|
It's fairly common knowledge that the property value of your home can decrease simply because your neighbor's yard is a disaster or their home looks as if it hasn't been occupied since The Plague, but did you know that the Homeowners Association in your area can set rules and guidelines that you MUST abide by in order to reside in your home? Don't get me wrong, a few guidelines can be a good thing as far as home maintenance and curb appeal, but many HOA presidents tend to get a bit over zealous as far as rules go. For example, in Orange County, California there is an area where you are not allowed to park your vehicle in the driveway; they must either be on the street or in your garage. In other areas there are even more ridiculous rules which include the following: • No flags of any kind are to be hung on or around your house. This includes the United States' flag and yes, the rule even applied to veterans. • No wheelchair ramps. • Bicycles and toys are not to be left in the yard. • Paint colors of the homes must all be the same or neutral. • You must gain permission from the board to have more than 3 cars at your home at one time. • No hanging laundry on a line outside- not even in your backyard. The list goes on and on from the reasonable to the just plain bizarre. Trying to keep the community looking nice is one thing, but over-stepping boundaries and pushing fines and penalties for unforeseeable circumstances is unacceptable. Although there are some extremely petty and absolutely ridiculous rules in some of these communities as I mentioned before, those who live there have no right to complain since they were required to read and agree to the rules established before moving in. So in conclusion, a word to the wise: read the fine print and make sure you are willing to abide by the rules and regulations before moving into an HOA community. It will save you a lot of agitation and heartache in the long run. Common Interests, Inc. provides professional management services to Orange County homeowners associations and condominium associations in the area. (www.commoninterestsinc.com)
Related Articles -
Orange, County, homeowners, association,
| 
