Homeowner finally wins: HOA Spends $300,000 In Legal Fees Over A Pick-Up Truck

[PieIsAwesome]

Just do what people in AZ or other areas with tight water restrictions do; make a native plant garden with gravel cover. The entire front yard being a driveway looks pretty ugly but to each his own I guess. Even if you did that, you're really only going to hurt your property value anyway.

You know, I am not saying the entire front yard should be flat and cemented. There are walls, walkways, openings for trees, pillars, lamps, fountains, whatever. Think creatively. Not all of it is intended to be used as a driveway and it certainly does not look like a giant driveway. And not cemented like a driveway, but paved with stones. I have seen various houses like this and I thought the idea was perfect. I don't care if the difference causes a drop in property value, but I could not imagine something like what I have seen dropping it. If anything, the money invested in making the house look 10x better would increase it.

Not sure where this idea that every house should have a gray driveway and a block of grass comes from, but I don't care for it. An American thing I guess.

 

[Anubis]

Do you live in a suburban or urban city? Most cities have codes against the last three of your examples.

neither i live in a rural town of 6000 people in western NY. Technically i live in a village

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...near=Dansville,+Livingston,+New+York&t=h&z=14

 

[Eli]

Probably 75% of the people here complaining aren't home owners.

Yes, some HOAs suck. Some a perfectly reasonable. Our HOA has basically 5 rules; no above ground pools, no privacy fences, keep your yard mowed, no boats/campers/RVs on the lot for more than 72 hours, and some size and design limits around external storage sheds. Beyond that our $110 annual dues go toward the maintenance of our common area (entry lighting, light landscaping, and mowing). With the exception of the mowing, there are not city ordinances to cover the other restrictions.

As a homeowner, I'm glad that my neighbors can't build a crappy above ground pool or park their camper in their back yard. The HOA also stays on top of the city to keep the yards of foreclosures maintained.

If I want to erect a pool, store my boat/rv/camper on MY PROPERTY and design the ugliest, most outrageous external storage shed in the history of mankind, I will do it. Fuck you and the horse you rode in on.(note: this isn't a personal attack, just saying).

Unbelievable.

Isn't half the point of owning a house so you can essentially do whatever you want? In the land of the free, how do so many people think they can control their neighbors? And how do said neighbors put up with it?

It seriously boggles my mind, and is quite frankly pretty scary.

 

[MotF Bane]

HOA's are a great example of the free market that makes America great!!!

HOA's are a great example of what happens when you get a group of people together who think they are a miniature government!!!

 

[RedCOMET]

My parents used have a house in a private development. I believe they had an HOA or something becuase their were rules against house paints and something other things. When my parents were selling the property, my Mom mentioned stuff like ugly paints, etc with respect to neighbors property, and the real estate agent basically said, "they will enforce the CC&Rs when the person decides to sell the home, and they will block the sale if necessary to ensure the compliance with the CC&Rs." So i'm not sure if property value will be an issue... just food for thought when trying to leave an HOA property in disrepair.

 

[tk149]

If I want to erect a pool, store my boat/rv/camper on MY PROPERTY and design the ugliest, most outrageous external storage shed in the history of mankind, I will do it. Fuck you and the horse you rode in on.(note: this isn't a personal attack, just saying).

Unbelievable.

Isn't half the point of owning a house so you can essentially do whatever you want? In the land of the free, how do so many people think they can control their neighbors? And how do said neighbors put up with it?

It seriously boggles my mind, and is quite frankly pretty scary.

You would be hard put to find a city/town/village that does not have some sort of ordinance governing behavior at your property, so I find it difficult to believe that you can do whatever you want with your property. I'd bet you're living in an area zoned only for residential, not strip mining.

Why do you find it so incredible that some people can agree to a contract restricting their actions? Essentially, they have formed and agreed to abide by a quasi-government. No one is forcing anyone to buy a home subject to an HOA.

Personally, my HOA has some (in my opinion) pretty silly restrictions. BUT, I'm willing to put up with those restrictions because I'm also guaranteed that my next door neighbor will not be raising pigs next door and stacking his manure pile next to my house.

 

[Anubis]

Personally, my HOA has some (in my opinion) pretty silly restrictions. BUT, I'm willing to put up with those restrictions because I'm also guaranteed that my next door neighbor will not be raising pigs next door and stacking his manure pile next to my house.

your missing out on farm fresh bacon

 

[RedCOMET]

your missing out on farm fresh bacon

not if Tk149 signs up with these guys:
http://www.thepignextdoor.com/

 

[Eli]

You would be hard put to find a city/town/village that does not have some sort of ordinance governing behavior at your property, so I find it difficult to believe that you can do whatever you want with your property. I'd bet you're living in an area zoned only for residential, not strip mining.

Why do you find it so incredible that some people can agree to a contract restricting their actions? Essentially, they have formed and agreed to abide by a quasi-government. No one is forcing anyone to buy a home subject to an HOA.

Personally, my HOA has some (in my opinion) pretty silly restrictions. BUT, I'm willing to put up with those restrictions because I'm also guaranteed that my next door neighbor will not be raising pigs next door and stacking his manure pile next to my house.

I am my own person. I do not give a shit what my neighbors do. Local ordinances are fine, however they are not going to prevent me from painting my house fluorescent green, putting up a storage shed or storing my RV/boat in my yard.

I don't find it hard to believe that some people agree to these things, I find it hard to believe that you have no choice but to agree to these things if your house is in a HOA.

It seems completely ass-backwards. You sign up and agree to these things, you aren't forced into them because the language is in your property deed from before you bought the house. That's wrong. I can't think of an analogy to show how backwards this seems, but I'm sure there's a good one.

It's a good thing my fiancee and I want at least 1 acre+. I would never be able to deal with any of this nonsense. Nosey neighbors are a pet peeve, and the idea of an HOA brings it to a whole new level. I don't stick my nose in your business, so keep yours out of mine. We want an "urban farm". Chickens, raised garden beds, manure, mud.. Oh my god, I hope I don't offend my neighbors!

If my neighbor wants to farm pigs, more power to him. If I object, I will erect a fence or a wall. I would never try and tell my neighbor what he can and cannot do. I have no right to do so, just as they have no right to do so.

 

[bullbert]

HOA's are a great example of what happens when you get a group of people together who think they are a miniature government!!!

What makes you think that HOA's are not a local governing body?

 

[iGas]

Fuck yeah! Now the only problem is I'm sure the HoA is gonna raise their fees to cover the costs :/

Fucking thieves.

That is the first thing that I though while reading.

Don't count your chickens before it is over. HOA still have 30 days to appeal.

Again it just reassure me not to get a house in a HOA neighborhood.

My best friend lived in a HOA condo and there were an incident that rubs him the wrong way. A newly wed couple purchased a condo in his building, and after 2.5 years of living there they were kicked out of the building because the woman got pregnant even those it was an un plan pregnancy (it is a no kids building).

 

[Eli]

That is the first thing that I though while reading.

Don't count your chickens before it is over. HOA still have 30 days to appeal.

Again it just reassure me not to get a house in a HOA neighborhood.

My best friend lived in a HOA condo and there were an incident that rubs him the wrong way. A newly wed couple purchased a condo in his building, and after 2.5 years of living there they were kicked out of the building because the woman got pregnant even those it was an un plan pregnancy (it is a no kids building).

See, wtf? How is anybody okay with this type of behavior? What is this, the Soviet Union?

If I buy a house or piece of property, you can all kiss my ass. I'll do whatever I want, whenever I want(within the law, of course).

 

[OutHouse]

not if Tk149 signs up with these guys:
http://www.thepignextdoor.com/

holy shit! 28 bucks a pound? no thanks

12-month membership in The Pig's Traditional Bacon Club for $149
1 package of bacon per month
Shipping and handling of $165 included 314.00 314.00
All prices are in U.S. dollars Subtotal 314.00
Shipping 0.00
TOTAL 314.00

 

[NetWareHead]

I am my own person. I do not give a shit what my neighbors do. Local ordinances are fine, however they are not going to prevent me from painting my house fluorescent green, putting up a storage shed or storing my RV/boat in my yard.

I don't find it hard to believe that some people agree to these things, I find it hard to believe that you have no choice but to agree to these things if your house is in a HOA.

It seems completely ass-backwards. You sign up and agree to these things, you aren't forced into them because the language is in your property deed from before you bought the house. That's wrong. I can't think of an analogy to show how backwards this seems, but I'm sure there's a good one.

It's a good thing my fiancee and I want at least 1 acre+. I would never be able to deal with any of this nonsense. Nosey neighbors are a pet peeve, and the idea of an HOA brings it to a whole new level. I don't stick my nose in your business, so keep yours out of mine. We want an "urban farm". Chickens, raised garden beds, manure, mud.. Oh my god, I hope I don't offend my neighbors!

If my neighbor wants to farm pigs, more power to him. If I object, I will erect a fence or a wall. I would never try and tell my neighbor what he can and cannot do. I have no right to do so, just as they have no right to do so.

Eli you make some good points and fundamentally I agree with you. My property = my choice. While I have had good relations and nothing but a good experience with my HOA, the reason they are there is to prevent someone from moving in and doing something that may negatively impact the entire neighborhood. Yes there are anal nazi controlling types of HOAs, but for the most part, they perform a duty which maintains order and helps weed out people who don't fit into the established rules of the neighborhood.

Some of these rules are a good thing (e.g house color restrictions, lawn a certain lenght, no unregistered cars or cars parked on lawns etc... etc...)

You can bet that if I were a neighbor to someone who didnt want to mow their lawn or who kept 3 cars up on blocks on the front lawn, I would be pissed. Here I am breaking my ass to maintain my own house, and just down the street you have a schmuck with no consideration. The entire neighborhood looks bad bc of this guy and if I want to sell my house, my dumbass neighbor will influence my house price.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I'm happy this guy won. F the HOA's. Bunch of holier-than-though fucks who just want to nit pick and control anything they can.

edit: I'm a non-HoA mortage holder. I love and cling to the little freedoms we have left.

 

[OutHouse]

I were a neighbor to someone who didnt want to mow their lawn or who kept 3 cars up on blocks on the front lawn,

people always bring this up and i think its a bullshit arguement. The only time i have seen cars on blocks are people who live out in the country. i have NEVER seen that in any town i have lived in or neighborhood that was not a HOA. as far as lawns we do have a few foreclosed/abandoned houses in my town either the real estate agent gets somebody to mow it or if its not on the market the town will do it ( i have always been curious on who they bill).

 

[Numenorean]

Eli you make some good points and fundamentally I agree with you. My property = my choice. While I have had good relations and nothing but a good experience with my HOA, the reason they are there is to prevent someone from moving in and doing something that may negatively impact the entire neighborhood. Yes there are anal nazi controlling types of HOAs, but for the most part, they perform a duty which maintains order and helps weed out people who don't fit into the established rules of the neighborhood.

Some of these rules are a good thing (e.g house color restrictions, lawn a certain lenght, no unregistered cars or cars parked on lawns etc... etc...)

You can bet that if I were a neighbor to someone who didnt want to mow their lawn or who kept 3 cars up on blocks on the front lawn, I would be pissed. Here I am breaking my ass to maintain my own house, and just down the street you have a schmuck with no consideration. The entire neighborhood looks bad bc of this guy and if I want to sell my house, my dumbass neighbor will influence my house price.

So if my hobby is working on old cars and restoring them, and I had the body of an old car sitting on jack stands for a bit while I did a frame-off restore on it, you would have a problem with that? What gives you that right to say that I can't get a nice car and restore it?

Also, I work on my own vehicles, and sometimes have them jacked up while doing work on them. What gives you the right to say that I can't do this?

If I can't, then you should pay the price for me to take the vehicles to the dealer and have all the work done at 10 or 20 times the cost that it would cost to do it myself.

 

[NetWareHead]

people always bring this up and i think its a bullshit arguement. The only time i have seen cars on blocks are people who live out in the country. i have NEVER seen that in any town i have lived in or neighborhood that was not a HOA. as far as lawns we do have a few foreclosed/abandoned houses in my town either the real estate agent gets somebody to mow it or if its not on the market the town will do it ( i have always been curious on who they bill).

Well, the HOAs where I live are successful in keeping those kind of people in the country and not living next door to me. I also have several friends who participate in their HOAs and some of them have had to get active and fine people.

 

[NetWareHead]

So if my hobby is working on old cars and restoring them, and I had the body of an old car sitting on jack stands for a bit while I did a frame-off restore on it, you would have a problem with that? What gives you that right to say that I can't get a nice car and restore it?

Also, I work on my own vehicles, and sometimes have them jacked up while doing work on them. What gives you the right to say that I can't do this?

If I can't, then you should pay the price for me to take the vehicles to the dealer and have all the work done at 10 or 20 times the cost that it would cost to do it myself.

Look Numenorean, if your hobby is working on cars, I don't have a problem with it. The spirit of the HOA is to keep people from turning their home garage into a full time autobody shop or from storing tires and engine parts in plain visible view.

You have two choices: Either you find a non-HOA governed property or you participate in HOA meeting and work to get the by-laws changed. What do you want me to tell you?

 

[tk149]

your missing out on farm fresh bacon

I did not even consider that angle. I shall reconsider. Sacrifices must be made for the ultimate food!

/shiftyeyes

 

[Eli]

Eli you make some good points and fundamentally I agree with you. My property = my choice. While I have had good relations and nothing but a good experience with my HOA, the reason they are there is to prevent someone from moving in and doing something that may negatively impact the entire neighborhood. Yes there are anal nazi controlling types of HOAs, but for the most part, they perform a duty which maintains order and helps weed out people who don't fit into the established rules of the neighborhood.

Some of these rules are a good thing (e.g house color restrictions, lawn a certain lenght, no unregistered cars or cars parked on lawns etc... etc...)

You can bet that if I were a neighbor to someone who didnt want to mow their lawn or who kept 3 cars up on blocks on the front lawn, I would be pissed. Here I am breaking my ass to maintain my own house, and just down the street you have a schmuck with no consideration. The entire neighborhood looks bad bc of this guy and if I want to sell my house, my dumbass neighbor will influence my house price.

I guess I can understand those points.. I guess just the whole thing isn't for me. Cookie cutter neighborhoods are ugly to me, I would never want to live in one. I think many of these things are what make a neighborhood unique. I wouldn't want all the houses to be the same four colors. I wouldn't want everyone to have a perfectly square patch of lawn. I encourage uniqueness. If all of the houses in the neighborhood were white, I would paint mine a lovely shade of blue. You know? I dunno.

Also, would one schmuck who doesn't mow his lawn and has three cars on blocks in his yard really affect your property value that much? I don't think so, but I could be wrong. I mean what are we talking about here? 1k? 10k? I can't imagine it being much lower than that. Hell, if that's really the case, score one for a buyer. If they're like me, they don't care about said neighbor, and they'll get a good deal.. lol. Bad for the seller though. Hrm..

Yeah, it's tough. I still stick to my fundamental message though. My property, my rules. Don't like it? Tough!

 

[tk149]

So if my hobby is working on old cars and restoring them, and I had the body of an old car sitting on jack stands for a bit while I did a frame-off restore on it, you would have a problem with that? What gives you that right to say that I can't get a nice car and restore it?

Also, I work on my own vehicles, and sometimes have them jacked up while doing work on them. What gives you the right to say that I can't do this?

If I can't, then you should pay the price for me to take the vehicles to the dealer and have all the work done at 10 or 20 times the cost that it would cost to do it myself.

You can move in next to Eli and his urban farm in a non-HOA neighborhood. Now everybody's happy. Aint' America great? We all have choices.

 

[waggy]

lol.

those saying they don't want someone with a pig next door are silly. in nearly EVERY city that is against regulations.

though i love where i live. if i want a pig or cow i can. lol but then agian i live in the country. If you are going to complain about farm animals or the smell don't live in the fucking country.

 

[NetWareHead]

I guess I can understand those points.. I guess just the whole thing isn't for me. Cookie cutter neighborhoods are ugly to me, I would never want to live in one. I think many of these things are what make a neighborhood unique. I wouldn't want all the houses to be the same four colors. I wouldn't want everyone to have a perfectly square patch of lawn. I encourage uniqueness. If all of the houses in the neighborhood were white, I would paint mine a lovely shade of blue. You know? I dunno.

Also, would one schmuck who doesn't mow his lawn and has three cars on blocks in his yard really affect your property value that much? I don't think so, but I could be wrong. I mean what are we talking about here? 1k? 10k? I can't imagine it being much lower than that. Hell, if that's really the case, score one for a buyer. If they're like me, they don't care about said neighbor, and they'll get a good deal.. lol. Bad for the seller though. Hrm..

Yeah, it's tough. I still stick to my fundamental message though. My property, my rules. Don't like it? Tough!

And again I agree with you. I also am the same way in that I like uniqueness and I also dont like an intrusive controlling HOA. I think properties that I buy for investment purposes are better suited for HOA. Things are controlled and set to a rule in those neighborhoods. It is easier to get a return on your investment and you also get to eliminate certain people moving in and screwing it up for you.

If I go and buy a property I dont just look a the plot of land, I consider the neighborhood. I am actualy one of those people that visit the neighborhood at different times of the day and look at other nearby properties to understand what I am getting into. I have even used it as a successful negotiation tactic to get a better price.

Where I'm looking to buy a house next for myself (non investment) is non HOA and fits my personality (and probably yours too). There still are local town ordinances prohibiting certain behaviors which should suffice.

 

[alkemyst]

If I want to erect a pool, store my boat/rv/camper on MY PROPERTY and design the ugliest, most outrageous external storage shed in the history of mankind, I will do it. Fuck you and the horse you rode in on.(note: this isn't a personal attack, just saying).

Unbelievable.

Isn't half the point of owning a house so you can essentially do whatever you want? In the land of the free, how do so many people think they can control their neighbors? And how do said neighbors put up with it?

It seriously boggles my mind, and is quite frankly pretty scary.

You realize even in the beginning of this country those that would do such things were not part of the main society.

The poor seem to be vocal the most on these things, and also the most adamant once they gain wealth.