Sarasota homes for sale demand buyers read & understand the neighborhood’s “deed restrictions” BEFORE buying in to a living nightmare.
Do your homework on the neighborhood before buying that dream house.
It’s true, some power-hungry HOA (volunteers) calling themselves “president,” etc get off on a little power.
It’s true, some home owners do not care about maintaining their properties according to the neighborhood’s “deed restrictions.”
What happens next is what you need to know if you’re buying a house.
If you fail to take this step seriously, you very well could find yourself regretting the day you decided to buy into THAT neighborhood filled with an HOA gone wild.
Before you buy a house, take a big breath and ask yourself one very important question based on solid research…solid research you did yourself!
Click Read More below now for required due diligence most home buyers neglect before buying in to that “perfect” neighborhood.
HOME OWNERS SCOFF AT CCR’S & REGRET BUYING DECISION
In Sarasota, most communities (aka “neighborhoods”) are deed-restricted, meaning every home owner and prospective agrees to ABIDE by the “deed restrictions” or else.
The “or else” is the part that concerns me.
Further, it’s the “WHO” that bothers me too. That is, WHO are the board members. Are these volunteers elected to serve the community’s best interests on some power trip or truly interested in serving the community?
Hmm, therein lies the challenge.
Heads They’re Good, Tails They’re Bad….
You see, “deed-restricted” communities are both good and bad.
Technically, they’re called CCRs or Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions that tell homeowners what they CAN and CANNOT do as owners in said community. Clearly, your castle comes with “house rules.”
If you choose not to read the CCRs before buying, your neglect could bite you in the backside.
Who knows, you might be so unlucky as to have moved next door to the power-hungry HOA board president. Ouch! That could be uncomfortable if you forget to use a level when cutting your grass…or neglect pulling a couple weeds…or forget to replace your burned out yard light…or (God forbid) go ahead & paint your house a color the Board president finds disgusting.
…though NOT in violation of CCRs.
You see, even conscientious people (that is, people who actually get informed about CCRs before they buy) buy houses next to difficult neighbors.
It’s Not Just Out-Of-Control HOA Board Members!
Some people clearly should not be homeowners.
They do not respect their homes or their neighbors’ property values. They move in to houses and proceed to neglect their own house on which they paid HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS.
However, it’s worse: these same people disrespect their neighbors’ properties and property value. This is inexcusable.
- Dead St. Augustine grass is most common violation. It’s excusable for people new to Florida NOT to know how quickly chinch bugs can devour once-beautiful St. Augustine turf grass. It’s quite different for new homeowners intentionally to neglect the grass and plant material.
- Oil stained driveways don’t bother these people. Good luck trying to get oil out of concrete. Once it’s there, it’s there. Forget trying to power wash it out. All you’ll do is wear away the concrete.
- Another common issue is these people park wherever they choose — anywhere on the grass they choose. It’s not a yard; rather, it’s an extended driveway.
- They throw up horrible wood fences, covering more of the property than CCR approved. Forget what the neighbor think.
- Who said PURPLE is not a neutral color? In one neighborhood, a family moved in and quickly slapped on a bright purple coat of paint. Homeowners discovered a shortcoming in community’s CCR’s and quickly “purplelized” not just the house but the entire street. Living on the same street as the sore thumb has its disadvantages.
- Power washing. It’s humid in Florida. Mildew forms a greenish layer on sides of houses not heavy on sun. Concrete and roofs turn black. Gotta paint and gotta power wash.
Absolutely, before you buy think carefully about home ownership. Is it for you? Do you accept the responsibility of caring for a house and respecting one’s neighbors’ property?
If you don’t want to make time for outdoor maintenance, can you afford to hire it out?
Warning: Beware lawn maintenance companies offering full service cutting, trimming, pruning & fertilizing & spraying. Confirm their warranty if their (in) action kills or degrades your grass. Same goes for pest control lawn maintenance companies. As I mentioned in another post, I know only of one Sarasota lawn pest control company I will recommend with confidence.
On the other hand, it’s not enough to read carefully all CCRs. You also must talk with many homeowners in the community about the HOA and management company.
- Does the HOA attract every power-hungry owner in the neighborhood?
- Does this Board constantly try to raise annual HOA dues with NO additional services?
- Can you accept and live with the CCRs?
Once you buy, it’s not as easy to leave a mortgage as it is to leave a lease agreement. In some cases, you’re trapped until you sell and move.
Okay, it’s your turn. PLEASE go below & tell me what you think of homeowner associations. Are they a necessary evil, combating the people who will create a junkyard or start an auto repair garage in a heartbeat? I want to hear from you about HOAs.
If you want to buy or sell in or around Sarasota, please call me. I want to help you buy or sell your Sarasota home for sale.
Sarasota homes for sale find many buyers oblivious to HOA reality. I encounter this HOA disconnect from many buyers. They seem to think CCRs don’t matter…so what about grass or oil or parking all over the grass. It ain’t no big thing, they tend to believe.
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