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I agree, too difficult to sort through the OP's disorganized rant. I do disagree however, usually the problem with HOA's is people fail to read the CCR's before they purchase then blame the HOA for their issues.
I should have specified that I was referring to the HOA's that truly are problematic...poor management, poor finance handling, or uneven enforcement of the rules. I have seen plenty with those issues.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Like most controversies related to real estate, it depends on where you are, and what you want as a resident. For people in townhomes and condos the HOA is needed to cover the common areas, roof and other maintenance that's shared. For the single family residence, if you want a community pool, clubhouse, tennis courts etc., there has to be a way to pay for it. While some of the fees are often quite reasonable, I know people in Seattle condos where the HOA fees are well over $1,000/month, sometimes more than the mortgage payment. There may also be additional assessments for unexpected expenses, or major renovations as the property ages. I personally don't want a bunch of power-hungry neighbors telling me what I can or can't do on or with my own property, so we have always chosen to live in a single family residence without HOA and do all of my own maintenance.
TL/DR. A well run HOA can be very beneficial for a community, like others said. Just don't buy in an HOA community if you don't like the way it works.
Way easier said than done. I've been in locations where basically every neighborhood had an HOA, so you really have no choice. And I have not seen one that didn't turn from "beneficial" to a bunch of power hungry busy bodies trying to run everyone's lives. Usually the retired folks who raised their kids in real neighborhoods, with swing sets and backyard campouts that now want to deny young families the same things they did. Busy bodies who like everything painted the same dull shade of brown on brown on brown they personally like and deny anyone the opportunity to use color, uh, like a red door, or maybe white paint on the house. Or who approve, in writing, a color for a home and then decide they don't like it after the house is painted and demand it be repainted to one more of their liking.
I actually did join the HOA for one neighborhood to try to be a voice of reason and it was appalling the petty jealousy that drove some of these people. The things people would do and things they would complain about their neighbors doing. We're not talking about junk cars up on blocks in the front yard here. We're talking about flowers and backyard grills and even finished basements. There was one new retired couple within a week of moving in volunteered to drive the neighborhood every day locking for violations. Didn't they have anything better to do with their lives than harass their neighbors?
So thankful we finally found a job in another city with no HOA. And you know what? Everyone still mows their yard and no cars up on blocks in the front yard.
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 !!!
If you don't like your community and the HOA, then move to the country !!!
Every single one of your statements is wrong, did you know that !!!
I agree, too difficult to sort through the OP's disorganized rant. I do disagree however, usually the problem with HOA's is people fail to read the CCR's before they purchase then blame the HOA for their issues.
No, the problem is that after you've bought in to the community, the HOA "reorganizes", raises fees, changes and adds all kinds of bizarre regulations, and then there you are - stuck, because nobody wants to buy into the crazy that your neighborhood has become. (EG property values drop like a stone)
No, the problem is that after you've bought in to the community, the HOA "reorganizes", raises fees, changes and adds all kinds of bizarre regulations, and then there you are - stuck, because nobody wants to buy into the crazy that your neighborhood has become. (EG property values drop like a stone)
They do all this without telling you? Without giving you a chance to voice your opinion? In the majority of cases where this kinda stuff happens, it happens because most of the HOA members just sit back and watch... and then they act surprised when its turned into a mess.
I bought a custom built condo with an condo docs to hoa...
some buyers would not buy without strict hoa rules and a few potential buyers got all upset with the present hoa rules..
3 potential buyers wanted to raise chickens and goats... the hoa clearly said no,,,they made a huge deal out of it..
we all said NO we are not going to change our rules for chickens and goats....
I'm sorry but I could not read your post all the way through. Your post is a mess.
If you don't like HOA's then don't buy a home in a community with one. You have the freedom to do that. I like our HOA. I lived in a non HOA community and learned never again. Had a few neighbors that trashed their yards.
When buying a house research the community! If it has an HOA research the HOA. There are great HOA's and there are a few that are horrible. If you don't like yours then get neighbors together and make changes.
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