Diary of a Transplant (San Diego to Asheville/Hendersonville/Brevard) (for sale, HOA)

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Bye Bye Florida

Guess WHAT?! We sold the condo here in Florida! Oh MY! We got an offer in...negotiated a little, they want a 30 day closing and we are going to up in NC in no time at all. Getting moving estimates now!

Fantastic news! Hooray for you!

[Father John]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! May we all sell soon!

[the Parkies]

Originally Posted by Bye Bye Florida

Guess WHAT?! We sold the condo here in Florida! Oh MY! We got an offer in...negotiated a little, they want a 30 day closing and we are going to up in NC in no time at all. Getting moving estimates now!

Hear the thunderous sound of four hands clapping!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, Bye Bye!! Now quit pinching yourself. You're gonna come up here all black and blue!!

Jan & Bill

[RSMTN]

Jan,

After living in communities like you thought you wanted we tend to shy away from them. Most have Home Owners Associations that can present some real problems because people don't want to "step up to the plate", participate and make sure the HOA is lead by a competent Board of Directors.

In every case we have been involved in monthly dues have not been adequate enough to insure that the facilities can be properly maintained. Especially when a pool is involved. And I won't even mention a contengiency fund to insure capital equipment can be replaced on a timely basis.

I'll never again buy in a community that has an HOA unless I first investigate their finances and the back ground of the Board.

Hang in there, you will find a place in WNC that's just right for you and your life style.

Roger

[the Parkies]

Originally Posted by a2zmom

My heart breaks for those that have lost their homes in CA... In the end, "This too shall pass" is a phrase that comes to mind, also keep reminding yourself that God has a plan for you. About 4 months ago, hubby had all but accepted a transfer offer to Monroe, NC but it fell through at the last minute...fast forward to today and now we are living in the paradise that is WNC!

As a side note to buying a home in a development, my in-laws also thought that they would love living in a development with the club house, tennis courts, boat slips, pool, etc...turns out, it was a nightmare because of the HOA...you had to get written permission to do practically ANYTHING to your house/lawn. And it DID have an "artificial" feel to it...full of a bunch of old fuddy-duddy's that had nothing better to do than complain about their neighbors. You seem like a free spirit, I don't envision you in a development. Still keeping my fingers crossed for the speedy sale of your SD home.

THANK YOU, a2zmom! It's all about PERSPECTIVE, isn't it?? We've all heard that "TIMING is everything." Well... we're learning--again--that "PERSPECTIVE is "everything, TOO"!

[the Parkies]

Originally Posted by RSMTN

Jan,

After living in communities like you thought you wanted we tend to shy away from them. Most have Home Owners Associations that can present some real problems because people don't want to "step up to the plate", participate and make sure the HOA is lead by a competent Board of Directors.

In every case we have been involved in monthly dues have not been adequate enough to insure that the facilities can be properly maintained. Especially when a pool is involved. And I won't even mention a contengiency fund to insure capital equipment can be replaced on a timely basis.

I'll never again buy in a community that has an HOA unless I first investigate their finances and the back ground of the Board.

Hang in there, you will find a place in WNC that's just right for you and your life style.

Roger

Roger, we want to thank you for that post. We have read other posts on this board about HOA's, but at the time we must have been in some kind of denial. Now we recognize the truth of what you're saying, maybe because you've said it with such clarity--now it all makes SENSE to us. Do WE want to volunteer as Secretary or Treasurer of the Board of Directors of an HOA? A few months ago we would have answered (and did) with a resounding "YES!!!"--and we're actually qualified to act in those capacities. But we were naive then, living in LaLaLand. Would we WANT to do that?? And do we actually expect other homeowners in the HOA to write generous checks, without badgering, to fix the crack in the pool?? Will the HOA's finances REMAIN solvent? Will the composition of the Board REMAIN positive NEXT year and NEXT, as members rotate in and out?

Posts like yours have made us FAR less naive, Roger....

THANK YOU for your support when, by golly, we sure seem to need it!!!

Jan

[Father John]

HOAs, in my experience.

My best friend is in Baghdad. When he left, his HOA refused to let him rent or sublet his home. Nor was he allowed to leave it empty. He had no choice but to sell it. It is unbelievable that people would treat those Americans serving over seas that way, but they didn't care.

In AZ, HOAs are allowed to fine people for wrong home colors, weeds in the yard, a car parked in the driveway over night, trees that are not trimmed, etc., etc.

My dad lived in a trailer in a park in Florida. They could (and did) tell him what plants he could have in his yard, how tall they could be, whether he could have a yard sale or not, and they could assess extra fees for upgrading the pool, clubhouse, and for dinners for the "elected" committee. The committee changes the by-laws (without a vote) ending term limits and extending their power indefinitely.

Dad is now in assisted living in Massachusetts and cannot sell his Florida home. It is valued at over $80,000 and he has dropped the price to $69,000 and again to $64,000. No luck.

No, I will never go near a community with HOA or similar Gestapo rulers.

[the Parkies]

Friends:

Before this weekend, we knew only two people in this entire southeastern region. This weekend those two lovely people introduced us, at two very special annual gatherings, to about 75 other lovely people.

One gathering was inside in Biltmore Forest (southwest Asheville), about 25 adults, with a ten- or twelve-foot dining room table full of gourmet delicacies, with world-class professional entertainment (by friends of the hostess) afterwards in the living room.

The other gathering was outside in Riceville Forest (east Asheville), about 60 people (including delightful children), a barbecue potluck with food that went on forever, as you can imagine, and introduced us to WNC-style barbecue (yum)!

But the food was in both cases merely the footnote. The PEOPLE were genuine... warm... honest... Christian... fun... loving... generous... and SO kind to us. They were JUST LIKE the SW Pennsylvania culture I left at eighteen. I had no thought of regret about that long-ago move from Pennsylvania before this weekend.

Words cannot express our sense of belonging! Again, envisioning living here isn’t anything like living here. We could never have imagined... THIS!!

[Father John]

That is so cool Jan! We can hardly wait to get there!

We clowned at church today (annual Fall festival) and so we couldn't do any more sorting for our sale. But we will be back at it again all week.

There are cabinets and closets that have EMPTY shelves! It looks promising!

Keep up your diary, Jan. You inspire us!!

[RSMTN]

Father John, HOA covenants have teeth and can be inforced by law. That's the very reason people should read and understand them prior to buying in such a community. On the other hand, the BOD cannot change them without a proper vote of the members as outlined in the covenants. If they try you can challenge them and you will win every time.

Roger