What are HOAs and why do they exist?

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asked Nov 19, 2020 in Real Estate - Renting by EvaWu (600 points)
What are HOAs and why do they exist?

2 Answers

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answered Nov 19, 2020 by XHnuts888 (3,860 points)
HOA stands for "Home Owners Association".

An HOA or Home Owners Association is a group of people who tell you how to keep your yard, what color to paint your house, what curtains you can have, what flowers you can have etc.

HOAs were meant to keep property values up and make the neighborhood look nice and kept up but as the years went on the HOA has gotten corrupt and drunk with power.

I bought a house in an HOA 5 years ago and thought it would be a good place to live.

But the rules were ridiculous as I was fined $50.00 for cutting down a branch on my tree on my property that was overhanging my roof.

It said I had to get a permit to cut any tree branches, brush etc.

I also could not keep my trash can outside my garage when not having my trash picked up.

I could also not leave my car out on my driveway or use my garage to work on anything.

I also had to get approval to paint my house, change my doorknob, paint my porch, put any lighting outside etc.

I also wanted to plant a flower garden in my front yard and put a playground play set and tree house in my backyard for my kids and I had to get approval for that as well and they denied it.

I sold that house 2 years later and moved out and I never again will buy a house in a homeowners association.

I moved to a new neighborhood with no HOA and although my neighbor next door has junk in his yard I will gladly put up with that as he's actually a nice and helpful neighbor and I can do what I please on my property.

I also was paying $400.00 per month in HOA dues to be told what to do and now I don't.

I wish people would stop buying homes in HOA areas and eventually they would cease to exist.
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answered Nov 22, 2021 by Carrie123 (14,510 points)
HOA means Home Owners Association and it's a type of control like a government control that you sign into when you buy a home.

If the home you buy has an HOA then you have to agree to be told what to do and how to do it and how to keep your lawn, what color you can paint your house, approval to build a playhouse, etc

Basically buying into an HOA is a bad idea.

I've done it before and will never do it again.

I now live out in the countryside where it's much better and cheaper and I can do what I want to do without a Karen nitpicking about what I can and can't do on my own property.

My old HOA also was telling me that I needed to change out my curtains because they were not HOA approved.

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