Never owned a home; am worried I'll feel constricted by the owners assoc Any feeback welcome.

HOA or Home Owners Associations have their positive and negative sides. Some good things to keep in mind are the rules try to help keep neighborhoods unifrom. They prevent the person three doors down from painting his house purple or the guy around the corner from having live stock in his back yard. However they also restict you from doing the same. I would advise getting a hold of the bi-laws to review, talking with a person or two in that community, and possibly sitting in on a board meeting prior to purchasing. A lot can be learned from one of these meetings.

Association CC&R's or bylaws are the rules that the members and their tenants must follow when living in a condominium or subdivision. As Mike stated, you can request a copy of the bylaws and minutes from prior association meetings to see if this particular property would be a good home for you.  Keep in mind, specific rules and an active association that enforces them can have a positive effect on property values. I have a past client that purchased a home with a panoramic ocean view, when the neighbor below planted a row of trees, blocking it; they were relieved to know that their neighborhood bylaws protected their view plane. The association notified the neighbors of the violation and the trees were required to be maintained at a certain height or removed. In general, bylaws are designed to assure people that make an investment and commitment to live in a condominium or subdivision that a particular lifestyle can be enjoyed.

 Still, some folks find that they like to live with fewer restrictions placed upon what they can and can not do with their property.  I have owned homes and condos at different times in my life that have required approval for the exterior paint color and disallowed shoes on the porch. I also had a home where I was free to do anything I wanted as long as I wasn't breaking the law. You may find as I have, that what you like changes over time too. It's good that you are thinking about this before buying. Good luck and enjoy owning your own home.


 

If they are willing, ask to see the condo association documents to see what oversight is provided by the condo association. Also if possible, ask to see the condo association meeting minutes. They can give clues as to how well managed the association is and whether there are malcontents living in the development.

Generally, the more residents in an association, the smoother the association. If you have one malcontent out of a hundred, it's a lot better than one malcontent out of four.

Another key to a healthy association is professional management and whether the management company has a good reputation. Chances are if you are breaking the rules, the management company will be the ones knocking on your door.