HOAs, and why Im glad I aint part of them.
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
United States
March 1, 2017 9:45pm CST
I had just seen a post on my Facebook feed from one of my longtime friends on missed HOA fees. This post got me thinking (again) about why I'm so freaking glad I'm in my own house with no HOA junk whatsoever.
Reason one why: the outrageous fees! As you probably guessed by now, I'm a poor, cheap person. I live in a small town, therefore overall price of the house is realitively cheap, plus where I live, the property tax is the lowest per capita in the state. That's one of the reasons why I live in a smaller town.
Reason two: with an HOA, you have no control over your property. You basically have to ask permission to wipe your own butt, so to speak. With your own property, as long as the city don't complain, you practically can do what you want to your property. Want a pink door? You betcha. Want a giant high NSA envy antenna? Go nuts! Want AstroTurf instead of lawn (which I want). Well go for it baby!
In the end, do what's right for you and your current situation, but don't complain about being controlled when you do have a choice.
4 people like this
7 responses
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
2 Mar 17
HOAS are the worst and I never want to live in an area that has them. We have code compliance but that isn't as bad as HOAs that is just telling us to not have grass too high and at least make the house look a little better than complete garbage.
2 people like this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
2 Mar 17
We do have city ordinances, but they are pretty minimal, mostly just keeping weeds under control, that sort of thing.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
4 Mar 17
@librarygeek1980 I think most cities do have that, the HOAs are just absolutely terrible and conformists. It is for minimalists I believe.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86840)
• United States
2 Mar 17
Sometimes you have to wonder how HOAs ever got popular. There have been so many negative stories about them (e.g., not letting veterans fly flags); plus, as you said, you can be fined for painting your walls "off white" instead of "pearl white," and you're paying them to be dictators. What the heck?????
2 people like this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
2 Mar 17
Its a status thing, the ol snobbery is alive and well. My question is how can anyone afford the fees, let alone the picky improvements?
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
2 Mar 17
Cities aren't all the same in my area if you want to pull up the grass, then you have to contact the city. There is no way I would move into a place with HOA Fees, as some of them can tell you the length of your lawn and paint color. I don't want somebody to tell me the hour I can mow the lawn and make me want to move.
1 person likes this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
2 Mar 17
Absolutely I wouldn't want that either, its almost like I can picture someone out there with a measuring stick ....
@connierebel (1557)
• United States
2 Mar 17
When I was looking to buy a property, I was strictly adamant about not getting one with HOA fees. I want to own my land, without anyone telling me what I can or can't do on it.
2 people like this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
2 Mar 17
Me too, same reason why I would never get into an HOA deal...
2 people like this
@reskyyandi (3608)
• Indonesia
3 Mar 17
What is HOA fees??
I have never heard that before
1 person likes this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
3 Mar 17
Homeowners association, there's a comment below that can explain better 
@JudyEv (382440)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 17
I've no idea what an HOA is and no-one has said in the comments yet. Is it a government thing?
@flpoolbum (2978)
• United States
2 Mar 17
@JudyEv ~HOA stands for Homeowners Association. They can set rules for what they want for the neighborhood. Some HOA's are reasonable with low rates and acceptable guidelines that just want the neighbor to look nice. Their rules prohibit ratty furniture, old engines, big ugly RV's and stuff like that in yards. Others, most of them it seems, have really strict guidelines or rules and charge a great deal.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382440)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Mar 17
@flpoolbum Thanks for that. Makes much more sense now. We have some areas like that but not too many. Councils can set standards too regarding old vehicles, types of fencing, perhaps.
1 person likes this
