patrick.net

Like most HOAs, ours sends out the minutes of each of its meetings. I seriously cannot figure out what is wrong with these people. Pages and pages of minutes discussing front yard flower choices and the distance between plantings. Pages of minutes discussing the differences between "desert sand" and "country wheat." I would fucking kill myself if I had to sit through a meeting like that. This goes way beyond maintaining an "overall look."

My neighborhood looks nice, albeit a tad unimaginative. Now, I could see shutting someone down if let's say.... I wanted to paint a giant Ibis on my garage door, and then paint my house and trim in the corresponding UM colors (Go Canes!). Or if I wanted to pave my entire front yard and convert it into a small parking lot for RVs. But I shouldn't have to consult the HOA Nazis over roses vs lantanas trimming my front walkway or two shades of the same fucking color of paint. And if the HOA had normal people on its committee, I should think that those people would resent having their time wasted on such truly immaterial issues. And the bottom line... They approve everything that people ask for. So, it's clear to me that most people aren't determined to make their homes look ridiculous and ruin the overall appearance of the neighborhood. Yet, hours and hours are spent discussing all this. Thank God they are volunteers. At least we aren't paying for their time.

The second we moved into our house, I received a letter from the HOA telling me that I couldn't make ANY changes (including plantings to the front yard) without HOA approval. These people are nuts!

turtledove says

Pages and pages of minutes discussing front yard flower choices and the distance between plantings. Pages of minutes discussing the differences between "desert sand" and "country wheat." I would fucking kill myself if I had to sit through a meeting like that.

turtledove says

The second we moved into our house, I received a letter from the HOA telling me that I couldn't make ANY changes (including plantings to the front yard) without HOA approval.

HOAs are dominated by people who have lots of free time, usually because they are retired and their adult children can't stand spending time with them, and want to exert control over other people's property to build a neighborhood pleasing to them but paid by you. It's basically a game of Sim Neighborhood in which they get their neighbors to flip the bill and do the work and they get to be little despots issuing edicts. They get a thrill from the power and lack of accountability.

The reason government is corrupt is that pretty much all people are corrupt. The few people who are not corrupt have no interest in government from the little HOA to the greatest super power.

Stocks perform better than real estate. Have you learned nothing from this site?

My investments have done very well. Meanwhile, your cardboard box and five-cent glory hole business have not appreciated at all.

Zero chance I would ever buy in an HOA

you people that choose to buy in an HOA are nuts

errc says

Zero chance I would ever buy in an HOA

you people that choose to buy in an HOA are nuts

In most areas in South Florida, you simply have little to no choice as everyplace has an HOA.

I don't believe that. I'm operating under the assumption that HOAs are for developments, and that houses in regular neighborhoods don't have them. I could be wrong

HOAs are typically created by developers building new neighborhoods. However, in south Florida pretty much every neighborhood created after 1970, which is most of them, was created with an HOA. So there truly is little to no choice.

KILL THE HOAs! KILL THEM ALL!

In our HOA, deadbeats are crucified on a quarterly basis right next to community gym. It's a truly delightful scene. We even merged it with the wine night social. Kids are invited to watch, the elderly race each other down developer paid streets to get to the front of the line. The attendance and the drinking has increased to the point that next day no one can believe what just happened. But, on a positive note, we have built up impressive reserves that we don't anticipate any special assessments any time soon.

tovarichpeter says

Raise your other hand if you ever wanted to punch your HOA in the nose.

I'd love to go AF on these people!

Dan8267 says

It's basically a game of Sim Neighborhood in which they get their neighbors to flip the bill and do the work and they get to be little despots issuing edicts. They get a thrill from the power and lack of accountability.

Best description ever. Ex-Officer types and Buttinskis are the prime candidates.

https://communityassociations.net/category/fraud_embezzlement/

I get to go to my first meeting this month. Yeaaaaaah. Only $525 annually. I'm also an ass hole and Karen's won't win against me. Not a joke. We already have one and shamed/trolled her on a Facebook group because the kids were fishing. Dip shit there's an easement from the water line. They can fish.

Another Karen called the cops on the kids for ice skating in a 3' deep lake like the ice would break and they'd die. I'll have my battles cut out for me. Oh well. At least it's not expensive.

https://www.wptv.com/news/state/florida-lawmaker-floats-ban-on-homeowners-associations-amid-growing-backlash

Florida lawmaker floats ban on homeowners associations amid growing backlash

Get on the board and put people in their place. Too many people bitch and don't do anything. I'm on a board. It's not fun all the time. You have to be a jerk to people you actually like but have differing opinions. Depends how you handle it.

Overall not a fan of HOA's even though I'm about to be in one in about 30 days. Already attending a meeting. I'll be a dick. Independent but lean libertarian. Get the fuck out of my life.

HOAs are a little version of government, which means, for the most part, some combination of corrupt and incompetent.

As Dan mentioned above, HOAs attract people with too much time on their hands, which means an extra dose of incompetence... either because they are old (retired and therefore out of touch with the 21st century) or because they are younger but unemployed (because they are so useless as to be unemployable).

Larger forms of government have an extra attraction: career politicians.

The version I am familiar with is they contract out to a "property management" firm, and the person who gets money to find flaws in everything suddenly finds flaws in everything, to the point of hallucination / requirements confounding because they may have multiple contracts. The first warning I suggest is to require them to cite the specific contractual line / CC&R or approved guidance that is in breach.

Sorry, no advice to give regarding idle-handed crazy-ladies. They want dick, maybe?

It sucks but if one is in an HOA you have to do politics. People who just want to work and enjoy their property get schlonged by Karens and Kens if they don't participate.

SunnyvaleCA says

HOAs attract people with too much time on their hands, which means an extra dose of incompetence... either because they are old (retired and therefore out of touch with the 21st century) or because they are younger but unemployed (because they are so useless as to be unemployable).

I must be lucky here. My HOA is only about $500 per year but includes lakes, walking trails, clubhouse, a very nice pool, and a large picnic and playground area with shelters. Enough volunteers for the HOA that we have elections not just for officers, but for committee heads as well. When we had an issue with one of the lake berms, two retired Civil Engineers on the Grounds Committee were able to take care of it. Our HOA Treasurer is an actual CPA. The head of the Trails Committee is a builder and a Scout Master who rebuilt the woodland trail bridges over low spots and streams as a merit badge project for the Scouts. Those bridges are very professional looking treated lumber projects. The HOA President is a younger guy with a good paying job and a hot wife. At the last HOA meeting, this guy was well prepared with a PowerPoint presentation that showed all the issues and what needed to be done. He also had to deal with those members who balked at any spending they thought might increase the HOA fees.

WookieMan says

I'm on a board

MolotovCocktail says

WookieMan says

I'm on a board

Why would I dox myself??? I swear you ate paint chips as a kid. But hey, keep posting childish drivel on every thread on this site. You picked up 6 ignores in a little over 2 years. 3 per year Took 12 years for me to get 11. Less than 1 per year. You spam the site daily and I'd say @Patrick is losing potential new users because of it.

Most my ignores are likely also people that don't like my swearing which is understandable. Yours are people annoyed with the constant shit posting of no value. I seriously believe you have mental disorder as I know you post on X. All day every day there and this site and others I'm probably sure you're on. There's medical terms for what you do. You have a mental illness dude and you probably should at least seek out a therapist.

This is why I don't dox myself as you're the type to find my home and do actual harm to me. Sucks because all the other users are chill even when we disagree. You just post shit like the above. What does that add to the site and for other users? Nothing.

HeadSet says

I must be lucky here. My HOA is only about $500 per year but includes lakes, walking trails, clubhouse, a very nice pool, and a large picnic and playground area with shelters. Enough volunteers for the HOA that

Pools and sports courts (we love ours) are great for HOAs to maintain, shifting the liability away from the house owner. Also they often cover roofs and outside walls insurance which lowerd the rates. It's not that different from a voluntarily established commune/small vilage if done right. It can work. Karens are a probmem everywhere, sometimes it gives them something to do and feel useful so they are less of a nuisance if occupied with something unimportant. Just gotta keep that climate change committee at bay

WookieMan says

Why would I dox myself??

With made up bullshit? Easy.

Your credibility on this site is completely shot to hell but you live in this magical imaginary world where you think otherwise.

What have I made up? List 3 with links.

WookieMan says

What have I made up? List 3 with links.

Why? Plenty right here on this thread. Within the last 7 days in particular.

And you'll just deny it anyway.

MolotovCocktail says

Why? Plenty right here on this thread. Within the last 7 days in particular.

And you'll just deny it anyway.

What am I denying? You've proven nothing. You assume what I say is a lie and have no proof. That makes you the liar.

WookieMan says

You've proven nothing.

I see your confusion. YOU provided the proof, but are in denial that you did so. Therefore, you are projecting onto me that I have to provide 'proof' as per your magical reality.

Idaho passed a law that your HOA can't stop you from having chickens if your lot is over a quarter acre.

zzyzzx says

https://www.wptv.com/news/state/florida-lawmaker-floats-ban-on-homeowners-associations-amid-growing-backlash

Florida lawmaker floats ban on homeowners associations amid growing backlash

Realtors are fucking terrified right now, which is why this long overdue reform is finally happening. People simply do not want HOAs, but most builds since the 80s are in HOAs.

It was so bad in FL that HOAs were fining deputy sheriffs and NF Rangers for parking their patrol/work vehicles in their own driveways because their vehicles had "decals and branding" on them.

DemoralizerOfPanicans says

zzyzzx says

https://www.wptv.com/news/state/florida-lawmaker-floats-ban-on-homeowners-associations-amid-growing-backlash

Florida lawmaker floats ban on homeowners associations amid growing backlash

Realtors are fucking terrified right now, which is why this long overdue reform is finally happening. People simply do not want HOAs, but most builds since the 80s are in HOAs.

It was so bad in FL that HOAs were fining deputy sheriffs and NF Rangers for parking their patrol/work vehicles in their own driveways because their vehicles had "decals and branding" on them.

I for one don't feel sorry ppl buying into HOAs. Like student loans, nobody put a gun to their heads to sign on the dotted line.

"But...but...everywhere are HOAs if you want to buy a home!" <--- it's like ppl don't fucking read what I wrote or simply cannot accept accountability for their actions. It's still a choice on your part. Everything is a trade off. If you make that choice, you can't bitch about the tyranny of the HOA YOU WILLINGLY SPREAD YOUR BUTTCHEEKS TO. YOU signed on the fucking dotted line.

zzyzzx says

So? I'd tell them to fuck off. They have no legal standing to demand anything from you.

zzyzzx says

https://www.wptv.com/news/state/florida-lawmaker-floats-ban-on-homeowners-associations-amid-growing-backlash

Florida lawmaker floats ban on homeowners associations amid growing backlash

What about HOAs that maintain streets and water/sewage mains, etc? Yes, for SFHs. Or that isn't common in FL?

Look, 90% of the homes built in Florida in the past 20-30 years are HOAs. Counties encouraged them to save on road maintenance and other costs. But now counties are jacking up taxes like SFBA criminals jack people anyway.

I only own my condo but have zippo intentions of buying a home with any kind of HOA.

The pickings are slim as fuck, though, because of public policy encouraging HOAs.

Glad to see the Realwhores putting their weight behind HOA reform. Mow the lawn, fill the pothole, then shut the fuck up unless people are putting out appliances in the front yard (which is against county regs anyway). Bulldoze the clubhouse and fill the community pool too, would be great.

DemoralizerOfPanicans says

Look, 90% of the homes built in Florida in the past 20-30 years are HOAs.

So fucking what? Again:

MolotovCocktail says

"But...but...everywhere are HOAs if you want to buy a home!" <--- it's like ppl don't fucking read what I wrote or simply cannot accept accountability for their actions. It's still a choice on your part. Everything is a trade off. If you make that choice, you can't bitch about the tyranny of the HOA YOU WILLINGLY SPREAD YOUR BUTTCHEEKS TO. YOU signed on the fucking dotted line.

MolotovCocktail says

So fucking what? Again:

Again:

I'm happy HOAs are being restricted and the Socialist Karen-Kens are being defanged and hamstrung

DemoralizerOfPanicans says

Again:

I'm happy HOAs are being restricted and the Socialist Karen-Kens are being defanged and hamstrung

Are they? A proposed law is just pandering to voters.

MolotovCocktail says

Are they? A proposed law is just pandering to voters.

A shitload of laws already passed. Addressing everything from conflict of interest/kickbacks to fine limits to mandatory online meeting minutes & mandatory notice of right to pre-fine hearings to restricting the ability of HOAs and NGOs to impose mask requirements. Now more are on the way to further stop KenKarens from pretending they live in an exclusive covenant estate community with properties worth $5M+ apiece and harassing middle class homeowners in modest homes.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2024/html/3488#:~:text=The%20bill%20requires%20homeowners'%20associations,application%20on%20a%20mobile%20device.

https://lscarlsonlaw.com/articles/florida-hoa-law-updates-2023-2024-attorney-insights