Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
To HOA, or not to HOA?
This is my first post!
My husband and I will be looking to purchase our first home this year, and we are coming up with lists of things we want and don't want in our home. We are having a bit of a disagreement about HOAs. The HOAs in our area tend to be a bit... militant? They are very particular about the changes you can make to the exterior of your home, the way you park your car, whether or not you can line-dry your clothes, etc. For that reason, I would really rather not belong to one. My husband doesn't feel that strongly about HOAs, but he worries that we may be limiting ourselves too much by refusing to live in a neighborhood with an HOA.
What do you all think? Should I let it go and look at HOA neighborhoods, or are they a big waste of money?
Re: To HOA, or not to HOA?
If it significantly limits your buying options, then yes include HOA'd neighbors in your search.
Typically, HOA fees do increase annually a small amount. And you really need to consider what your HOA fee "buys" you...parks, trails, pools, tennis, golf, common area/entryway maintenance, lighting, snow removal? How much does this stuff matter to you and your future family?
Also, speaking from experience I LIKE the idea of an HOA limiting what people can and cannot do in their yards/exteriors.
People have a variety of intrepretations of the words, "clean, uncluttered, grass mowed, taking Christmas decor down in a timely fashion," etc. and you'd be surprised what some unfettered homeowners will do on their properties...
I agree with all this.
Each HOA is different. I'm president of ours. Our covenants don't give the HOA much authority, so really, the most I can do is write you a letter. (See: undergrads renting the house around the corner who had garbage stacked at the curb for 3 weeks and no trash service. See also: unleashed pit bull roaming the neighborhood repeatedly (no leash laws in this county).) Our dues only go up when our services go up (insurance, electric, lawn care). Not all HOAs are bad and many are invaluable for protecting the biggest investment you'll ever make. Look at all houses, then look at the HOA that goes with it.
My Pinterest
The Googlesites Paint Bio
Thinking of doing cosmetic updates to a dated home? These were our costs.
If you really do live in an area so highly regulated, I don't imagine you have much of a choice in the matter (meaning you will have one) if that's where you intend to stay. The best thing for you to do is take my advice to research each individual HOA and avoid the overly militant ones.
My Pinterest
The Googlesites Paint Bio
Thinking of doing cosmetic updates to a dated home? These were our costs.
Look at houses with and without HOA. If you find a house that you truly love, make sure you read, understand and 100% agree with the HOA.
Personally I would avoid buying a house with HOA. If it is my house and property I don't want anyone telling me that I cannot air dry my laundry. To me it would feel like I was renting the property, but paying the mortgage and taxes on it.
That might not be exactly true. She needs to read the covenants. If it's not militant today, it may be because the covenants don't allow for it. While there are plenty of crazy HOAs in the world, I've only ever experienced rational, appropriate ones. Buy where you agree with the covenants, OP. A crazy board has no power if the covenants don't give it to them.
My Pinterest
The Googlesites Paint Bio
Thinking of doing cosmetic updates to a dated home? These were our costs.
There are pros and cons to HOA's, and power varies between neighborhoods. If you're strongly against them then start looking at homes outside of HOA's. If you find the inventory limited then expand your search. Before you buy in an HOA make sure you have requested and read a copy of the covenants. Make sure you understand what they can and cannot do, what the fees are (and remember these can change and you can be charged special assessments), what you get for your money, how changes to the covenants are enacted, and what the consequences are if you violate the HOA.
I would also want to know if the HOA has been given to the homeowners yet and whether there is a management company involved. If the homeowners do not yet have control, when will that happen (usually once a certain percentage of lots sell). Secondary to that, is there still building taking place? Who makes up the board? Are those members active in continued development? It surprises people to find that their developer can bankrupt and be no longer involved in the community years later, but still retain control of the HOA.
BFP 11.8.12 * EDD 7.17.13 * MC 12.20.12
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over!
In my friend's case is was a matter of they were on the board and were generally a younger group and a lot of the covenants weren't being strictly enforced. The board got voted out and a new board voted in that went through and started strictly enforcing everything on the book.
We have an HOA and we love it. Yes we have to have approval for changes, but as long as they are not something totally off the wall they will be approved.
Our HOA is managed by the homeowners, and is incredibly well run. People want to move into our neighborhood because of it. For us it is very much worth it. We have beautiful common areas, a pool, tennis courts and a gorgeous club house for very reasonable fees. As pp said you just need to decide if those are the types of things you want.
We also bought a house subject to an HOA. When DH and I were first house hunting, I didn't like the idea of an HOA because I didn't want my property rights restricted. However, that feeling quickly changed once I realized how much a neighbors property condition can impact the value of your own property. My next door neighbors can't let their house go to crap without at least getting chewed out by the HOA. For that, I'm happy we live in a subdivision with an HOA.