My HOA is fining me $100 / day b/c of my DISH! HELP!!!

[Mocco71]

We don't have an HOA. They were trying to start one. The supporters of the HOA made a huge impression by turning the meeting into a giant bitch session. There was enough dissent to make it a moot point, although they did talk about starting one without us, in which case we would not have been subject to their rules/fees/dues. They may actually have gone through with it. I don't know. Those of us that are vets were on the opposition. I gave up 5 years of my life to serve this country in support of the Constitution. I am not about to sign away any of my rights voluntarily.

Too many rules and people on power trips for me. For every good HOA, there's a bad one. To each his own.

I won't ever allow myself to walk into another situation that will dictate what trees, color doors, flags, dishes, mailbox, etc. If I wanted socialism I would go to Europe/Russia or elect a democrat.

 

[chadzx11]

The developer in my subdivision wrote covenants so that the houses would have uniform curb appeal. If another developer bought lots and built on them, he'd have to comply with the covenants to the extent of tree-removal, type of siding, depth from the street, etc. When the subdivision was done, the homeowners opted to skip the HOA formation. Still, I was certain to read and understand the covenants before we bought our house.

It's made for a nice neighborhood, people take care of their property without paying dues or having un-necessary restrictions. There isn't much worse than having a nice home, well cared-for, and having the Beverly Hillbilly's as neighbors. If I wanted that kind of neighborhood, I'd buy elsewhere for less money.

One of my neigbors offered this viewpoint: there's no HOA, nobody to stop you from installing a dish; adding a storage shed; enlarging your deck; or adding a pool. But there's also nobody to stop somebody from dropping a trailer onto the empty lot next door.

That's what ours has, except they didn't get eveybody to sign the covenants. Its mostly retirees, which means its quiet, only 3 houses have kids. Its part of a larger development, and the developer has opted for age discrimination to make a "better" neighborhood. I don't see how he can decline to sell me a house based on the fact that I am not 55+. If he applied for a job with me, and I refused to hire him because of his age, I'd be in a world of trouble....

We don't have to worry about vacant lots. The guy is selling houses, not lots.

 

[chadzx11]

Too many rules and people on power trips for me. For every good HOA, there's a bad one. To each his own.

I won't ever allow myself to walk into another situation that will dictate what trees, color doors, flags, dishes, mailbox, etc. If I wanted socialism I would go to Europe/Russia or elect a democrat.

Exactly. It's my house. Back off.

 

[Mocco71]

I don't see how he can decline to sell me a house based on the fact that I am not 55+. If he applied for a job with me, and I refused to hire him because of his age, I'd be in a world of trouble....

That's crazy, what if you were over 55 and you had a kid how moved back in with you after college, would you be in violation?!?

You know the whole thread started because a person didn't do what his HOA dictated. I am ok with that because he knew he was part of an HOA and had to follow their rules. However, I can't believe that the HOA has the authority to fine you that much money per day! My goodness, going with a dish allows you to buck the monopoly established by cable companies.

 

[DetFan]

Normally one doesn't have a choice whether or not to sign an HOA -- either sign it or don't move in.

Exactly, why would anyone even consider moving into a place with a HOA, I fail to see any upside, and would never own a home where anyone told me what I could or could not do!!!

 

[lou_do]

We don't have an HOA. They were trying to start one. The supporters of the HOA made a huge impression by turning the meeting into a giant bitch session. There was enough dissent to make it a moot point, although they did talk about starting one without us, in which case we would not have been subject to their rules/fees/dues. They may actually have gone through with it. I don't know. Those of us that are vets were on the opposition. I gave up 5 years of my life to serve this country in support of the Constitution. I am not about to sign away any of my rights voluntarily.

That is almost an impossibility thing to accomplish, as well as a very unfair thing to do to the people that bought there, because there was no HOA to begin with. As seen here by posts, some people don't mind HOA and want them and others don't like living under the HOA guidelines. The proper thing for those who want the HOA, sell their homes and move into a community with one.

 

[lou_do]

Exactly, why would anyone even consider moving into a place with a HOA, I fail to see any upside, and would never own a home where anyone told me what I could or could not do!!!

I don't think it is so much a matter of someone telling us what to do, it is living by rules, set up by the homeowners themselves. It is the desire to live in a community where the goal is to keep property values up and the community looking nice.

My personnel choice to live in a HOA community stems from owning a house that I kept up nice and dirtbags moving in next door and turning the house into a dump. When I went to sell my house I couldn't because of the condition if their house. I finally sold it, but lost thousands of dollars, when I had to sell it at a lower price than market value, for that neighborhood. After that experience I vowed never to live in a community that didn't have a HOA.

 

[DetFan]

WHY You ask?
1. Property values are higher.
2. Neighborhoods are neat and clean.
3. Keeps the dirt bags that don't want to keep their property up, out of the neighborhood. And, if they do get into it, you can do something about it.
4. Without a HOA one un-kept property can bring down values of the entire neighborhood. Making it hard to sell and causing you to sell at a loss. (Been through this one)
5. A dish or two is fine but you don't have to look at dish farms.

HOA's are only as good as the Board of Directors that run it. There are two ways to run one.
1. As a dictatorship, with board members on an ego trip.
2. Work with the residents to keep the development looking good and keep property values up.

Glad I live in a #2 community.

I have all of that now, It's call city ordinance..As far as nieghbors, well this is america, people can live where they want to live. guess we all have our taste, and choice.

 

[Mocco71]

I don't think it is so much a matter of someone telling us what to do, it is living by rules, set up by the homeowners themselves. It is the desire to live in a community where the goal is to keep property values up and the community looking nice.

My personnel choice to live in a HOA community stems from owning a house that I kept up nice and dirtbags moving in next door and turning the house into a dump. When I went to sell my house I couldn't because of the condition if their house. I finally sold it, but lost thousands of dollars, when I had to sell it at a lower price than market value, for that neighborhood. After that experience I vowed never to live in a community that didn't have a HOA.

If the condition of the neighbor's house was THAT BAD, then it sounds like normal municipality rules shoulda woulda kicked in and helped. And, the people are buying your home, not your neighbor's. It's alway easy to blame someone or something else when reality sets in and you don't get your asking price of your house.

 

[Slick Vic]

I as an installer for Direct find most homeowners to be a nuisance. There are many things to consider on our end as well as their end. Even alot of builders can't get it right. The main complaint I get is usually location of of the satellite. I've been to neighborhoods that give u a drawing when u first enter thru the gate on where to put the dish. I've even had to relocate satellites because they were 2 feet closer to the front of the house. I understand these situations but at the same time I have a job to do. My JOB is to install whatever system the customer wants. Site survey are usually conducted first if there are trees on the lot to insure a good reasonable location. Once that is concluded, then we have to worry about the GROUND ( yes, these systems have to be grounded ). Last but not least, I have to figure out the best routing for the cables. Some customers have it prewired on the outside usually next to the meter box. ( best location ). Then there are some that have prewire on the inside of the house either in the attic or in a box in the wall. These usually incur in custom charges that the customer has to pay. HOAs don't tell me what to do with my job, they just make it more of a pain. Architec reveiw boards are also a pain. Why does anybody need to be approved to have a satellite period, your just delaying the inevitable and making the installer lose money on a job because the customer doesnt have approval. When making these rules and regulations on antenna or satellite installs, these HOA and builders need to consider reasonable locations even with minimal line of sight, mounting options (especially those that have roof warranty), grounding of cable, antenna and/or satellite, and routing of cables (consider how cables would looked wrapped around a house). These are just my thoughts and should not be taken seriously.

 

[charper1]

Anyone without a current HOA or the desire or understanding of what good the majority of them provide. Please send me your address. I have enough time & money to buy the property next to you AND while staying inside city laws and ordinances can prove why you would be begging for an HOA.

 

[damaged]

Anyone without a current HOA or the desire or understanding of what good the majority of them provide. Please send me your address. I have enough time & money to buy the property next to you AND while staying inside city laws and ordinances can prove why you would be begging for an HOA.

He plans on moving in some of the people from The Pit!

 

[Jason Kragt]

One there here I am curious about but didn't see: Do the covenants explicitly state a $100/day fine for such violations? Do the covenants even give ANY power to fine?

My HOA has the ability to impose late fees and charge the resident for reimbursement if they need to take action (like install a lawn or cut down a dead tree), but it does not have explicit authority to impose punitive fines like they are doing to you.

 

[RIRWIN1983]

My HOA is currently fining me $100 / day for not taking down my DTV dish. The HOA covenants state that architectural approval must be obtained before any dishes can be installed. To make a long story short, I put up the with w/o their approval, and the committee declined the location. I have a triple LMB dish, and b/c i has to look at 3 birds, there's no where else to put the dish. Even the guy form the HOA later on admits it can be moved, and needs to be covered by shrubs.

I have read all the FCC an OTARD Rules, it seems I am covered under their rules, and the covenants of the HOA are illegal.

Does anyone know what I need to do to get this HOA off my back? I miss by DTV, and today is day 1

For any of you that want more details and have 20 minutes to read this email conversation I've been having w/ the HOA manager, it's simply amazing:
You have to read this from the bottom up:
http://www.ghost-eyes.com/temp/dish.htm

Any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated. I have been told to get a lawyer and go to court, I’d rather not spend the money. I have the time to fight this, but not a lot of interest in spending money on this ordeal.

I would of told this dick head when he started to say stop contacting me unless its to say that the dish is moved, or you have a letter from directv, to go F*** him self. Then i would go driving around and trying to find petty little things outher homeowners were in violation for and report them to him.

he was being totaly unreasonable, and bias, just because you have installed 9 dishes before doesent make you an expert in dish installs (as im shure a majority will agree with some of the hacks the DBS companies send out) I'd also like to see how they would enforce that fine sice they arnt a law enforcement body.

 

[lou_do]

I have all of that now, It's call city ordinance..As far as nieghbors, well this is america, people can live where they want to live. guess we all have our taste, and choice.

True, but all it takes is one neighbor to drag the entire neighborhood down.

 

[lou_do]

If the condition of the neighbor's house was THAT BAD, then it sounds like normal municipality rules shoulda woulda kicked in and helped. And, the people are buying your home, not your neighbor's.

They had been cited many times by the county, but were doing nothing about it. I understand from other neighbors they lost the house for non payment of morgage, but it was about 6 months to late, after I sold.

It's alway easy to blame someone or something else when reality sets in and you don't get your asking price of your house.

I some cases you may be right, but not in this one. The reason people were telling the realtors they didn't want the house was because of the condition of the one next door.

 

[nsaspook]

They had been cited many times by the county, but were doing nothing about it. I understand from other neighbors they lost the house for non payment of morgage, but it was about 6 months to late, after I sold.


I some cases you may be right, but not in this one. The reason people were telling the realtors they didn't want the house was because of the condition of the one next door.

If it really gets bad you can always have someone cleanup the place.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003652872_webhouse05m.html
But that would be wrong.

 

[lou_do]

If it really gets bad you can always have someone cleanup the place.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003652872_webhouse05m.html
But that would be wrong.

Excellent, wish I would of thought of that.

 

[psnarula]

I'd also like to see how they would enforce that fine sice they arnt a law enforcement body.

they enforce it by putting a lein on your house if you don't pay.

 

[amrit50]

So what was so hard about getting a signed note on letterhead in November?

DirecTV tells me they don't want to get involved b/c me and an HOA. They tell me they will not come out and provide this letter. Finally my girlfriend calls them and somehow convinces them to come out, which we did, and once that was done, it still was not good enough.