I despise these home owner associations. (Fairfax, Vienna: HOA, homeowners insurance, condo)

[Megadell]

They are just the absolute WORST. Or at least mine is.

[Caladium]

Well, nobody is forcing you to live there. Move to a neighborhood without one.

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by Megadell

They are just the absolute WORST. Or at least mine is.

I had that experience in the last condo I lived in, but the one here is great! They are like family.

[Lucky★]

Originally Posted by Megadell

They are just the absolute WORST. Or at least mine is.

What happened?

[Bigfoot424]

Move to a neighborhood without one. You'll be wishing for one after some time. Multiple broken down cars in a driveway. Cars with dead tags and not running sitting on the road. Uncut grass. peeling paint on the house. HOA's can be a PITA at times but they are also a necessary evil at times.

[CAVA1990]

Why not get involved and change what you don't like? They're completely democratic so your vote is as important as anyone else's. You own your association.

[Ben 'n Jen]

As someone who moved here a year ago, I'll tell all of you "well move someplace else" types that HOAs are so widespread in NOVA that there aren't many places without one. Believe me, if it were up to us, we'd have moved to the Gulf Coast and been on the water without 7 million people around us, but Uncle Sam said "Go to DC young man", so here we are. I've lived in 7 different states and I've never seen so many HOAs.

We've had issues with our association as well. My 20 ft wide, 8 inch high vegetable garden in my backyard was deemed 'innappropriate' and I was told to remove it. Our teens were told they couldn't have their graduation party at the clubhouse we pay for, even though several of us parents said we would chaperone the party. So...how do you change it? Run for office and get rid of the kooks that are running the board. Me and the pres have been at each other's throats ever since my first meeting. He's totally lost that fact that he works for the residents and he pushes his own agenda. I've called him out on this many times in meetings and the residents are getting a clue that this guy needs to go. 9 yrs as pres is long enough. I guess since he doesn't work, he can spend all of his time thinking of ways to get everyone in line.

So get on the board. that's how you can make a difference. Campaign and promise to represent the residents. Don't act like some sort of 2-bit dictator and push your own agenda.

[Alicia Bradley]

I think HOAs around here sort of serve the purpose of incorporated towns within other large metro areas' suburban sections (though those places obviously have HOAs, too.. they're just not a necessity to the same extent). Frankly, the idea of NOT being in an HOA in Fairfax Co. (assuming you're not in Vienna or the other 1-2 incorporated towns that aren't independent of the county) is pretty terrifying.. I get bad visuals of waist-high weeds with sun-faded litter garland.

[Yankeesfan]

The board leadership does make such a difference. Often the control freaks drive out the sensible people. Sometimes the sensible people are able to outnumber the control freaks.

[khuntrevor]

HOAs are good to keep an eye on your renters, but I've just seen too many piles of dogsheet. I now have a tiny 1946 house on 7244 sf. I am the HOA, judge, and jury. If I have a problem, I call the police--that's what i pay taxes for. We still have a neighborhood association so we can listen to people make idiotic statements about stray cats and beer stores selling single beers at the drive thru--pure amusement and it doesn't cost a dime. We have a great community police officer, too. My PITI+HOA+homeowners insurance +water+sewer +trash=97 Dollars per month. I'll be walking to the All-Star Game next month.