Evidently, it is fine with some people on here that the enforcement of absurd regulations in the CCR's of the HOA is perfectly ok even when the enforcement is petty selective and goes to absurd lengths, such as weighing your pets and so on.

Newsflash, there are Court decisions striking down that kind of thing when is absurd and over the top, and enforcement is capricious and for the urpose of harrassment..

This stuff can go WAAAY overboard at times, with over zealous people JUST looking to stir up trouble, with nothing better to do in their lives than harrass their neighbors, and go on a power trip under the guise of "enforcement" of the HOA "rules".

Makes you wonder about what their sex lives are like...

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Nobody is talking about absurdities except perhaps you. Now if they said you have to wear a certain brand of clothing, etc, etc, you are right. However basic maintenance on the property is hardly absurd.

No, I don't wonder about anyone's sex life besides my own. Feel free to conduct your own investigation.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Once again I am glad beyond description that spdrun doesn't run things.

Countless tens of thousands of people buy into PUDs with HOAs precisely because they want the amenities provided and protections ensured. There are those whose considerations of an ideal situation don't include waking up to find their neighbor has, for example, decided that a neon-green house with pink and purple trim is the perfect way to express themselves, or that running a car-repair business in their driveway is a good way to pick up some extra cash, or that building a monster shed in the back yard and letting three families of relatives live in it is a great way to bond.

That said, modern-day Nazis and Napoleons do seem to find their way onto HOA boards and that should be checked, although legal means is certainly the proper way to go about it. Unstable people and firearms is never a good combination.

Ultimately, the caveat is: read the HOA guidelines, CCRs and regs and be sure you understand them. Then -- with permission -- contact/visit some other owners and see how the board is run. If you buy without doing those things, then the only person you have to blame is yourself.

The car-repair business and illegal shed apartment are already covered by zoning laws. Personally, I don't give a flying motherf**k what color my neighbor's house is painted, so long as it's not shedding paint chips onto my property. Interesting colors make for interesting neighborhoods.

That makes one of us.
I could GAF what color my neighbor paints his house. It's his, not mine. I've considered running a not-exactly-legal car repair business in my driveway, but I think the landlady would catch on. I've had next door neighbors live seven to a one bedroom apartment and ten(ish) in a two bedroom. Don't bother me none.

It happens with enough regularity that I will never buy in a HOA area.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I recently moved into a neighborhood with a HOA but it seems that most newer neighborhoods in Delaware have them. There is nothing in the covenants that bothers me (keep grass cut yard clean ect) although they do not allow you to work on your cars in the driveway.

Fair enough.

But why do you and spdrun insist on railing against those who do? (Hence my comment about being glad he's not in charge.) Freedom also includes the aspect of NOT being bothered.

The whole reason HOAs exist is because there are lots of people who in fact WANT that stuff. I'm not one of them, but I surely won't hold it against them if they want that. Apparently you and speedy would abolish those rights for others...how democratic of you.

And speedy: assuming that zoning laws do take those things into account -- which they often don't (not everywhere is NYC, after all) -- just try and get someone to do something about it. Then you may find out that the guy repairing cars in the driveway with the illegal sublet is the brother in law of the mayor or some other moronic-connection thing. It's a whole lot easier to go to the HOA and point out the violation.

And you think that someone couldn't be the cousin of the HOA president? With corruption, all bets are off, HOA or not.

HOA's take freedom(s) away from individuals on their own land. Not cool. While I do tend to agree that if this is important to you, you ought not to have bought there in the first place, I never-the-less disagree with HOA's on principle. If it's really that important to you how the neighboring property looks, or what is done there, maybe you should just buy that property also. Until then, if it's not your's, you shouldn't be able to dictate a thing about it.

MV

I am very happy that there are people who want and like to live in HOA controlled neighborhoods. That keeps them from being my neighbors.

Pity that the shooter didn't use a paintball gun. Would have gotten his point across and likely escaped with probation or work release...

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Actually, no it doesn't. Others are free to do things that you may or may not like/agree with. Both out in public, and on their own land. You have the option of going elsewhere, but there's no "freedom of not being bothered".

MV

Perhaps you know more than my realtors. I checked with of several of them to see which one I liked best when.I was selling my house a couple years back. ALL of them suggested painting over some of the wifey's choice of colors for a more neutral set of colors. Ditto for siding when they were being redone. But hey. What do they know?

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Realtors? You mean the assclowns who were pushing houses worth $100,000 for $300,000 six years ago?

I didn't see a better man like perhaps yourself offer to do a better job for less. Anytime you think you can do better, besides at your usual rantings, let me know. I might know a few people who would be interested. They would probably want to see some sort of track record. I didn't want to sell a house living an hour and change away.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

And your rant has exactly what to do with the neighbor's house being puce, pink, or fuchsia? Good real estate has value based on location, quality, and amenities, not based on the color of the next house.

PS - this house is in the beach town where I spent the first few years of my life ... strong colors don't always equal ugly.

Attached Thumbnails