Homeowners Associations in San Antonio (for sale, real estate, foreclosures)

[aproper]

I am moving to San Antonio within the next year and I am wondering about HOA's I would like above anything to not live in one, but most of the houses that I have looked at are in HOA's. Can anyone tell me of neighborhoods that do not have a homeowner association.

Thanks,

aproper

[TexasRedneck]

Tell your Realtor that HOA's are NOT acceptable to you - they'll find 'em.

[elnina]

http://www.sanantoniohousehunting.co...th-No-HOA.html
Homes For Sale in San Antonio TX With No HOA

[Montirob]

If you don't want a HOA, make sure you also avoid historic districts as well. Located within the original city limits, these districts have strict standards (reviewed and enforced by the city) on all exterior improvements. I live in one and enjoy the protections it offers, but others may not.

Because they are older neighborhoods, these districts don't have mandatory HOA's, but many realtors don't share those other restrictions with buyers.

[Bo]

I'm sure there will be a delightful post before the thread progresses much farther to explain at length what a scourge on the human condition HOAs are.

Personally, I'm glad I live in a neighborhood where neighbors care to maintain their property in ways that don't detract from others enjoyment of the neighborhood. I used to live in a non-HOA neighborhood, directly across the narrow street from a neighbor who kept a grubby old boat in his driveway about 50 weeks out of the year. I find it endlessly satisfying to know that I have recourse to prevent that from happening in the neighborhood I live in now.

I know that not all HOAs are good and well-run. I have a coworker whose HOA is run by a guy who collected dozens of proxies from neighbors and installed himself as the sole member of the board of directors of the HOA. Nothing happens without his approval, which often means that nothing happens at all. If I lived there, I'd probably move.

Buying into an HOA neighborhood is like buying a used car. If you're not paying attention to what you're buying into, you could make a regrettable choice.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by Bo

I'm sure there will be a delightful post before the thread progresses much farther to explain at length what a scourge on the human condition HOAs are.

So someone seeks information specifically about non-HOA neighborhoods and you have to give a pitch for HOA-burdened property? The OP is already aware what a scourge HOAs are - that's why he asked for the location of property specifically not burdened by HOAs.

Originally Posted by Bo

Personally, I'm glad I live in a neighborhood where neighbors care to maintain their property in ways that don't detract from others enjoyment of the neighborhood. I used to live in a non-HOA neighborhood, directly across the narrow street from a neighbor who kept a grubby old boat in his driveway about 50 weeks out of the year. I find it endlessly satisfying to know that I have recourse to prevent that from happening in the neighborhood I live in now.

You have no greater recourse where you are now - you are seeking to have another entity bully the homeowner that offended your aesthetic preferences as to how your neighbors should live. The HOA corporation has no obligation to do so. Having perpetual liens on your property that can never be paid off is not a positive attribute particularly when the lien-holder has zero obligations to the people it demands money from. The HOA is only a liability. Maybe the OP doesn't want to live around people dependent upon having a platform for harassment. Maybe the OP doesn't want to grovel for "permission" to paint his house, put up a fence, or put in a garden.

Originally Posted by Bo

I know that not all HOAs are good and well-run. I have a coworker whose HOA is run by a guy who collected dozens of proxies from neighbors and installed himself as the sole member of the board of directors of the HOA. Nothing happens without his approval, which often means that nothing happens at all. If I lived there, I'd probably move.

What defines "good" and "well-run" when it comes to HOAs? How many foreclosures per year conducted? The amount of money collected from homeowners under threat of foreclosure? That the board sends threatening letters to every homeowner that offends your personal aesthetic preferences?

The "move if you don't like it" is great for real estate agents, not so great for the property owners. You would incur the inconvenience and cost of i) sale of your existing home, ii) purchase of a new home, and iii) moving - all to make the same mistake of buying HOA-burdened property again? Maybe the solution is to not purchase HOA-burdened property again.

Originally Posted by Bo

Buying into an HOA neighborhood is like buying a used car. If you're not paying attention to what you're buying into, you could make a regrettable choice.

Well folks hawking HOAs are as bad as used-car salesmen but HOA-burdened property is far worse than a used car. As the OP is well aware one can avoid the regretful choice of buying HOA-burdened property by purchasing non-HOA property. Perhaps you could direct him to your non-HOA former neighborhood?

[flashfearless]

If there's one thing which surprised me about the free-wheeling, gun-toting residents of Texas is their love affair with HOA's. My main beef with them is when they waste money on frivolous stuff, and when one knucklehead becomes the HOA Nazi.

[aproper]

What exactly do HOA's do for you in the city? I only know what they do outside city limits in Nebraska. In that HOA the dues are used for street repairs and plowing snow because the neighborhood isn't on the city's route.

[forest1492]

Originally Posted by aproper

What exactly do HOA's do for you in the city? I only know what they do outside city limits in Nebraska. In that HOA the dues are used for street repairs and plowing snow because the neighborhood isn't on the city's route.

San Antonio has a love affair with gated communities. If you live in a gated community, the HOA has to maintain the streets. (90% of the gated communities are keypad entry, so just provide a false sense of security - just follow the last car through the open gate.) Also, it seems that the city decided to stop building public tennis courts and public pools in the newer parts of town. A lot of neighborhoods have pools that are kept up by the HOA. Fewer neighborhoods have a tennis court that is kept up by an HOA. Most neighborhoods will have a common children's play area as well as common area landscaping that will be maintained by the HOA.

[Seguinite]

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

Well folks hawking HOAs are as bad as used-car salesmen but HOA-burdened property is far worse than a used car. As the OP is well aware one can avoid the regretful choice of buying HOA-burdened property by purchasing non-HOA property. Perhaps you could direct him to your non-HOA former neighborhood?

No one buys into an HOA neighborhood by accident. I'm in an HOA now that has reasonable 'rules', and we read and accepted them prior to buying. I've seen others I wouldn't be willing to live with... so wouldn't buy there. If we ever move, I won't have any problem with an HOA whose main goal is to keep the neighborhood 'up' by keeping boats and RVs and tow trucks out of the driveway and yards maintained. I suspect the vast majority of them exist primarily for that purpose. You don't hear about those because nobody complains.