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HOA crazy restrictions

By MINDY GAGO

Real Estate Sales Representative with KELLER WILLIAMS

November 06, 2007 11:45 AM

Recently this subject has come up a bit. Home owners association having crazy restrictions on properties. Yes I understand that they are for the greater good of the community and help to secure our homes values.Do they go to far? If you have some time this evening pick up that big old book of covenants and restrictions and read about 5 pages. You may find a restriction about how many dogs you are suppose to own or even what type of dogs you can own. How about a restriction on hanging laundry out side to dry? Are these restrictions really needed? Do we just not have common sense to keep up our own properties that we need someone else telling us to?

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Konnie Mac McCarthy

MacNificent Properties, LLC - Cobb Island, MD

Broker/Owner - VA & MD "Time To Get A Move On!"

The problem is that HOA's are private governments for all intense purposes....so, the HOA depends on whoever is running it...and sometimes, they can be rediculous

Nov 06, 2007 11:49 AM

Susan Walters

Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI - Ann Arbor, MI

After living in England for two years, we came back to the US and faced some of those crazy restrictions in our housing search. Since most of England seems to own washers and no dryers, hanging out the wash was commonplace. I couldn't understand that restriction. It is earth friendly and sleeping on sheets hung out to dry on a summer day - maybe even better than those fresh vegetables from the garden!

Nov 06, 2007 11:55 AM

Judi Glamb

Coldwell Banker Hearthside - Hellertown, PA

Associate Broker, ABR

Regarding dogs, if there are common areas and the HOA carries insurance they probably have no choice in not allowing some breeds. I ran into this with a mobile home park - the park owner seemed pretty reasonable at considering exceptions from the rules and and regs, but could not do so with the dogs. We had one buyer that had a dog that was part pit-bull. I know even some regular home owner insurance companies require riders.

Nov 06, 2007 11:56 AM

Susan Trombley

Trombley Real Estate - Wake Forest, NC

Broker/Realtor, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Youngs

I would like to say are you kidding me but I know you are right that they do exist, but you are correct they are really not needed. I do not know why others need to put this in there.

Nov 06, 2007 12:03 PM

Diane Testa

Mullica Hill, NJ

When we bought we refused to buy in a community that had HOA restrictions. The last development we were in the head honcho's would accuse people of breaking rules when they were re-painting the exterior trim the same color, etc. We called them the "Community Police." Our docs actually said that if there was something hanging inside your house that was visible from the outside, and someone found it offensive, you would be required to take it down or you'd be fined. What if we hung Halloween decorations and the HOA's didn't celebrate the day... would that be a fine-able offense? It was a little extreme.

Nov 06, 2007 12:08 PM

Linda Graves Arnold

Coldwell Banker Gundaker-St. Louis, MO - Chesterfield, MO

St. Louis Real Estate Pro - 314-422-2762 - Referr

All of the subdivisions in our area have covenants and restrictions documents. For the most part, they are boilerplate. Most of our buyers are interested in the fencing restrictions. Other interest points include boats and storage (yes, we have boats in Missouri!), architectural requirements and area amenities. Our subdivision limits placement of basketball hoops (not in front of the home) and play equipmentn (must be within the home lines in the rear of the home). We appreciate these restrictions for the beauty of our subdivision.

Nov 06, 2007 12:08 PM

Sean Allen

International Financing Solutions - Fort Myers, FL

International Financing Solutions

HOA have some good purposes, but I know in my area of Florida some neighborhood HOAs do not allow trucks...IE: Pick-up trucks. I found this out when I first moved to florida and was looking for a rental. I pulled up in my Pick-up and the rental agent asked if that was my vehicle, I said YES, and she said sorry, the association won't allow you to live here unless I want to park my truck off site. This is totally rediculous since MANY pickups are more expensive than nice cars. I had a plain F-150 with no company name on it, no tool carrier, just a new Ford pick-up.

Sean Allen

Nov 06, 2007 12:10 PM

Rob Arnold

Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL

Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

HOAs either you love them or you hate them. Many people want to live in HOAs in order to keep the neighborhood looking nice. We have all seen neighborhoods with the overgrown junky houses with 4 cars parked on the lawn. That wouldn't happen in most HOAs. On the other hand, many people don't want anything to do with HOAs. I've seen plenty of Realtors actually advertise "no HOA" as a benefit to the property. You can get one little nazi-leader running the place to drive the whole neighborhood crazy.

Nov 06, 2007 12:20 PM

Stacy Magid

Century 21 New Millennium - Woodbridge, VA

When we bought our house we were so glad that there wasn't an HOA. The HOA's around here are quite restrictive and when you have property (over an acre) like we do you want to do whatever you want with it without asking for permission.

It's amazing how different HOA's are across the board and what some can get away with while others cant.

Nov 06, 2007 12:27 PM