You got it Robbie. Actually, when we talk of HOA rules, we are not talking about righst but just the opposite. HOA rules limits the freedoms of homeowners in a certain area unlike the Constitution which limits the power of the government, which is why the Obama regime wants so desperately to remake it.

Tyranny, tyranny, everywhere

We do the accounting for a group of over 100 condos. The problems seem to ebb and flow with the elected leadership. Lately, with two controlling women at the helm, it is one tempest in a teapot after another. It is petty and ongoing. Many older people just want a peaceful existence. We have decided we NEVER will go to a condo.
Our rural subdivision, lots 1-5 acres, does have a homeowners association. It came in handy when developers for an adjacent parcel planned to tie into our sewage system for 80 new homes, and County Commissioners, in their ignorance were set to approve it. The Assoc. filled the chambers and fought it to its death. Had that not happened, the EPA would have shut down the system, and none of us would have had a place to live. However, another time, some liberal broad got on the board and was planning Paris street lights for the whole subdivision - most of the homes are rustic. That got put down as well, and she moved to Calif. where she fits right in. We do have other limitations, no horses (darn), no fenced in front yard, all garages must be attached (but they aren't). Mostly I like some rules, but loose ones.

I see your point. Although I will tell you that changing the covenants in a HOA are often as involved as a constitutional amendment. If anyone is curious as to how I handled my issue with my HOA here is what I did. I knocked on every door in the neighborhood and asked every neighbor if the wanted to be a party to my lawsuit against the board [they were trying to jack the dues up more than the COLA] By the time I got to the presidents house to ask him....[yes having a little brass helps]....he had already spent 45 minutes getting an earful from the neighbors. [not because they agreed with me, but because they realized that this was going to cost them to defend the suit.] Anyway, they decided after that not to violate the rate increase portion of the covenants again.

I agree with what you say but the constitution has nothing to do with a private contract. The constitution does not give us our rights. God does. The constitution only provides powers to government. It is essentially a list of “Negative Rights”. We do have a Bill of rights, but this was only put in as a compromise, the bill of rights are not the only rights we have and our rights are not granted by them. In any case, you can contract away "rights" as long as the contract is not in any way void. IE the constitution has absolutely nothing to do with a private contract. Let me give you an example. My Father was an Indentured servant. This is a recognized form of slavery. His mother [a widow] had no money to send him to secondary school so she indentured him to the DeHavland aircraft corporation for 4 years. During that time, he had to work for them and he could not leave. In return, he got an engineering education. This was a legal contract because the parties entering in to it could legally sign and everybody got something [IE: the contract was not one sided]

What in the world is wrong with you people? If a house or condo is what you want, in a neighborhood you like at a price you can afford but has a HOA rule(s) you can't abide, why not stand against it, provided, of course, you are right. Weigh the benefits against the bad rule and either buy or not, but don't wimp out if you have to fight for what's right. There's not much point to feeling morally superior but standing on the sidelines because you might get your hands dirty.

If the rules are used in a vindictive manner or are just plain unjust, then being on the board is essential if you want to change them or oust the vindictive nutcase. I've always believed that if you are able to right a wrong you should never sit by and let it happen. You might be next. If you agreed to a contract, you can work to change it. That's what the Constitutional amendments are all about.

Wow! I imagine you riding your motorcycle naked into your hot tub, snapping bullwhips and shooting up a storm!

What a show. Can you charge admission?

Jan

Be my guest.

yea, I did like that line. can I steal it for my next book? ;)

herb did

Dull and arid?

I try hard to stay out of my neighbors' way. and I like the same. Where I live, it's unusual to walk up to the front door and knock. You stand out on the road in front and whistle or call out. Many people have gates and fences (fence out policy) and put cow bells on the gate for people to ring. I like that. I hate answering the door ;)

I used to be vice president of a Homeowner's Association for a high end development in a liberal community in northern California. In general, HOA rules (which all buyers and renters agree to follow in order in order to live there) are very specific about what is and what is not permitted. Almost all of the time when we had a problem with a resident, the excuse was that "this is just not fair" or "this is too important an issue", or "I'm too important a person" to follow the rules. Of course there were sometimes varying interpretations, but generally it was black and white. It never failed to amaze me how many people would agree to something and then say they didn't understand it or didn't have time to read it, when their signature was on the document.

That said, many HOA's provide a place where cranky people go to fight with each other, which is why I finally resigned.

Lesson: When you knowingly give up your "rights" then don't complain when you have no "rights."

If you are young enough to still be building your nest egg, condos are probably not for you. This is because while you are at work the older, retired residents, are holding HOA meetings to write the rules that tell you how to live. Since you are at work and cannot attend these meetings, you have no say. You will live by the rules or be forced out.

it happens on every level. I'm thinking "community gardens." In my experience women are the worst. why is that?

I have had experience with several HOAs over the years and actually been on the board of a couple. In some cases, board members are so tired of their dull, and arid lives, that they actually get drunk with the itty-bitty amount of power they have and can hardly wait to use it against someone. I could probably write a book on the nutty actions of people like this.

Well if the HOA rules are you can’t advertise by way of putting a business sign in your yard or your window, the pink ribbon is questionable. Perhaps this chick works for Breast Cancer Awareness. I dk. The article is a little lean on information and one-sided.
I know how HOA's can be intrusive. There is a by-law in our community that you can’t put any architectural structure, pond, or statue in your yard without committee approval. Most of the time it is ignored. Nobody cares. But this christian woman got bent out of shape because one of her neighbors had put out a little Buddhist stature in her yard. The Christian woman complained. The HOA President went around with his clipboard, approving everything he could find in everybody's yard instead of demanding the Buddhist statue be removed. Even a rubber-ducky floating in my neighbor's birdbath got approved. Lol.