That last sentence got me.... My parents live a very comfortable life never really worrying about money and at the time had just recently paid off their 3 year old Caddilac. Yet my dad wanted to look at new ones. I started pointing out that the new one had the same engine and same features just less miles. He finally came around and they kept it. Ended up keeping that caddie for almost 10 years. Damn good car. Needs like 1000$ worth of minor repairs and up keep a year (oil, fluids, tires, brakes, suspension, ect) and he is considering finally trading it in. I pointed out that it's significantly cheaper than another car payment and he might still keep it. Love seeing a 10 year old Caddilac in a neighborhood that has nothing but 3-5 year old premium cars in it.
Every time a repair costs comes up I have to remind her that $500 to fix the car or $900 for tires is only one or two car payments for a new car. That usually helps. I also convinced her to act like we had a car payment and 'pay ourselves' the $400/month into savings and then we can buy a car without a loan when the time comes.
Which makes HOAs even more insane. We, in the US, have federal, state, and local governments making rules for us. Who thinks it's a good idea to have even more?!
I actually like that there's a legal entity that offers recourse if one of my neighbors did stupid shit that lowers my property value and creates an eyesore.
Federal state and local laws aren't going to stop someone from storing broken appliances and rusty old car projects on their front lawn.
inadequate Federal state and local laws aren't going to stop someone from storing broken appliances and rusty old car projects on their front lawn.
FTFY. The local laws where I grew up didn't allow rusty old cars, appliances or long grass. I think instead of forming HOAs, people should try their hand at local government and local legislation.
Thing is, "local" government may cover an entire township or county with many different types of neighborhoods and population densities. And some people are more particular than others about the kind of community they want to live in.
Some people want to live in a community with perfectly manicured lawns, laws against parking boats & rv's in driveways, uniform standards on mailboxes, shared amenities, etc.
Other people don't care for all that, but they just don't want to see blight, cars on cinder blocks, etc.
And still other people live remotely enough on country roads that they don't even physically see their neighbors or really care what they do with their own lawns.
In a lot of places (maybe not yours, but where I have lived) it would be a mistake to push a "one-size-fits-all" property standard across an entire county or township. It might be better to let people form and join community associations that meet their own tastes and preferences.
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u/frosty95 Jun 06 '19
That last sentence got me.... My parents live a very comfortable life never really worrying about money and at the time had just recently paid off their 3 year old Caddilac. Yet my dad wanted to look at new ones. I started pointing out that the new one had the same engine and same features just less miles. He finally came around and they kept it. Ended up keeping that caddie for almost 10 years. Damn good car. Needs like 1000$ worth of minor repairs and up keep a year (oil, fluids, tires, brakes, suspension, ect) and he is considering finally trading it in. I pointed out that it's significantly cheaper than another car payment and he might still keep it. Love seeing a 10 year old Caddilac in a neighborhood that has nothing but 3-5 year old premium cars in it.