More Dangers of Home Owner Assn's

[Pooker]

Well, I'm fairly new to HOAs, having just moved here last September. Board members are elected and just like your government officials, there are probably good ones and bad ones, but all can be removed through elections. Is it a PITA to get approval for almost anything I want to do outside? Sure. But do I want a hot pink or vile green house next door? Nope. My old house was outside city limits. That meant that the good thing is you can do pretty much anything you want to with your yard and house. The bad thing is you can do pretty much anything you want to with your yard and house. Because I had that freedom, my neighbors also could store mounds of junk in their back yard - the yard I viewed from my deck. And the folks who lived behind me didn't believe in using chemicals so their waist high weeds migrated to my flower gardens.

I no longer have to worry about my next door neighbor's rowdy parties that always turned into fights. Or their 7 chihuahuas barking at me every time I went out in my yard. Yes, there are laws even in unincorporated areas, but getting someone to enforce them isn't always as simple as it sounds.

Now I also have 4 wonderful pool complexes to visit, and I don't have to maintain them. There are 4 clubhouses each unique with library, travel club, dance lessons, card rooms, etc. For this time in my life, I'm satisfied having to deal with a HOA to get this lifestyle. Perhaps I'll change my mind in a year or two - I hope not.

Like landlords, all HOAs aren't bad.

Pooker

[RitaMc]

We were caretakers of a condominium complex where 4 units shared a common entry and hallway. While some of the residents were nice normal people, most were hoity toity, snooty, snoty, better than thou people. Our job was to take care of the common areas and if one resident dropped a paper or litter in the commmon area we would get called to come and pick it up. What you can't pick up a bubble gum wrapper and toss it (even tho your neighbor who dropped it should have) or wait until it's on my routine cleaning schedule? Nope. It was "I need service now." The worst residents insisted that each entry flower box be planted with the same flowers so all buidlings matched. To this day I hate red geraniums. They wanted rules on how drapes could be opened so all units facing the street would have a unified look. Thank God the board was smart enought not to pass that rule. People would complain about the type of cars owners drove and heaven forbid if anyone stepped off their patios and sat on the grass! then there are the horror stories we had in keeping the pool and pool house clean. If they kept their homes at the same level of cleanliness the health board would condemn the unit. but since they had "hired help" anything went. Even when it was 104 degrees for 2 days over the weekend and because of some city work and the water was turned off at the main so the pool house had no water for a weekend and we were not at work. 100 people stilled used the pool and kept using the restroom without being able to flush. What a mess that was to clean up on a Monday morning. If i can't stay in my 130 year old farm house and get to town for groceries I will get a small house in town (or live in my little Shasta) where I can still be the Queen of my domain and not be ruled by bullies. That's my 2 cents worth today.