There is a healthy debate happening on a forum with regard to HOA’s. The title of the thread is I hate my HOA. Many posters agreed with the original poster about how awful HOA’s are and there was a lot of HOA bashing.
One wrote:
“I still do not even understand why and how HOAs are legal.I understand
somewhat the basis of them, not letting a house become a dump or something, but
all to often they are filled with people on power trips ready to micromanage
every aspect of someones property.I will never live in one, I do not think I
would like to work my ass off to buy a wonderful house then have people tell me
what I can and can not do with it. If I want to park my car outside, its my
property, my business.Again, I do not know how HOAs are allowed to legally deprive others of their property rights.” (bolding mine)
HOA stands for Home Owners Association. This is often confused with CC&R’s which are Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions. An HOA means there is a fee associated with living with the confines of the designated community. In Salem HOA fees range from $45 per yer to $200 per month.
The CC&R’s are the actual set of rules that home buyers agree to follow when they purchase a home within a certain community. You can have CC&R’s for a community without having an HOA. Common CC&R’s are putting RV’s and boats behind fences, mowing your lawn, having some masonry on a home, having a house plan accepted by a committee, etc.
HOA’s and/or CC&R’s are very common with newer construction homes. It is in the builder’s best interest to have homes kept up as they are building out the neighborhood and in theory this helps everyone’s home values.
In Salem we have plenty of neighborhoods to choose from that don’t have CC&R’s nor HOA’s. Just look at the neon green two story home down the street from me, if you need proof. That color would never have gotten by an HOA.
What this poster went on to state was that he felt that CC&R’s should not run with the property. He felt that many buyers were forced to purchase homes against their will as they had no choice. Clearly buyer’s have choices. Having lived in a very strict HOA community in the past, I can see why they are popular for some. When the board put to a vote on whether or not to allow basketball hoops outside of homes, I knew it was time for me and the kids to move somewhere else.
One of the most important freedoms we have is choice. That also means the choice to restrict ourselves. If a group of citizens wants to restrict themselves and their land that is their choice. While some may think HOA’s and CC&R’s are horrible, in order to truly be a “free” country it means having both ends of the spectrum. HOA’s and CC&R’s are wonderful for people that want them. If you don’t think that people have property rights, I suggest you check out the Redneck Stonehenge.
(c) Copyright, 2008. Melina Tomson, All Rights Reserved (ie…be nice and create your own content. Don’t steal mine…)
HOAs and CC & Rs have their pluses and minuses. I can look out my back window at the Deschutes River and National Forest. I look out my front window at my neighbors two boats, pick-up and paving equipment. I'm glad the CC&Rs prevent pigs and chickens! Some of our most valuable real estate in Bend Oregon has strict CC&Rs.
Jim, I agree. No livestock is a common one on CC&R's. I really don't understand the vehemence that people have towards HOA's. They work for some and not for others. We do have choices. A view of the Deschutes sounds wonderful!