Fines For Lawns Not Green Enough!

[Mike88se]

I lived in a subdivision the hoa told me I could not have my race car in my yard because it did not have a tag on it.
So I bought 4 of the ugliest cars I could find and got tags for them.

Ok :laughing::thumbsup:
I R&Red a special edition 300zx turbo...mostly in the driveway. People walking/biking/driving by were always stopping to chat and checking the progress. One day a couple was walking by and the guy asked about the car. We started talking and he became a regular. I found out later he was the pres of the HOA lol. He was seriously impressed with the car and what I was doing. I ended up doing some R&R on a 60's Mustang for him. Sometimes HOAs are cool.

 

[Two-Stroke]

The most common argument in favor of HOAs is that they protect property values. But that can work the other way. If a particular subdivision gets a reputation for causing its residents a lot of grief with an HOA, it can backfire -- people don't want to live there so property values decrease.

 

[BWH]

I agree there is a lot of silly rules/regulations in most HOA's, best news I don't have to live in one. I do live in a small town with ordinances of which are voted on in elections or passed by elected councilmembers. These for the most part are fairly reasonable and just protect your property values from the 1/10th of 1% that collect old refrigerators, washing machines, couches then place them in a circle so trash bags of household waste can be stored inside that circle.

To be fair I have to mention the large east coast bank that foreclosed on a house in town 5 years ago and must have forgot they own a house here never bothering to ever mow the lawn. When the grass gets over 12" tall the city usually attempts to grind it off, looks real nice plus our only funeral home is directly across the street (that's a lasting memory for a grieving family)

If there is an up side to all of this it has to be that it is a great haven for skunk's, possum's, rat's, and every other undesirable creature a community doesn't need!

Don't get me wrong I have been known to have a stock car in the front yard, If I have a purpose or intend on rebuilding a car in a timely fashion I have had unlicensed cars also, I even had a tractor and loader for snow removal. You can have things around and still have your property neat and trimmed up.

 

[Ric]

I don't think you have a choice whether to join or not. You don't here.

You don't here either. You don't join you don't live here. Cost me $110 quarterly plus CDD fees.

 

[exotion]

I love hoa for 2 reason
1) I don't live In one
2) they are good for business

 

[wjjones]

As reported on Fox News this morning a homeowners association in a California community is going to enforce an ordinance that fines homeowners for not having green enough lawns!

Isn't California also fining people for watering lawns in their drought?

Darn if you do / Darn if you don't

Yep it doesnt make sense to me, and they are in a severe drought to last I saw.

 

[SRJMow]

I guess I am in the minority. I don't live in a HOA at the moment. I own my home and the land its on. But I like having strict zoning laws. Every now and then you get a hoarder or someone that lets their grass grow over 12 inches tall, or someone with dozens of animals and does not take care of them properly, or has loud parties that last until three in the morning. The zoning laws are all you have to try and reign in the crazies :laughing:.
Of course, fining people for not having green enough grass is nuts, but I doubt that type of rule is commonplace or it would not have made the news.

HOAs for the most part are okay, IMO. They are restrictive, but you should know that when you buy a place in one of the subdivisions that have HOAs. If you do not like the rules, then why did you buy a place in the subdivision in the first place? :confused2: They are supposed to be cookie cutter like in appearance, and that is what draws most people to them. Mainly older couples or people that do not have time to do their lawns or any outside maintenance like them. JMO.

 

[Mike88se]

I guess I am in the minority. I don't live in a HOA at the moment. I own my home and the land its on. But I like having strict zoning laws. Every now and then you get a hoarder or someone that lets their grass grow over 12 inches tall, or someone with dozens of animals and does not take care of them properly, or has loud parties that last until three in the morning. The zoning laws are all you have to try and reign in the crazies :laughing:.
Of course, fining people for not having green enough grass is nuts, but I doubt that type of rule is commonplace or it would not have made the news.

HOAs for the most part are okay, IMO. They are restrictive, but you should know that when you buy a place in one of the subdivisions that have HOAs. If you do not like the rules, then why did you buy a place in the subdivision in the first place? :confused2: They are supposed to be cookie cutter like in appearance, and that is what draws most people to them. Mainly older couples or people that do not have time to do their lawns or any outside maintenance like them. JMO.

I agree... to a degree. Zoning laws and city/county ordinances and laws would cover most of your examples where I live.
The problem is that the HOA sometimes becomes a sort of prosecutor/judge/jury and enforces rules arbitrarily or overzealously for their benefit...not the community. For example I would bet money that there is a suspicious personal or financial connection between my relative's HOA and their lawyer. There was a news story here a while back about an HOA who tried to sieze the home of a US soldier who was serving extended deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan. I suppose paying his HOA dues kinda slipped his mind. HOA's seizing homes may not be common but I think it happens too often.