Or Love them? After our annual Home Owners Association meeting, I needed to write something about this in the home buying process. Most buyers look at the fine print of the loan and the contract offer for the home. The HOA Covenants and Restrictions of the neighborhood is the fine print of the neighborhood that gets most overlooked. These restrictions are there to protect the residents and the value of the homes in the neighborhood even how un-American they are. They keep your neighbors from putting fake deer decoys on the front lawn (we are in the South not pink flamingos like Florida) along side the fake wishing well, keep Santa and Christmas celebrated 365 days a year, or farm animals as pets. I am sure there is crazier stuff out there but these rules protect the biggest investment you have. If you need your creativity displayed, then stay out of a neighborhood and move out to the country.
The restrictions you need to be looking out for are the ones that affect your daily life. If you have a family pet, certain breeds may not be allowed in the neighborhood. If you love playing basketball in the driveway, some don’t allow goal posts in the front yard. Workshops and sheds need to be approved by the ARC Architectural Review Committee along with any other exterior changes to the home. As a past president of an HOA, there are a lot of rules homeowners are not aware of before moving in.
As you can see, read the fine print to the neighborhood before falling in love with a home. Ask your real estate agent for a copy to review before you make an offer on a home to keep you from any later regrets. A home is an emotional purchase so love can blind the details.
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