Associations in HOMES

All across America neighborhoods are being built.  They are being designed for every need and with any amenity imaginable.  The home comes with this appealing beauty and lovely curb appeal almost quite similar to paradise.  However all of the beauty offered doesn't make up for the defunct Home Owners Association that is taking over this beautiful neighborhood once the contractor completes his latest investment.

Do you know what I am referring to? If not than you are quite rare and lucky, stay in the home you have and don't plan on moving until this tyrannical situation has been handled. 

Neighborhoods are being designed to make people move in them but what some new home buyers don't realize is these settlements have rules upon rules.  Not just the ordinary rules that you can simply think of, but ones like, the blinds in your house should be all the same color, preferably white.  No watering the lawn between set hours, or parking your car on the street after hours.  How about if you are home your garage door must be shut at all times.  Sound ridiculous?  Well it is a known development (monster) that continues to get worse.

Little tangent, I once lived in this neighborhood very similar to my description.  Great looking, homes were very appealing and so on.  The contractor finished his project packed his equipment up and turned over to a management company.  Well that management company sent out flyers and had a residence meeting.  This meeting was the usual meet and greet, nice, but had that black cloud kind of feeling.  Needless to say they conducted an election for a board of directors and the biggest clowns with the loudest mouths got elected.  No professional experience, stay at home, welfare collecting types, and a sweet tooth for money and power.  Have I painted another picture for you yet?

These are two different settings, one looking like a beautiful home and all the attractions (Picasso art), the other with a dreary, tight lipped, dark cloud setting (Van Gogh art).   Unfortunately the neighborhood you bought into spending your life savings on is now running down the drain pipes.  The lawns look like they have been taken over by weeds, the flower beds are no longer uniform and have finesse, and all your neighbors are afraid to come outside when they are home because someone may very well harass them to sign a petition of some sort. 

This is what HOME OWNER ASSOCIATIONS are about collecting money for a third party and not looking out for the betterment of its neighborhood.  IF you are apart of one then take a stand and get involved.  Verify where your fees are going to and develop an interest in who the board is and see that they have the qualifications to manage your money and the area you live in.