Only in America

[jimz66]

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/loca...072810?ist=none

[PlasticWeapons]

Good for him! I despise home owners associations, especially in my previous neighborhood.

[thegoodsgt]

Not the first time that homeowners associations have run amok. And the guy appears to be a construction worker, so it's not like his F350 is a gluttonous man-toy!

I'm thrilled to hear that he was awarded reimbursement for his fees!

[CorsairMan]

it still begs the question... why would you buy a house if your car does not fit in the garage? Then again, I live in Canada and we tend to keep the car in the garage... at least in the winter.

[twhite80]

I live in a homeowners association. Its great because I am at work a lot and I don't have to mow or scoop snow, but the rules can get annoying. I have heard of some states, Texas I think, allowing homeowners associations to foreclose on your house if you violate rules or get behind on dues. It will be nice to move some day.

[datahiker]

In this particular case his vehicle is so large I doubt it would fit in any standard garage. We Americans also tend to use garages for storage or as a workshop.

I only have enough room in my two-car garage for one car (my wife's, of course). The other half is filled with bicycles, lawn equipment, recycling bins, tool cabinets, etc.

[pigsty]

Did he pay money for that "house"? It looks like it belongs in a business park!

[Kalashnikov-47]

I worked for a homeowner's association for a short peroid of time

in N. Carolina after I retired from the Air Force. Those running it

were some of the most arrogant people I'd ever met. They just

lived for being able to impose their will over their neighbors, like

some mini gestapo or something like that.

[parche]

Glad to hear the guy won... there was a homeowner's assoc in a condo complex where we rented a unit in Hawaii... no personal issues, but heard some crazy stories from others... we of course were outcasts though as "dirty renters".

Cheers,

Dave

[pastafarian]

I sort of thought about buying into a homeowner's association last year. The reason I considered it was because my former neighbors rarely mowed and even had a junk pile in the back yard for a couple months (it was the size of a small car).

We ended up not pursuing that route because we figured an association would do something asinine like this.

John

[Eastern]

It just like delirium... Don't get me wrong guys, but I thought USA was a free country but the more I learn about, the more I find myself to be really puzzled. :)

Alexander.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Eastern

[Skyraider Maniac]

I worked for a homeowner's association for a short peroid of time

in N. Carolina after I retired from the Air Force. Those running it

were some of the most arrogant people I'd ever met. They just

lived for being able to impose their will over their neighbors, like

some mini gestapo or something like that.

I used to be a landscaper in Charlotte NC for several years before going the military route; and I HATE homeowners associations with a PASSION. And they're all exactly like you said - around Charlotte they can impose leans on your house if they didn't like what you had on YOUR property (as far as I'm concerned, its your property, do what you wish). Namely it was the country clubs - especially Providence country club (by far the worst!) and it had a bunch of those said associations. Each one different and each one a pain in the ***. To me they are just plain evil, and are just as oppressive as dictatorship in some third world country. I really don't like bankers cause of those experiences, especially Yankee one's (not that I dislike all yankee's - I'm just mentioning the ones that were the biggest pain in the butt - and there just happen to be a lot of those in Charlotte, being that its the second largest banking community in the states). They're an unnecessary evil to the free world. I agree with Mr. kalishnikov!

[Jennings]

The homeowner association National Socialist Workers' Party where I lived in Florida made me *bleach* my roof. Yes, I said bleach. As in, get up there with watering cans full of diluted Chlorox. Why? Because there was some black fungus growing on it, like there is everywhere in Florida. What would all that chlorine do when it went down into my yard and thence into the storm drains? They didn't care a wit. They only wanted my roof to be pretty. Oh, and right after we descended from the roof bleach session, having been eaten alive by mosquitos, we heard the encephalitis warning on the radio. Greaaat.... I don't miss Florida at all :)

J

[CorsairMan]

Then again - my mother lived beside a neighbor who had a rusty, derelict old econoline camper in her driveway for YEARS until they towed it away to the scrap yard. Not sure why they ever had it - they never went camping with it.

It really was the thing that 'stuck out' on the street...

[Jennings]

PUSH BACK FOLKS OR LOSE IT!

You have two choices: Either don't buy the property, or if you do, sign a piece of paper that says you'll abide by their rules, no matter how arbitrary or silly. They can do it, it's 100% perfectly legal. It's your choice whether to buy the property or not.

Never again for me...

J

[Lock n' Load]

it still begs the question... why would you buy a house if your car does not fit in the garage? Then again, I live in Canada and we tend to keep the car in the garage... at least in the winter.

Because people tend to think about their families inside the house... not the cars.

[Les / Creative Edge Photo]

You have two choices: Either don't buy the property, or if you do, sign a piece of paper that says you'll abide by their rules, no matter how arbitrary or silly. They can do it, it's 100% perfectly legal. It's your choice whether to buy the property or not.

Never again for me...

J

If potential buyers would refuse to sign such nonsense the housing sales would then drop off and this nonsense would go away. But today more and more it looks like we have a society of sheep, gutless wonders who don't even bother standing up for their freedoms.

Edited July 29, 2010 by Les / Creative Edge Photo

[Les / Creative Edge Photo]

Agreed 100%. When I was looking for my current house, I made sure I told the realtor that any property governed by a homeowners association was off the list. I've got some neighbors that may not maintain their homes as I would but they paid for their property just like I did and I'd rather look across the street at a lawn covered in leaves than to deal with a bunch of self-important a-holes like that.

If neighbourhoods would do more to know each other as acquaintances and friends then one can go and talk about any eye sores asking if the neighbours in question would look to clean things up. If that fails then pressure from the city government can intersede if the issues are a danger. Its because we refuse to know each other that we have no communication with each other as neighbours today.

[pbishop]

it still begs the question... why would you buy a house if your car does not fit in the garage? Then again, I live in Canada and we tend to keep the car in the garage... at least in the winter.

Simple, to store the fishing boat. At least thats what I like to think of it for.

[ron]

If neighbourhoods would do more to know each other as acquaintances and friends then one can go and talk about any eye sores asking if the neighbours in question would look to clean things up. If that fails then pressure from the city government can intersede if the issues are a danger. Its because we refuse to know each other that we have no communication with each other as neighbours today.

Our experience has been just the opposite. We are very good friends with our neighbors and even god parents to the children on one side of us. Our neighborhood is newer but a little different in that we have back alleys with the garages in the back and Veranda's we hang out on in the summer. It's very social.

The example in the OP is extreme to the point of ridiculous but I do believe in guild lines to some extent. Whether those are bylaws verse an association is another topic. I wouldn't want my neighbor storing his 40 foot diesel pusher motor home next to my house blocking my view of the mountains off my deck even though its on his property nor the other neighbor starting a welding shop in his garage, or the neighbor across the street painting his entire house fuchsia pink, planting grass on the roof and raise goats. I can't imagine having a feud with a neighbor over issues like this if they are not governed in some manner.

Edited July 29, 2010 by ron

[Pep]

HOAs down here are way out of control (palm beach). My wife and I got married in January and because of the current state of the economy could not afford the venue my wife wanted originally. Thankfuly my inlaws have a nice place and offered their home for the ceremony.

Not only did the HOA send them a letter of reprimand but they also charged them a fine!!! We sent them a thank you letter and an IOU

[Phantom ordie]

That's the reason I live in the country.

[zerosystem]

HOAs down here are way out of control (palm beach). My wife and I got married in January and because of the current state of the economy could not afford the venue my wife wanted originally. Thankfuly my inlaws have a nice place and offered their home for the ceremony.

Not only did the HOA send them a letter of reprimand but they also charged them a fine!!! We sent them a thank you letter and an IOU

i hope the iou was just to your inlaws, the hoa deserves nothing short of a GFY...

[Les / Creative Edge Photo]

Our experience has been just the opposite. We are very good friends with our neighbors and even god parents to the children on one side of us. Our neighborhood is newer but a little different in that we have back alleys with the garages in the back and Veranda's we hang out on in the summer. It's very social.

The example in the OP is extreme to the point of ridiculous but I do believe in guild lines to some extent. Whether those are bylaws verse an association is another topic. I wouldn't want my neighbor storing his 40 foot diesel pusher motor home next to my house blocking my view of the mountains off my deck even though its on his property nor the other neighbor starting a welding shop in his garage, or the neighbor across the street painting his entire house fuchsia pink, planting grass on the roof and raise goats. I can't imagine having a feud with a neighbor over issues like this if they are not governed in some manner.

But your concerns are simply a case of TOO BAD THAT'S LIFE!

If you want all that peace of mind go out to acreage in the country and buy a house. If I have a 40ft motor home in my driveway and you don't like it that simply is too bad! If what I do or don't do in my home or on my property is considered illegal or otherwise dangerous then the city will come deal with it. If I want to paint my house pink, it is simply my business not yours! Now you can ask if I'd kindly reconsider but that is where your desire for my acquiescence ends. Life is not always like a Norman Rockwell painting. You live, we all live within a society it ain't always perfect but it should be civil. Get to know your neighbours and much of this stuff can be reduced. But I sure the heck do not have to live my life to your tastes nor do I have a right to force you to live to mine.

Edited July 29, 2010 by Les / Creative Edge Photo

[Les / Creative Edge Photo]

HOAs down here are way out of control (palm beach). My wife and I got married in January and because of the current state of the economy could not afford the venue my wife wanted originally. Thankfuly my inlaws have a nice place and offered their home for the ceremony.

Not only did the HOA send them a letter of reprimand but they also charged them a fine!!! We sent them a thank you letter and an IOU

WAY DA GO!!!!