Neighborhoods with no HOA or lax HOA (Denver, Aurora: to rent, sex offenders)

[rvtsahm]

My husband and I are looking for a 3-4 bedroom house with a yard to rent in the south suburbs in neighborhoods that will allow him to park his work van at home in the driveway. It's a big commercial van, about 7000 lbs, with big lettering/logos on it. Needless to say, most HOAs say no commercial vehicles. I am having such a hard time finding someplace in a decent neighborhood.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but hubbie says no to S/SE Aurora for the most part (maybe I could convince him if it was a big house for a great price). Anyway, at this point, we are going to have to move out to the "country" like Elizabeth or rural Parker just so there is no hassle with HOAs.

I've looked at Littleton and I might have some luck there. Anywhere else I should look? Suggestions? Help! Thanks!

P.S. I've also ruled out a few houses simply because of registered sex offenders living in little clusters around the neighborhood (based on my research anyway). I have 2 small children and want to be in a safe, quiet area.

[BillRadio]

Originally Posted by rvtsahm

My husband and I are looking for a 3-4 bedroom house with a yard to rent in the south suburbs in neighborhoods that will allow him to park his work van at home in the driveway.

There are a handful of neighborhoods along the west edge of Centennial with no such restrictions. In fact, it is the reason we moved out, when the neighbor across the street parked his backhoe, trailer and dump truck there every night. The upside of that neighborhood was that most lots were over a half acre.

Look south of Orchard Rd between Broadway and Franklin.

[rvtsahm]

Originally Posted by BillRadio

There are a handful of neighborhoods along the west edge of Centennial with no such restrictions. In fact, it is the reason we moved out, when the neighbor across the street parked his backhoe, trailer and dump truck there every night. The upside of that neighborhood was that most lots were over a half acre.

Look south of Orchard Rd between Broadway and Franklin.

Thank you- I will check that area out. I know- it can be a double edge sword for us too. We like and want clean, HOA controlled areas and don't want someone to park their RV in front of our house. But he has to drive it home, so we have to cross our fingers that our neighbors are clean too.

[Mikieo415]

I too have a commercial vehicle that I take home with me. From what I have read about these HOAs I am a little bit turned off from them. When I am in the market for a house in a few years I will not be looking anywhere with a HOA. Is there a time period that they became prevalent in neighborhoods? I will probably be looking in an older neighborhood in the northwestern suburbs or possibly in the City of Denver. Do the Westminster Arvada and Wheat Ridge areas have a lot of HOAs or is my search for a house without being in one going to be a long and hard one? Thanks for your help.

[rvtsahm]

Originally Posted by Mikieo415

I too have a commercial vehicle that I take home with me. From what I have read about these HOAs I am a little bit turned off from them. When I am in the market for a house in a few years I will not be looking anywhere with a HOA. Is there a time period that they became prevalent in neighborhoods? I will probably be looking in an older neighborhood in the northwestern suburbs or possibly in the City of Denver. Do the Westminster Arvada and Wheat Ridge areas have a lot of HOAs or is my search for a house without being in one going to be a long and hard one? Thanks for your help.

I sympathize with you. The work truck pays your bills but you can't bring it home. I don't know about all of the NW suburbs, but my husband works with other guys who live in Henderson, Thornton & Westminster who have no problems with their HOAs, and they are in newer areas. Older neighborhoods in the city of Denver usually don't have an HOA, so that's a safe bet but may cost a little more. i have found neighborhoods built as far back as the 70s here that have active HOAs, and some built in the 80s who have none. You just have to read the fine print in the covenants.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Don't forget that the city and/or county government may also have restrictions on parking commercial vehicles, not just the HOAs. Once you find an area that you like, call the governing zoning office and ask them. The regulations vary from area to area.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by Mikieo415

I too have a commercial vehicle that I take home with me. From what I have read about these HOAs I am a little bit turned off from them. When I am in the market for a house in a few years I will not be looking anywhere with a HOA. Is there a time period that they became prevalent in neighborhoods? I will probably be looking in an older neighborhood in the northwestern suburbs or possibly in the City of Denver. Do the Westminster Arvada and Wheat Ridge areas have a lot of HOAs or is my search for a house without being in one going to be a long and hard one? Thanks for your help.

usualy the older sub-divisions in westminster do not have HOA's (some do though) the newer ones are going to definatly have an HOA. just have to look carefully.

[2bindenver]

HOA's became popular in the 1970's and more "structured" in the 1990's. It hard to find a newer home not in a Planned Urban Development (PUD), but not impossible.

Have your agent search for "NC" in the remarks, meaning No Covenants.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

Don't forget that the city and/or county government may also have restrictions on parking commercial vehicles, not just the HOAs. Once you find an area that you like, call the governing zoning office and ask them. The regulations vary from area to area.

I agree. Sometimes it depends on whether employees are coming to the house as well.

[KimmieAnna2014]

a lot of HOA's have fraud , waste, and abuse ... the management companies are notorious. if you get the yearly budget, instead ask for a financial statement. Better yet ask for an audited financial statement. a yearly budget is useless. It doesn't give the whole picture.

Also if you see a line that says 'reserve'. that basically means they can spend the money anyway they want.

so typically it will say something like $30,000 reserve . and it will get spent every year. its basically spent in bonuses etc by the management company. along with all the other non-essential expenditures.