That's a fair point about negotiating with HOAs, but honestly, I've found it really depends on who's on the board at the time. Some boards are super flexible and understanding, while others act like their rules were carved in stone tablets. Had a client once who tried negotiating an extension—solid reasons and everything—but the board just wouldn't budge. Makes me wonder if anyone here's actually had luck with these negotiations, or is it mostly wishful thinking?
Yeah, I've seen the same thing happen. It really does come down to who's running the show at the time. Had a client last year who lucked out because the HOA board had just rotated in some new members—way more laid-back folks who were open to extending timelines. But honestly, that's more the exception than the rule in my experience. Seems like most boards stick pretty close to their guidelines, even if they're outdated or overly strict...
Interesting point about the HOA boards rotating members—I hadn't really thought about how much that could affect timelines. I'm currently looking into buying a plot of land, but I'm not planning to build immediately. Now you've got me wondering: how common is it for HOAs or local zoning rules to actually enforce strict building timelines? Is it usually spelled out clearly in the covenants, or is it more of a vague guideline that boards interpret differently depending on who's in charge? I've heard some horror stories about people getting fined or pressured into building sooner than they wanted, but I'm not sure how widespread that really is...
From what I've seen, it's usually spelled out pretty clearly in the covenants—but enforcement can vary a lot. Have you checked if there's a specific timeframe mentioned in your documents, or is it more vague wording like "reasonable timeframe"...?
Usually, covenants I've seen tend to lean toward vague wording like "reasonable timeframe," which can be a bit tricky. Even when there is a specific timeline, enforcement often depends heavily on your neighbors or the HOA's attitude. Have you noticed if the community you're looking at has a history of strictly enforcing these rules, or are they more laid-back about it? Might be worth chatting informally with current owners to get a feel for how things actually play out...
