HOA's have got to stop the B/S

I don't live anywhere that has an HOA, but I can say this with nearly 100% certainty.

They have their place.
The first home I bought was in a small town just up the road from where I live now. We moved in and that town was like the wild West in some regards. They had a code officer but he was too busy partying with the welfare queens in the next town over. He literally did nothing as far as his job was concerned.

I always kept the place in nice condition, mowed the lawn twice a week, etc. The neighbors on one side didn't though, and honestly it didn't bother me what they did or didn't do. They would've been an HOA President's wet dream. These people had a fleet of dilapidated broke down 1980's Monte Carlo's in the small yard. Probably 8 of them. Town wouldn't do anything because of the ordinance stated they only had to have a valid registration. Which they all were registered in their previous state of NJ. So the town did nothing, and I wasn't too concerned about it....Until I wanted to sell... I had the house priced kinda high because I wanted someone who would appreciate what I put into the place and didn't want any riff raff disturbing the other neighbor, who was a sweet 85 year old widow who made me the best cookies when I helped her out.

Anyways, we had many people look at the house and no offers after a month. I asked what the reason was and my agent told me that several people would've put an offer in but for the neighbors.
I ended up pulling it off the market and becoming a landlord. And watched all the hard work and effort that I put in that house be neglected for three more years. The sweet old lady next door passed away and her place began to deteriorate. These other neighbors with their car collection were foreclosed on and moved out, but left half the cars behind.

I ended up selling the place last year, and actually did make a tiny profit in the sale. But I would've made more had it not been for the Addams family next door. Something an HOA may have prevented.

 

Or something YOU could have prevented by not investing in that house to begin with! Just sayin!

Do you want a association to monitor YOUR decisions so that you don't make a bad one again?

 

I dont argue it wasn't the smartest place to invest money, but at that time in my life it made perfect sense. I bought the place for a couple reasons actually, but the biggest reason was my wife. She grew up dirt- floor poor, as I did. Parents divorced and she never had a stable home until I bought that place. Buying that gave her a sense of stability she hadn't experienced in a long time. So for that reason alone it was worth it. And I honestly at that point didn't foresee me having the means to move anywhere else.

That being said, I wasn't concerned about selling it when I bought it. But it happens. Had the town code enforcement done their job, I wouldn't ever defend the idea of an HOA. But in some parts of the country, in areas with no code enforcement of any kind, an HOA could be a not so bad thing

 

I hear ya and I appreciate your ability to not view my comment as me being a D.

I made a similar decision on my first house for your exact reasons. I broke even on it in the 2008 collapse. I was lucky to get even that as the neighbor was a PIG!

But NO way did I then or now or ever want a HOA. It just sounds disgusting to me.

 

I can relate to the 2008 thing.. I bought that house in 2008 just before everything collapsed. So I paid a premium for it, then spent the next few years underwater. But I did make a tiny profit when I sold, which I gave to the government anyway in the form of taxes lol

 

Sadly true also

 

The County i live in here in Texas requires 1 permit. A septic system permit. Otherwise, i can do with my property whatever i wish.
Well, unless i want to build a chicken slaughter house. Then i would have to get an Air Quality permit from the state.

 

I like my HOA, even though I hated HOA’s growing up and still do.


Only reason?

they keep the trash out.

One instance. Kid with a fart can riced out car raced on the street. Next day he was driving 5 mph and to this day still is. Guess his parents didn’t like the HOA president screaming at them.

 

Don't need an HOA for that. Back when I lived in the hood, had a neighbor with a lot of 'friends' showing up all day long and staying for 5-10 minutes. (Drug dealer for those that don't know the reference.)
Great guy, but a couple of his friends started racing down the street. Just let him know, friends now longer a problem.

I have a feeling he didn't want anyone else involved....