices. Not as many new houses (except in the very high end range) as cities try to foist off some of their responsibilities for infrastructure onto HOAs and encourage them, but plenty of established neighborhoods, and SOME new ones as builders figure out the demand.

For many people, city regulations are sufficient. The OP appears to be one of those.

The fewer laws the better to be sure. If I wanted someone to tell me what to do with the space I live in my parents will let me do that for free.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by curmudgette

Thank you, IC_deLight! Yes, I have *always* avoided HOAs, and it's the first thing I've always specified to a realtor.

Why would a real estate agent steer a client toward an HOA neighborhood? Does it somehow benefit the agent ??

Because the real estate agent needs to "close deals" to get paid. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a real estate agent in Austin. If HOA housing is off the list then they have little or no inventory of other people's property to sell. The agent gets paid when the deal closes. No closing, no pay.

Originally Posted by curmudgette

By the way, the HOAs I've seen in Georgetown are operated by highly obnoxious third-party management companies whose only job is to collect money, levy fines, and harass residents. They'll send you a 50-page document of their rules if you ask questions. They remind me of the apartment rental companies that I had to deal with back when I was a student in the early '80s.

I'm spoiled from living in no-HOA areas -- I can buy a cute tree from Lowes on a whim or get a storage shed.

Yup ... and private "fining" is heavily promoted by the management company. When they have a contract that provides for $$ for every letter threatening a violation, it doesn't take long for them to flood subdivisions with tacky letters making accusations for profit. They also try to create a "late fee" scheme which diverts your assessments to generate "late fees" which all go to the management company. They also try to impose "transfer fees" for the sole benefit of the management company - the list of fee pyramiding schemes is always evolving. Those 50 page documents? They often insist upon $100 - $200 or more for those documents as well - all off the books of the HOA corp.

Some management companies engage in very deceptive insurance practices as well. They will "recommend" an entity to provide/secure insurance without revealing the entity is an affiliate of the management company which is only going to recommend coverage under policies owned by the management company or its parent. The board thinks they are purchasing an insurance policy. Instead they are "purchasing" coverage under a policy owned by the management company or its parent. The same coverage is sold to other HOA corps with none of them aware of all the other HOAs sharing the same coverage.

Hope you are able to find non-HOA housing.