Home Owners Associations (HOA, condos, buying a house)

[crystalblue]

Some states have more of these than others.

Which states/Area have alot, which have few?

Florida has a buttload!

at least outside of the city limits...

[Figment 07]

They are fairly common in Georgia -- in our suburban Atlanta communities, the exurbs and even many subdivision developments in more rural areas of Georgia.

Intown, assuming you buy a house instead of a condo, you are less likely to deal with HOAs, but you sure don't want to butt heads with the local NPU (Neighbohood Planning Unit)!

[mels]

They are very rare in Connecticut and most of New England, generally only condos have them.

[jdhall1]

There are some in my area of CT. They are mostly in Condos, however there are some single family home communities that do. The HOAs are mostly for lakefront communties, gated (there are 2 gated communities in my town) and a newer construction community (to plow and maintain and pay tax on protected open space). There are a couple of optional ones in the area for neighborhood pool and tennis clubs.

[belovenow]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

Some states have more of these than others.
Which states/Area have alot, which have few?
Florida has a buttload!
at least outside of the city limits...

In Indiana HOAs appear to be very common. Honestly, I'm torn on believing they are a good thing. I've seen more than one example of rule breakage which ends up being allowed because the cost of litigation and having an unhappy homeowner can be significant. I've also seen HOA board members/officers oppose anything that doesn't fit their personal agenda even though it would be better for the neighborhood as a whole.

HOAs seem ineffective for what I would consider the worst nuissances one might experience in a a neighborhood - a neighbor who has noisy automobiles or power equipment which they run or tune up at inconvenient hours. Neighbors whose trash cans always fall over scattering trash on collection day across other yards. Neighbors who have basketball hoops or who play loud music while washing their cars or hosting get togethers. Neighbors who have pets that **** in other's yards. LOL - I could go on and on. In all seriousness, other than ensuring community pools, gates, fences, and plantings are kept up, I just am not convinced they can accomplish much. HOA's are like a little Congress... and we all know how effective Congress is :-)

[crystalblue]

im also considering the dues. they can be quite pricey, and eventually i want to get into property investing....

[RedWingsFan]

I lived in Las Vegas for almost 10 years prior to moving to Florida. They had them all over there. Some were quite expensive!

[Blaine]

There's a lot in MD. Im not crazy about them, but my point of buying a house was being able to do as i wish. If I want to paint my house neon purple with a yard shrine made of pink plastic flamingos (not that I would, but for example) I want to be able to do it w/no interferance.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by Blaine

There's a lot in MD. Im not crazy about them, but my point of buying a house was being able to do as i wish. If I want to paint my house neon purple with a yard shrine made of pink plastic flamingos (not that I would, but for example) I want to be able to do it w/no interferance.

thats what id want. but it looks like its getting harder and harder to find...

[seashelly]

We, in Oregon, being just North of California, have them.........unfortunately.