Covenants & Restirctions?

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Before I bought where I did I looked at buying 3 adjoining lots in a fancy new subdivision; that is until I looked at the rulebook and found that 1) I couldn't paint my front door stop sign red if I wanted to without first obtaining permission, 2) I would need permission to plant a rosebush, 3) between 1 May and 1 November I had to cut or have my lawn cut weekly without regard to drought or any other conditions.    I told them precisely where they could put thier 3 lots and promptly went out into the countryside and bought a 30 acre property for the same price as those three 3/4 acre lots!

My son has had some bad experiances along the same lines, so read and reread, then make sure you understand the rules before you buy!

[FJ and G]

I stupidly moved into an HOA area where I need to get a permit to blow my nose. I have lots of horror stories; would take many pages to tell & not just me but some of my neighbors. People who live in HOA areas tend to be conservative conformists with look alike lawns and shrubs. Notice I said tend to be; not everyone, of course, but if you stick out like a nail, you get hammered down pretty quick. Pink flamingos, garden RR, esp. live steam; those are usually discouraged and if enough folk get together & petition HOA, they add new rules to the thick rulebook

[GP-9_Man11786]

Certanly not!  I was quite specific when house hunting that I did NOT want any kind of homeowners association.  I firmly believe that there are more than enough laws on the books already that cover how a house and yard can look, as well as vehicles on the property etc.  I don't need some crabby 90 year old lady telling me how to paint my house or cut my grass.  I've never felt the need to run my life in lock step with the "Jones'" nor do I want to live in an artificialy created community where nobody is really happy for fear of violating some kind of rule.  When these people start paying my mortgage and utility bills, then I might let them tell me what to do.  Until then, this is still a free country and I still have the right to life, liberty and the persuit of garden railroading.

Amen Brother, I say let freedom ring. That said, I still live in my parents house (until I find a job that is) and as such anything I do with my railroad requires prior approval of the ICC (My folks) except for the out-of-view north loop.

[tangerine-jack]

Certanly not!  I was quite specific when house hunting that I did NOT want any kind of homeowners association.  I firmly believe that there are more than enough laws on the books already that cover how a house and yard can look, as well as vehicles on the property etc.  I don't need some crabby 90 year old lady telling me how to paint my house or cut my grass.  I've never felt the need to run my life in lock step with the "Jones'" nor do I want to live in an artificialy created community where nobody is really happy for fear of violating some kind of rule.  When these people start paying my mortgage and utility bills, then I might let them tell me what to do.  Until then, this is still a free country and I still have the right to life, liberty and the persuit of garden railroading.

[cabbage]

I had to apply for "Planning Permission"... This is because I live inside a National Park and live in what is now (after we rebuilt it) a "grade 2' listed building.

regards

ralph

[Anonymous]

Yes mate i do, here on Kawana Island, they have many covenants but they don't affect us at all unless i get about 40 visitors at once, and they all seem to ignore the parking covenants; as do many others.

But really i don't think i break any rules with my layout but a few of my neighbours have asked quite sheepishly if i have steam train in my backyard, knowing of course that i couldn't have; and i think they think they have been hearing things

Rgds Ian

[GP-9_Man11786]

Just curious but do any of you live in a planned comuntiy with a Homeowner's Association and restrictive covenantsand how does it affect your railroad?