HOAs overstep - watch yours carefully!

[Anonymous]

We have a home in GF with a two acre buildable lot next door, which we bought at the same time as our home 20+ years ago. Small neighborhood, small HOA, but run by a couple people who don’t know their boundaries as provided by law. We are thinking about selling our home and building a home to retire into next door. First we were told by HOA that “the HOA probably owns the land now” Zoning board looked up the property and laughed at them. Then they said they would reject anything put on that land unless it was built to their precise desires. Lawyer laughed at them - said they only have so much control. Of course we would go through the architectural committee for approval, but if they planned to get ridiculously difficult, they would have to prove why, and would lose. I reminded them that our properties are highly sought after for rehabs and that with almost 4 acres of land in a cul-de-sac, it would be the perfect place for one of these rehabs, and that since county law approves of them, their HOA could do nothing but watch property values in the neighborhood plummet. After a bunch of ‘you wouldn’t dares’ I told them that if it was between breaking us financially or them, I certainly would. That seems to have humbled them into considering our idea of building a home on a buildable lot. The idea that they could insist it remain green space is preposterous.

Every HOA meeting it’s the same thing. President and head of the HOA propose X or Y, only to be told by one of a couple lawyers in the neighborhood that what they are doing is illegal. You can’t walk into people’s backyards without permission. You can’t tell people specifically what plants to put in their gardens. You can’t tell only a few people to buy specific product A and wash X or Y with it. You can’t tell people during a political season to remove signs of the person you don’t like or plan to vote for. I did tell them that they are welcome to hand my husband a violation for the garage doors that need replacing, that he’s stalling on

Bottom line - know your rights. I find the DC area to be particularly full of people who feel they can push others around. When a position on the architectural committee on our HOA became available, I joined. Some are not happy about that - most are, because they know I will be reasonable.

[Anonymous]

I agree with this, though I've seen it from both sides. Our HOA has done a good job recently of dealing with some homeowners who don't understand there ARE limits to what they can do, when it actively impacts other properties and people's enjoyment of them. For instance we have some owners who started getting complaints from neighbors about dogs off leash in common areas, and barking dogs left unattended in yards, as well as leaving dog poop in common areas.

Their first response was to get very belligerent and start talking about their property rights and how no one can tell them what to do with their dogs. The HOA swiftly moved to institute a system of warnings and fines regarding common areas violations with dogs, and when they refused to pay the fines, the HOA took them to court to recover the fines, and one.

The dog owners just put up their house for sale. They are fuming and still complain about our HOA "run amok." But I'm grateful to the HOA board for handling the problem correctly.

It's a balance. A good HOA can be a godsend. A bad one is a nightmare. Same with neighbors, I guess.

[Anonymous]

One of the main reasons we sold our home 3 years ago was due to the buffoons on the HOA, never again will I live in an HOA community.

[Anonymous]

If things are this bad, you can’t be the only one dissatisfied. Time for a replacement campaign at the next election.

[Anonymous]

OP, do you even know if your lots are severance? That’s a zoning commission question. You need to focus on that first before messing with your HOA. Many developments in Great Falls are zoned for several acres for the purpose of keeping the rural feel

[Anonymous]

What are you zoned for in Great Falls? Everything turns on that. Most zones won’t allow more than one house in a two acre parcel. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/zoning/faqs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you zoned for in Great Falls? Everything turns on that. Most zones won’t allow more than one house in a two acre parcel. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/zoning/faqs

So you didn’t read the OP? They are considering building on a 2 acre buildable lot. They own 2 lots. 1 with a house and 1 without. And if that wasn’t clear they said that the county already verified they could build on the houseless lot.

[Anonymous]

Our HOA has bylaws on the books that prevent children from walking/running/ touching the grass. They date back 40+ years. The neighborhood is now filled with children. We have received - as well as all our neighbors- notices from the HOA’s attorney our children violated the rules.

The HOA President has lived in the neighborhood for 45 years… she sees no reason to change. Unfortunately no one will challenge her as she seeks vengeance on all challenges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our HOA has bylaws on the books that prevent children from walking/running/ touching the grass. They date back 40+ years. The neighborhood is now filled with children. We have received - as well as all our neighbors- notices from the HOA’s attorney our children violated the rules.

The HOA President has lived in the neighborhood for 45 years… she sees no reason to change. Unfortunately no one will challenge her as she seeks vengeance on all challenges.

Why are you breaking the rules?

[Anonymous]

Would never purchase a house in an HOA under any circumstances.

[Anonymous]

I imagine this is primarily because you live in Great Falls, not because you live in an HOA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you even know if your lots are severance? That’s a zoning commission question. You need to focus on that first before messing with your HOA. Many developments in Great Falls are zoned for several acres for the purpose of keeping the rural feel

She literally said in her OP that she contacted the zoning board, you dummy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would never purchase a house in an HOA under any circumstances.

Same

But I’m pretty stereotype of liberal leaning, public education supporter

[Anonymous]

Off-topic: Most of Great Falls is on septic, sometimes with poor soil qualities. This lack of public sewers is deliberate both by local government (and the GFCA, which is not an HOA under Virginia law, lobbies for this) as a method to keep typical lot sizes larger.

[Anonymous]

The purpose of HOAs is to keep the “non-conformists” out. If you don’t agree with a community’s HOA, then that community is likely not for you,

If I wanted to live a community where unaccompanied kids and pets run wild, and where pets poop on my lawn and all the sidewalks (no owner pickup), I would not have purchased a home with a HOA that specifically prohibits such things. Please buy elsewhere if you can’t abide by the rules.