Ughhhhhhhh. Trucks, HOAs, and Garages...

[Apples]

I have always wondered why Florida residential areas have off-limit rules for trucks. Nowadays, there are a myriad of companies making nothing but trucks, SUVs, and crossovers, etc. If De Los Santos wants to become president, this is one area of frustration which will have to be addressed. After all, why should Florida be indifferent to trucks, while the rest of us aren't?

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[AzScorpion]

Another thought from reading the post above. When you find a house you like go by there at all different times of the day and night. You'll see how the neighborhood really is this way. Granted people move in/out all the time but at least you'll see if there's a barking dog (s) or atv's racing around at night. Just because the neighborhood is nice and quiet during the day doesn't mean it will be at night, especially on the weekend.

 

[OrangeStreak]

Another thought from reading the post above. When you find a house you like go by there at all different times of the day and night. You'll see how the neighborhood really is this way. Granted people move in/out all the time but at least you'll see if there's a barking dog (s) or atv's racing around at night. Just because the neighborhood is nice and quiet during the day doesn't mean it will be at night, especially on the weekend.

Very good idea. Before buying (this area was not completed and had some empty lots to be used for residences including the one that became mine) I introduced myself as a prospecive buyer to several neighbors and asked questions about the contractor and his work, conditions in the neighborhood, etc., and got some perspectives about this community which were helpful in making a decision. Fortunately, it has worked out well.

 

[Langwilliams]

When I bought my house in Florida many years ago the people I worked with said to drive by it during a rain storm an see if water pools up. There were lots of nice houses at great prices where I lived on the panhandle but the builders cut corners an sometimes grading the lot or installing proper drainage.

 

[Floyd]

Well good that you became aware of the HOA rules prior to purchasing a home in a HOA community - many times people don't, then they complain about rules that were created by the HOA members - yes people forget that the residents create those HOA charters and residents have the ability to change them. So you might not want to live amongst those type of people anyways. Had to laugh at some people that moved from Texas to a HOA governed community in the Denver area that prohibited parking pickups on the street - of course they bitterly complained but admitted they never bothered to read the bylaws prior to moving - and then they have the audacity (read ignorance) to p*ss and moan about it.

It is not always so that the residents set the rules, In fact most are simply subjected to HOA tyranny when they buy a house. In many places there are no new developments available without pre-established HOAs.
In my subdivision the HOA rules were established with the subdivision charter by the developer. I did my research before buying and was able to prove that the HOA had failed to have formal meetings for a period of twelve consectutive months and thus reverted to ordinance. So I bought the house and tore up the the HOA agreement attached to the deed.
Now I realize that everything must be either taxed or against the law nowadays, but I'll be darned if I'll ever be subjected to an HOA.

 

[Gsxrdoug]

Isn't Whistling Diesel from Florida, I figured everyone had monster trucks down there.
Out here if your in a HOA, you can't even paint your house the color you want or do any exterior modifications to the house without Board approval. Crazy and not for me.

 

[JesseS]

No HOA here, I lived in one....once, never again. So now we are in a little older area with established homes and built out commercial, so the traffic won't get any worse, and it is only a bit heavy at 'rush' hour. Here you can park your truck anywhere except the lawn. My Ranger fits in the garage, and a plus is I have a side gate and a 60' RV parking area. Lots of parks and bike trails, river near by with the Ocean 100 miles West and the Sierras 100 miles East...... I would like to have a couple more acres but the wife likes to be close to shopping, and as she doesn't make me go with her then I am good with that . The house is paid for so we won't be moving and inccuring a mortgage.

 

[dtech]

If people are against HOAs it seems pretty simple - don't buy a home in a hoa controlled development, yet people buy the homes without bothering to read the hoa documents then complain afterwards. Yes the developer can provide initial hoa agreements but most if not all have defined mechanisms for changing the by laws, this is generally controlled by state regulations - just as floyd pointed out there are obligations to hold meetings. I just moved from an hoa controlled neighborhood and I was at odds with the board on several issues - the hoa president was in office from the onset of the development over 24 yrs, all the board members were his pals, but if the residents had gotten off their lazy as*ses they could have ousted the board or adopted term limits as motions can be introduced to change the community by laws and if approved by a majority or defined quorum they legally must be adopted, just as hoa boards have a defined set of obligations they are responsible for. Currently I live in an hoa community but it's night and day from my former residence - the hoa board members are intelligent and responsive and they are term limited to 2 yrs.

 

[AzScorpion]

If people are against HOAs it seems pretty simple - don't buy a home in a hoa controlled development, yet people buy the homes without bothering to read the hoa documents then complain afterwards. Yes the developer can provide initial hoa agreements but most if not all have defined mechanisms for changing the by laws, this is generally controlled by state regulations - just as floyd pointed out there are obligations to hold meetings. I just moved from an hoa controlled neighborhood and I was at odds with the board on several issues - the hoa president was in office from the onset of the development over 24 yrs, all the board members were his pals, but if the residents had gotten off their lazy as*ses they could have ousted the board or adopted term limits as motions can be introduced to change the community by laws and if approved by a majority or defined quorum they legally must be adopted, just as hoa boards have a defined set of obligations they are responsible for. Currently I live in an hoa community but it's night and day from my former residence - the hoa board members are intelligent and responsive and they are term limited to 2 yrs.

It's not that easy out here as HOA's are everywhere. I use to think the same way because back east there are very few of them and they're mostly in condo's. I've done hundreds of new housing projects and never seen one with an HOA back there.

 

[AzScorpion]

Isn't Whistling Diesel from Florida, I figured everyone had monster trucks down there.
Out here if your in a HOA, you can't even paint your house the color you want or do any exterior modifications to the house without Board approval. Crazy and not for me.

It's like that here too Doug. They have an approved color list for the exteriors and you cant have the same color as your neighbor. Worst part is they changed the color list so now if you like your house color and have to repaint it you have to chose a new color from their list. Oh, they will also send you a notice if your house is fading and make you paint it or fine you. I don't mean fading to the point where it's an eyesore I mean slightly discolored.

Also there's an approved plant list and you have to pick from that list. If a plant dies and you're replacing it with the same darn plant they want to you submit an approval application.

 

[Tom_C]

Since we're now talking mainly HOA, I'll tell you my story, but's there's not much to it. We have property in WV where we'll retire. It's a "gated community".... but it's still WV. Gravel roads, fully wooded 20+ acre lots. Our HOA rules just say the size of the house you can build, that you can't have mobile homes, no year round travel trailers (got to leave in the month of January, i.e. no shanty towns) etc. I'm fine with it all and they aren't crawling up everyone's butt all the time. I don't want a shanty town either, so I understand it.

We had been here about 5 years and I've had a trailer on the property that hasn't moved since the day we drove it up here. Of course where it lives is buried in the woods so can't be seen, but the HOA finally put out a notice they were enforcing the 'must leave in Jan for travel trailer' rule cause there were some obvious offenders. By that time we had started construction on our house, so I just said it was a construction office

 

[JesseS]

It's like that here too Doug. They have an approved color list for the exteriors and you cant have the same color as your neighbor. Worst part is they changed the color list so now if you like your house color and have to repaint it you have to chose a new color from their list. Oh, they will also send you a notice if your house is fading and make you paint it or fine you. I don't mean fading to the point where it's an eyesore I mean slightly discolored.

Also there's an approved plant list and you have to pick from that list. If a plant dies and you're replacing it with the same darn plant they want to you submit an approval application.

Out here there are some that will not let you landscape your front yard at all, the HOA has a landscaping company that does everything from mow & blow to replacing the grass or plants, and you pay through the nose in HOA dues, nope, not for me! I guess this is fine if you are old and don't want to be bothered with it.

 

[Blue Streak]

It looks like my wife and I may be relocating from Marietta, GA to Boca Raton, FL - and because of that we've started looking for a home on Zillow. Most of the homes we've looked at are in HOA/country club communities, and I've started poking around and reading some the HOA rules. One home we liked had an HOA rule of no trucks, vans, commercial vehicles in the driveway - including non-commercial pick-up trucks. So it looks like I need to measure the overall height of my truck and bring a tape measure with me to Florida when we look at homes. Arghhhhhhhhh.

Anybody here with a lifted Ranger able to cram their Ranger into their garage? I have a 3.5" lift and RTT mounted!!!!! I don't think mine fits in my current home's garage.

First thing to notice when you drive up is if the garage door is a 4 panel or a 5 panel. 4 panel are standard height & you will need to do some close measuring, 5 panel are taller & you should be good to go. We had a 4 panel in Texas & it was close. We have a 5 panel now lot of height clearance.

 

[pa-fatboy]

Having lived in an HOA neighborhood, I have sworn to never do that again. I can’t stand having someone tell me what I can and can’t do for decorations, kiddy toys, plants… never again. It’s been over 20 years and I still ride and drive by the head of my old HOA’s house on Harley and mustang and just outrageously rev the engines.

 

[Delirious]

It looks like my wife and I may be relocating from Marietta, GA to Boca Raton, FL - and because of that we've started looking for a home on Zillow. Most of the homes we've looked at are in HOA/country club communities, and I've started poking around and reading some the HOA rules. One home we liked had an HOA rule of no trucks, vans, commercial vehicles in the driveway - including non-commercial pick-up trucks. So it looks like I need to measure the overall height of my truck and bring a tape measure with me to Florida when we look at homes. Arghhhhhhhhh.

Anybody here with a lifted Ranger able to cram their Ranger into their garage? I have a 3.5" lift and RTT mounted!!!!! I don't think mine fits in my current home's garage.

I will never ever again live in an HOA. It’s just plain sucks. Are usually run by people that couldn’t hold a supervision job in life and now they think they’re just governor of the community. I got on the board to try to show them how it really should be and wound up resigning after 30 days because of all the crap.
And down in the area where you’re looking at, it’s snooty patootieville. Stay away from the HOA‘s down there.

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