Comments on: Want to Avoid an HOA Neighborhood in Austin? Be Careful http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2009/10/21/want-to-avoid-an-hoa-neighborhood-in-austin-be-careful/ Austin Real Estate Blog Fri, 11 May 2012 17:13:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Steve Crossland http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2009/10/21/want-to-avoid-an-hoa-neighborhood-in-austin-be-careful/#comment-99194 Steve Crossland Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:55:31 +0000 http://crosslandteam.com/?p=1376#comment-99194 Thanks Bill, Julia, Ray. Good points. It's really the County areas where the biggest risk is found in purchasing in unregulated areas. Steve Thanks Bill, Julia, Ray. Good points. It’s really the County areas where the biggest risk is found in purchasing in unregulated areas.

Steve

]]> By: Ray http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2009/10/21/want-to-avoid-an-hoa-neighborhood-in-austin-be-careful/#comment-99178 Ray Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:15:42 +0000 http://crosslandteam.com/?p=1376#comment-99178 I believe your title is a bit flawed. Avoiding HOA Neighborhoods in Austin is fine (and smart IMHO) due to city ordinances. It is outside of the COA jurisdiction that one needs to be careful - as the body of your article points out. The comfort I feel living in a non-HOA central Austin neighborhood is priceless. The COA codes are typically sensible without being overbearing. In fact, I think it may be time to put a couple of hens in the back yard... I believe your title is a bit flawed. Avoiding HOA Neighborhoods in Austin is fine (and smart IMHO) due to city ordinances. It is outside of the COA jurisdiction that one needs to be careful – as the body of your article points out.

The comfort I feel living in a non-HOA central Austin neighborhood is priceless. The COA codes are typically sensible without being overbearing. In fact, I think it may be time to put a couple of hens in the back yard…

]]> By: Julia http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2009/10/21/want-to-avoid-an-hoa-neighborhood-in-austin-be-careful/#comment-99175 Julia Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:48:32 +0000 http://crosslandteam.com/?p=1376#comment-99175 Great story. I love that you addressed the underlying issue in that meeting. I wouldn't have had the guts to do it! I live in an HOA-free neighborhood, and I will admit that it's got a bit of "character". However, I'd much rather laugh over the absurd things my neighbors do than deal with unreasonable HOA enforcers. So I'd be one of those folks demanding to only see houses without an HOA. I've always said that if a problem is REALLY attrocious, the city probably has ordinances that address it. But great point in that the county does not. I wasn't aware of that type of problem/risk, but it definitely makes sense. Great story. I love that you addressed the underlying issue in that meeting. I wouldn’t have had the guts to do it!

I live in an HOA-free neighborhood, and I will admit that it’s got a bit of “character”. However, I’d much rather laugh over the absurd things my neighbors do than deal with unreasonable HOA enforcers. So I’d be one of those folks demanding to only see houses without an HOA. I’ve always said that if a problem is REALLY attrocious, the city probably has ordinances that address it. But great point in that the county does not. I wasn’t aware of that type of problem/risk, but it definitely makes sense.

]]> By: Bill http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2009/10/21/want-to-avoid-an-hoa-neighborhood-in-austin-be-careful/#comment-99143 Bill Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:43:54 +0000 http://crosslandteam.com/?p=1376#comment-99143 HOAs are no panacea. Enforcement is slow to act and uneven (but at least there is some recourse, I suppose). Before we lived in our centralish, expensive, no HOA neighborhood, we lived in two HOA neighborhoods. In the last, we had neighbors with nine cars who were upset they weren't allowed to park on the street -- and went to elaborate lengths to devise a parking rotation to squeak by the rules in the in HOA. Other neighbors were a bit negligent in various upkeep or didn't think some rules applied to them. (Basketball hoops on the street was a frequent violation.) Enforcement is a very slow process. In our current neighborhood, we have some deed restrictions and town bylaws, but no HOA -- yet by and large, there are less problems. There appears to be more a socio-economic drive than a legal drive when it comes to upkeep of a neighborhood. HOAs are no panacea. Enforcement is slow to act and uneven (but at least there is some recourse, I suppose). Before we lived in our centralish, expensive, no HOA neighborhood, we lived in two HOA neighborhoods. In the last, we had neighbors with nine cars who were upset they weren’t allowed to park on the street — and went to elaborate lengths to devise a parking rotation to squeak by the rules in the in HOA. Other neighbors were a bit negligent in various upkeep or didn’t think some rules applied to them. (Basketball hoops on the street was a frequent violation.) Enforcement is a very slow process.

In our current neighborhood, we have some deed restrictions and town bylaws, but no HOA — yet by and large, there are less problems. There appears to be more a socio-economic drive than a legal drive when it comes to upkeep of a neighborhood.

]]> By: Steve Crossland http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2009/10/21/want-to-avoid-an-hoa-neighborhood-in-austin-be-careful/#comment-99138 Steve Crossland Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:07:59 +0000 http://crosslandteam.com/?p=1376#comment-99138 Hi Marty and Michael, Both of you are right. In the central Austin neighborhoods the location and land values, as well as the more forgiving sensibilities of the central inhabitants make the occassional junker less problematic. You also have city government to enforce things such as parking in the front lawn, parking motorhomes in the driveway, etc., which the County doesn't do. But in Michael's example, the home owner agreed to abide and hasn't. That should be enforced, even if it's a sad situation. Steve Hi Marty and Michael,

Both of you are right.

In the central Austin neighborhoods the location and land values, as well as the more forgiving sensibilities of the central inhabitants make the occassional junker less problematic. You also have city government to enforce things such as parking in the front lawn, parking motorhomes in the driveway, etc., which the County doesn’t do.

But in Michael’s example, the home owner agreed to abide and hasn’t. That should be enforced, even if it’s a sad situation.

Steve

]]> By: marty http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2009/10/21/want-to-avoid-an-hoa-neighborhood-in-austin-be-careful/#comment-99136 marty Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:41:21 +0000 http://crosslandteam.com/?p=1376#comment-99136 i live in my HOA-free central austin neighborhood and absolutely love it. it may be different out in the rural areas like you described, but property values in and around my neighborhood area and have always been quite strong -- even with the city having to be called (not by me) on my neighbor for their grass being longer than the city itself allows. several houses over the past couple years have sold on my street near this rogue neighbor and they've all sold quickly at or near the high price being asked. i think this particular neighbor just adds to the flavor, to be honest. i don't mind them, nor do i mind what anyone else does, obviously within reason (running a 'honky tonk' next door would probably be too much for me, too). on the other hand, i have at least a dozen nightmare stories of people i know dealing with their HOA overlords, which in my opinion have FAR to much authority in most cases. if i don't follow the HOA's rules they can take my house? really? and what government body oversees this process to ensure the head of the HOA and his/her friends don't simply have a grudge against me? i live in my HOA-free central austin neighborhood and absolutely love it. it may be different out in the rural areas like you described, but property values in and around my neighborhood area and have always been quite strong — even with the city having to be called (not by me) on my neighbor for their grass being longer than the city itself allows. several houses over the past couple years have sold on my street near this rogue neighbor and they’ve all sold quickly at or near the high price being asked. i think this particular neighbor just adds to the flavor, to be honest. i don’t mind them, nor do i mind what anyone else does, obviously within reason (running a ‘honky tonk’ next door would probably be too much for me, too).

on the other hand, i have at least a dozen nightmare stories of people i know dealing with their HOA overlords, which in my opinion have FAR to much authority in most cases. if i don’t follow the HOA’s rules they can take my house? really? and what government body oversees this process to ensure the head of the HOA and his/her friends don’t simply have a grudge against me?

]]> By: Michael @ The Stage Coach http://crosslandteam.com/blog/2009/10/21/want-to-avoid-an-hoa-neighborhood-in-austin-be-careful/#comment-99135 Michael @ The Stage Coach Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:24:02 +0000 http://crosslandteam.com/?p=1376#comment-99135 hi, Steve... One of my favorite topics... I could write a short book on the Deed Restriction Insanity I see in our little Enclave of around 95x homes up here in Round Rock. One of the first things my wife and I will consider before buying our next home is: Is there an HOA? Do they pay a Management Company? And are Deed Restrictions REALLY enforced? Here's the most recent Cluster-F**K: As a result of the hail storms this year, many of us had to replace our roofs. One of the neighbors picked the cheapest roofer (they drove a pool truck - no joke) and shingles they could find to do the job. As a result, the new roof is out of compliance with the Architectural Shingle required by the deed restrictions. So they sent them a letter. And another. And another. Finally, the HOA President knocked on their door. The owner's response: "We can't afford to put a new roof on the house." Here's where it gets REALLY juicy: He replied, "Have you filed for bankruptcy? The Management Company says we'll have to have our lawyers file a claim against you in Williamson County Court if you haven't filed for bankruptcy..." So now we have this one house that looks like a cheap piece of garbage compared to the others in sight of it. The Board "feels bad" for the owners who have been down on their luck (lost job) and are have filed for bankruptcy. In fact, the reason they put the cheap roof on was to pocket the difference for living expenses - now, I'm no lawyer, but this sounds oddly like the Insurance Fraud mentioned to me by the company that replaced our roof. I'll Admit it: I guess I'm a sucker for mowing the lawn weekly - even if it does not need it. And I'm a goof-ball for pulling the garbage can - out of site of the street - on Friday afternoons. And I could have saved my deductible when we had our roof replaced this summer, and used it for an over size shed in my back yard. And may be I should have bought that 3/4 ton moving (commercial) truck I wanted for my business, instead of the pickup truck parked in my drive way. And we should have picked a home closer to the end of the cul de sac, so we could park our cars in the street in the visitor parking, and not in our drive way. Earlier this year, the Board asked if I would volunteer for the year. I declined telling them, "Ya'll are way too nice for me to tolerate. When you're ready for the HOA Nazi, call me." hi, Steve…
One of my favorite topics… I could write a short book on the Deed Restriction Insanity I see in our little Enclave of around 95x homes up here in Round Rock. One of the first things my wife and I will consider before buying our next home is: Is there an HOA? Do they pay a Management Company? And are Deed Restrictions REALLY enforced?
Here’s the most recent Cluster-F**K: As a result of the hail storms this year, many of us had to replace our roofs. One of the neighbors picked the cheapest roofer (they drove a pool truck – no joke) and shingles they could find to do the job. As a result, the new roof is out of compliance with the Architectural Shingle required by the deed restrictions. So they sent them a letter. And another. And another.
Finally, the HOA President knocked on their door. The owner’s response: “We can’t afford to put a new roof on the house.” Here’s where it gets REALLY juicy: He replied, “Have you filed for bankruptcy? The Management Company says we’ll have to have our lawyers file a claim against you in Williamson County Court if you haven’t filed for bankruptcy…”
So now we have this one house that looks like a cheap piece of garbage compared to the others in sight of it. The Board “feels bad” for the owners who have been down on their luck (lost job) and are have filed for bankruptcy. In fact, the reason they put the cheap roof on was to pocket the difference for living expenses – now, I’m no lawyer, but this sounds oddly like the Insurance Fraud mentioned to me by the company that replaced our roof.
I’ll Admit it: I guess I’m a sucker for mowing the lawn weekly – even if it does not need it. And I’m a goof-ball for pulling the garbage can – out of site of the street – on Friday afternoons. And I could have saved my deductible when we had our roof replaced this summer, and used it for an over size shed in my back yard. And may be I should have bought that 3/4 ton moving (commercial) truck I wanted for my business, instead of the pickup truck parked in my drive way. And we should have picked a home closer to the end of the cul de sac, so we could park our cars in the street in the visitor parking, and not in our drive way.
Earlier this year, the Board asked if I would volunteer for the year. I declined telling them, “Ya’ll are way too nice for me to tolerate. When you’re ready for the HOA Nazi, call me.”

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