HOA versus Non-HOA? (Jacksonville, Boynton Beach, Golden Gate: HOA fees, condo, how much)

[Moving To Naples]

Looking at Stonecreek to call home for me and my young family. What are the common opinions on HOA versus non-HOA? Is there really a difference in the quality of life, cost of living, and what you can and cannot do within the community? We are from the Northeast so not really familiar with the experiences people have had. Thanks for any comments you can send our way!

[movin1]

There are only a few places here where you can live with no HOA, like Golden Gate Estates. Most communities like GL homes have HOA's.

In Riverstone, we get our landscaping maintenance and water for the yard and plants and access to the Clubhouse and pools. It's a very good deal in my opinion. In central Illinois, we paid more per month just to water our lawn. In our Chicago high rise condo, we paid a much higher HOA for almost no amenities (we got to dump our trash down a chute).

Some folks here hate the HOA and don't want to be told what they can and can't do. We abide by the rules and like that our neighbors can be held accountable. We have had issues with neighbors and the HOA sent them violation letters. They can be fined, lose access to the Clubhouse etc.

Be sure to read the rules and regulations before you move into a community, especially since you have children and it's a mix of retired folks and families.

We have heard stories of folks with children who think the rules should not apply to them. A lot of it is common sense and courtesy to your neighbors, but some people seem to feel they have a right to not follow the rules.

[Tripower455]

I am decidedly not a fan of HOAs, so my opinion reflects that.

In FL, HOA covenants are enforceable as civil law, so be sure you read and understand all of the rules or you'll be hating life when you left your garage door open too long, your lawn is .030" too high, you repaint your front door the same color it was without getting permission first, parking the wrong car in the driveway etc.........

Your level of enjoyment/misery depends on how anal the HOA is, and your tolerance level for following often inane rules and dealing with the folks who enforce them.

It really comes down to how much effort you're willing to exert trying, in many cases, unsuccessfully, to keep your neighbors happy.

The upside is that the communities are usually kept in good repair, and have community activities/facilities (pools/tennis courts etc.).

Personally, I can't imagine myself ever living in an HOA governed community.

[need4speed2012]

An HOA community can increase the value of your property as much as 20%, did you know that.

Communities that don't follow the HOA rules or they have management companies the don't enforce these rules loose as much as 40% property value, did you know that.

Most people that complain about the HOA are the ones that cause the most trouble.

[DChapman36]

Originally Posted by need4speed2012

An HOA community can increase the value of your property as much as 20%, did you know that.

Communities that don't follow the HOA rules or they have management companies the don't enforce these rules loose as much as 40% property value, did you know that.

Most people that complain about the HOA are the ones that cause the most trouble.

Can you please provide a reputable source for your statistics please? Thank you.

I think HOAs can be great for the right person and terrible for others. But looking at your post history, you seem to make an awful lot of posts on this website around the country in support of HOAs. From Charlotte to Jacksonville to Houston you come out in support of HOAs and state the same numbers above. You either have an interesting hobby/passion or you have a different reason for such wide-ranging support...

Anyway, source please.

[OneToGo]

HOA's regulations control those who feel they can do as they please. After owning a home on Long Island suburb we enjoy not seeing cars parked in street, unkempt plants and hedges, flags for every occasion flying faded three weeks after the holiday etc. We wanted a place that is kept nice and is quiet most times. I do not mind playing and yelling children but despise someone else's music or motorcycle.

[Tripower455]

Originally Posted by need4speed2012

An HOA community can increase the value of your property as much as 20%, did you know that.

Did you know that living in an HOA Reichstag governed community can increase your blood pressure 100%, and diminish your "quality" of life by the same?

Communities that don't follow the HOA rules or they have management companies the don't enforce these rules loose as much as 40% property value, did you know that.

Corroborating evidence please......

My not even close to an HOA governed property is worth 4-5 times what I paid for it, even more if you count the HOA fees I haven't paid. And I even repainted the house several times, planted/pulled out whatever plants I wanted to, keep my garage door open as long as I want, park whatever vehicle in the driveway that I feel like owning, work on my own cars, built a shed, park my boat in my yard, put in a pool that didn't require ARB approval etc. etc. etc.

Most people that complain about the HOA are the ones that cause the most trouble.

This is often a question of which came first, the chicken or the egg.

Who is "causing trouble";

The guy who "breaks" an inane and completely unnecessary rule, or the one who made up the inane rule and goes out of his way to enforce it?

This is why I warn folks that are considering moving into one to get a copy of the covenants, and READ them thoroughly before committing to living in one of these places. Common sense is not always applied when it comes to HOA rules, and they will enforce them, even the dumbest ones.

It's not like up north where most folks work and have better things to do than to worry about policing their neighbor's lawn height, time how long an unapproved vehicle is parked in the driveway, make sure that their white mailbox hasn't faded to the "wrong" shade of white, ensure that the builder installed shrubbery is of the correct species and subspecies, and hasn't grown too high, snoop in their garage for non HOA approved contraband etc..........

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by OneToGo

HOA's regulations control those who feel they can do as they please. After owning a home on Long Island suburb we enjoy not seeing cars parked in street, unkempt plants and hedges, flags for every occasion flying faded three weeks after the holiday etc. We wanted a place that is kept nice and is quiet most times. I do not mind playing and yelling children but despise someone else's music or motorcycle.

And the thoughts expressed in your post here are exactly why I'd never buy a property controlled by an HOA.

[Thundarr457]

Originally Posted by Travelassie

And the thoughts expressed in your post here are exactly why I'd never buy a property controlled by an HOA.

And the thoughts expressed in your post here are exactly why I would absolutely buy a property controlled by an HOA We looked at houses in Boynton Beach and Delray and the ones not in an HOA community had junk cars in the street, parked on the lawn and other unpleasantries and the houses were in the same price range. We enjoy a nice clean area with cut lawns etc.

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by Thundarr457

And the thoughts expressed in your post here are exactly why I would absolutely buy a property controlled by an HOA We looked at houses in Boynton Beach and Delray and the ones not in an HOA community had junk cars in the street, parked on the lawn and other unpleasantries and the houses were in the same price range. We enjoy a nice clean area with cut lawns etc.

Whatever....have at it, as long as I don't have to live in a "community" controlled by folks who tell me what I can park in my driveway ( or if I can park anything there at all), what colors to paint my house, what kind of plants I can use to landscape, etc. etc etc... or face fines and sanctions if I ( horrors!) inadvertently do something to run afoul of some HOA control freaks and their minions.

Funny, even folks who don't espouse HOAs as a way of life do have a pride in ownership in their properties, reflected in the care they take of those properties, on a continuing basis. You might think we're all Jed Clampett relatives, but it 'taint so, LOL.