The Land Is HERS!

[ArenaBoy]

The only HOA I had a problem with was in a friend's subdivison. My friend had somebody over constantly and they'd usually park in the driveway as one parent was always out of the house. One day I happened to be over and both parents were in the house for once so I had to park on the street. I parked making sure I wasn't obstructing anything and even the parents said it was alright. Jump to 10 PM, I'm leaving as I have to work. I find a note on the windshield, wasn't a ticket but a HOA note. It told me that my car was causing a distraction to the sights (Eyesore) and that I was blocking the road (Wasn't) and was told that if it happened again that I would be towed.

As a (then) parking employee I laughed, got a sheet of paper and wrote:

Dear HOA president, I see various cars that are visual distractions around this neighborhood constantly and it could be that most of the cars belong to teenagers! I am one myself and my car is owned by a teenager aka me. As for my car obstructing traffic, I work in parking and I know when a car obstructs the road. Just to let you know where I work, I work at Whiskeyclone.

Never had a problem with them again.

[Tria]

Check out one man's scathing indifference to his busybody neighbors:

http://www.thewvsr.com/gargoyle.htm

*Drools&
Oh wow! Is he single? I will marry him today! He should keep his gargoyle and don't let them fundy fucktards push him around!

[lordlundar]

Trees as minerals???

And I thought our government was screwed up?

Yeah, it's typically due to rarity in the world and uses. For example, Cedar trees only Grow in BC up here, and are used for most high end products, so they are not cheap to get, usually prepared in the province, and as such need to be managed very carefully. Same for the Canadian Maple on the eastern part of the country, as those are used mainly for high end and finishing products as well as the sap for syrup.

[strawbabies]

The HOA in the neighborhood I live in now is pretty lenient. Heck, my next door neighbors used to have chickens as pets.

The only problem I have with them is that when someone in the neighborhood has a yard sale, they let people park on both sides of the street. Well, these are pretty narrow streets, and with cars on both sides, nobody can get through. There's also only one way in or out of the subdivision, so a back way is not an option. Next time it happens, I'm calling the sheriff's office. If there was an emergency, someone would be screwed if they needed an emergency vehicle to get to them.

The HOA at my parents' house is a nightmare. They actually drive around at night checking to see if your front lights are on. If the bulb is out, you get a fine. The guy who lives across the street has been dubbed the "Light Bulb Nazi" by my family. He wishes he was the president of the HOA, and loves to stick his nose in everyone's business. Of course, nobody does anything about the real problems in the neighborhood, like the peeping tom.

[Emrld]

There are areas in Texas (only state I know for proof positive) that have multiple owners. One owns the mineral rights and another the land rights.

Typically the gestapo esq. HOA are not found in areas that are sold like this . . .
Also, in situations where the HOA is in control (in Texas) it is explained prior to the purcahse of a property. The person who wants to buy has the opportunity to make themselves familiar with the rules and regs before a sale goes to closing. In otherwords, if you don't want to live in a highly board controled neighborhood - you don't have to.

[TrainedChimp]

Here in Ontario, Canada certain trees are termed as minerals. And mineral rights are purchased separately from the government. So we can cut some tree types but not others.

Trees as minerals???

And I thought our government was screwed up?

[earl colby pottinger]

Trees

And in some areas you may not even own the trees. We looked at one piece of property where someone else had the timber rights.

Here in Ontario, Canada certain trees are termed as minerals. And mineral rights are purchased separately from the government. So we can cut some tree types but not others.

[SuperB]

Also depends on where you live . . .there are city codes/ rules that have to be followed which should be researched before buying a property.
Then you have some areas that have HOA's that you have to get approval if you want to plant a tree, or change an exterior light fixture etc.

And in some areas you may not even own the trees. We looked at one piece of property where someone else had the timber rights.

[Sliceanddice]

giggle seeing the mass distruction ive seen if the HOA around her got uppity i would laugh so much

[protege]

Funny you should mention that. Where my parents live, there's no HOA, but that didn't stop the idiots next door from trying to complain about my brother's graduation party. Yep, the cops got called over the "excessive" noise, and "too many" cars parked along the street. However, as it was during the day, and the cars were legally parked, there wasn't a damn thing they could do about it.

[Andara Bledin]

Well, you'd probably have to check the HOA rules about parties.

'Cause you just know they're in there...

^-.-^

[Tigress]

Most rules about what you can and can't do on your own property are ok and make sense, but some are all about some "keeping up with the Joneses" committee somewhere. My uncle used to have an old step van and some neighborhood punk would keep stealing the battery, so he kept it in the garage. The neighborhood snoops didn't like the van, but it was ok to have it, so they ruled that the battery in the garage meant that the vehicle was "non-operational" and they hit him with a huge fine. Assholes.

I wonder what would happen if I decided to invite some friends over for a huge cosplay gathering. A bunch of freaks in costume... yeah, HOA assholes would love that!

[Andara Bledin]

My aunt had a boyfriend that lived in a condo. He wanted satellite TV, but the HOA decided that his mini-dish was "unsightly" and so he couldn't have it on his patio. So he got the brightest, ugliest, most obnoxious pink flamingo he could find (because it was allowed) and put that on his balcony instead. He had his satellite back within a month.

Most rules about what you can and can't do on your own property are ok and make sense, but some are all about some "keeping up with the Joneses" committee somewhere. My uncle used to have an old step van and some neighborhood punk would keep stealing the battery, so he kept it in the garage. The neighborhood snoops didn't like the van, but it was ok to have it, so they ruled that the battery in the garage meant that the vehicle was "non-operational" and they hit him with a huge fine. Assholes.

^-.-^

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Check out one man's scathing indifference to his busybody neighbors:

http://www.thewvsr.com/gargoyle.htm

[protege]

I never understood why people feel like they get to tell other people what to do with their own property. I can understand junked up cars or trash in the front lawn because it's a potential environmental and safety hazard in addition to an eyesore. But when you have stuff on your property that's a little tacky, but doesn't hurt anyone (like plastic flamingos), who are these busibodies to tell you to remove it?

They do it because they can usually get away with it...and because it will cause trouble for someone. I know I've mentioned the idiots next door to my parents--the same twits with security cameras and spotlights, who use the police and the borough officials as their personal "goon squad."

These idiots just *loved* to use the local ordinances to cause trouble. For example, on the other side of my parents, there was a guy who had a lawn care business. He had a pickup and a small trailer he used to haul equipment around. All of that was kept in the driveway. Technically, it *was* illegal, but since nobody complained, nothing was ever done. As long as the vehicles were in good shape, and off the street, nobody cared. I'm not sure why, but the goofballs couldn't stand that--they got him written up for it.

Then there was the "unsightly" object in the yard of the house down the street. Anyone want to guess what it was? It was a freaking kiddie pool, that was leaning up against the fence to drain. Again, there was nothing illegal (at all!) about that, but they just wanted to stir up trouble.

As if that wasn't enough, I heard rumors that they were going to complain about the MG I was working on in the driveway. However, I quashed those pretty damn quick. The car was never left outside except when I was working on it--when done, it got pushed back into the garage...and all parts on the patio were covered. Even if they did see the pile of stuff, to do so would have meant they were trespassing, and we could have pressed charges