First they started serving sushi at Texas high school football games in a fancy Dallas suburb. Then the snotty-tot homeowners association in a gated community in another fancy Dallas suburb banned pick-up trucks for being declasse -- and not all pick-up trucks, mind you, but only certain, um, vulgar brands. This really is hard to believe:
Jim Greenwood said he never dreamed his HOA would have a problem with his new Ford F-150 pickup. Then he received the first of three notices threatening him with fines."Mr. Greenwood, you're violating a subdivision rule that prohibits pickup trucks in your driveway," the notice reads.
Stonebriar HOA rules allow several luxury trucks on driveways, including the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Avalanche, Honda Ridgeline and Lincoln Mark LT.
But most Ford, Dodge or Chevy pickups are restricted.
"It's very frustrating and confusing. It's hard to imagine how an HOA would try to dictate what type of vehicle you can drive and park in your driveway," Mr. Greenwood said.
Bill Osborn of the HOA board said the association also prohibits boats, trailers, golf carts and RVs in driveways.
"The high-end vehicles that are allowed are plush with amenities and covers on the back. It doesn't look like a pickup," he said. "It's fancier."
Mr. Greenwood appealed, claiming his Ford F-150 isn't much different from the Lincoln Mark LT.
"The response was: 'It's our belief that Lincoln markets to a different class of people,' " he said.
Three words: Git. A. Rope.
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So, you can't live in a reasonably nice neighborhood without a list of restrictions on how to live in your own home?
I didn't realize HOA's had become THAT pervasive. It has extended past the gated community set, out into ordinary neighborhoods?
But yep, he signed. He made his bed, I'm sure there's lots of restrictions he likes, that others in his neighborhood don't.. he's gotta live with it, or find another place to live.
The reason for this can be summed up in two words: Dal las. They never was cowboys there anyhow, nor in Hou ston, but sure are in Fort Worth. Native Texan and former Fort Worthian.
I didn't realize HOA's had become THAT pervasive. It has extended past the gated community set, out into ordinary neighborhoods?
YMWV
It seems most new developments start with a HOA designed by the developer. Typically to keep things looking nice while they sell the rest of the homes. However they are rarely disbanded and often have rules that make amendment difficult. Of course the boards also attract the kind of petty dictator you would expect from a position that offered no compensation beyond telling your neighbors what to do.
And least where I live buying a new or newer house is a no brainer. Because there is no significant discount to buying an older house. Which doesn't make sense considering most homes built since the 40's are depreciating assets.
I'll dissent.
The rule against F-150s is class A dumb from my perspective, but this is what community action often looks like, and as long as it's on private property, I don't much care. I say this as someone who drove a class A ugly Dodge P/U for 10 years. If this truck owner doesn't like the rule, then sell. There's no shortage of neighborhoods that allow P/U's.
HOA's can be annoying, but they're better than the alternative: often unlivable and deteriorating neighborhoods. It's a bit of a inconvenience when the HOA says you need to replace your fence, but it's worth living in a decent neighborhood that's still somewhat affordable where everyone follows a basic set of rules.
HOAs can be annoying to some, but they help keep up the home prices. The sushi comment was interesting, since it reminded me of the Crunchy Cons book. As organic food and environmentalism are stereotypically linked to liberals and Dems, sushi joins in the cliches. But if you look at the numbers, the more affluent you are the more likely you're a Republican and wealthy people are more likely to eat sushi, drive SUVs, and drink Starbucks. The whole red and blue states presentation is more about less urban and more urban states than it is about God warriors and latte libs...and in blue states, the blue blooded suburban areas are mostly Republican.
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