Neighborhood Associations

[Mickey]

Anyone have one? If so, what do you like about it? What do you dislike? Thinking about possibly moving one day to where there is one and would like to know the pros and cons. TIA!

[AnnW]

We have a home owner's association, but it's not like the ones in newer/master plan communites. Ours handles the deed restriction (not that many), coordinates trash/recyle pickup, constable patrol, landscaping the front entrance, welcome wagon. It's really not something I even think about. I know that if we do anything to our house that changes the front elevation (not paint...structural stuff) you need to get it approved by the board, but they are pretty good about ok'ing things.

[MaryL]

We have a homeowner's association for our subdivision. I don't mind it, we pay a yearly fee which pays for maintaining the grass and fountains in our 3 common areas (little ponds, kind of cute!) as well as paying for our annual block party. Our neighborhood watch is organized thru our homeowners assoc. There are some "rules" set up for our subdivisions....and they approve changes in home structure/major landscaping, etc. But, as with Ann W. there usually isn't a problem. When we moved here, we made sure that we could comply with the "rules" set by the association, and decided that we could. Some people wouldn't like it. We chose our subdivision based on location...and the fact that there are tons of kids for our dk's to play with.

[Mickey]

I appreciate your replies, Ann and Mary!

We'll definitely make sure it's not too restrictive before we buy.

We lived in a townhouse once with a homeowner's association--we rented and I didn't really know about it until after we moved in. I had no problem complying, but the neighbor was complaining because they told him to take down his umbrella on his patio (one that you stick in the middle of a table) because it was "too flashy" (alternating green and white- they only allowed solid, neutral colors like off-white and beige). That would be a bit much for me.

I'd like to have one for the constable service, pool, common areas, etc. And I'd like it so my neighbors couldn't let their grass grow a foot long or let it die or park disassembled cars in their front yards (my immediate neighbors don't do that here, but they do one street over). Guess I'll have to really check it out to see if I can live with the restrictions.

Thank you, again!

[Lynda/WA]

I read an article on them once upon a time. So long ago that I can't remember the details. I do know it gave many examples of the association gone bad. For example, you may have rules that you can live with now but as people change the rules may become to restictive. Some complaints I remember were things like what kinds of vehicles could be outside (ie no RVs). And restrictions an when you could take out your garabage and had to bring the cans back up to the storage area.

Some places don't have an acting association but restriction written into the deed (I think it's the deed?). For example we can't extend out house to a certain distance of the edge of our lot. And the fence can't be over a certain height. These aren't restrictions that will change.

Some of this stuff may not even matter. A topic on the radio recently was how a city (Eugene OR?) is passing a rule that makes it illegal to place a moveable basketball hoop within a set distance from the road. The reasoning is the same as seat belts. Too protect you from youself. Parents might let their children play to close to a road and they'd get hurt.

[JeannieOR]

They publish a newsletter and sponser the Art Walk and the crime patrol in our neighborhood. I've gone to a couple of the meetings and they seem to have their fingers in a lot of pies. I been earged to join by my friends but too much of the meetings seem to be about elminating rental housing and since my family rents and has little hope of buying a home nearby, I feel like sort of a an outsider so I'll probablly never join.

[mommy bear]

Mickey, we had an association at our last place. It's a good concept, but I've noticed that some people would like to "control" the neighborhood. That was the case in our association. For some odd reason we didn't find this out until after we moved in. They did do wonderful things like mowing of public areas, snow removal and neighborhood watch. I thought it went too far when they informed a neighbor that they couldn't have lawn furnitur or sunbathe in the front of the house, ruled out a small satelite dish on the roof of another house, and made a fuss about shutter and deck paint color of yet another.

Chris

[Mickey]

Thank you, Lynda, Jeannie and Chris!

Lynda, I never thought about the possibility of it being ok when you move in then becoming bad.

That's interesting that they're trying to eliminate rental housing, Jeannie--I'm surprised that would be something that could change after you buy a house because some people purchase houses for the sole purpose of renting them out.

Chris that seems rough that you can't sit out in your front yard on a lawn chair, but the amenities sound so appealing. Guess you just have to weigh the two and see if it's something you can live with at the time and try to have a voice in keeping things tolerable?

Thanks again, guys! I really appreciate your input on this!