HOAs - Love'em or Hate'em? (hoa fees, upkeep, landscaping)

[jc4u]

I'm new to this website but after reading through all the comments of the N.Natomas area, I'm not sure if people understand how enforcing HOAs (Homeowner's Association) and having a good HOA board have an effect on the neighborhood. This is not immune to just Natomas but most new housing developments throughout Sac. No HOAs tend to deteriorate the neighborhood in 3 years.

I wrote this comment on "HOAs Keeps it cleaner and safer":
what's the deal with north natomas?

My comments talk about how strict HOAs keep your property values high by keeping it cleaner and safer. However, I know some people hate HOAs because they don't want to be restricted. Also, I know some mismanged HOAs that are ineffective or too restrictive.

I know Natomas Park and Westlake to be somewhat strict but fair. I've lived in both areas.
Have others had any bad incidents with HOAs in Natomas Park or Westlake? Other areas?

[breeze823]

I can see the point in having them to keep your property values up, but honestly I think they are annoying! The people that run them are generally power hungry, or at least in my case. We live in a small subdivision with really nothing in it. We got a new couple who moved in, no children and their yard is their "baby". He's the landscaping police and I always see him driving around to make sure people don't have weeds where they aren't supposed to be. Did I mention he's annoying????

[jc4u]

Actually, you're right. If you end up living next to a neighbor who keeps complaining about your property, they can make your life hell. Unfortunately, the association has to comply to the complaints or risk getting complaints themselves.

I knew of a neighbor in Natomas Park who complained so many times about their neighbor's dog, they ended up having a feud. Eventually, the other neighbor couldn't take it anymore and had to sell.

That's why I recall that when buying into a neighborhood, you should always interview the neighbors.

[back2jersey]

Originally Posted by jc4u

Actually, you're right. If you end up living next to a neighbor who keeps complaining about your property, they can make your life hell. Unfortunately, the association has to comply to the complaints or risk getting complaints themselves. <snip> That's why I recall that when buying into a neighborhood, you should always interview the neighbors.

That's good advice about interviewing the neighbors when buying into an HOA neighborhood. What happens though when a disgruntled homeowner goes around telling everyone that he tells everyone he can who is looking to buy a house in the neighborhood not to buy because the HOA is so bad, the people running it are evil, etc. The folks that live around him can't seem to sell their houses and are beginning to wonder if it's because of things he's said. He is entitled to his opinion but can he do this when he's deterring people from buying in there. Also, what happens when the HOA doesn't respond to or comply with complaints. We know of a president who has told homeowners not to speak to her because she won't speak back, a board who tells homeowners not to bring them any complaints but instead send them to the management company, a management company who backs that up but then does not return phone calls, e-mails, etc. Many of the covenants are not being upheld any longer and it looks pretty bad now. Seems almost like the homeowners have no rights now.

[CityGirl72]

www.rottenneighbor.com

I like HOA although I've not had one yet - but they keep my front lawn nice, the street cleaned, security, and I can use the club house

I would be paying $200 on lawn maintenance and gym membership anyway if there weren't HOA

[wburg]

HOAs are the worst of both worlds. They aren't considered government, so they aren't accountable to the community the way a government body is, but they can carry out government-like operations like levying fines.

An interesting read for anyone who wants to know more about the history of HOAs:

Amazon.com: Privatopia: Homeowner Associations and the Rise of Residential Private Government: Evan McKenzie: Books

[breeze823]

Originally Posted by CityGirl72

www.rottenneighbor.com

I like HOA although I've not had one yet - but they keep my front lawn nice, the street cleaned, security, and I can use the club house

I would be paying $200 on lawn maintenance and gym membership anyway if there weren't HOA

Oh our hoa fees don't go towards our lawn maintenance,lol. It goes towards the lawn maint in the front of the subdivision, but we homeowners are responsible for the upkeep of our own homes.

[jc4u]

HOAs are accoutable to the community because they are voted in by the residents and they have a term that expires. The ones who get elected are just as passionate about the neighborhood because they live there. If you get a power hungry board member, they easily get voted out. Word travels fast. You have to attend some of the meetings to understand. (Which by the way is open to all residents who live in that community.)

[wburg]

In practice, though, how many attend?

[jc4u]

In Natomas Park when it's a normal meeting, maybe only a few (5-8) but when Hooters tried to build in the Raley's Shopping center, had over 100 who attended. So if there are big issues, more residents attend the meetings.