HOA and Home Brewing Question

[MyCarHasAbs]

My gf and I are in the early process of buying our first home and we'll probably have to settle with a town house (Northern VA is $$$). This also means we'll have to pay HOA fees. Is anyone aware of HOA not allowing home brewing? I know they have some pretty ridiculous rules. I've heard for example you can have an attic, you just can't use it...which sounds absurd.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

My gf and I are in the early process of buying our first home and we'll probably have to settle with a town house (Northern VA is $$$). This also means we'll have to pay HOA fees. Is anyone aware of HOA not allowing home brewing? I know they have some pretty ridiculous rules. I've heard for example you can have an attic, you just can't use it...which sounds absurd.

HOA's are absurd. You will have to read the covenant and restriction of the particular HOA to know whether or not HB is allowed. I have heard of some who restrict the use of smokers and grills.

 

[GrogNerd]

not sure my HOA has a clue what's going on in the neighborhood

cars parked in the yard, expired tags/decals, derelict cars, un-mowed lawns

if they complained about my homebrewing, they would look awful funny walking around with propane tanks jammed into their rectums

 

[billl]

In your house? No. They can't restrict what you cook on your stove.

If you want to brew outside, then there may be some restrictions about grills etc. eg no flames on the deck, grills in the drive.

 

[MyCarHasAbs]

I personally can't imagine them having an issue with brewing beer at home. If you're allowed to brew tea, you should be allowed to make your own beer.

 

[MyCarHasAbs]

In your house? No. They can't restrict what you cook on your stove.

If you want to brew outside, then there may be some restrictions about grills etc. eg no flames on the deck, grills in the drive.

They can however supposedly restrict you from using your own fireplace.

 

[unionrdr]

Mine doesn't have any HB restrictions. But I do brew on the stove.

 

[dnslater]

Just be sure to read the HOA covenants before signing anything. Assume these would be easily obtained by your realtor.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

They can however supposedly restrict you from using your own fireplace.

There can be deed restrictions not allowing the installation of a wood burning fireplace. However, restrictions on use are unenforceable. Just because it is on the document does not, necessarily, mean it is legally enforceable to the point of foreclosure if you don't pay fines.

Case in point, several of the properties we looked at prior to buying our current home had deed restrictions on black people.

Basically, the only restrictions taht are legally enforceable in a court are those that have potential to reduce property value.

 

[dobe12]

The issue will be open flames on your porch or patio. There are HOA rules and township laws. Both tell me I can't grill unless using electric. I still do use a small gas camping grill and brew on a gas turkey frier. I have a decent size fenced in porch and I lock my gear up in a closet on the porch. None of my neighbors complain and it's pretty private, so no one bothers me. I'm sure it would be a problem if the wrong person walked by while I was brewing, but for now, I take that chance. It's been 4yrs with no problems. (KNOCKING ON WOOD)

As a condo owner one thing I'd suggest is exhaust all options to get in a house before you settle for a condo/townhome. We've been in ours for about 8yrs and the BS you have to deal with with an HOA association is ridiculous. Our fees 8yrs ago were $150. They are now up to $280/month. They also just tacked on an extra $50 for the next 4 months to pay for all the snow removal this past winter. I'd like to ask them "What about all the money NOT used for snow removal last year? Where's that? Did you think to put some of that away for a bad winter?".

Long story short, HOAs suck a$$. No other way around it. I'd seriously recommend you try as hard as you can to buy a house if at all possible. My wife and I love our home, but constantly wish we could go back in time and tell ourselves to hold out for a house.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

The issue will be open flames on your porch or patio. There are HOA rules and township laws. Both tell me I can't grill unless using electric. I still do use a small gas camping grill and brew on a gas turkey frier. I have a decent size fenced in porch and I lock my gear up in a closet on the porch. None of my neighbors complain and it's pretty private, so no one bothers me. I'm sure it would be a problem if the wrong person walked by while I was brewing, but for now, I take that chance. It's been 4yrs with no problems. (KNOCKING ON WOOD)

As a condo owner one thing I'd suggest is exhaust all options to get in a house before you settle for a condo/townhome. We've been in ours for about 8yrs and the BS you have to deal with with an HOA association is ridiculous. Our fees 8yrs ago were $150. They are now up to $280/month. They also just tacked on an extra $50 for the next 4 months to pay for all the snow removal this past winter. I'd like to ask them "What about all the money NOT used for snow removal last year? Where's that? Did you think to put some of that away for a bad winter?".

Long story short, HOAs suck a$$. No other way around it. I'd seriously recommend you try as hard as you can to buy a house if at all possible. My wife and I love our home, but constantly wish we could go back in time and tell ourselves to hold out for a house.

A house is no guarantee against HOA. In fact, depending on the area, they too can be just as rediculous. I have a house, we have a HOA. However it is NOT mandatory to join and is only to maintain common areas. But we also have deed restrictions, which have little to do with HOA, to prevent tall grass, wood shake roofs, junked up properties, RV storage, and basketball goals in the front yard.

 

[dobe12]

Case in point, several of the properties we looked at prior to buying our current home had deed restrictions on black people.

Are you serious? I'm not oblivious to racism, but there's no way something like that would hold up in any court. I would think someone could be sued just for listing that as a deed restriction.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Are you serious? I'm not oblivious to racism, but there's no way something like that would hold up in any court. I would think someone could be sued just for listing that as a deed restriction.

Absolutely serious. And absolutely unenforceable. Area of deed restriction was developed in the 20's and the deed had gone unchaged ever since.

 

[dobe12]

A house is no guarantee against HOA. In fact, depending on the area, they too can be just as rediculous. I have a house, we have a HOA. However it is NOT mandatory to join and is only to maintain common areas. But we also have deed restrictions, which have little to do with HOA, to prevent tall grass, wood shake roofs, junked up properties, RV storage, and basketball goals in the front yard.

Ok... but my point still holds true. Try as hard as possible to NOT get into an HOA property, which a house is usually the solution.

 

[ChemistBrewer]

Being a Libertarian minded kinda guy I would just never live in a neighbor hood that had one. In the south we used to never have them untill yankees started showing up then HOAs came along a few years later. It really depends, but I wouldnt be surprised if they tryed to restrict you.
Not trying to tell you what to do, but cant you find a neighborhood that is not in an HOA?

 

[Teromous]

Talk about HOA's in VA always brings back memories. Some of them can get pretty ridiculous. Definitely read through their rules/bylaws carefully, and the best way to find out about the neighborhood is to ask the neighbors.

 

[MyCarHasAbs]

Long story short, HOAs suck a$$. No other way around it. I'd seriously recommend you try as hard as you can to buy a house if at all possible. My wife and I love our home, but constantly wish we could go back in time and tell ourselves to hold out for a house.

I think I'd be perfectly ok with waiting another year to move out..the problem is ...her mother. Her mom is f***in crazy. I come home from work and go straight up to my miniature man cave and I don't come out often because of her mom unless she's down stairs in her little hobby room lol. My gf would attest to this fact.

 

[IslandLizard]

I'd stay the heck away from HOA governed properties. Some may be OK and not run by soup nazis currently, but there's always a chance that can change any day, when some dictator or short-d***ed power monger comes along. HOA dues can be staggering and contain silly, seemingly harmless clauses, until they start haunting or restricting you and your freedom, while you're paying for them with your hard-earned money.

If you can, look elsewhere. Freedom rules!

 

[Bobby_M]

The thing that would usually get you is "no propane tanks on balconies or common areas" which pretty much means everywhere. One indication without much work is to drive around and look for the presence or absence of BBQ grills. I would rather live in a detached run down shack in the woods rather than a classy joint controlled by a HOA.

 

[MyCarHasAbs]

Being a Libertarian minded kinda guy I would just never live in a neighbor hood that had one. In the south we used to never have them untill yankees started showing up then HOAs came along a few years later. It really depends, but I wouldnt be surprised if they tryed to restrict you.
Not trying to tell you what to do, but cant you find a neighborhood that is not in an HOA?

If waiting a year were mentally and psychologically doable for the both of us, I'd be happy to wait it another year as her salary is a bit above 50 a year and I'm just shy of 40. Most of the houses in her parents neighborhood are easily in the $500k range and they're not even close to "upper level living". Northern VA / Metro DC area is incredibly expensive. For anyone familiar with VA we're going for Springfield.

 

[MyCarHasAbs]

To clarify, I brew inside on the stove.

 

[dobe12]

I think I'd be perfectly ok with waiting another year to move out..the problem is ...her mother. Her mom is f***in crazy. I come home from work and go straight up to my miniature man cave and I don't come out often because of her mom unless she's down stairs in her little hobby room lol. My gf would attest to this fact.

I hear ya. If one more year will get you into a house, wait it out. Not just because of HOAs, but because you'll want to be in a house shortly after you get into a condo/townhome. That's where my wife and I are now. We bought our condo about 6 months before the housing market crashed in the mid 2000's. We paid $190K and it's now worth $130K, while we still owe about $165K. The initial thought was to buy it and stay for 5-6yrs, sell it for whatever profit we could, then buy a house. Well it's 8yrs later and we're stuck. We try to stay positive about it though. We have a roof over our heads. I have a place to brew, even if it's not technically allowed

 

[JonM]

Are you serious? I'm not oblivious to racism, but there's no way something like that would hold up in any court. I would think someone could be sued just for listing that as a deed restriction.

My parents' house has the same thing. The restrictions were put on long, long ago, probably by the people who built the house, and they are entirely unenforceable now. But they can't be removed from the deed.

I hate the idea of HOAs period. In every neighborhood, you're going to have busybodies/complainers, etc. Most of the time, you have the ability to tell them to go F themselves and to mind their own business, but having an HOA gives the meddlers some muscle that can allow them to tell you what to do. Screw that.

 

[dobe12]

To clarify, I brew inside on the stove.

Meh.... don't think twice about it. Brew on! But still look for a house and avoid HOAs if at all possible.

 

[IslandLizard]

To clarify, I brew inside on the stove.

At some point you may want to consider an induction plate perhaps. You can buy a 3500W unit (IC3500) under $200 (including shipping), and you could pull a dedicated 240V/20A line or tap into your existing 240V/30A dryer outlet.

As said before, what you do inside your home seems to be off limits to HOA regulations, but better make sure that's the case and you can live with all the rules.

I'd choose the shack in the woods...

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

My parents' house has the same thing. The restrictions were put on long, long ago, probably by the people who built the house, and they are entirely unenforceable now. But they can't be removed from the deed.

I hate the idea of HOAs period. In every neighborhood, you're going to have busybodies/complainers, etc. Most of the time, you have the ability to tell them to go F themselves and to mind their own business, but having an HOA gives the meddlers some muscle that can allow them to tell you what to do. Screw that.

It is a catch 22. HOA's that honestly protect property values are good. I personally don;t care to live next to the guy with the 72' Bel Aire on block in the drive for the last 10 years. Nor do I want to live next to the hot pink and purple house. And, to a degree, minimum landscape caluses are nice too. But, in teh same respect if I wanted to paint my house hot pink and purple I don't want anyone telling me I can't. Like I said, it's catch 22.

 

[IslandLizard]

I think I'd be perfectly ok with waiting another year to move out..the problem is ...her mother. Her mom is f***in crazy. I come home from work and go straight up to my miniature man cave and I don't come out often because of her mom unless she's down stairs in her little hobby room lol. My gf would attest to this fact.

Consider moving a good distance away.

 

[billl]

If you guys both make decent money, what the heck are you doing living at her mom's house? There is nothing wrong with getting an apartment and taking an extra year or 2 to save up to buy something.

 

[Sheldon]

The Great Commonwealth is behind the times in a lot of areas, but hopefully you are choosing one that isn't too out of step with reality. Dare you indicate where in NOVA you are moving to?

 

[NickTheGreat]

You'd be surprised. Some HOA's have some crazy rules. Some don't. As with everything, it depends, but it really depends in this case.