HOA Redux

The Arizona leg passed a bill limiting the power of HOAs in the state. It is really interesting to see the leg do stuff like this. For anyone who has ever considered buying a home with an HOA, this should be of particular interest see here.

The bill basically strips HOAs of any real power. I am very skeptical of the power of HOAs, but this seems a little boneheaded. If you are going to strip them of their power, why not just outlaw them. It is good that they cannot take members homes anymore, but they should have some enforcement power. After all, it does suck to have a neighbor with 3-foot tall weeds and a car up on blocks in the front yard. Some people choose to live under the regulatory authority HOAs.

What do you think? Should the government regulate these areas? For instance, in Phoenix if you don't cut your grass or have a particularly junky house, you can get a blight notice. It is similar to an HOA, but much less affective, but also much less intrusive. Does government have a role in regulating this kind of behaviour?

HOA Redux

I have been off blogging for a while... I am not really sure anyone reads this anyway. Here is the latest update in the effort to regulate HOAs here. It looks like they are getting hit from the left and right.

HOA: What do you think?

HOAs have always troubled me. I don't like the idea of an organization that is easy influenced and unaccountable being able to seize property. While I think they serve a purpose, I also think there should be something akin to a bill of rights for homeowners. There is this article about reigning in just one of their powers.

The issue is whether an HOA should be able to regulate parking on publicly funded streets. I think this is a no-brainer. No. If my tax dollars help pay for your street, then I should be able to park on them according to tax payer agreed rules (ie the rules of the city or county). The leg does something right, go figure...