In defense of HOAs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread just convinces there are no upsides to HOAs

This. I’d rather have the motorcycle tinkerer be my neighbor than any HOA apologist.

The motorcycle tinkerer adds a level of "coolness" to the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Love my HOA for resale reasons. Everyone that visits me is surprised when I say it’s 27 years old. Everything is manicured and looks new. When I explain it’s in part to an HOA they roll their eyes because no one is going to tell them what color they can paint a door. Here’s the thing, they would not have loved my neighborhood in the first place if every fourth home was a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love my HOA for resale reasons. Everyone that visits me is surprised when I say it’s 27 years old. Everything is manicured and looks new. When I explain it’s in part to an HOA they roll their eyes because no one is going to tell them what color they can paint a door. Here’s the thing, they would not have loved my neighborhood in the first place if every fourth home was a mess.

I'm wondering about the assumption that, in neighborhoods without HOAs, every fourth home is a mess.

[Anonymous]

When you drive down River Road in Potomac past the huge mansions with perfect lawns it is amazing they have no HOA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you drive down River Road in Potomac past the huge mansions with perfect lawns it is amazing they have no HOA.

The HOA of Appearances and Social Standing.

[Anonymous]

^^^Excellent Band Name^^^

[Anonymous]

I live in a big neighborhood that has a civic association and was a planned development so it is nice and cohesive, but no HOA. Not every house is maintained perfectly, but most of my neighbors have at least some pride and keep their exteriors up pretty well. It’s really the best of both worlds.

[Anonymous]

We bought in a new development in Alexandria 15 years ago. Glad there is a HOA. If we did not have HOA, I could definitely see some homeowners never doing any maintenance to outside of house. These people only do Maintenance when they have been written up. The parking would be even more out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HOAs have positives and negatives.

I live in a neighborhood without one and some people in one of the houses have ten cars in their one house, probably at least three renters who are so-called "family."

Two of their cars are always parked in front of my house. There must be 12 people at least in the house.

This is one reason I’m glad to have H0A. One gross house really affects the street/neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

There is no defense. HOAs suck and are an infringement on everyone's constitutional rights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no defense. HOAs suck and are an infringement on everyone's constitutional rights.

Not quite. Nobody is forcing you to buy in an HOA neighborhood.

I prefer HOA neighborhoods myself, but to each their own. I’ve experienced living places without one. Not for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no defense. HOAs suck and are an infringement on everyone's constitutional rights.

Then don't buy in a neighborhood that has one. Zero chance that an established, non-HOA neighborhood is going to enact an HOA.

[Anonymous]

Not interested in HOAs. Ppl in my neighborhood generally take care of their homes. The homes that are a bit junky are owned by very old people who cannot be bothered.

[Anonymous]

I had no major complaints about my HOA when I lived in an HOA neighborhood, but I admit I feel a little relief now that I live in a neighborhood without one. My frustrations were mostly in relation to additions and improvements -- I always hated having to wait 6 weeks for some volunteer to get around to approving my new roof or window.

I'd love an HOA that did these things:
1. Enforced basic cleanliness issues like trash cleanup and the kind of overgrown yards that attract rats.
2. Organized meal trains, kid events, and community work such as mowing for an elderly neighbor who can't.
3. Maintained community property like a playground, green space, trail, or pool. I live in a neighborhood where everyone has their own pool and it's such a waste: it should have been designed so we shared one pool.

You can do all that without giving a sh1t what color someone's front door is, or whether they have vegetable beds instead of lawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HOAs have positives and negatives.

I live in a neighborhood without one and some people in one of the houses have ten cars in their one house, probably at least three renters who are so-called "family."

Two of their cars are always parked in front of my house. There must be 12 people at least in the house.

I live in a neighborhood with an HOA and they can’t control the number of cars one of the houses has.