Argh - HOA is at it (for the first time)...

[semlin]

Originally Posted by Landpimp

I still come across some REALLY old CC&R(covents conditions and restrictions) that say NO BLACKS!

we also used to have those covenants on individual registered titles in BC often buried in other covenants. no chinese or jews too. even though they were outlawed 40 years ago, they still appeared when you pulled the old documents and that was so embarrassing the title office made a massive effort to review tens of thousands of documents to identify them all and have them all formally purged or blacked out.

[Landpimp]

.............

Originally Posted by semlin

or blacked out.

[Mr. Toad]

Originally Posted by Landpimp

.............

Every residential property I have ever owned had that restriction somewhere in the deed record. Different world back then.

[slimbuddha]

I specifically chose where I live because they don't have an HOA. I would rather see the occasional house that is un kept than deal with a group of self-righteous people on a power trip. Unfortunately, even though they don't have a HOA, there is a provision in the covenants that allows one to be created if anyone ever wanted to make the push.

I recall a case here in Albuquerque, years ago, where a woman who lived in a very upscale neighborhood decided to xeriscape her yard. She had it professionally done, and it was done very well, but the HOA went after her because she should have a large grass yard like everyone else. Mind you, this is in the middle of the desert, with City ordinances pushing towards lower-water consumption. It took her a few yeras, but I think she finally won her case.

[e rock]

Originally Posted by semlin

blacked out.

It's "redacted". Racist.

[cruiser88]

I just want to live in the middle of no where. When I mow my grass I want the sweet surprise of finding the 40 I forgot about.

[DSRTRDR]

Originally Posted by NorCalDoug

sounds like it's time for you to get yourself on the HOA board...if for no other reason, to be able to control the idiots...

that is my strategy - so far it has worked

[Mr. Toad]

Originally Posted by DSRTRDR

that is my strategy - so far it has worked

I was VP of the HOA where we lived about 10 years ago. I could not believe how much time we spent on trivialities. Even the smallest issues were hashed and re-hashed with Ambien-like results. I mean, how long should you debate whether to use a textured paint as opposed to a plain, one-color gloss to re-paint the letters on the neighborhood entry signs????? This alone was enough to sour me on the concept for life.

On the other hand, it was amazing how fast our revenues disappeared. The lawn guys who keep up the entry sign gardens and the park areas, tennis court cleaning once a year, utilities for the common areas, and the July 4 picnic pretty much kill the budget. All this while contemplating how to impose an assessment to raise $175K to separate ourselves from the riff-raff with an imposing limestone edifice.

I suppose the experience makes you appreciate the legislative process a little bit. And it also leads to an understanding of why dictatorships can be more efficient than democracies.

[Urrrk]

We have a HOA to maintain our road, which is a private road and not maintained by the city. We'd be fuxored without it.

A lot of HOA's get crazy with the convenants, but ours can't.

[Jetboy]

Originally Posted by semlin

what is wrong with in-home daycares and how exactly are they bad neighbours? i find it hard to imagine hosting a few little kids in a detached house makes the slightest difference to anyone.

In my experience, they can be a perfect environment if you have kids and both parents have to work and know a stay at home mom, and are way better for younger kids than a big institutional daycare, plus they can help that stay at home mom stay home which is good for her own kids.

if a particular daycare was somehow disruptive, then I can see maybe regulating the disruptive activity, but banning in home daycares is precisely the kind of petty busybody crap that makes me glad i have no HOA.

Day cares create a lot of issues. First of all this wasn't a few kids. More like 15. And it created a lot of traffic in and out of a residential area. Second, parents are always running late, so the were speeding in and out at 45-50mph where the speed limits were set at 25. (Yes, one neighbor we they call psycho Peter has a radar gun. He's a real asshole, and has nothing to do with the HOA, but make complaints).It's a private road system, so generally no police enforcement. Kids are generally destructive when they are not well supervised. Additionally in that neighborhood they have septic system/well water systems and the homes are designed or permitted to have that larger load on them. (not sure how persuasive that is), but ultimately it's a matter of all the homeowners agreeing to not conduct business, primarily becuase of the traffic and noise. She thought she could just blow off the rules becuase she had a lawyer. Well, she learned pretty quckly that's not how it works. They have also shut down landscapers and other businesses that are less intrusive. It reduces the property values of a high end residential neighborhood.
My dad can't put a welding shop on his property for the same reason. They have over 2.5 acres with the two lots they own, so there would be plent of room, but that's something they give up in trade for quiet sunday afternoons. (They can build about anything they want, there's no architecture committee or color codes or anything of that nature, but only buildings incident to residing there. For example a toy shop for an rv and a boat is fine, but not a business.)
No one forced her to move in. There are plenty of place where daycares are allowed, that's just not one of them.

My neighbor across the street has a daycare and I will never live next to another one. The kids are always playing in the street, like playing soccer and damaging my vehicles. They pick my flowers, and generally are destructive. They throw things at my dogs (rocks, bricks etc.) I now have to lock the gate to keep them out. The street is always jammed up in the morning becuase 10-12 cars all show up at once, and all the idot parents think it's ok to just double park to run in, or park blocking my drive way. And they are noisy and leave garbage around. I often find crap in my front yard. Finally the thing that really pisses me off is that I find air soft pellets in my back yard, which means they are shooting my dogs while I'm gone. I have yet to catch em, but I will. Overall they are just not well supervised and a pain in my ass. I'd much prefer a quite neighborhood with a few kids, not a small army of them. I honestly would not have bought my house if I had known. There are other places to live that I don't have to let my carpooling friends park in the garage to make sure their cars are safe. Both next door neighbors have kids. THey are just fine. Well behaved, respect my property and are generally just good kids. The daycare just sucks.

[Bogo]

Originally Posted by Jetboy

My neighbor across the street has a daycare and I will never live next to another one. The kids are always playing in the street, like playing soccer and damaging my vehicles. They pick my flowers, and generally are destructive. They throw things at my dogs (rocks, bricks etc.) I now have to lock the gate to keep them out. The street is always jammed up in the morning becuase 10-12 cars all show up at once, and all the idot parents think it's ok to just double park to run in, or park blocking my drive way. And they are noisy and leave garbage around. I often find **** in my front yard. Finally the thing that really pisses me off is that I find air soft pellets in my back yard, which means they are shooting my dogs while I'm gone. I have yet to catch em, but I will. Overall they are just not well supervised and a pain in my ass. I'd much prefer a quite neighborhood with a few kids, not a small army of them. I honestly would not have bought my house if I had known. There are other places to live that I don't have to let my carpooling friends park in the garage to make sure their cars are safe. Both next door neighbors have kids. THey are just fine. Well behaved, respect my property and are generally just good kids. The daycare just sucks.

Call the state and find out which agency is responsible for daycares and report their asses. those kids are not being properly supervised by Iowa law regarding daycares. I don't know the rules for your state, but they sure are violating Iowa's codes for daycares.

[bigndn]

Originally Posted by JJS

The best HOA is the non-existent type.

BS.......there's always a HOA. For me, it's me (Pres/Treasurer/Sgt at Arms), my mrs. (VP/Sec). All decisions and complaints go thru the HOA.

[semlin]

holy crap jetboy, you and your dad apparently have experienced the most appalling daycares in the world run by clueless idiots who apparently didn't care one bit about upsetting all their neighbours and being shut down. I can see your concerns now. I had no idea.

Originally Posted by Jetboy

Day cares create a lot of issues. First of all this wasn't a few kids. More like 15.

15 is too many for one house. The limit in BC is 5. The HOA could make the same rule.

Originally Posted by jetboy

Second, parents are always running late, so the were speeding in and out at 45-50mph where the speed limits were set at 25. (Yes, one neighbor we they call psycho Peter has a radar gun. He's a real asshole, and has nothing to do with the HOA, but make complaints).It's a private road system, so generally no police enforcement.

this was raised with her and yet she ignored warnings? what an idiot she was not to warn her clients to slow down.

Originally Posted by jetboy

Kids are generally destructive when they are not well supervised.

if they are not well supervised it is not a properly run daycare and by all means shut it down.

Originally Posted by jetboy

Additionally in that neighborhood they have septic system/well water systems and the homes are designed or permitted to have that larger load on them. (not sure how persuasive that is),

well, again, what an idiot she was to ignore that concern when expressed to her and not to do anything demonstrate her system can meet the septic load.

Originally Posted by jetboy

but ultimately it's a matter of all the homeowners agreeing to not conduct business, primarily becuase of the traffic and noise.

do people buying into a subdivision really agree to all the rules imposed by HOAs or do they live with them based on liking the house and location and the fact not all the rules screw them over in particular?

Originally Posted by jetboy

She thought she could just blow off the rules becuase she had a lawyer. Well, she learned pretty quckly that's not how it works.

or maybe she was desperate not to lose her livelihood and be stuck with a house she can't use in a depressed real estate market surrounded by busybody assholes so she tried a lawyer as a last resort.

Originally Posted by jetboy

They have also shut down landscapers and other businesses that are less intrusive. It reduces the property values of a high end residential neighborhood.

so does an HOA that forces people to sell out and move in a down market

Originally Posted by jetboy

My dad can't put a welding shop on his property for the same reason. They have over 2.5 acres with the two lots they own, so there would be plent of room, but that's something they give up in trade for quiet sunday afternoons. (They can build about anything they want, there's no architecture committee or color codes or anything of that nature, but only buildings incident to residing there. For example a toy shop for an rv and a boat is fine, but not a business.)
No one forced her to move in. There are plenty of place where daycares are allowed, that's just not one of them.

there is quite a difference between a commercial welding shop and a normal home daycare. I say "normal" because your daycare experience does not correspond with that.

Originally Posted by jetboy

My neighbor across the street has a daycare and I will never live next to another one. The kids are always playing in the street, like playing soccer and damaging my vehicles.

wow, i have never heard of a daycare that lets its kids run wild in the streets. you are very unfortunate to live next to one. i assume letting the kids run unsupervised on public highways is legal for daycares in your state?

Originally Posted by jetboy

They pick my flowers, and generally are destructive. They throw things at my dogs (rocks, bricks etc.) I now have to lock the gate to keep them out.

wow, the daycare operators have ignored your politely expressed concerns and let the kids trespass on your property and damage it?

Originally Posted by jetboy

The street is always jammed up in the morning becuase 10-12 cars all show up at once, and all the idot parents think it's ok to just double park to run in, or park blocking my drive way. And they are noisy and leave garbage around.

wow again, i am impressed at how diligent these parents are at ebing assholes to take time to dump garbage while they are double parked outside your house blocking your driveway.

Originally Posted by jetboy

I often find crap in my front yard.

so is this the parents or the kids stopping by to shit in your yard, or do they bring their dogs over? amazing.

Originally Posted by jetboy

Finally the thing that really pisses me off is that I find air soft pellets in my back yard, which means they are shooting my dogs while I'm gone. I have yet to catch em, but I will.

i guess I should have guessed that with everything else, these kids are packing heat.

Originally Posted by jetboy

Overall they are just not well supervised and a pain in my ass. I'd much prefer a quite neighborhood with a few kids, not a small army of them. I honestly would not have bought my house if I had known. There are other places to live that I don't have to let my carpooling friends park in the garage to make sure their cars are safe. Both next door neighbors have kids. THey are just fine. Well behaved, respect my property and are generally just good kids. The daycare just sucks.

overall, it sounds like you have had truly extraordinary misfortune in matters of nearby daycares. I truly empathize.

[TemeculaTim]

HOA's do very little good other than alowing a few tards to get on power trips and push there special agenda's.

Our HOA is run by a bunch of whining turds who have too much time on their hands. I got on the Board to try to do something positive and realized that it was a waste of time.

The only ones who benift are the property managers- I think it has got to be one of the biggest scams there is when it comes to developments. They pick and choose which rules to follow or enforce and get real defensive when you challenge them.



Tim

[beaufort-fj60]

Originally Posted by bkfj40

check to see how often your covenants can be changed....mine are every 20 years.

also, they might have violated their existing covenants if they did not advertise the first meeting...

bk

yeah x2.. when you closed on your house, your deed referenced the HOA documents that you are bound to. Have an attorney shoot them a letter saying you object to the change and you might sue, they will tread lightly on you after that. You can bankrupt the new HOA with legal fees before they get off the ground.

[brett76]

Originally Posted by Jetboy

Day cares create a lot of issues. First of all this wasn't a few kids. More like 15. And it created a lot of traffic in and out of a residential area. Second, parents are always running late, so the were speeding in and out at 45-50mph where the speed limits were set at 25. (Yes, one neighbor we they call psycho Peter has a radar gun. He's a real asshole, and has nothing to do with the HOA, but make complaints).It's a private road system, so generally no police enforcement. Kids are generally destructive when they are not well supervised. Additionally in that neighborhood they have septic system/well water systems and the homes are designed or permitted to have that larger load on them. (not sure how persuasive that is), but ultimately it's a matter of all the homeowners agreeing to not conduct business, primarily becuase of the traffic and noise. She thought she could just blow off the rules becuase she had a lawyer. Well, she learned pretty quckly that's not how it works. They have also shut down landscapers and other businesses that are less intrusive. It reduces the property values of a high end residential neighborhood.
My dad can't put a welding shop on his property for the same reason. They have over 2.5 acres with the two lots they own, so there would be plent of room, but that's something they give up in trade for quiet sunday afternoons. (They can build about anything they want, there's no architecture committee or color codes or anything of that nature, but only buildings incident to residing there. For example a toy shop for an rv and a boat is fine, but not a business.)
No one forced her to move in. There are plenty of place where daycares are allowed, that's just not one of them.

My neighbor across the street has a daycare and I will never live next to another one. The kids are always playing in the street, like playing soccer and damaging my vehicles. They pick my flowers, and generally are destructive. They throw things at my dogs (rocks, bricks etc.) I now have to lock the gate to keep them out. The street is always jammed up in the morning becuase 10-12 cars all show up at once, and all the idot parents think it's ok to just double park to run in, or park blocking my drive way. And they are noisy and leave garbage around. I often find crap in my front yard. Finally the thing that really pisses me off is that I find air soft pellets in my back yard, which means they are shooting my dogs while I'm gone. I have yet to catch em, but I will. Overall they are just not well supervised and a pain in my ass. I'd much prefer a quite neighborhood with a few kids, not a small army of them. I honestly would not have bought my house if I had known. There are other places to live that I don't have to let my carpooling friends park in the garage to make sure their cars are safe. Both next door neighbors have kids. THey are just fine. Well behaved, respect my property and are generally just good kids. The daycare just sucks.

im glad youre happy there but to me HOA's just seem like paying to be repressed

[RavenTai]

Originally Posted by semlin

15 is too many for one house. The limit in BC is 5. The HOA could make the same rule.

Not sure about Canada but around here daycare can be anywhere from 30 to 100 kids or more.

[semlin]

Originally Posted by RavenTai

Not sure about Canada but around here daycare can be anywhere from 30 to 100 kids or more.

well a true daycare is a heavily licensed thing that could be that big. that kind of daycare would not be permitted in a regular house, and would have sprinklers/fire escapes/first aid and staffing requirements.

in-home daycares are different. they have a max size of 5 kids (including the caregiver's kids) and they are less heavily regulated

[Exiled]

Where I live, a SD in Round Rock (suburb of Austin, TX), the HOA is semi-efficient. The problem is that it's run by a bunch of old people that have nothing better to do than patrol the neighborhood and write citations for uncut grass, unapproved modifications, etc. On the other hand, when the developer and builder tried to stiff us out of a stone wall that was supposed to go on the back of our lots (instead of the crappy cedar fence), the HOA went to bat for us, supported our initiative and we ultimately got the wall (crucial for my home value because I am on a corner lot, so now I have 120 ft of nice limestone wall sorrounding my limestone house).

I think there's pros and cons to both. An HOA will help keep property values if it's efficient, but they can be pretty draconian. On the other hand, living without an HOA could result in having to deal with a house that looks like a junkyard right next to yours, ruining your property value.

[OZCAL]

Originally Posted by eventhough

New officers are/have just been elected for 1-2 years depending on position. I need to get on the board but do not have time...too many other irons in the fire.

...

Just don't show up in your new Cadillac...

[zebrabeefj40]

Originally Posted by Exiled

(snip...) On the other hand, living without an HOA could result in having to deal with a house that looks like a junkyard right next to yours, ruining your property value.

Good thing yer not my neighbor! Got more "projects" than running vehicles at the moment....

Nick

[eventhough]

Little update:

HOA Pres emailed back. She said she would drop off a financial report and proposed covenants this morning on her way out of town. It appears she will be out for awhile so I might not get my questions answered before the upcoming HOA meeting. The HOA Pres was nice in her email - I was nice in my response - but I'm not ecstatic about not getting all of my questions answered. This will be a point to bring up in the HOA meeting.

I also located the old