We've strayed pretty far from radio, so this will be my last post on this
subject. I hardly want to be in the position of defending ALL homeowner's
associations.

I think the key to being happy with a homeowner's association is to have
clear, concise, SPECIFIC covenants that aren't subject to liberal
interpretations and that cannot be amended by the board without 100%
approval from every single property owner. The ones in my neighborhood
follow that model and are just that -- simple, and basically just
commonsense good-neighbor policies.

There is a neighborhood in our town that did not follow that key, and they
do indeed have problems. A bunch of retired busybodies managed to get
control of the board, and have become a pain in the neck for working
families or people trying to build new homes. I would never have built
there. Their problem is that the development was originally designed to be
a resort / weekend home development, but retirees have moved in and want to
pretend that it's a high-end property.

Meanwhile, our neighborhood is great, and is in high demand.

Again, the point I am making is that neighborhood covenants are not ALL
bad -- just some of them. (But these are the examples I'm seeing time and
again on this thread, mostly from people that don't live in covenated
neighborhoods anyway).

Frankly, I think that anyone that doesn't have their attorney help them
review neighborhood covenants before they purchase property deserves exactly
what they get. I'll bet most of these people don't have a Will, either,
which is an similarly foolish situation.

-- Stinger

wrote in message ...
Stinger, HOA are mostly comprised of residents that never have had a
job where they supervised other humans and now is their chance to tell
someone what to do. I do agree that no one want's a junk yard in their
neighborhood. But I don't agree that the guy next door can/should be
able to tell you what you are permitted to do on property you pay the
mortgage, taxes and up keep on. He/she or they can frankly go to hell.
The plan I (for DOC) "BOUGHT" a home in even has restrictions of 18'
satellite dishes, part of the antenna restriction clause. Since the
latest FCC decision the HOA can kiss that part good by. And yes,
receiving antennas can be hidden quite well. Some of us are licensed ham
and enjoy our hobby as you do. Just because we move into a new home in a
new area why should we give up the hobby we so enjoy? We shouldn't have
too. Not all hams have gigantic towers and beams, some of use are
satisfied to use a piece of wire to TRANSMIT on. I have and will
continue to do so when I move. HOA's bring out the evils in good people,
we have to get sneaky and stealthy to enjoy life as we have for many
years.

I know, I've heard this before. It was our choice to purchase in a plan
with restrictions, show me a plan or find me a plot (1/2 acre) of land
where there there are no restrictions in the U.S.A.. If the politicians
arn't telling you what to do it's some nosey neighbor.

Ya'll have a positive day.

Stinger wrote:

Homeowners associations are a good thing! They are basically an
agreement
that you and your neighbors will follow some clearly defined rules for
the
specific purpose of maintining optimum property values for everyone. In
other words, you won't have to worry about buying an expensive house and
having your next-door neighbor decide to use his yard to store a dozen
wrecked automobiles while he builds a hot-rod or runs a car-repair
business.
Common sense should tell anyone that their rights end when they start to
infringe on anyone else's, but sometimes you need it in writing. ;^)

Receiving antennas are easily concealed. If you can find mine from the
street, you were born on Krypton. I think this is an overly-hyped
problem.

Broadcasting antennas are another animal, though. For instance, nobody
wants to live next to some clown running a bunch of linear amps through
a CB
"base station." It will literally be "seen" on well-shielded cable
television connections, and is a nuisance. I think that's a lot of what
the
"external antenna" rules are meant to curb.

-- Stinger