Easements and HOA (HOA's) Home Onwers Assocaition's STAY AWAY!!

[paulfun9]

Like with most things, they can get out of balance and out of hand, abused. I wouldn't want one.

)

Learning from the experience of family and friends over the years, I would change that statement from “they can” to “they always do” and refer anyone I talk to back to the first posts instruction to RUN,

 

[riptides]

Easements are not necessarily a bad thing. There are different types, and they may have time limiting factors associated to them.

One needs to understand the differences and make an informed decision about the land/home purchase.

 

[MossRoad]

It's a case of the ends not justifying the means.

Was she right that the Steven's were not your average family? Yes.

Was it any of her business to begin with? No.

Yeah, like no one would be upset with the **** that was going on at the Steven's house in a residential neighborhood. It's called disturbing the peace. When your activities infringe on your neighbors you're at fault. It was her business to begin with. It's no different than your neighbors shooting fireworks over your property, shooting fireworks at all hours of the day and night, dumping chemicals into their septic system that will affect the aquifer, not having properly working septic systems, using excessive chemicals on their lawn, driving fast in a residential area, having large loud parties frequently, plowing their snow into the street, aiming spotlights at your house, letting their dogs and cats roam, etc....

It's a matter of fact that a lot of people actually LIKE a home owners association. It sets clear rules as to expected behavior, property maintenance, uses, etc... and hopefully helps to maintain property values. You know what to expect in the future.

Are there HOA problems? Of course. But another matter of fact is that in most cases, the person complaining is not in compliance with the rules that they knew about when they purchased. You only read about HOA horror stories. You never hear about all the happy people who's HOA's are working properly day in and day out.

 

[MossRoad]

...
As we begin to talk, I said to him ''since you are going to have to put this much in a road and I would still own the property, why don't I just sell you that property instead of just providing you an easement''.
He agreed. Now, he owns the property instead of just having an easement that he has dumped a good amount of money in to.

That was nice of you to make him that offer. :thumbsup:

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Perhaps, but I wouldn't want my well located on my neighbors property. It's great that you don't have a problem with it now, however, sooner or later, something may change that one of you may have a problem with. Keep in mind, with HOA's or easements, it's never a problem when people agree on what to do, it's a problem when people disagree.

Here's one to ponder. The cabin down the road from ours was recently sold, and two weeks after the new owners moved in their well ran dry. A new well was attempted but to no avail. The nearest cabin to them is a guy who lives there full time, and apparently has a great well. So... they enter into an agreement, and a water line is run like a quarter mile through the woods to this new guys cabin, and now he is buying water from the other guy. I think this is a catastrophe in the making, but it's not my business. Just seems crazy to marry two separate properties like this. Someone is going to be unhappy sooner or later.

 

[Alien]

I remember some (many) years ago there was a new development in a area just outside our local city.
The covenant restricted the type of home and buildings that were allowed on the blocks.
They were trying to prevent old removeable homes from being relocated to the area. They wanted to attract a better class of homes/buyers to the area.
This actually failed and they could not sell the blocks. They sat for years until they removed the covenant. They then started selling.
The area today looks quite nice and even though a couple of renovated homes were moved there they dont look out of place.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

It's a matter of fact that a lot of people actually LIKE a home owners association. It sets clear rules as to expected behavior, property maintenance, uses, etc... and hopefully helps to maintain property values. You know what to expect in the future.

Are there HOA problems? Of course. But another matter of fact is that in most cases, the person complaining is not in compliance with the rules that they knew about when they purchased. You only read about HOA horror stories. You never hear about all the happy people who's HOA's are working properly day in and day out.

You are quite correct. We spent 22 years in an HOA in South Carolina, never had a complaint. Very large development of about 1000 homes in a private , gated community. Dues were high, about $160 per month when we left, but it was so well known and run that it added to the property values.

 

[Oldoak]

They wanted to attract a better class of homes/buyers to the area.

More accurately, they probably only wanted the more affluent and elite class of home owners.

In recent years I have seen several developments spring up where the lot purchaser had to agree to spend a set price or above when building their new home. Big bucks or you are not welcome.

 

[MossRoad]

My grandparents were members of a home owners association in the mid 50's through the late 70's. They had a cottage on an island in an inland lake in Michigan. There were about 60 cottages on the island. They had to pay annual dues to maintain the road on the island, and to operate and repair the car ferry. Towards the end, the cost of the home owner association fees were one of the driving factors that led them to sell the cottage. They couldn't afford the fees and property taxes.

However, the association was a necessity. Without it, there would have been no car ferry, no road on the island, no electricity to the island, no telephone service on the island, no regulations as to how close you could build to a property line, where you could put your septic system, where you could put a well, even which way you could drive on the one lane road.

Now that you have that picture in your head.... take away the water and car ferry. What do you have left?

A subdivision.

It's no different.

 

[dsgsr]

I still would sell my 135 acres, home WITH NO RESTRICTIONS for 450,000 Here in Maine. It looks like the majority of good land out there is under some kind of restrictions. I couldn't live like that, I own everything. You could not get me to own anything different. Maine is a challenging state to live in. You have to be strong and resilient to live here, but thats what makes life interesting. BUT, at my age 59, I'm thinking I would like to travel.

David