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Author Topic: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.  (Read 2003 times)

KA1CNK

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #15 on: June 09, 2020, 08:54:38 PM »

As I suspected, it looks like the commercial is showing the HOA vigilante committing a federal offense.

 https://legalbeagle.com/6503781-mailbox-vandalism-laws.html

Seems like a stupid thing to do.  The funny part gets a bit thin here.

Ya' gotta lighten up, man...it's only a comical insurance commercial, depicting  unrealistic, over-the-top HOA inspections. You actually looked up a law against this?? I guess you need a sense of humor to understand its' intent ;).

I took less  than a minute to confirm what I already suspected.   It shows an HOA vigilante committing a Federal offense punishable by up to 3 years jail and $250k fine.  It greatly exaggerates the authority of the HOA.  The homeowners are right to say thank you.  She just gave them an argument to get her kicked out of her position.

Yeah, I guess you can consider it funny, but I think the mailbox bit crosses the line into not so funny anymore.  I don't think any of the other Geico I've seen crossed this line.  Heck I'm just pointing out reality that advertisers don't seem to care about or aren't aware of.  I'm not preparing to mount a campaign or anything.  Just rebuffing their puffery (if that's the right term)
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KA1CNK

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #16 on: June 09, 2020, 09:06:28 PM »

I visited a community where political activists took over the HOA board. They have a guy playing horrendously loud pop music all day every day. His nearest neighbor's houses are unliveable. The board says it's needed to "help people in the lockdown".

So nobody else in the community has a radio or something?  IMHO that reason is BS.  It sound similar to a Phycological warfare tactic.

Sounds like another example of a stupid HOA that's likely ruling in violation of a municipal ordinance.
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W9IQ

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #17 on: June 10, 2020, 05:33:27 AM »

The backstory on the GEICO mailbox is that the USPS has declared it unservicable due to its inappropriate mounting. So it is not subject to federal regulations.

It turns out that it was a mailbox flag vertical for 10 through 2 meters. I thought they did a first class job of disguising it.

- Glenn W9IQ
« Last Edit: June 10, 2020, 05:41:46 AM by W9IQ »
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

K7JQ

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #18 on: June 10, 2020, 06:41:34 AM »

The backstory on the GEICO mailbox is that the USPS has declared it unservicable due to its inappropriate mounting. So it is not subject to federal regulations.

It turns out that it was a mailbox flag vertical for 10 through 2 meters. I thought they did a first class job of disguising it.

- Glenn W9IQ

There ya' go...Glenn has a sense of humor ;D. Perpetuating a serious discussion of a humorous commercial...really??
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K1VSK

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #19 on: June 10, 2020, 08:50:26 AM »



There ya' go...Glenn has a sense of humor ;D. Perpetuating a serious discussion of a humorous commercial...really??
This might be (minimally) funny but for the fact it is true:

There is evidence herein that the Covid 19 pathogen has mutated into a more insidious form manifesting itself as HOA Derangement Syndrome. Typically, only among a fraction of the ham radio community living in unprotected areas or where practically no one wants to live.
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N8AUC

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #20 on: June 10, 2020, 03:08:30 PM »

I thought the commercial was pretty funny.

C'mon - lighten up there folks! It's just a stupid TV commercial.
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KD2TYW

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #21 on: June 10, 2020, 07:03:47 PM »

Just the thought of living in an HOA is enough to set me off!!  We own 16 acres in our small City, which is a lot of work, but we get left alone for the most part.
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K7JQ

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #22 on: June 11, 2020, 05:54:58 AM »

Just the thought of living in an HOA is enough to set me off!!  We own 16 acres in our small City, which is a lot of work, but we get left alone for the most part.

Then don't think about it, and continue to live where you do if it makes you happy ;). I live in an HOA, not a lot of work, and get totally left alone ::).

73, K7JQ
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K1VSK

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #23 on: June 11, 2020, 07:23:19 AM »

Just the thought of living in an HOA is enough to set me off!!  We own 16 acres in our small City, which is a lot of work, but we get left alone for the most part.

Then don't think about it, and continue to live where you do if it makes you happy ;). I live in an HOA, not a lot of work, and get totally left alone ::).

73, K7JQ
Everyone gets to choose where they live. I always found it odd that some feel compelled to criticize others' choices. Guess it compensates for some self-esteem issue. Regardless, no one bothers us either as nobody in our HOA sits on a pedestal from which they look down in judgment of others.
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WB2KSP

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #24 on: June 12, 2020, 02:37:25 PM »

The reaction to this commercial is so over the top, many should be embarrassed. It's a comedic portrayal of an HOA where neighbors spy on neighbors looking to crack down on any infraction. Does this happen everywhere or typically? Of course not! Do things like these minor rules infractions occur? Of course they do. Funny thing is for those of us who don't live within the restrictions put in place by these HOA enforced covenants, it seems like we, as a supposedly free people are happily resigning out freedoms because of some supposed neighbor who wants to turn their homes into out houses and barns. Do such places exist? Of course they do. Part of it appears to be cultural. My sister in law, who lives in a Florida HOA in Brandon told me about a neighbor who refused to take care of their property and turned it into a toilet until the HOA put a stop to it. Here in a NY suburb where our neighbors homes range anywhere from $350,000 to 2 million I don't know of a single house where such lack of care exists. In my neighborhood, most homes have landscaping services which mow our lawns and tend our property once a week.  Most of my neighbors don't have the time to take care of their property due to work schedules. Those that do, take care of their land out of respect for themselves and for the neighborhood. In my old home, a 1953 cape where we had 1/4 acre of land, I would mow the lawn on a weekly basis, as did all of my neighbors. I had a TH5 on the roof, an 80 meter V in the back yard & other assorted antennas for UHF, & VHF TV, a four element two meter beam etc. and no one complained about a thing. We got along well with our neighbors. Most of my antennas weren't really visible from the street and the TH5 was professionally installed. That was in the era of analog NTSC TV where TVI was not unheard of, unlike today's ATSC digital TV signals. I am not saying that I want to go into a specific neighborhood and install a 100 foot tower with guy wires every which way. There are already zoning laws in place after all. On the other hand, preventing the installation of a compromise antenna such as a roof mounted Hex Beam or a vertical or the many forms of wire antennas, to me denotes the uncompromising position held by many HOA communities today. I am not asking for anyone to bear the expense of installing or maintaining my antenna system. However, as a resident of a community which contains a pool and a club house, neither of which I would care to make use of, I would be asked to pay for those services, for the benefit of others. I didn't realize that we lived in a communal society. These restrictions to me go against the freedoms I see as part of being a citizen of this country. It's as though the only thing my land ownership provides me is room and board and the right to pay for services for others to enjoy while denying myself the right to pay for the legal service which I enjoy. Today, with digital television, the days of TVI and other ham radio intrusions are a thing of the past. The only reason I see for the continued ban on ham radio (And without a decent antenna these private groups are effectively banning the hobby of ham radio) is that these self appointed guardians of good living have a power which they can hold over their potential neighbors. Yes, the Geico commercial is over the top but as is true with comedy in general, there's some basis in truth and it's not only ham radio.
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K7JQ

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #25 on: June 12, 2020, 04:53:49 PM »

The reaction to this commercial is so over the top, many should be embarrassed. It's a comedic portrayal of an HOA where neighbors spy on neighbors looking to crack down on any infraction.
These restrictions to me go against the freedoms I see as part of being a citizen of this country.
The only reason I see for the continued ban on ham radio is that these self appointed guardians of good living have a power which they can hold over their potential neighbors.

Yes, some of the reactions were somehow taken literally and seriously. Oh well... ::).

Obviously, there are some "bad apple" HOA's out there, But for some folks to summarize them all as Nazi-like controlled encampments, scrutinizing your every move, and taking away your freedoms is absolutely ridiculous. If you're a normal human being that takes pride in the appearance of your property, you'll never hear a peep out of the HOA.

We all still have freedoms as citizens of this Country...freedom of choice. If you don't agree to the CC&R's (they are legal, binding contracts), then don't buy there...simple as that. Go somewhere that makes you happy. No one cares where you live, and you shouldn't care or criticize where anyone else lives.

The CC&R ban on ham antennas are designed to keep potential eyesores from spoiling the look of the community, and also possible safety concerns. Yes, I think antennas are quite beautiful, but the other 99% of the neighbors might not think so. Go figure ;). My priorities in life don't include large, visible antennas, and I've made do with stealth options. If there comes a time when I must have towers and beams, I'll move, and maybe sacrifice some of the amenities I now enjoy. Until/if reasonable accommodation of ham antenna laws are passed, it is what it is.

So get used to it. The good old days when you could erect anything you want, don't care if you piss off your neighbors, without asking permission from anyone (except maybe the wife), are GONE. If you want a newly built modern home, HOA's/CC&R's are here to stay. HOA's are just doing their job to enforce the CC&R's. You signed the contract, so live with it. Figure out your priorities and make a decision. No one else can do that for you.

73, Bob K7JQ
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WB2KSP

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #26 on: June 12, 2020, 05:22:43 PM »

The reaction to this commercial is so over the top, many should be embarrassed. It's a comedic portrayal of an HOA where neighbors spy on neighbors looking to crack down on any infraction.
These restrictions to me go against the freedoms I see as part of being a citizen of this country.
The only reason I see for the continued ban on ham radio is that these self appointed guardians of good living have a power which they can hold over their potential neighbors.


Yes, some of the reactions were somehow taken literally and seriously. Oh well... ::).

Obviously, there are some "bad apple" HOA's out there, But for some folks to summarize them all as Nazi-like controlled encampments, scrutinizing your every move, and taking away your freedoms is absolutely ridiculous. If you're a normal human being that takes pride in the appearance of your property, you'll never hear a peep out of the HOA.

We all still have freedoms as citizens of this Country...freedom of choice. If you don't agree to the CC&R's (they are legal, binding contracts), then don't buy there...simple as that. Go somewhere that makes you happy. No one cares where you live, and you shouldn't care or criticize where anyone else lives.

The CC&R ban on ham antennas are designed to keep potential eyesores from spoiling the look of the community, and also possible safety concerns. Yes, I think antennas are quite beautiful, but the other 99% of the neighbors might not think so. Go figure ;). My priorities in life don't include large, visible antennas, and I've made do with stealth options. If there comes a time when I must have towers and beams, I'll move, and maybe sacrifice some of the amenities I now enjoy. Until/if reasonable accommodation of ham antenna laws are passed, it is what it is.

So get used to it. The good old days when you could erect anything you want, don't care if you piss off your neighbors, without asking permission from anyone (except maybe the wife), are GONE. If you want a newly built modern home, HOA's/CC&R's are here to stay. HOA's are just doing their job to enforce the CC&R's. You signed the contract, so live with it. Figure out your priorities and make a decision. No one else can do that for you.

73, Bob K7JQ



This further proves my point. Do we really have a choice when the option is to live in a modern neighborhood with the conveniences of a modern home or must we be relegated to a house in the country/rural area with few services, well water, septic tanks, propane or oil tanks for heat? Doesn't sound like a viable option to me. It's like saying, if you want to use your ham licensee from your home you have to give up every other advantage of modern life or move to a modern community where ham radio is an illegal activity. Those aren't viable options to me. If there were some HOA neighborhoods in a town which allowed me to install a ham antenna I'd be agreeable to that. While there may be one or two in a state which give you that option, by far most HOA communities make it difficult if not impossible to install any antenna on property the homeowner supposedly pays for and owns.  If I decide that I want to paint my house brown but if someone in the community who's on the board and has the power, tells me that he doesn't like brown but would prefer an off white, does this stranger/neighbor get to decide what color I can paint my house? I know there are usually choices but I am trying to make a point here. We are giving up our freedom of choice out of fear of offending someone. I can see the day when a person will have to discuss what color car they purchase with a comity so as not to offend those in power. Sound ridiculous? So does the outright disallowing a responsible homeowner from practicing his or her hobby on property they own.  By the way, my TH5 never had any physical impact with a neighbors property, nor did any of my antennas. See, hams can be responsible too.
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K1VSK

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #27 on: June 12, 2020, 06:02:38 PM »





 Do we really have a choice...

Yes, you do.



Anyone claiming they can’t find what they want, where they want and how they want it isn’t looking very hard. Or long, e.g., one day.
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K7JQ

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #28 on: June 13, 2020, 07:10:10 AM »





 Do we really have a choice...

Yes, you do.



Anyone claiming they can’t find what they want, where they want and how they want it isn’t looking very hard. Or long, e.g., one day.

Don K1VSK,
But you gotta admit that if a ham radio operator that wants (visible) antennas in a new-build home in today's pervasive HOA/CC&R environment, the choices are limited vs many years ago.
That still doesn't preclude the fact that, yes, there are always choices. It all depends on one's priorities and willingness to make compromises. A little give-and-take, and you can always find something. But sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it too ;).

David WB2KSP,
You've been posting on this topic for a few years now, wanting to move to a relatively new-build retirement home, but want antenna accommodations. I assume you're still living in your NY home? And still searching?

Well, you're preaching to the choir. Of course I would like antenna accommodations, but I made a choice based on my life priorities. I operate with stealth antennas, and am VERY happy and content where I live. Frankly at my age, 74, a tower and beam, which I've had before back in Philadelphia, is not on my horizon anymore.

You talk about losing your freedoms living in an HOA/CC&R community. Not true. So what if houses have a choice of color scheme to go by, and you can't paint it the color you want? That's a chintzy excuse for "losing your freedom". I'm in my third HOA in the last 28 years, and other than not being allowed to have visible antennas, I've never heard from the HOA. Let me ask you a question: If you weren't a ham operator, would you still be adverse to living in a HOA-run community? If so, why? Millions of non-hams live in such communities and are quite content. I come and go how I want, have great neighbors, beautiful AZ desert views, and a comfortable modern home in a well-kept neighborhood. And still work stations all over the world with non-visible antennas. It can be done if you really want to.

I can understand your frustration, but it's a very simple process. List your priorities, read the CC&R's, decide on compromises, and make your choice. HOA or not. Sometimes in life, you just can't have it all. But it doesn't mean you've lost your freedoms. CC&R's are community laws, just like any other laws you have to abide by in other environments. No one's twisting your arm. If you don't agree with them, you have the freedom of choice to live somewhere else.

73,  Bob K7JQ
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K1VSK

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Re: Speaking of nosy neighbors and HOA's.
« Reply #29 on: June 13, 2020, 07:40:34 AM »



Don K1VSK,
But you gotta admit that if a ham radio operator that wants (visible) antennas in a new-build home in today's pervasive HOA/CC&R environment, the choices are limited vs many years ago.




That hypothesis has never been quantified - while HOAs are gaining in market share, many with antenna limitations, no one has ever demonstrated hams living in HOAs can/cannot obtain waivers for installing an antenna even when limitations are stated. As only one example, over 70 hams reside in my HOA. None have been denied permission to erect an antenna despite having stated limitations.

Regardless, there are a dozen communities in my local area with hundreds of new homes of every conceivable size, type, dimension, price, etc... with no HOA and no one has ever demonstrated where, how or if we are any different in that respect than anywhere.

This “I can’t” nonsense doesn’t pass the laugh test.
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