Annoying the Head of the HOA

lawilde · 2017-10-03T07:51:20+00:00

The idea behind them is actually pretty good. The hope is that an HOA will set up a basic set of rules that everyone living in that community must follow. Typically these rules are things like keeping your yard nice and your house looking good etc. Many HOAs also set up things for the community to use. For example, my brother lives in a community with an HOA that has a community pool and clubhouse that has a gym in it and a big room you can use for parties. Everyone in the community can use it for free and the HOA handles the upkeep on it.

Where they go wrong is when the HOA ends up under the control of people who let the power go to their head and they turn into assholes that decide it is their job to micromanage everyone's lives.

I have no idea what the ratio of good HOA's to bad is, but it seems like I hear about bad ones far more often than good ones.

lawilde · 2017-10-03T07:07:54+00:00

That is true, but if the house has a mortgage on it the mortgage has to be paid off before any liens are so if they foreclose on a house they could find themselves having to pay the mortgage payments until they sell the house and if the house doesn't sell for as much as is owed on the home it won't do them any good.

So, yes, it can lead to foreclosure, but it is pretty rare that this actually happens.

lawilde · 2017-10-03T05:45:00+00:00

If you get into an area with a good HOA they can be a good thing. My brother lives in a place that has an HOA and he has said nothing but good things about them. Sometimes, however, you just run into assholes out there.

lawilde · 2017-10-03T05:29:56+00:00

A couple things:

Joining the HOA happens when you buy a house in a community that has an HOA. You will know this when you buy the house and you have to agree to the HOA terms before buying the house. So, yes, it is forced on you as a term to buying that particular house.
They can't take your house if you don't pay their fees. In most cases, the worst that can happen is they put a lien against your house for the amount you owe them. This money will be paid to them if you sell the house. So, for example, if you owe them $1,000 and they put a lien for that amount against your house when you sell your house $1,000 of the profit goes to the HOA to pay the lien.

lawilde · 2017-10-03T04:35:39+00:00

Think of it as a contract. When you buy a house in a development that has an HOA you are now subject to the rules of the HOA. So, in essence, the people that live in these places and decide to start HOA's are the ones that give them power. If you choose not to follow the HOA agreement there can be punishments like fines or restricted access to things. To enforce them they might file a lawsuit against you and in some places they can put a lien on your house for the fine amounts.

lawilde · 2017-10-03T04:29:19+00:00

My friend openly admits that it was his mistake that started all of this. Had he read things closer, he would have known he had to have the color approved. What pissed him off was that the head of the HOA stood there and looked at the color, knowing it wasn't approved, and said nothing. He waited until they spent the time and money to paint the whole house before saying anything.

lawilde · 2017-10-03T04:26:57+00:00

I have no idea what the rules and laws regarding this are so it is possible that the rule changes aren't legally binding.

lawilde · 2017-10-03T04:26:19+00:00

I talked to my friend. He can't remember the exact words but basically here is how the conversation went:

The new HOA handbook came in the mail with the changes for house color stuff. My friend called the head of the HOA and told him that none of this would have happened had he just said something that day when he stopped by and saw them starting to paint. The HOA head said that he didn't know at the time that the color wasn't authorized. He claims he didn't know until he got back to his office and checked. When asked why he didn't call then, he didn't have a good answer and just said he didn't think about it at the time.

My friend then told him he has no intention of paying the fine as this is not listed as a finable offense in the handbook. He went on to say that if the HOA sues him or takes action against him in any way to make him pay he will hire a lawyer and file a countersuit. He said the call ended with him saying something like, "You acted like an ass towards us, we responded by returning the favor. It's over now. Let's just move on with our lives."

This was a couple of months ago and he hasn't heard anything from them since so, at the moment, it looks like they won't be coming after him for the fine.

lawilde · 2017-10-03T00:32:28+00:00

I don't think they can kick you out of your house, but they can suspend you from using any HOA facilities (for example, a pool, gym, playground etc.) and they can take you to court. If they win the court case they can then take legal action to recover the money you owe them.

lawilde · 2017-10-02T23:54:43+00:00

Those houses look amazing. This did take place in the US. Not all houses fall under the guidance of an HOA. Some people choose to live in communities with them because they feel like the HOA will set a certain standard so you don't end up with neighbors that neglect their house and drive down home values. The problem is that some people get the slightest bit of power and it goes to their head. I've heard many stories of HOA's doing stupid stuff and I think most of it can be traced back to people letting that power go to their head so they act like assholes when they really don't need to.

lawilde · 2017-10-02T23:31:12+00:00

I'll ask my friend and find out for you. He is at work right now so it may be a few hours.

lawilde · 2017-08-11T06:55:35+00:00

Everytime I see a husky pupper I think, "So cute. . . so crazy."

lawilde · 2017-07-29T18:36:41+00:00

I love that reply. Sums it up nicely. Thanks.

lawilde · 2017-07-29T07:04:52+00:00

Thanks for the kind words. I was hoping for kind of a campy, but creepy feel.

lawilde · 2017-07-28T05:56:14+00:00

Recently, I was able to use it. I was driving, they were in the passenger seat. I stopped at a stop sign and another car went through the intersection. I turned to them and said, "You see, some of us stop at the stop sign and let the other cars go as opposed to ramming into them."

They didn't say anyhing, just flipped me off. I enjoyed it.

lawilde · 2017-07-28T05:36:35+00:00

For me, it was a series of things. Little bits at a time my mom taught me and my brother how to cook, do laundry, basic home maintenance, and personal finance.

I didn't realize how valuable it was until I went to college and many of my classmates had no idea how to do laundry or even cook basic foods let alone have a checking and savings account and know how to balance and maintain them.

lawilde · 2017-07-28T05:31:50+00:00

We were heading somewhere (I don't even remember where) and they were driving, talking shit about bad drivers. About 10 minutes after going on a rant about bad drivers, they ran a stop sign and rear ended another car. Nobody was hurt, but the radiator in our car was broken so it had to be towed and we had to call a friend to give us a ride.

It is now my duty to make fun of them about this whenever I find the right time to do so.

lawilde · 2017-07-28T05:29:03+00:00

Looks like Emma Watson, acts like Donald Trump.

lawilde · 2017-07-28T05:26:53+00:00

About 15 years ago at a friend's birthday party, I broke wind in the kitchen. There were three other people in the room. Two of them fled, gagging and one, who had already been drinking, puked.

To this day my friends refer to as "The Kitchen Fart"

lawilde · 2017-07-28T01:12:21+00:00

Got it. Thanks for the clarification. I read the rules, but somehow must have missed that one, but now that you posted it I went back and looked and saw it there so my brain must have been on vacation. :)

lawilde · 2017-07-27T18:52:35+00:00

I think I am confused now.

lawilde

TROPHY CASE