Kids toss basketballs [noisily] for a few years, then move on to other things. Have you done the math on exactly what it will cost you per free throw?
You wouldn't bat an eyelash at walking/biking/driving to a soccer field, how is BB so different? Playing at a park is vastly better than in one's backyard.
While it be easier to throw a volley of facepunches, I'll take the time to share some real life HOA experiences instead, but know you're skating on thin ice...
No One should buy into an HOA unless they're willing to serve on the Board. It's the best return on your time and investment ever. EVER.
Buckle up, I'm going to share my real-life experiences. It will take me longer to write than it would take you to attend several board meetings, but people buy into HOA controlled properties without a clue all the time, so I'm considering thus a PSA and time well spent.
HOA #1 Needed new roofs and the proposal was to do all six at once. There was going to be a Special Assessment equal to 1-2 mortgage payments, gulp. My mortgage was already a huge stretch (HCOLA), and I couldn't stomach a SA. "What if we don't do them all at once?" I asked. I wasn't even on the HOA Board yet, I was just attending meetings until the next election. They agreed to consult the roofer and he agreed that the job could be done two per year, so that's how it went. The whole project was cash flowed, avoiding the need for a SA. Moreover, the next two years were done more efficiently and the job came in under the original estimate. No significant dues increases were needed either. Needless to say, getting elected was a breeze and I served until I sold it for a huge profit.
HOA #2 My timing was better and I got on this HOA Board sooner. Dues were creeping up, so we decided to really tear apart our budget and see where every penny was going. We were able to make a number of adjustments, both near and long term. As a result, our dues went DOWN for two years and stayed flat for one more.* I sold that place ten years ago, also for a nice profit. I keep an eye on it, as I still visit a friend there weekly. It continues to look great. Best of all, the dues are lower than comparable properties, making the homes sell for more. I'd buy there again in a heartbeat.
HOA #3-5 We hate this motherfucking board with a passion. We can't be on the Board because we don't live in any of them. The HOA are the nit-pickiest assholes in the world! We've been forced to replace a function A/C unit because it was "noisy"...
We've been cited multiple times for:
1. Total strangers parking in the street in front of the house overnight.
2. Weeds too many times to count. We have a gardener and we visit often. Not once has a fine been enforced, because we stay up on the landscaping, but violations tend to occur after every visit. We take pictures now before we leave.
3. Multiple warnings for "sand in the landscaping rocks". WTF, it's the fucking Desert, we have no control over blowing fucking sand! So we pay periodically to have excess sand "removed". We spent $1600 doing this a few months ago and two weeks later there was a huge sandstorm. (This house gets fantastic sunsets, because it's more exposed, hence the sand. It's less of a problem at the other two.)
Here's the most ridiculous one: one property has a lovely tree that creates great shade. The birds love it, too. So much so, there's poop on the sidewalk in front of the house. The HOA wanted us to trim the tree back between the annual pruning cycle the tree actually requires, or "consider removing and replacing it". Fuck that, it's a beautiful, healthy tree! We'd noticed there's also bird poop beneath every STOP sign and lamp post. We took a bunch of pictures and asked them to "consider removing every STOP sign and lamp post." They backed off that one in a.
The tree and the A/C complaints were triggered by the same neighbor's wife. He's a retired attorney, so he got on the Board when his nagging wife complained that "nothing was being done". We did end up replacing the A/C, but we made them clarify their decibel limit rules, which forced them to re-draft a bunch of documents, which added over a year to the process. By then, the A/C unit, which was original equipment installed by the builder, was reasonably close to its normal life expectancy. Plus, we got a great deal on the new unit and now that guy takes wonderful care of all three systems for much less than the other company we were using.
We did replace the A/C, but all other "violations" have been "resolved" without fines, but they are a PITA. Best of all, this HOA is so fucking smug, they call themselves the "LEC", Lifestyle Enhancement Committee.
Why keep HOA 3-5? Because in the words of a long-time, beloved tenant, "This place is like Disneyland for adults" and the dues are far below average for the region, which bolsters property values. They rent very easily. (One tenant's entire rent is less than the dues he was paying elsewhere nearby.) Each property has appreciated nicely and we enjoy the rental income.
HOA #6 We recently bought a condo for our adult son, who is not neurotypical. We anticipate that he will live there for a very long time. We put the property in all of our names so that we can serve on the HOA board. DH, who has mad construction experience, has just been elected. Their reserves are skimpy and the buildings are old, so his skills will help get maintenence done as needed for reasonable cost. This will fatten up the reserves and keep dues increases to a minimum, protecting our investment.
Note: the complex behind this one, of similar age and style, is planning a major overhaul of the exteriors. It's going to cost $40k per unit. To make it "affordable" they are levying each homeowner $10,000 annually for four years, before the work begins. OMFG!
This PSA has been brought to you by the letter "D". I hope you and others find it useful.
*Remarkably, when we lowered the dues, we actually got complaints. You can't please all the people...
