BEFORE signing, HOA/CC&R state only 1 dog or cat..! Realtor/Lender Broker are trying to close the deal... (Arlington: renting, condo)

[dental257]

I know Rules are Rules. But i'm being told by my Realtor as well as my Lender/Broker, that *don't worry..it will be fine*..

* i own 2 small 5-6 lbs each small breed Dachshunds*

I should seek a lawyer, to review the CC&R's (Condo Rules and Regulations), but even i know that Rules are Rules.

I'm being told by Realto and Lender/Broker that *it will be alright*.

I didn't know until over the weekend (Friday evening) when i finally received the Sellers Certificate where the by laws were contained, what the written rules/regs were. Up to then, i had been told that i could *say i was dog sitting*..
Now, i have up until tonight at 9 pm to back out or?

I could sneak both, because i'm told *everyone does it*, but common sense tells me no, that shouldn't be the case. I could get in serious trouble.

[Flamingo13]

Best policy in life (and renting) - don't lie! You have two dogs - which apparently is NOT allowed! Of course your realtor is going to still try to push it on you to make $$.

[kww]

Horrible advice unless you can get in writing, on HOA/management company letterhead, allowing the exception

[ChristineVA]

Back out. This is serious. HOAs are serious.

[LynchburgLover]

Originally Posted by kww

Horrible advice unless you can get in writing, on HOA/management company letterhead, allowing the exception

What he/she said . . . Unless you're prepared to get rid of one dog later on.

[hertfordshire]

It's after 9 pm. I hope you backed out. This isn't one of those situations where "it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission." You can sign, move in, settle down, and find yourself in a situation where you have to decide whether you're going to rehome Fido or Spot.

It's easy for the realtor and lender to say "don't worry about it" ... they aren't the ones who will potentially have to give up a pet.

[Hal Roach]

Aim, fire, ready....always about 1-2% think the pet rules don't apply to them. You should fire your realtor....I got news for you..a "lender/broker," is not your lender and probably needed credit to buy gas this morning. You will sign off that you aren't going to be breaking the rules...so you would be in breach of your loan agreement, and if you got a lien from the HOA,they could probably call your loan. I had a fat pig in my HOA, that had three dogs and claimed two were service dogs....a whole other can of worms, but the service dog thing is widely abused which is hurting the people they benefit the most.

[HokieFan]

I'm curious as how OP decided to proceed.

I realize the deadline has passed but IMO, the lender's opinion is moot as this doesn't fall under their purview. The Realtor's stance on this would make me question "What other rules is she/he willing to circumvent to close the deal?" And was it the Realtor that suggested you lie about dogsitting? If you have a disgruntled neighbor, that could easily be disproved.

What both are neglecting to bring to your consideration is to think long-term. Sure, "everyone" is doing it now but when HOA/COA leadership changes, and the new Board decides to enforce the existing rules, you are ***** out of luck, to put it frankly.

I would not sign the documents, I would cancel the contract, and I would find a new buyer's agent.

[spencgr]

When I was looking to move, I expressed concern about the 3 dog limit in Arlington Co, Falls Church City, and Alexandria City to my agent. He (an "expert" in Arlington Co) did not know about it and said "don't worry about that". I knew it wasn't an option, and stayed in Loudoun, where we can have all the dogs we want!


(just as an off-note rant, these dog limits are completely irrational due to the arbitrariness. I know someone who has 5 dogs (deerhounds, Basset Hounds, Golden) - and I would live next to them for the rest of time, rather than live next to an old neighbor who had one tiny yapper. Limiting the number of dogs does not improve care, limit noise, or decrease damage.)

[kww]

Originally Posted by spencgr

When I was looking to move, I expressed concern about the 3 dog limit in Arlington Co, Falls Church City, and Alexandria City to my agent. He (an "expert" in Arlington Co) did not know about it and said "don't worry about that". I knew it wasn't an option, and stayed in Loudoun, where we can have all the dogs we want!


(just as an off-note rant, these dog limits are completely irrational due to the arbitrariness. I know someone who has 5 dogs (deerhounds, Basset Hounds, Golden) - and I would live next to them for the rest of time, rather than live next to an old neighbor who had one tiny yapper. Limiting the number of dogs does not improve care, limit noise, or decrease damage.)

agreed. Had a client interested in a condo in Belmont Bay Wdbge that had a 15 or 20 pound max, which clearly wasn't being enforced as a guy got off the elevator with two Great Danes.. The condo board put on letterhead that the weight limit was not enforced and the language was just boilerplate from when the community was first built (and the developer copied the paperwork from another community and changed the name on the document). One of the board members even admitted that the small dogs tended to be more of a nuisance in the building.