Seattle

[WannaBBuyer]

Alright, well I am sorry I didn't buy the house with the structural issues because the next best thing I've found is in a dreaded HOA. First, the only reason an HOA would "protect me," as the agent claims, is that loud obnoxious neighbors might be more easily controlled.

Anyway, the prior owner deferred all maintenance.

It's such a frustration to realize I may have found The House on the first day I began viewing homes. But I didn't have the knowledge and understanding at that time to go through with it.

Another thing - I've heard homeowning snobs claim renters are sloppy filthy lazy scum, but from what I've seen of the owner-occupied homes in this area, it's the other way around.

[bld999]

Areas [square footages] would help, you might be too strong on your estimate of cost... are there covenants about materials? Cedar shake is no longer a good choice in most cases, and expensive. Decks are like shoes, is it a big 5, or Manolos?

[ Detail needed.] What style and age house?

The crux will be the pod people, no amount of hammers, nails, puppydog tails, or money will make them go away.

[WannaBBuyer]

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[bld999]

SWAG, I would say closer to 30k on cost, but I would fight hard to substitute a good comp roof. Cedar shake makes great kindling unless fire treated, and it is a very poor use of scarce resources these days. Even much of the cedar lumber we use now comes clear from Vancouver Island. Anyway, the HOA  sounds like a bummer.

[Ready-Set-List]

Totally agree that you should fight hard to install a composition roof rather than cedar shake, but more because I think cedar shake doesn't perform as nicely in our area than because of a fire concern.  I also agree that with a 1300 sq ft rambler, you might be more in the $30k range for a simple deck, roof, fence, and exterior paint job.  (Although I say this with a ton of "ifs" and "buts" without having seen the place myself!)

I've never met a HOA I like.  Year ago when I lived in North Carolina I despised mine so much that I joined the board... which only made me despise it more!  Now we live in North Seattle in a beautiful neighborhood with fantastic views of the Sound.  All of the houses around me are in great shape... except the only one I see each morning when I wake up and want to look out over the Sound at the Olympics.  Yep- that one has a blue tarp for a roof, trees that are well above the HOA view standards, and has an overgrown yard that is well-known as a rat haven.  Our HOA has done everything short of file a lawsuit but the old lady who lives there has said she doesn't care what a judge says, she's not fixing anything.  For now, the HOA has decided to ...ahem... "wait out her life expectancy" rather than mount a protracted and expensive legal fight as it is all too likely the City of Seattle has better things to do than actually eject a stubborn old woman from her middle class home.  I know HOAs, particularly on the Eastside, are not as patient, however! 

In addition to being wary of the HOA, I'd also very wary of the deferred maintenance.  While it is easy to determine that your deck, fence, and paint need attention, I'd be concerned about what else needs attention that isn't so easily seen.  The house is obviously at least 25 years old.  A lot can happen to home in 25 years when they aren't properly maintained.  If the house is actually 25 years old that puts its build date in the late 80s which wasn't a stellar era for building in many cases.  

Once again, make sure you've got a great home inspector if you do move forward!!!  Also make sure you've got at least 30k in your own reserves at all times since the HOA may be the least of your concerns if things start really falling apart.

I'd be tempted to keeeeep looking!  There's not much inventory out right now, but within the month we should see lots of new listings and options on the market.  

Best wishes with your search... and keep posting!  I enjoy your posts!

Eleanor 

[someotherguy]

I'd ask the neighbors how onerous the hoa has been in their experience.  Many, particularly older ones like you are looking at, are not a big deal at all.  If everyone in the neighborhood still has a cedar roof then you are not likely to avoid that.  Then again, based on your posts, I'm not even sure why you are looking at an hoa home at all.  You seem to know all you need to know without even inquiring, which says more about you than those you judge so quickly.

[relaxedcitygirl]

My sister lives in a neighborhood with a HOA. She and her husband had a small shed built in the back yard to house lawn maintenance equipment. This was totally w/in HOA provisions. However, the HOA made a big stink about the color they chose to paint it--a  muted tone which matched their house. It all looked very uniform and was appealing to the eye. (Yes, I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder.) The HOA told them several times to repaint the shed an "approved" color (the color palate much have been decided in the late 70s--nothing was appealing nor did they offer it that "Northwest" feeling.") Logically, it made no sense. You could paint your house a color outside of HOA regs, but not the accompanying shed. After trying to make nice once or twice and getting nowhere, they ended up ignoring the HOA and there were no consequences. Depending on the neighborhood, HOAs can be a lot of bark and no bite. Unless they is an attorney on the HOA board who is willing to draft up docs for free, it takes money for them to go the legal route, so a lot of them end up unable to enforce the regulations. Good luck to you.

[myfamilyhouse]

I also agree with your last side comment about renters. I am on a HOA board, and although our owners have started complaining about the increased numbers of renters in the complex... we have had zero problems with any of our renters. Only homeowners (loud parties, leaving large old furniture by the dumpster...).