poohfriend77
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2007
I'm willing to wager 90%+ of HOAs are fine, do a good job, and actually benefit the neighborhood. It's the other 10%, including the one from the OP, that people then point to and say "see, HOA's are evil!"
We didn’t love the idea of an HOA, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives in many cases. We built our home in a new subdivision that was formerly farmland. There was not a single tree in the whole neighborhood when we started building (we were among the first 12-15 houses). The HOA has planted hundreds of trees, created and maintained beautiful common areas, installed a playground, stocked lakes with fish, and planned community events.
The president rides around on a golf cart, picking up trash and chatting with neighbors. He’s not a power-hungry maniac, just a good guy who cares about the neighborhood. We have rules, but they are enforced with a great amount of leniency (for example, we’re not allowed to park campers or boats in driveways, but no one is getting fined for having it there a day or two).
I’m guessing most HOAs are much like ours. It’s just that we’re too boring to make the news. The HOA in a nearby town that insists on approving the colors you paint INSIDE your house makes a much more interesting story! But I know they’re the exception, not the rule.