Homeowners Associations: Many Consider Them Fighting Words

LA Times ^ | 4.3.06

[Wolfie]

Entering into contracts is one of the bedrocks of a free society. Don't like HOAs? Don't join one.

[pamlet]

We have VERY FEW restrictions to enforce....

The "livestock" issue was one of our stickier ones... (is a HORSE livestock or not? ... it can be argued BOTH ways)

The other is the issue of "mobile homes" in ONE unit.. all the other units allow for them... as well as the other two subdivisions that border on that unit. That unit's restrictions were written close to 40 years ago and each subsequent units allowed for mobiles over a certain square foot - or identifying the dimensions. We finally came to the agreement that todays "modular" homes are not like the "double wides" of yesterday....

HOWEVER ... long before I hit the board at least 5 doublewides were placed in the unit that does not allow them. Precedent allowed them.... we as a board clarified it to allow for modulars... setting up guidelines for the architectural committee... (taken off the trailer that it's moved one... certain type of foundation, etc.)...

Bottom line - we do NOT look the other way when something is SERIOUS - but we also do NOT get all upset because someone has a car they're working on in the middle of 6 lots that makes up 3 acres... We work at a solution for working around antiquated restrictions.

Our restrictions do not address colors of houses... what houses are made of (we actually approved a hay bale house about 10 years ago)... we just have to make sure it follows the guidelines for setbacks. THAT IS IT... especially since we solved the "mobile" issue for that unit.

As president this year I have made it a goal of ours to clean up our own act before we make ANY attempt at trying to "enforce" perceived restrictions... Last year was the year I stepped back - and at our annual meeting it was apparent that last years board did more to upset the neighborhood than to help it... they didn't get our pool open except for 3 weeks last summer... the park got into further disrepair and was rarely mowed... and people were screaming because all the board wanted to do was FUSS at each other and homeowners... Just since October we've been able to get 2 new lights installed at VERY dark corners, move our park equipment to a safer, better lit area, and are on track to open the pool early... all by keeping our focus on the fact that we as a board are there to SERVE... not to ENFORCE.

[pamlet]

oh... and it's the boards responsibility to uphold RESTRICTIONS... they are NOT LAWS.. ;-)

[truthpls]

You must be one of "them", and not one of the best. When people are selling one house and buying another; sometimes in another state, things can happen so quickly and there are so many documents to read and sign, plus packing and arranging the move, and all the other things involved, like mailing out change of addresses, stopping and starting utilities, etc., that they may not have time to read another 200 page document (CC&R's), given to them at the last minute. They usually scan it, and rely on the laws of the state and their real estate agent to guide them and protect them. The RE agent, to whom they are paying an outlandish percentage of the sale as commission, should, according to most states laws, have a fiduciary duty to protect their clients. Many people are so naive that they could not possibly believe that their friends and neighbors would be so willing to screw them.

[gogeo]

What's one of "them?"

[stands2reason]

How did my parents ever manage to live in such nice neighborhoods without belonging to a HOA? According to some, our neighbors should have had several rusted appliances in front of each their houses.

[djreece]

Perhaps they and their neighbors believed in and practiced quaint American notions such as self-government, pride of ownership, and community?

:-)

[horse_doc]

There are some things that are best handled outside a HOA board room. Your example is one. These kind of gang bangers go missing all the time and are never found again....

This is a typically stupid throwaway line. You have no idea the number of people that were involved here, nor the number of gang bangers. Your unworkable alternative was to glibly suggest murdering someone, in a suburban neighborhood, and precipitate a gang war.

Instead, we used the power of the neighborhood association, and brought it to the conclusion that we wanted. We compromised on nothing. It wasn't easy, but, despite your idiotic suggestion, neither is murdering someone in a suburb.

[Walkingfeather]

Sigh.....who said murder? GO back to your HOA and deal with things in your petty ways. Let those that don't care if someone has a flag pole in their front yard live their lives in peace.

[Liberal Classic]

If you can't paint your house pink with purple polka-dots you don't own the damn thing.

[horse_doc]

Actually, you did say murder.

These kind of gang bangers go missing all the time and are never found again....

So what does it mean, to "go missing". What does it mean to be "never found again"?

Please, enlighten me, tough guy. What does this Soprano-esque line mean, anyway?

And for the record, I live in probably the reddest county in the reddest state in the USA. All my neighbors are armed, as am I. But sometimes, turning a suburb into a free-fire zone is stupid. My HOA worked - it just puzzles me that our success should enrage you so much.

[Walkingfeather]

heheh ... Doc Im happy for you and your HOA.... keep up the good work.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

So you don't have a problem with Christmas lights hanging on a house all year round either? What about Easter eggs hanging from a tree? Rudolph and the reindeers on the lawn? All year round?

No problemo. I'll just point and laugh at the funny man's decorations and reflect on the blessings of living in a F-R-E-E neighborhood.

[Hardastarboard]

I dont plan to ever live anywhere that I cant shoot skeet in my backyard.

Lucky SOB. I want a place like that, but my wife is a city girl. Just Damn.