homeowners, garage parking?

[RACER X]

do/can you park your car in the garage?

quite a few of my neighbors can't get their cars in cuz they have so much junk in their garages, some are 3 car garages.

[Trip]

I use to be able to fit both my cars and both my bikes in the garage. Now that I got a trailer and a DRZ, the old civic sleeps outside.

[Rider]

I have a 3 stall oversize garage and all of my vehicles are parked in the garage. Cars in the driveway look ghetto to me.

[Rsv1000R]

I've got a 3 car, in the winter it has 3 cars, 2 bikes and in the summer it has 2 cars, 2 bikes. And I still have car's in the driveway.

[MILK]

My car, both bikes, dirtbike, lawnmower, and four wheeler are in there. Brad's SUV is too big to fit in there no matter what. :shrug: We have shelves in the back of the garage.

[Trip]

I have a 3 stall oversize garage and all of my vehicles are parked in the garage. Cars in the driveway look ghetto to me.

someone is a ritzy snob, not everyone can afford a house with a 3-car garage.

[Rider]

someone is a ritzy snob, not everyone can afford a house with a 3-car garage.

When my house was being built it was only $7500 to upgrade to the 3 stall. It was also only $600 to add 4 extra feet to the depth of the original 2 stall. So it wasn't expensive by any means.

[Tmall]

Are you part of a hoa?

I've heard horror stories about nonsense like this because of hoa's not liking ppl doing what they choose with their own property.

[RACER X]

like i posted, many of my neighbors have 3 car garages, and none of the cars can fit.........lol

1 has 4 cars and 4 bikes, and a 3 car, and 2 cars are outside.

Are you part of a hoa?

I've heard horror stories about nonsense like this because of hoa's not liking ppl doing what they choose with their own property.

yes we are, and most "normal" neighborhoods are. HOAs are like cops, dammed if you do and dammed if ya don't.

i've found the more you pay HOA wise, the nicer and more kept the neighborhood, w/ that said i wish our fee's were more.

[Rider]

Are you part of a hoa?

I've heard horror stories about nonsense like this because of hoa's not liking ppl doing what they choose with their own property.

Yep. We have to get approval from and architectural committee to add landscaping, decks or anything like that that will change the look of your house. Even a change in the color of the trim of your house needs to be approved. Landscaping must be well maintained (green ,weed free, and manicured)or they will hire a crew to come out and take care of it for you and send you the bill. If you don't pay they put a lien on your house. I don't have any problems with it though because I maintain my shit and keep it looking nice.

[shmike]

yes we are, and most "normal" neighborhoods are. HOAs are like cops, dammed if you do and dammed if ya don't.

i've found the more you pay HOA wise, the nicer and more kept the neighborhood, w/ that said i wish our fee's were more.

I agree on the HOA.

In a perfect world you wouldn't need one, however, without one many neighborhoods would look like shit.

What are your fees?

What's "normal" in your area?

[RACER X]

$550/yr is our fee, not sure whats normal.

but all the nicer hood's i know of are $850+

[shmike]

$550/yr is our fee, not sure whats normal.

but all the nicer hood's i know of are $850+

You are not gated though, right?

Around here the decent 'hoods seem to run about $500-1000/year nongated and $100-$350/mo gated.

[RACER X]

no gates normal 'hood.

my parents was gated at 1 time and it was like $1100/yr, now it's still $1100 and their's a sec. officer, but he's not allowed to stop people.

some would consider ours normal, but i'd like stricter enforcement. but it's not gonna happen.

and it takes a LOOOONG time to go after somebody's house. its not as easy as people make it seem.

[Rsv1000R]

There's a house around the corner getting built that's got 3 attached, and a second attached 4 bay garage, nice! A guy up the street built a sweet second garage, It's the size of a small house.

[CasterTroy]

Yep. We have to get approval from and architectural committee to add landscaping, decks or anything like that that will change the look of your house. Even a change in the color of the trim of your house needs to be approved. Landscaping must be well maintained (green ,weed free, and manicured)or they will hire a crew to come out and take care of it for you and send you the bill. If you don't pay they put a lien on your house. I don't have any problems with it though because I maintain my shit and keep it looking nice.



Same here....and I CHOSE to live in that kind of neighborhood so there WOULDN'T be cars on blocks.

I'm also on the Architectural Review Committee to approve/prevent stuff like that.

I know many people get their panties in a wad when you mention an HOA or an ARC and swear they’d never live in a neighborhood that has such strict “rules”…but being America fortunately for them they don’t HAVE to. As for me…I prefer it.

down to 2 cars and 2 bikes..but have a 3 car garage so I’m good

[RACER X]

leave it to Troy for bad ass garage pics.......lol

welcome back man!

[shmike]

down to 2 cars and 2 bikes..but have a 3 car garage so I’m good

Looking good, Troy!

Is that the old kitchen, or custom "garage" cabinets?

[RACER X]

i would prefer not to see cars in the driveway also.

[Rsv1000R]

We have rules, but as of now no fee's. I got a letter for parking my truck on the street a couple summers ago. And Caster it never sits on blocks, unless I'm working on it :)

[CasterTroy]

Looking good, Troy!

Is that the old kitchen, or custom "garage" cabinets?




Thanks

I was very fortunate! I was working as project manager for a plumbing company that was doing a HUGE independent living facility for a high end retirement home (basically nice ass condo’s for old people) and the cabinet sub had ordered the wrong color for 2 of the units. I had previously had my guys do a little extra work for one of his mistakes…and as “payment” for the favor, he gave me a 2 kitchens and 2 bathrooms (bathroom cabinets are 3” lower…hence the different heights) worth of cabinets (the wrong colored ones)

I split the cabinets with my guys and we all took home what we could carry on the dumptruck.

Then I went to lowes and found the perfect countertop

And Caster it never sits on blocks, unless I'm working on it :)

Doesn't matter.....you're getting a notice!!!! :lol:

[Rsv1000R]

Thanks

Doesn't matter.....you're getting a notice!!!! :lol:

:lol: Hey your garage is all nice and clean, maybe you can come over and clean mine up? I was going to say out, but that's what my wife keeps asking me to do, and I keep refusing.....

[Trip]

Same here....and I CHOSE to live in that kind of neighborhood so there WOULDN'T be cars on blocks.

I'm also on the Architectural Review Committee to approve/prevent stuff like that.

I know many people get their panties in a wad when you mention an HOA or an ARC and swear they’d never live in a neighborhood that has such strict “rules”…but being America fortunately for them they don’t HAVE to. As for me…I prefer it.

down to 2 cars and 2 bikes..but have a 3 car garage so I’m good

The bad part is a lot of people with this attitude think they can project the same horseshit on the rest of us. Good for you, you want to live in a strict HOA, don't try to bring your rules in on the rest of the world and don't expect us to treat you like a fucking king or queen when you wander out of your precious gate.

I have lived in everything from a government housing to trailers to neighborhoods with fancy gates. I will take Billy Bob and his car on blocks as a neighbor before I take Suzy soccer mom and her fleet of porsches and asinine rules.

Just think, if we had HOAs everywhere, there would be no tracks or single track dirt fun because that shit would never be allowed next to some soccer mom bitch's neighborhood. No, the HOA people have to come out and put that shit next to Billy Bob who is trying to live in peace out in the country where the land is cheap and the rules are nil.

[Dave]

A 3 stall house is standardly going to be a big house, its not going to be a decently priced house and definitely not one the average american can afford.

If you think having a car in a driveway is ghetto, I wonder what you think of people who live in trailers. It would be a shame for you to lose your job and have to find out how the other half lives and get off your high fucking horse.

my house has one and its not that big. rancher with three bedrooms two bathrooms and a basement. and no HOA. my neighbors mind their own business and so do i and everything still looks nice. only people we ever get problems from are the folks renting apartments across the street. :pat:

anyway to jump back ot the garage usually has three cars and three bikes and the beaters stay outside

[Trip]

my house has one and its not that big. rancher with three bedrooms two bathrooms and a basement. and no HOA. my neighbors mind their own business and so do i and everything still looks nice. only people we ever get problems from are the folks renting apartments across the street. :pat:

anyway to jump back ot the garage usually has three cars and three bikes and the beaters stay outside

That doesn't sound like that small of the house, over 2500 sq ft?

[RACER X]

The bad part is a lot of people with this attitude think they can project the same horseshit on the rest of us. Good for you, you want to live in a strict HOA, don't try to bring your rules in on the rest of the world and don't expect us to treat you like a fucking king or queen when you wander out of your precious gate.

my guess is if you move into a 'hood w/ strict rules, your of the same mindset or you wouldn't have bought into that area.

like i said, dammed if ya do and dammed if ya don't.

you may think your standard are lowers then others, but there will always be others out there lower, do you want that next to you?

[tommymac]

I would have loved a 3 car garage, we looked at one house that had one but didn tlike the rest of the house. Ours will have a 2 car garage, I plan to keep one side clear enough to pull a car in if i need to work on it, but otherwise they will be in the driveway or the street. Obviously the bikes will be in the garage when theyre not being ridden.

Tom

[RACER X]

i think parking on the streets is against HOA's, people still do it........sigh!

[CasterTroy]

I have lived in everything from a government housing to trailers to neighborhoods with fancy gates.



I've never lived in a fancy neighborhood with gates....However, I started in Gov housing and moved UP to trailer parks.

Grew up with just a mother who worked for the county without 2 penny's to rub together.

We lived in a very poor trailer park, but amazingly, while poor, my mother had CLASS. She may have been living in a trailer park…she was NEVER trailer park material.

When you entered our trailer, it was if you walked into a house somewhere in middle suburbia. She had nice decorations and kept it spotless. With the drapes pulled you didn't know that you were in a trailer. She also raised me to NOT be like the trailer trash that surrounded us, often stopping at the dumpster where OTHERS had just chucked their trash out and missed the doors and staying there for an hour cleaning it up. All because she didn't like the image that all that trash gave us.

With her class and determination, my mother instilled in me a sense of pride and accomplishment that inspired me to do more than what most thought was possible from some kid from a trailer park. And despite the years of ridicule and teasing….I made my way thru college on my own blood sweat and tears…sometimes working 3 jobs while taking 18 hours of classes.

So I've lived everywhere along the bottom of the spectrum and caught a glimpse of how the upper part lives...I'm happy somewhere in the middle.

[Trip]

my guess is if you move into a 'hood w/ strict rules, your of the same mindset or you wouldn't have bought into that area.

like i said, dammed if ya do and dammed if ya don't.

you may think your standard are lowers then others, but there will always be others out there lower, do you want that next to you?

I am not in that strict of a neighborhood or even close to it. Our HOA doesn't do anything, hell I haven't even paid the fees since I moved in. The high end neighborhood I lived in was with my folks, so not my choice. I moved out of the ritzy area and moved into the little country town my wife is from. The choice of location in a neighborhood was hers and because we got a cheap foreclosure. So we are the bums of the neighborhood you fear.

However, I don't have to worry about the same issues as you because of the choice I have made where I live. I live in a country town where I can walk through the scariest part of my little town in the middle of the night with a pocket full of cash unarmed with little worry, probably not the same for you.

If it was solely my choice I would live out in the country, where when you start firing off your guns to fuck off, your neighbors start doing the same and you can have a car on blocks that has weeds growing up around it 10 ft high and build your own fiddy track out back. My wife wouldn't go for that though. If anything ever changes, my ass is moving to the country.

I have lived next to the poorest of the poor in southern Louisiana. I wouldn't mind living next to people like that, they are a lot nicer than a lot of the douchebags in fancy neighborhoods.

I don't live in Knoxville anymore for this reason. However there is a border suburb of Knoxville, Farragut, that is of the same thinking as you with the HOAs and bullshit rules. They have gone so far to start trying to pull that shit as a town by enforcing ghey rules to run the lower class people who were there before out and to bring in more douchebags. Then they come into my little town which is next to them and think they are going to get the same treatment in LC. Only to get met with a fuck off.

[z06boy]

Didn't vote since none of the choices apply to me.

We have an oversized two car garage...wish it was a three or more car though.

My Vette and the SRT-4 plus the two bikes are in the garage with some room to spare.

The Jeep Cherokee sits out on the concrete pad.

Our garage is in the rear of the house and is part of the walkout basement.

[Trip]

I've never lived in a fancy neighborhood with gates....However, I started in Gov housing and moved UP to trailer parks.

Grew up with just a mother who worked for the county without 2 penny's to rub together.

We lived in a very poor trailer park, but amazingly, while poor, my mother had CLASS. She may have been living in a trailer park…she was NEVER trailer park material.

When you entered our trailer, it was if you walked into a house somewhere in middle suburbia. She had nice decorations and kept it spotless. With the drapes pulled you didn't know that you were in a trailer. She also raised me to NOT be like the trailer trash that surrounded us, often stopping at the dumpster where OTHERS had just chucked their trash out and missed the doors and staying there for an hour cleaning it up. All because she didn't like the image that all that trash gave us.

With her class and determination, my mother instilled in me a sense of pride and accomplishment that inspired me to do more than what most thought was possible from some kid from a trailer park. And despite the years of ridicule and teasing….I made my way thru college on my own blood sweat and tears…sometimes working 3 jobs while taking 18 hours of classes.

SO while you may THINK what you will and pass judgment without knowing what your talking about, assuming I've only walked around with a silver spoon up my ass my entire life…I’ve fucking BEEN there!

So you should know what I am talking about and not be calling someone ghetto for having a car in the driveway or shaming them for not wanting HOA assholes trying to run their life while not in an HOA area.

[CasterTroy]

So you should know what I am talking about and not be calling someone ghetto for having a car in the driveway or shaming them for not wanting HOA assholes trying to run their life while not in an HOA area.

I never said anything ABOUT ghetto. You're apparently confusing me with someone else.


Yes, I've lived everywhere along the bottom of the spectrum and caught a glimpse of how the upper part lives...I'm happy somewhere in the middle. I chose to live where I feel comfortable. In a place that I feel more at home. I'm glad you're happy where YOU are. Just remember, the same applies to YOU in not pushing what YOU feel comfortable in on others. Hypocrisy can go both ways.

[RACER X]

trip, wiat till someone starts a pig farm next door to your slice of heaven.......lol

[Trip]

I never said anything ABOUT ghetto. You're apparently confusing me with someone else.


Yes, I've lived everywhere along the bottom of the spectrum and caught a glimpse of how the upper part lives...I'm happy somewhere in the middle. I chose to live where I feel comfortable. In a place that I feel more at home. I'm glad you're happy where YOU are. Just remember, the same applies to YOU in not pushing what YOU feel comfortable in on others. Hypocrisy can go both ways.

I didn't say you did, I said you should know not to look down on others because you came from it and made yourself what you are from it.

I don't care if upper class want to live in HOAs and keep their neighborhoods as restricted to whatever type of people they want. I don't really care if they want to make them racist or homophobic neighborhoods where only certain races or sexual orientations can live in that neighborhood. Be as restrictive as you want. I just won't move into that area, if they are barring my kind of people. I am fine with that. Just don't try to encroach on me and how I want to live.

[tommymac]

trip, wiat till someone starts a pig farm next door to your slice of heaven.......lol

Thats fine with me, its a free food source for a large python:rockwoot:

Tom

[Trip]

trip, wiat till someone starts a pig farm next door to your slice of heaven.......lol

There is one a couple of miles from my house. Get a big whiff of it every day.

[CasterTroy]

trip, wiat till someone starts a pig farm next door to your slice of heaven.......lol

I don't fault him for the way he feels.....he's EXACTLY like my best friend who is JUST as passionate about not conforming to an HOA. As a matter of fact the WHOLE time he was helping me move he was ranting about how he would walk up to any member of the HOA and piss on their front yard in protest to such stupid rules :lol He kept telling me he would never live in a neighborhood with so many "rules"

Thats why he chose to buy a house out in the county away from everyone.

He pee's off his back porch while shooting crows in his boxers :idk: just what he prefers....and frankly, as much as I love the bastard I wouldn't want him living next to me....it's be like Clark Griswold living next to Cousin Eddie

[MILK]

My last neighborhood had strict HOA's rules and everyone was always in everyone else's business. Had a pool, tennis courts, etc etc and the people there acted like complete jerks to each other. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Now I live in a neighborhood with no more than 15 houses and no lot smaller than an acre. We have loose 'rules' and no HOA association. Everyone keeps their yards nice and we've had very few issues.

In BOTH neighborhood's the owners of the biggest houses were the most 'ghetto' or 'white trash' of the entire neighborhood. Money doesn't buy class. :shrug:

Why do houses have driveways? For their cars of course! :)

[Apoc]

Hmmm.... Right now there is a Belarus 425 tractor, a snowmobile, a harley, a car, multiple tool chests, a snowblower, lawn tractor, an old amphibious military jeep, pressure washer, welding machines.... That leaves no room for a truck and 2 cars.

[Destitute]

If you need more garage space, there's a place for sale down the street with a 12-stall garage.

My car and bike fit with plenty of extra space in a deep 2-car garage.

[Trip]

I don't fault him for the way he feels.....he's EXACTLY like my best friend who is JUST as passionate about not conforming to an HOA. As a matter of fact the WHOLE time he was helping me move he was ranting about how he would walk up to any member of the HOA and piss on their front yard in protest to such stupid rules :lol He kept telling me he would never live in a neighborhood with so many "rules"

Thats why he chose to buy a house out in the county away from everyone.

He pee's off his back porch while shooting crows in his boxers :idk: just what he prefers....and frankly, as much as I love the bastard I wouldn't want him living next to me....it's be like Clark Griswold living next to Cousin Eddie

That would totally be me, if I didn't have my wife. I would probably buy a huge lot, put a trailer on it and then build a garage bigger that the trailer for working on all my bikes. :lol:

My last neighborhood had strict HOA's rules and everyone was always in everyone else's business. Had a pool, tennis courts, etc etc and the people there acted like complete jerks to each other. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Now I live in a neighborhood with no more than 15 houses and no lot smaller than an acre. We have loose 'rules' and no HOA association. Everyone keeps their yards nice and we've had very few issues.

In BOTH neighborhood's the owners of the biggest houses were the most 'ghetto' or 'white trash' of the entire neighborhood. Money doesn't buy class. :shrug:

Why do houses have driveways? For their cars of course! :)

Yeah, I feel your pain. Where my parents live now is a lot like that first neighborhood. We don't live in a poor neighborhood by any means, but we found a nice one without that many rules. There is one crazy lady that works for the developer that doesn't like me. I was terrorizing the neighbors with my fiddy and jumping curbs and shit and she started chasing me in her BMW. When I let her catch me, she saw I was an adult and left without talking to me.

[CasterTroy]

That would totally be me, if I didn't have my wife. I would probably buy a huge lot, put a trailer on it and then build a garage bigger that the trailer for working on all my bikes. :lol:






That would be David!! Except he would build an 8 car garage with a small loft over it 20 miles off the nearest road :lol:

[MILK]

I've told this story a bazillion times.. In the HOA neighborhood I was walking my dog. I always carried baggies with me (a 'rule') even though I never allowed her in anyone's yard - and I still don't. I don't let my dogs even pee in other people's yards.

Anyway, I'm walking my dog ON THE SIDEWALK and this woman I've never laid eyes on yells out to me, "I hope you clean up after your doggie!" I yelled back, " I hope you mind your own BLEEPING business lady!!"

[shmike]

My last neighborhood had strict HOA's rules and everyone was always in everyone else's business. Had a pool, tennis courts, etc etc and the people there acted like complete jerks to each other. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Now I live in a neighborhood with no more than 15 houses and no lot smaller than an acre. We have loose 'rules' and no HOA association. Everyone keeps their yards nice and we've had very few issues.


I grew up in a neighborhood like the one you live in now.

I have been trying to find something like that where I live now with little luck.

I have found two such places but unfortunately for me, the owners know that what they have is precious and hard to find.

You'll pay almost double to buy in these neighborhoods than the hoity-toity (sp?) gated places down the street.

[Homeslice]

People worried about cars in the driveway, lol.........I'd be more worried about having a house that looks the same as every other house in the development......ugh

[MILK]

I grew up in a neighborhood like the one you live in now.

I have been trying to find something like that where I live now with little luck.

I have found two such places but unfortunately for me, the owners know that what they have is precious and hard to find.

You'll pay almost double to buy in these neighborhoods than the hoity-toity (sp?) gated places down the street.

There's one for sale in my neighboorhood right now! 3,000 square foot house with a pool. :lol: Come on in! It will go fast - not many folks here have sold but when they have they've been gone in less than 6 months.

[shmike]

There's one for sale in my neighboorhood right now! 3,000 square foot house with a pool. :lol: Come on in! It will go fast - not many folks here have sold but when they have they've been gone in less than 6 months.

Sounds perfect.

The commute would be a bit rough though. :(

[Dave]

That doesn't sound like that small of the house, over 2500 sq ft?

cant remember the number. Its on the member map so you can check it out via google streets if youd like

[lauralynne]

we bought our house with a 2 car garage. We finished it out - sheetrock, insulation, etc and now it's a 17 bike garage and the cars stay outside. we would have cars outside regardless, we have 4 cars that get driven on a regular basis. But we also have 2 driveways (we live on a corner and our detached garage faces one street while our house with the old driveway (converted garage) faces the other street). So no street parking.

[Fleck750]

Perfect "house" would be an old auto service center, with living space above. The city would own the street, I could park out there if I wanted.

Question.

Does an hoa own the streets, or does the city?

And for the record, if I'm paying a mortgage and taxes, you're not telling me where to park, what color my house is going to be, or what kind of trees or plants are in my yard.

[CasterTroy]

Does an hoa own the streets, or does the city?



Depends on the development, size, and if it's a closed-end neighborhood. I.E. a smaller neighborhood with only one entry would remain HOA maintained, but a larger neighborhood, or one with a main artery that connects two roads would likely be state/city maintained. However, even if the city/county maintained the road, the HOA can enforce no roadside parking.

[Rider]

Question.

Does an hoa own the streets, or does the city?

In my neighborhood, the cul-de-sacs are private and the through streets are public. The city will plow the snow from the though streets but the cul-de-sacs are plowed by private snow removal companies that we pay for with part of our HOA dues.

[RACER X]

And for the record, if I'm paying a mortgage and taxes, you're not telling me where to park, what color my house is going to be, or what kind of trees or plants are in my yard.

sounds like you and trip outta be neighbors lol

btw parking across a sideways is a ticketable offense, even in ft of your own house.

[Trip]

sounds like you and trip outta be neighbors lol

btw parking across a sideways is a ticketable offense, even in ft of your own house.

are you talking about a sidewalk?

[RACER X]

oops yeah.

[Trip]

oops yeah.

Me and my neighbor would probably laugh in your face if you tried to call the cops on that one. He's broken more of the little bit of HOA rules we have and he is a cop for the city. :lol:

[RACER X]

its a City law, not HOA rule.

and yes i've heard of peeps getting tickets and having to pay or goto court over it.

[Trip]

its a City law, not HOA rule.

and yes i've heard of peeps getting tickets and having to pay or goto court over it.

We don't live in the same city, so I don't know if we have the same law or not, but he's got more vehicles in his driveway than I do and his truck/trailer are normally blocking it. I doubt he would ticket himself and our neighbors like having the cops right there when we need them, so they probably wouldn't say shit to him.

[Fleck750]

sounds like you and trip outta be neighbors lol



I think Trip would make a great neighbor. :)

[MILK]

I think Trip would make a great neighbor. :)

I bet he would let you borrow stuff too! :lol: Sadly our days of borrowing our stuff out are over. The pressure washer came back after having been run with no oil. Yea, thanks mom...

[Trip]

I bet he would let you borrow stuff too! :lol: Sadly our days of borrowing our stuff out are over. The pressure washer came back after having been run with no oil. Yea, thanks mom...

:lol: That's kinda odd you say that. I let my cop neighbor borrow my fertilizer spreader to overseed his lawn this weekend and he broke it. He went and bought me a new one though.

[Rsv1000R]

:lol: That's kinda odd you say that. I let my cop neighbor borrow my fertilizer spreader to overseed his lawn this weekend and he broke it. He went and bought me a new one though.

A spreader is a cheap way to keep your pissed off neighbor from calling the cops everytime you park on the sidewalk:lol:

[MILK]

:lol: That's kinda odd you say that. I let my cop neighbor borrow my fertilizer spreader to overseed his lawn this weekend and he broke it. He went and bought me a new one though.

Well that's expected when you break someone else's stuff right?

Not when it's your mom though! :lmao: I was told that she didn't do that and has no idea what I'm talking about. It must have been my fault. Well duh, after I had her grandson I can't do a dang thing right. I guess I should be lucky she didn't use the, "After all I've done for you" argument. :lol:

[Rider]

HOA's are great if you want to live in a neighborhood. Keeps people from letting their houses/yards from looking like shit. HOA's have their place. My next house won't be in in a neighborhood that has an HOA. I'm going to live out in the country on a large lot so I can't see my neighbors house, not because of the HOA, mostly because I hate people and I want a little more privacy.

[Fleck750]

HOA's are great if you want to live in a neighborhood. Keeps people from letting their houses/yards from looking like shit. HOA's have their place. My next house won't be in in a neighborhood that has an HOA. I'm going to live out in the country on a large lot so I can't see my neighbors house, not because of the HOA, mostly because I hate people and I want a little more privacy.


Be truthful, you want to pee off the back porch! :)

[Rider]

Be truthful, you want to pee off the back porch! :)

I already can. Nobody lives behind me. :rockout:

[Fleck750]

I already can. Nobody lives behind me. :rockout:

Become a yooper, no one around for miles. :)

[julie j]

We only have two vehicles. One stays along side the house and one under the carport. My husband is a welder/fabricator so the shop is full with his welder, lathe, various tools, motorcycle lift and 8 bikes. It does not leave room for any of our vehicles especially since I drive a lifted Land Cruiser and he drives a Black 4X4 F-350 van that makes it look like the A-Team lives with us. :lol:

[wildchild]

i have a 3 1/2 car garage but it is full with old cars, bike, atv, and boat. my driver cars sit outside.

[Trip]

i have a 3 1/2 car garage but it is full with old cars, bike, atv, and boat. my driver cars sit outside.

how do you have a 1/2 a car garage?

[CasterTroy]

how do you have a 1/2 a car garage?

The 1/2 garage part is set back a little more....not quite big enough for a car. It's big in florida where they build mostly on slabs and never have a basement for "crap"

http://www.sharkhomesearch.com/photos/07005447.jpg

[Rider]

how do you have a 1/2 a car garage?

Here they just add a stall that is half as wide and there is no door on it so it just extra storage space.

Like this:

[Trip]

Here they just add a stall that is half as wide and there is no door on it so it just extra storage space.

Like this:

That's just a work area in a 2 car garage, the explanation above yours make sense though.

[shmike]

The 1/2 garage part is set back a little more....not quite big enough for a car. It's big in florida where they build mostly on slabs and never have a basement for "crap"


I have lived in FL my whole life and the only time I have seen a garage like that was in a golfing community (golf car garage).

The standard 2cg dimensions are 24' x 24'.

If you have a 24 x 30, it may be referred to as a 2 1/2 car since it is not big enough to be a three car.

[Trip]

If you have a 24 x 30, it may be referred to as a 2 1/2 car since it is not big enough to be a three car.

We have the extra space on the side of the garage here, I always seen it marked up as workspace/workshop of drawings though and when it's deeper I seen it marked as oversize. Never as a 1/2 a car. Doesn't matter though, just semantics.

[Rider]

We have the extra space on the side of the garage here, I always seen it marked up as workspace/workshop of drawings though and when it's deeper I seen it marked as oversize. Never as a 1/2 a car. Doesn't matter though, just semantics.

In places where I live, a 2 1/2 is necessary if you keep both cars in the garage because they don't allow sheds here unless you put siding on them to match the house.

[Trip]

In places where I live, a 2 1/2 is necessary if you keep both cars in the garage because they don't allow sheds here unless you put siding on them to match the house.

That's standard in HOA communities, they all put that in the rules. Storage sheds built with the same materials as the house.

[MILK]

That's standard in HOA communities, they all put that in the rules. Storage sheds built with the same materials as the house.

It's that way in mine too. I like that one - there are some NASTY sheds out there.. I can't remember many other rules - you can't have a vegetable garden in your front yard (duh) is one I remember. No farm animals either. :lol:

[the chi]

:lol:

We have a one car garage, currently full of boxes and my motorcycle gear. Usually full of my bike, the loaner bike, the 4 wheeler, and all my boxes! If it wasnt full of boxes, I am sure I could get the car into it, but the hubby drives a lifted F250 diesel long bed that would never fit.

We live in a townhome S/d with a POS HOA. You pay the dues, you get threatening letters and "x"'s spraypainted on your driveway, no road care, no lawn care, nothing. You dont pay the dues, they dont say anything, and they still dont do anything. Its not gated, and its mostly vacant as they finished building right as the housing market here plummeted, but they are a good example of a piss poor HOA.

Im very familiar with the ones who have all the stupid rules, and tell you what you can and cant do. In this area, those fancy ones charge several hundred a MONTH, not a year, and they can be nazi's. But if your on the board or buddy buddy with someone, nothing is said to you. Those places are very clear in the paperwork you sign tho, so it is a choice and its not a surprise.

Im with Trip tho, Id far rather be away from people, where I can do what I want and live how I want, without concern of "offending" those around me. I think I have class, and if I want to park in my street or driveway, or paint my shutters, no one is going to tell me otherwise.

[lauralynne]

Our CITY has laws they enforce in regards to number of vehicle visible from the street, landscaping, etc. They're punishable by fines. Or they'll come landscape (ie MOW) your yard if you don't respond to the notices then you get a hefty bill in the mail. We had our car cover blow over in a windstorm - the tarp and poles were in the yard for 2 days (until the weekend) and even in just 2 days, we had a notice mailed from the city that we had a certain amount of time to address the 'mess' that was visible from the street or else be fined.

[RACER X]

i have a nook + 2 car spaces, 2 bikes could conceviebly fit in it. so on the days i plan to ride to work, the night before i have to shuffle cars and bikes around. we were this >< close to buy a 3 car, w/ 1 being in tandam. but the guy that ended up buying it is the guy w/ 4 cars and 4 bikes, he needed it more then i do.

azoooms garage set up is like troys pic.

[Trip]

Our CITY has laws they enforce in regards to number of vehicle visible from the street, landscaping, etc. They're punishable by fines. Or they'll come landscape (ie MOW) your yard if you don't respond to the notices then you get a hefty bill in the mail. We had our car cover blow over in a windstorm - the tarp and poles were in the yard for 2 days (until the weekend) and even in just 2 days, we had a notice mailed from the city that we had a certain amount of time to address the 'mess' that was visible from the street or else be fined.

This is an example of HOA people effecting city laws and forcing people to follow HOA type rules when they don't all live in HOA communities.

[MILK]

This is an example of HOA people effecting city laws and forcing people to follow HOA type rules when they don't all live in HOA communities.

And yet another good reason I'm glad I live in the county! :lol:

[CasterTroy]

This is an example of HOA people effecting city laws and forcing people to follow HOA type rules when they don't all live in HOA communities.


This I DO NOT agree with at all

I CHOSE my neighborhood....and I like the structure of the rules....but to have them forced onto everyone in a city or county "just because" someone thinks it's the way EVERYONE should live...thats horse crap!!!

[RACER X]

well appearantly the city chose those rules. personnally, never heard of a city doing it.

[lauralynne]

This is an example of HOA people effecting city laws and forcing people to follow HOA type rules when they don't all live in HOA communities.

I'd bet there are less than 6 HOA's in our city - we live in a very solid middle class city. Most surrounding cities look down their noses at us. fine by me, we paid $177,000 for our house vs. $400,000 for the same house in a neighboring city or $800,000 for our same house but in Seattle.
And frankly, I'm in favor of the rules. Our neighbor's been busted multiple times: Between him, his wife, and their inbred son, they must have 8 or 9 dead cars. The city requires them to be out of sight - so now they're piling up in his backyard under tents. Better than me having to look at them.

[Rider]

well appearantly the city chose those rules. personnally, never heard of a city doing it.

Parking on the street at night is a common city law. Also some areas prone to fires are required to keep all shrubs/plants/bushes/grass/weeds cut back away from the house. If you don't, they take care of it and send you the bill. Where my in-laws live it's call weed abatement.

[No Worries]

I live in an older part of town in a 103-year-old Bungalow with a separate two-car garage. Have a truck, car and two bikes in it. No HOA's or driveways. There's a common alley way down the middle of the block where everyone pulls into their garage, and puts out garbage into dumpsters. On-street parking up front with a grass strip, wide sidewalks, and shade trees.

[MILK]

well appearantly the city chose those rules. personnally, never heard of a city doing it.

Charlotte does it too.

[Trip]

It's not major cities I have seen do it, more like the rich suburbs of the cities to keep low income out. And get rid of the low income that was there before.

[Rider]

It's not major cities I have seen do it, more like the rich suburbs of the cities to keep low income out. And get rid of the low income that was there before.

Inflated housing costs and high property tax does a good job of that as well.

[Rsv1000R]

It's not major cities I have seen do it, more like the rich suburbs of the cities to keep low income out. And get rid of the low income that was there before.

A lot of low to middle class areas around here have various "Weed Ordnances" and nuisance laws about letting your yards look like unkept fields.

[MILK]

A lot of low to middle class areas around here have various "Weed Ordnances" and nuisance laws about letting your yards look like unkept fields.

And parking cars in them..

[Rsv1000R]

And parking cars in them..

That too.......

[njchopper87]

My old house had a 1 car garage that held our outside junk. The driveway had 2-3 cars depending on the day and the street held the other 1 or 2 depending on the day. Our streets were double wide to accommodate for that though. Many driveways in the area are very small. The current place sucks and only has a car port..

I don't remember about ordinances very much, but I believe we had to keep everything somewhat maintained. Not like it mattered we all loved doing outside shit.

[Particle Man]

all of my vehicles sleep in the garage.

[seDUCtive]

I guess I am the odd person out. I feel like your garages are for your cars first and foremost. That is why they are called garages and not a 2 or three stall storage place. I have neighbors that have three car garages and don't have ANY cars (or bikes) in them...I think it makes a neighborhood look messy and tacky to have cars in the street and in all the driveways. Now don't get me wrong, I understand the need, however the neighborhood would look like crap if EVERYONE did it. If you don't like the look of a well kept neighborhood, then it sounds like country living is for you! That is one of the perks of living off by yourself. However, if you choose to live in a neighborhood you should do what you can to keep it looking neat and tidy. Sorta like when you live in a condo you don't blare your music or stomp your feet when you are on the second floor. It may be "your" house but you still live in a community. It is a respect issue.

I am sure I have called the flaming with this one.. . LOL

[Dave]

here be the garage

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b369/Khajjathefang/DSCN1126.jpg

and the house

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b369/Khajjathefang/4907891.jpg

[njchopper87]

I guess I am the odd person out. I feel like your garages are for your cars first and foremost. That is why they are called garages and not a 2 or three stall storage place. I have neighbors that have three car garages and don't have ANY cars (or bikes) in them...I think it makes a neighborhood look messy and tacky to have cars in the street and in all the driveways. Now don't get me wrong, I understand the need, however the neighborhood would look like crap if EVERYONE did it. If you don't like the look of a well kept neighborhood, then it sounds like country living is for you! That is one of the perks of living off by yourself. However, if you choose to live in a neighborhood you should do what you can to keep it looking neat and tidy. Sorta like when you live in a condo you don't blare your music or stomp your feet when you are on the second floor. It may be "your" house but you still live in a community. It is a respect issue.

I am sure I have called the flaming with this one.. . LOL

In a way, I respect what you're saying. However, in the real world it's just not acceptable. Like in the case with my old place. 4 cars do not fit in a 1 car garage, not all driveways can fit a full family's arsenal of cars or bikes what have you, and sometimes everyone has to do it. Older houses don't have 3 car garages, cramped neighborhoods have very short driveways for the most part and when you have a decent size family it no longer becomes fun playing musical chairs with cars and the driveway being the game. I guess what I'm saying is sometimes there just isn't room.

[Captain Morgan]

I only have 1 car, but it fits in my 1 car garage. I bought a house with a garage specifically so I could park in the garage. No reason for me to fill the garage with crap and leave the car outside. I'll get rid of the crap if I have that much of it. My garage has a loft built in it. Luckily, I'm short. :lol:

[Trip]

I guess I am the odd person out. I feel like your garages are for your cars first and foremost. That is why they are called garages and not a 2 or three stall storage place. I have neighbors that have three car garages and don't have ANY cars (or bikes) in them...I think it makes a neighborhood look messy and tacky to have cars in the street and in all the driveways. Now don't get me wrong, I understand the need, however the neighborhood would look like crap if EVERYONE did it. If you don't like the look of a well kept neighborhood, then it sounds like country living is for you! That is one of the perks of living off by yourself. However, if you choose to live in a neighborhood you should do what you can to keep it looking neat and tidy. Sorta like when you live in a condo you don't blare your music or stomp your feet when you are on the second floor. It may be "your" house but you still live in a community. It is a respect issue.

I am sure I have called the flaming with this one.. . LOL

That would be great if we all had millions of dollars and big families could afford 6 car garages, some families have a bunch of teenagers that need cars and then the mom and dad need cars. Unfortunately the mom and dad don't pull down 6 figures to afford these huge ass homes and have to make do with what they can afford.

[racedoll]

I'm working on selling 1 bike and having a garage sale soon. I just need to get through my final paper for school, then I can focus on other things. Once I do this, my new car will be in the garage so my husband says. :shrug:

[Cutty72]

America, the only place where we store all our worthless junk locked up inside, while $30,000 vehicles sit unprotected in the driveway :lol:

All mine are parked in the garage, unless I'm working on something in the garage and need the space.
I bought my property for the garages, and the house came with :lol:
2 1/2 stall detached beside the house holds my pickup, comonboys car, both bikes and the lawn mower in the summer. My bike and the snowblower in the winter. Single stall in the back yard holds what isn't being used (snowblower/mower) and comonboy's bike in the winter, and my Cutlass all the time.
Tools and such are in the main garage as well.

I hope to add on a 3rd stall when I get back from Kosovo. Hopefully about 16' by 35'. My pickup barely fits in the doors of the garage now, so if I get something new I'll need a bigger door to get it in.

Also would like to get rid of the single stall in the back yard, and replace it with a 35' by 30 shop.

[Homeslice]

That would be great if we all had millions of dollars and big families could afford 6 car garages, some families have a bunch of teenagers that need cars and then the mom and dad need cars. Unfortunately the mom and dad don't pull down 6 figures to afford these huge ass homes and have to make do with what they can afford.

I know I didn't really "need" a car as a teenager..

I can see if they work a half hour away and can't take public trans or carpool.........Otherwise it's just a "want" imo

[Rider]

here be the garage

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b369/Khajjathefang/DSCN1126.jpg

and the house

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b369/Khajjathefang/4907891.jpg

Is that a 240Z I spy in the garage?

[the chi]

I know I didn't really "need" a car as a teenager..

I can see if they work a half hour away and can't take public trans or carpool.........Otherwise it's just a "want" imo

:rofl: I dont know where you live man, but in good bit of the world, small towns, towns with no major budget etc, there is no public transportation! We just recently got buses in our area that they are already wanting to cancel for costs being too high! If a kid is old enough to be of driving age, and working, with school buses only for very rural kids, and parents that work for a living and dont have time to taxi them, they need a car.

[Fleck750]

:rofl: I dont know where you live man, but in good bit of the world, small towns, towns with no major budget etc, there is no public transportation! We just recently got buses in our area that they are already wanting to cancel for costs being too high! If a kid is old enough to be of driving age, and working, with school buses only for very rural kids, and parents that work for a living and dont have time to taxi them, they need a car.

Or they need a friend to run them around. Or a bicycle.

[RACER X]

:rofl: I dont know where you live man, but in good bit of the world, small towns, towns with no major budget etc, there is no public transportation! We just recently got buses in our area that they are already wanting to cancel for costs being too high! If a kid is old enough to be of driving age, and working, with school buses only for very rural kids, and parents that work for a living and dont have time to taxi them, they need a car.

and if you're in that rural of an area, yuo don't have HOA's.

[the chi]

and if you're in that rural of an area, yuo don't have HOA's.

snort

Get off the crack man, obviously you dont know much about where I live.

Heres some virtual money, buy yourself a clue.

http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:p5VFk3XGMVenlM:http://www.savingwithshellie.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/money1.jpg

And google Sandestin / Destin / Fort Walton Beach.

Then you can come back and restate a more valid and correct opinion.

[Rsv1000R]

and if you're in that rural of an area, yuo don't have HOA's.

I laugh!

[RACER X]

snort

Get off the crack man, obviously you dont know much about where I live.

Heres some virtual money, buy yourself a clue.

http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:p5VFk3XGMVenlM:http://www.savingwithshellie.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/money1.jpg

And google Sandestin / Destin / Fort Walton Beach.

Then you can come back and restate a more valid and correct opinion.
so you have HOAs but barely any buses?

[shmike]

so you have HOAs but barely any buses?

Many of the most exclusive neighborhoods are as FAR away from public transportation as possible.

[RACER X]

Many of the most exclusive neighborhoods are as FAR away from public transportation as possible.

public trans. from schools?

[Homeslice]

Who here lives in an exclusive neighborhood?

[Trip]

I know I didn't really "need" a car as a teenager..

I can see if they work a half hour away and can't take public trans or carpool.........Otherwise it's just a "want" imo

You don't need a motorcycle or sportscars and yet people have them.... Kids having cars to get places such as work in some areas is much more a need than the toys we buy. You are straying for the topic. Which is too many cars for the garage.

If you have a large family in areas that don't have public trans (which is a lot of america outside the large cities, we have terrible public trans here) that has different schedules and the need for each to have their own vehicle is great, than yes, a middle class family is not going to have enough garage space to fit all their vehicles because lets face it a true middle class family is not going to be able to afford a 4-5 car garage home that wasn't custom built to be a small home with a huge garage..

[the chi]

so you have HOAs but barely any buses?

Google is your friend. :skep:

Yes, we do have HOA's for pretty much every S/D. This area experienced HUGE growth when the economy was good, we have places like Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort and others like it, with golf courses and homes right on the water. Costing several hundred a month with 500 page rule books of what you can and cant do.

Drive 20 minutes north, woods and banjos.

Even many of the more rural areas have super nice S/D's and HOA's because at one time, just a few years ago, they couldnt clear land fast enough for the growth.

There is no public transportation other than a few buses. Thats it. I don know why, all I know is we have them, and they only make major stops. Like across the island to the really touristy place, and back. And twice a day they head up north, at odd hours.

[shmike]

Who here lives in an exclusive neighborhood?

How is that relevent?

Edit: See Trip's response.

[Rsv1000R]

so you have HOAs but barely any buses?

That would be correct, The closest busline I can find is about 5-6 miles away and has a limited schedule.

[RACER X]

Google is your friend. :skep:

Yes, we do have HOA's for pretty much every S/D. This area experienced HUGE growth when the economy was good, we have places like Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort and others like it, with golf courses and homes right on the water. Costing several hundred a month with 500 page rule books of what you can and cant do.

Drive 20 minutes north, woods and banjos.

Even many of the more rural areas have super nice S/D's and HOA's because at one time, just a few years ago, they couldnt clear land fast enough for the growth.

There is no public transportation other than a few buses. Thats it. I don know why, all I know is we have them, and they only make major stops. Like across the island to the really touristy place, and back. And twice a day they head up north, at odd hours.ok, we were talking about kids not really needing cars togo to school, so do these areas have buses for kids to goto school.

we live out far enough that we don't have public trans. and we like it that way.........it'll soon be out here though.

[Homeslice]

You don't need a motorcycle or sportscars and yet people have them.... Kids having cars to get places such as work in some areas is much more a need than the toys we buy. You are straying for the topic. Which is too many cars for the garage.

If you have a large family in areas that don't have public trans (which is a lot of america outside the large cities, we have terrible public trans here) that has different schedules and the need for each to have their own vehicle is great, than yes, a middle class family is not going to have enough garage space to fit all their vehicles because lets face it a true middle class family is not going to be able to afford a 4-5 car garage home that wasn't custom built to be a small home with a huge garage..

All true.......But you have to admit that cars parked not only in the driveway but out on the street make a neigborhood look lame. One or two NICE cars in the driveway look good........but beyond that............After all, if your family has 4-5 cars it's likely at least one of them is going to be on the street. And this affects property values, if potential home shoppers visit the area and then reject it for appearance reasons. Especially if some of those cars happen to be old and junky, as most teenager's cars are.

[Trip]

All true.......But you have to admit that cars parked not only in the driveway but out on the street make a neigborhood look lame. After all, if your family has 4-5 cars it's likely at least one of them is going to be on the street. And this affects property values, if potential home shoppers visit the area and then reject it for appearance reasons. Especially if some of those cars happen to be old and junky, as most teenager's cars are.

My family at one point had 4-5 cars for a home that had a 2 car garage because that's all we could afford in the area we lived in, normal 3 car garage homes ran $100k more than what we could afford. I wouldn't even want to start trying to look for a 4 car garage home. No I do not think it looks 'lame.' To me it looked like a family making do with what they had to work with. It would be a shame if you ended up in the same position and had to face this reality.

[Rsv1000R]

ok, we were talking about kids not really needing cars togo to school, so do these areas have buses for kids to goto school.

we live out far enough that we don't have public trans. and we like it that way.........it'll soon be out here though.

Yes, My son ride a bus to school, but he has early release, so we pick him up, probably close to 14-15 miles round trip. His one job was a 10 mile rt, which wasn't bad when I had to pick him up at midnight/1:00am, his other job was almost a 40m rt, which did suck at 1:30am when I had to pick him up. He doesn't have his licenses yet, but when he does, he has to get something to drive his ass to work in.

That'll give us 6 cars in the garage/driveway...

[the chi]

ok, we were talking about kids not really needing cars togo to school, so do these areas have buses for kids.

we live out far enough that we don't have publix trans. and we like it that way.........it'll soon be out here though.

It depends on the school I would think. As a child in Texas I lived several miles from school but was considered "too close" to ride the bus. I worked full time as well in high school and needed a car to get to school and work on time, there was no transportation and I lived in a very populated area. Here, it depends on which school and where you live. There is no high school in the the ritzy touristy areas, so they have to be bused in or drive themselves, buses are very limited and public transportation couldnt get them to school either as there are no routes. :shrug:

[RACER X]

LOL, house 2 down and across the street. 2 car garage, lex GX470, new Mercedes E350, camry, & corolla. 2 teen drivers they share the corolla....

merc is sunday church car
lex dad drives
camry mom drives

[Homeslice]

My family at one point had 4-5 cars for a home that had a 2 car garage because that's all we could afford in the area we lived in, normal 3 car garage homes ran $100k more than what we could afford. I wouldn't even want to start trying to look for a 4 car garage home. No I do not think it looks 'lame.' To me it looked like a family making do with what they had to work with. It would be a shame if you ended up in the same position and had to face this reality.

I am just saying, this is why a HOA does what it does. Property values. Now if those cars were Lexus and BMW then I doubt the HOA would say anything. But old beat-up cars affect a neighborhood's perceived desireability.

[Trip]

ok, we were talking about kids not really needing cars togo to school, so do these areas have buses for kids to goto school.

we live out far enough that we don't have public trans. and we like it that way.........it'll soon be out here though.

School buses are actually getting slim in my area, I don't know if they are doing this anywhere else, anyone else hear of this? In my area they have been slowly lengthning the distance from the school you have to live to have access to the school bus to save on budget because of gas prices. It use to be a mile. I think it is up to 2-3 miles. I am sorry, but 2-3 miles for a lot of kids isn't doable on a bike, much less walking it back a forth every day. Plus the potential for kids to get hit on some of these roads to get to school is ridiculous. Their isn't sidewalks and crossing guards on most of these roads.

A lot of parents both work now, so dropping off and picking up is a big issue.

[the chi]

LOL, house 2 down and across the street. 2 car garage, lex GX470, new Mercedes E350, camry, & corolla. 2 teen drivers they share the corolla....

merc is sunday church car
lex dad drives
camry mom drives

Do they store one in the garage?

[shmike]

I am just saying, this is why a HOA does what it does. Property values. Now if those cars were Lexus and BMW then I doubt the HOA would say anything. But old beat-up cars affect a neighborhood's perceived desireability.

Maybe I missed it but the debate was over the cars being parked in the driveway vs. garage.

HOA's can say no work vehicles, no trucks, no vans, etc.

If an HOA tried to tell me that it was not OK to park a licensed, insured daily driver in my driveway because it wasn't German or wasn't new enough, I'd laugh at them all the way to court. :lol:

[Trip]

I am just saying, this is why a HOA does what it does. Property values. Now if those cars were Lexus and BMW then I doubt the HOA would say anything. But old beat-up cars affect a neighborhood's perceived desireability.

If you want to live in a HOA that is big bucks and the home is big bucks, I can see that. If a budget neighborhood HOA starts trying that shit, that's when it's fucked up.

I wonder what the people who are for these super strict rules would say if their big budget HOA they already live in tried to say no motorcycles at all.

[Homeslice]

Well they have to make a cutoff somewhere. They're not going to say something subjective like "no ugly cars" or "no cars older than 2005", but they will say "no more than 2 cars in the driveway" with the hopes that this will limit the number of junkers.

[shmike]

If you want to live in a HOA that is big bucks and the home is big bucks, I can see that. If a budget neighborhood HOA starts trying that shit, that's when it's fucked up.

Big bucks or not, fuck them.

There are plenty of exclusive neighborhoods around me with Corolla's and Sentra's in the driveway.

No rich person I know is going to park the Bentley or Ferrari outside to uphold property values.

[RACER X]

Do they store one in the garage?

2 in the garage, 2 on the driveway. looks tacky but better the others who has a Direct TV van everyday (against HOA's) + 3 other veh. only 1 in a 3 car garage. but then again they have

mom & dad
son 30 somethin
another son, 30 something + his 2 kids

living in that house.

[the chi]

If you want to live in a HOA that is big bucks and the home is big bucks, I can see that. If a budget neighborhood HOA starts trying that shit, that's when it's fucked up.

I wonder what the people who are for these super strict rules would say if their big budget HOA they already live in tried to say no motorcycles at all.

I know already. They just suck it up and deal. Sandestin does not allow motorcycles of ANY kind within their area, and we're talking miles of S/D. They make you park it at the entrance and shuttle your butt to a stop where you can walk home.

[Homeslice]

LOL, house 2 down and across the street. 2 car garage, lex GX470, new Mercedes E350, camry, & corolla. 2 teen drivers they share the corolla....

merc is sunday church car
lex dad drives
camry mom drives

A car just for church :lol:
Fucking pathetic if true.....

[RACER X]

A car just for church :lol:
Fucking pathetic if true.....

i kid you not.........they barely drive it to church even. they usually take the GX cuz there are 5 full sized people.

[Trip]

A car just for church :lol:
Fucking pathetic if true.....

I have 3 motorcycles and a car, just for one person.

The fiddy is just for gap racing and being a hooligan, the drz is for dirt, and the cbr is for track/street. The car is just for commuting and store trips. Is this any less pathetic than a person wanting a nice car for sunday drives?

Hypocrisy at it's finest.

[Homeslice]

i kid you not.........they barely drive it to church even. they usually take the GX cuz there are 5 full sized people.
The GX is an incredibly stupid daily-driver.......If he never tows anything he should get rid of it and just use the Merc

[RACER X]

The GX is an incredibly stupid daily-driver.......If he never tows anything he should get rid of it and just use the Merc

merc is like 5-6 mos old.......i guess the GX is older.

then there's the single mom w/ 2 kids and a avalon and Landcruiser/GX470 that never gets driven.

weird people in my 'hood

wanna guess what race? and where from?

[Homeslice]

I have 3 motorcycles and a car, just for one person.

The fiddy is just for gap racing and being a hooligan, the drz is for dirt, and the cbr is for track/street. The car is just for commuting and store trips. Is this any less pathetic than a person wanting a nice car for sunday drives?

Hypocrisy at it's finest.

A $40K+ car that only gets used once a week is a little different than an $8K race bike. At least with the bike it's an actual hobby that is part of your personal identity and goals. What is a church car accomplishing?

Let's say they sell that church car 2 years from now, they lose say $15K on its value......That same $15K could have gone into their kids college fund, or better yet it could have been spent on a nice vacation that would actually be remembered forever, unlike a church car.

[azoomm]

Ed playing a race card :lol:

I have my Tundra in the driveway. I have two motorcycles at the house - two more at the track. The Mini has it's own garage and the two motorcycles at home share the two car garage with our International Scout project - well, and 6 bicycles that won't fit in their room in the house.

[CasterTroy]

wanna guess what race? and where from?



If the cars are all dented....Must be a chinese woman in there somewhere :rockwoot:


:lol:

[RACER X]

thats my mom, can't pull her lexo outta the garage w/o taking out a mirror.......don't know why they have fixed side mirrors. :idk:

[Trip]

A $40K+ car that only gets used once a week is a little different than an $8K race bike. At least with the bike it's an actual hobby that is part of your personal identity and goals. What is a church car accomplishing?

Let's say they sell that church car 2 years from now, they lose say $15K on its value......That same $15K could have gone into their kids college fund, or better yet it could have been spent on a nice vacation that would actually be remembered forever, unlike a church car.

The motorcycles aren't part of a personal identity or 'lifestyle.' They are unnecessary toys, just like a sunday driver. They will always be that no matter who has them unless you are one of those very few people who don't own a cage at all and the motorcycle is your source of transportation daily/year round.

Some people like nice things, if they can afford it (let's not go into the people who can't and buy anyway), who are you to judge them on how they spend it. I think a lot of people have cars they don't need, but should I make fun of them for it? I have a used beat up 2000 civic stock with no power anything. It runs fine, gets great gas mileage. I think most people with SUVs or Trucks or just even newer or more expensive cars don't need them at all. They could take a page out of my book and buy an older reliable vehicle just to get them from A to B instead of trying to compete with the Jones'. So should I make fun of the people on this board who have newer BMWs/porsches/vettes/pretty much any nice car that is overkill for their needs.

The GX is an incredibly stupid daily-driver.......If he never tows anything he should get rid of it and just use the Merc

merc is like 5-6 mos old.......i guess the GX is older.

then there's the single mom w/ 2 kids and a avalon and Landcruiser/GX470 that never gets driven.

weird people in my 'hood

wanna guess what race? and where from?

I think most people's cars are stupid daily drivers, yet they have them anyway. Stop worrying about the Jones'.

[VatorMan]

A $40K+ car that only gets used once a week is a little different than an $8K race bike. At least with the bike it's an actual hobby that is part of your personal identity and goals. What is a church car accomplishing?

Let's say they sell that church car 2 years from now, they lose say $15K on its value......That same $15K could have gone into their kids college fund, or better yet it could have been spent on a nice vacation that would actually be remembered forever, unlike a church car.

Meh-I've got a car that's just for track days. Usually people that have disposable income vehicles have enough for the other things as well.

[Homeslice]

So should I make fun of the people on this board who have newer BMWs/porsches/vettes/pretty much any nice car that is overkill for their needs.
Was I doing that? I was merely making fun of the concept of a church car. Feel free to spend as much as you want on a car, as long as you use it a lot. But blowing $40K on a "church car" that only gets used 1 hour a week does not seem very intelligent unless you're pulling down CEO-type salary.

I happen to think most Americans make stupid financial decisions, and I reserve the right to make fun of them when I see fit. I see people on this board making fun of others for every other type of reason, including some that are outside their control, like being retarded or handicapped, so I don't see why what I'm doing is so bad.

[Homeslice]

The motorcycles aren't part of a personal identity or 'lifestyle.' They are unnecessary toys, just like a sunday driver.
Like I said, the race bike is one of your hobbies that you derive great enjoyment from.......And if you weren't into bikes, you'd blow the same amount of money on another hobby, as would any of us. But a church car isn't someone's hobby..... it's a waste IMO. There is a difference between a nice Sunday drive in a good sports car, and a mere 20-minute drive to church in a nice car just so you can impress your fellow churchgoers.

[lauralynne]

I guess I am the odd person out. I feel like your garages are for your cars first and foremost. That is why they are called garages and not a 2 or three stall storage place. I have neighbors that have three car garages and don't have ANY cars (or bikes) in them...

so should I have 4 cars outside or 17 bikes....

There's only bike paraphanalia in the garage and it's (mostly) in bins and in the storage rafters.

[VatorMan]

Was I doing that? I was merely making fun of the concept of a church car. Feel free to spend as much as you want on a car, as long as you use it a lot. But blowing $40K on a "church car" that only gets used 1 hour a week does not seem very intelligent unless you're pulling down CEO-type salary.

I happen to think most Americans make stupid financial decisions, and I reserve the right to make fun of them when I see fit. I see people on this board making fun of others for every other type of reason, including some that are outside their control, like being retarded or handicapped, so I don't see why what I'm doing is so bad.

Cause your shit don't make sense.:lol:

[CasterTroy]

Some people like nice things, if they can afford it (let's not go into the people who can't and buy anyway), who are you to judge them on how they spend it.

Kind of like hating those who live in a house with a 3 car garage or in a gated community?

Sorry man, but you've made it clear you drive by hoity toity neighborhoods with your middle finger raised high in salute

If I've read your replies wrong.....let me know

[Rider]

Last night we had a neighborhood meeting. The builder turned over the HOA management duties to a property management company. We have a contract to pay them $12K a year. Fuck, the builder was doing it for free. Out HOA dues isn't going up though because they had a surplus that last few years.

[Particle Man]

12k a year?!? eff THAT

[CasterTroy]

That'll give us 6 cars in the garage/driveway...


:rant: rich asshole redflip


:lol:

[Trip]

Kind of like hating those who live in a house with a 3 car garage or in a gated community?

Sorry man, but you've made it clear you drive by hoity toity neighborhoods with your middle finger raised high in salute

If I've read your replies wrong.....let me know

I don't hate everyone in the neighborhoods, obiviously there is some good people in them as I was one of them when I lived in one with my parents. :lol: I hate the jackoffs in them and I dislike their rules and no I don't go by neighborhoods with my middle finger in the air. I hate when they try to impose the same rules outside of their little compound. If they want to spend their money to live in that type of atmosphere, yey for them. If they want to take over farms and bring a crowd of their buddies and start enforcing it on the community that was there before, BOO!

Last night we had a neighborhood meeting. The builder turned over the HOA management duties to a property management company. We have a contract to pay them $12K a year. Fuck, the builder was doing it for free. Out HOA dues isn't going up though because they had a surplus that last few years.

Is the subdivision really incomplete or something? How has the developer not released that to the HOA yet?

[CasterTroy]

I don't hate everyone in the neighborhoods


Well damn...I was looking for someone to drive while I shot the gates with my paintball gun :lol:

[Particle Man]

Well damn...I was looking for someone to drive while I shot the gates with my paintball gun :lol:

:lol:

[RACER X]

the developer still has final say in our 'hood as well, until we get 50+% houses on the ground.

pretty commmon in new 'hoods

[Trip]

the developer still has final say in our 'hood as well, until we get 50+% houses on the ground.

pretty commmon in new 'hoods

yeah that is how it is here, just wondering if it was incomplete.

[Rider]

I don't hate everyone in the neighborhoods, obiviously there is some good people in them as I was one of them when I lived in one with my parents. :lol: I hate the jackoffs in them and I dislike their rules and no I don't go by neighborhoods with my middle finger in the air. I hate when they try to impose the same rules outside of their little compound. If they want to spend their money to live in that type of atmosphere, yey for them. If they want to take over farms and bring a crowd of their buddies and start enforcing it on the community that was there before, BOO!



Is the subdivision really incomplete or something? How has the developer not released that to the HOA yet?

The development is not complete yet. There are 3 vacant lots left but they are all under construction. They are also adding a street to the neighborhood which has been on the plan map from the beginning. That will add another 22 homes to the neighborhood. Our neighborhood has been under construction for 6 years now. And this new street will take at least 2 years to finish most likely more with the economy.

[Trip]

The development is not complete yet. There are 3 vacant lots left but they are all under construction. They are also adding a street to the neighborhood which has been on the plan map from the beginning. That will add another 22 homes to the neighborhood. Our neighborhood has been under construction for 6 years now. And this new street will take at least 2 years to finish most likely more with the economy.

Damn, the developer fucked yall, it's normally 50% capacity to take control of the HOA. He is only suppose to get 1 vote for each of the lots he still owns.

[Apoc]

The GX is an incredibly stupid daily-driver.......If he never tows anything he should get rid of it and just use the Merc

Why, because you say so?

your almost as annoying as Ed with all your 'my way is the right way' bullshit...

[Rider]

Interesting. My builder is local to west Michigan but they are building a development in AL. http://www.eastbrookhomes.com/communities/prs.html

[Trip]

Interesting. My builder is local to west Michigan but they are building a development in AL. http://www.eastbrookhomes.com/communities/prs.html

following the money most likely. Builders/developers pick up and move a lot from my experience.

[Rsv1000R]

The development is not complete yet. There are 3 vacant lots left but they are all under construction. They are also adding a street to the neighborhood which has been on the plan map from the beginning. That will add another 22 homes to the neighborhood. Our neighborhood has been under construction for 6 years now. And this new street will take at least 2 years to finish most likely more with the economy.

I've been here 9 years and we still have a couple lots left and the dev still has the HOA rules. There's a provision that after like 80% home owners can take a vote and take control, but it apparently didn't get enough people wanting to put it in the hands of the owners, as the dev hasn't changed it, it's not oppressive really, and I personally didn't want people taking it over so they could start writing new rules.

Oh, while there's provision for a small yearly HOA fee ($200???) The developer hasn't charged anyone for it that I know of.

[Rider]

following the money most likely. Builders/developers pick up and move a lot from my experience.

Not these guys. They are just expanding. The son of the CEO lives in my neighborhood and he works for his dad. They aren't going anywhere.

[unknownroad]

so you have HOAs but barely any buses?

we live out far enough that we don't have public trans. and we like it that way.........it'll soon be out here though.

:scratch:

We've got an oversized 2-car garage with 2 older cars and 3 bikes in it. 2 daily drivers in the driveway. A pile of other bikes and parts thereof under the deck. I can't actually see any of my neighbor's houses from mine, and I like it that way. I hate having tan lines :rockwoot:

Our first house was in a development with an HOA, because we couldn't afford any of the homes in older neighborhoods in the area. We were... not their favorite people :lala:. At more than one point i had one car in the garage and five in the driveway (for two people)... one of them the paint was literally coming off in chunks. Got out of there as soon as i could.

The thing with our last place (and I assume a lot of housing-boom developments) was that the "two car" garage was 20' x 20'. If you have larger cars, you can't fit much else in there- there's barely enough room to open the car doors. Put even a workbench against the wall, and you're effectively down to a 1-car space. So, the most i ever got in there was a car and three bikes, and with that you couldn't actually walk through it without moving something. If you've got a riding mower and a couple bikes or some shit for the kids, I can see ending up with only one usable space out of three.

[wildchild]

I guess I am the odd person out. I feel like your garages are for your cars first and foremost. That is why they are called garages and not a 2 or three stall storage place. I have neighbors that have three car garages and don't have ANY cars (or bikes) in them...I think it makes a neighborhood look messy and tacky to have cars in the street and in all the driveways. Now don't get me wrong, I understand the need, however the neighborhood would look like crap if EVERYONE did it. If you don't like the look of a well kept neighborhood, then it sounds like country living is for you! That is one of the perks of living off by yourself. However, if you choose to live in a neighborhood you should do what you can to keep it looking neat and tidy. Sorta like when you live in a condo you don't blare your music or stomp your feet when you are on the second floor. It may be "your" house but you still live in a community. It is a respect issue.

I am sure I have called the flaming with this one.. . LOL

herein lies the reason why I live in the country. I respect what you're saying here and only ask in return that when the city dwellers move out by us (as they have been) they understand we don't do it that way out here so don't expect us to change because you (city dweller) decided to move out to the country. funny listening to the new neighbors talking about how tractors shouldn't be allowed to ride on their roads. LOL

[Trip]

herein lies the reason why I live in the country. I respect what you're saying here and only ask in return that when the city dwellers move out by us (as they have been) they understand we don't do it that way out here so don't expect us to change because you (city dweller) decided to move out to the country. funny listening to the new neighbors talking about how tractors shouldn't be allowed to ride on their roads. LOL

No kidding, they complain about how we don't like their rules and we shouldn't move into their subdivisions, but who move into who's area. The country folks didn't expand into the city, the city bitches came out to where the land is cheap and now demanding us to fit into their mold.

[MILK]

No kidding, they complain about how we don't like their rules and we shouldn't move into their subdivisions, but who move into who's area. The country folks didn't expand into the city, the city bitches came out to where the land is cheap and now demanding us to fit into their mold.

There was a story in the paper a few years ago. People bought houses in a neighborhood that was built close to a pig farm. The people in the neighborhood were trying to either get the farm closed or make the farm go to extreme measures to control the smell.

Hmmm.. You moved next to a pig farm and it smells - YA THINK???

People kill me.


We were the first house in our neighborhood. Not long after moving in I was out in the yard gardening. My dogs were running loose in the yard. Some lady that does does not live in my neighborhood, regularly walked through my neighborhood. She calls out to me that I need to put my dogs up. :scratch: I reminded her that my dogs are in MY YARD and told her that I would not be putting them up. She told me she had a fear of dogs. :idk: I told her that when I am outside my dogs are out with me and she didn't have to walk by my house if she didn't want to.

They do not leave my yard and when I'm not out there with them they are either inside or in the fenced part of my yard.

People just kill me.

[wildchild]

had a lady use my drive as a turn around. then started screaming out her window because the dog scrared her as it was running towards her car.

guess the dog did it's job. LOL

[MissHell]

...weird people in my 'hood...
So you fit right in? :nee: :lol:

If we had a garage, I think we'd keep one car and the bike in it. One car in the driveway. :wink:

[CasterTroy]

She calls out to me that I need to put my dogs up. . She told me she had a fear of dogs.


ummm...thats when'd I'd get up and grab the paintball gun off the counter, and the frozen paintballs out of the freezer and chase her down the road :mm:

[Rsv1000R]

:rant: rich asshole redflip


:lol:

Oh yeah, I forgot about this.

redflip

BTW Buddy, your house isn't much smaller than mine....

[CasterTroy]

Oh yeah, I forgot about this.

redflip

BTW Buddy, your house isn't much smaller than mine....

But I'm drivin a busted 10 yr old grocery getter while you're out there in that posh truck and musclecar ...and.... I lost count :nee:

[Rsv1000R]

But I'm drivin a busted 10 yr old grocery getter while you're out there in that posh truck and musclecar ...and.... I lost count :nee:

:lol:That 9 year old(one short of your beater) posh truck is a pile of rust from 9 years of saltwater baths, and while I did get my wife a new suv a year ago (I didn't want to pull the dash to fix the heater) my next newest car is a 2002, and they get older from there.


And my newest bike is an 02 as well, Mr fancy bikes :zowned:

[CasterTroy]

:read: :whistle: :doh:

[Rsv1000R]

:read: :whistle: :doh:

:lol:

[Particle Man]

had a lady use my drive as a turn around. then started screaming out her window because the dog scrared her as it was running towards her car.

guess the dog did it's job. LOL

hahahahahahahaha - you should have yelled that the dog only chases away bitchy people

[Sixxxxer]

I park my Car in my garage...but its a project and doesnt run...but I plan on using it for the car as thats what it was built for...And I can park my bike in there as well...I just like my shed for the Bike better...

I dont believe in using a garage as a shed...Im not messy or unorganized so i use my space accordingly.

[cbrchick]

We have one small single car garage and a drive way of death. This is not our forever home, but it works for now. We have 5 bikes in the garage and misc garage stuff like tools, bikes, etc... We park our cars in the driveway. We can't park them on the street as there is no parking (live in the city).

I grew up in Texas and never understood why there isn't more new housing with garages here. I think it just costs soooo much to bust up the rock here to build that people opt out. In the winter, it's almost easier to park your vehicle outside because there's that much less snow to shovel if you car takes up 10+ feet of shoveling space.

Anyway... My next home will have a large garage... But we'll prolly still park the vehicle outside on most days.

[Cutty72]

For a garage, why wouldn't you just do a slab on grade and not worry about digging anything?

[Particle Man]

For a garage, why wouldn't you just do a slab on grade and not worry about digging anything?

ground freezing/heaving around here makes digging needed...

[Cutty72]

ground freezing/heaving around here makes digging needed...

pretty sure the ground freezes and heaves as much if not more here in ND, and we do a lot of slab on grade pours. thats why you put rebar in the slab! :lol:

and she was refering to TX, which I don't believe has the freezing/ground heaving problem.

[Mrs. Colleen]

Not a homeowner but I am answering anyway...

3 cars, 2 bikes, 1 car garage. :panic:

Usually we have 1 car and 1 bike in the garage, one car in our assigned parking spot, one car on the street, and one bike on the patio...but if need be...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/AFIDrummerGirl/OneCarGarage.jpg

[Rangerscott]

Bike goes in the garage with other crap. Its sad how small they build garages these days. You can barely fit one vehicle all the way. Where are you suppose to put your tools, lawnmower, etc? Guess its gonna become mandatory to pay someone to do everything around the house.

[Cutty72]

Bike goes in the garage with other crap. Its sad how small they build garages these days. You can barely fit one vehicle all the way. Where are you suppose to put your tools, lawnmower, etc? Guess its gonna become mandatory to pay someone to do everything around the house.

When I was house shopping that was the first thing I did. Show up at the property, open the garage, drive in pickup. If the pickup didn't fit easily with room around it to walk, open doors, etc, it was out of the question. :lol:

[Homeslice]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/AFIDrummerGirl/OneCarGarage.jpg

Love that fzr....

[cbrchick]

pretty sure the ground freezes and heaves as much if not more here in ND, and we do a lot of slab on grade pours. thats why you put rebar in the slab! :lol:

and she was refering to TX, which I don't believe has the freezing/ground heaving problem.

No, I was referring to Canada where I live now... Used to live in Texas :) where there was a huge garage attached to every dwelling. But up here, it's like 2 inches of dirt before you hit bedrock/shale... Garages here are almost an after thought or part of you house's initial foundation at blasting and crap costs so much. For us, a big 2 car garage or room to build one is one of our primary needs when looking for a new home. I don't know where people put all their outdoor crap here except in silly little sheds.

My father is a self made garage builder supreme. He has an addiction. My parents live in a small village by the sea (300 people) and their 2 story garage with living area above has more window's and is almost larger and nicer than the 100 year old house they live in.

The house garage holds an old Mini Cooper, my brother's Trooper, his '09 ST1100, bikes, tools and misc things he is working on.

My mother has a garden shed in the back with all her stuff in it for working outside.

He also has a roughly 60X25 foot garage on 180 acres in the woods.(This
one was built with 3 of my brother's friends as part of their last years arcitecture project. He taught them how to build what they design). It holds the 88 suburban, the ATV, my old Suzuki Sami, a trailer, decorations, tools, and is powered by solar energy and an old battery. My parents do a lot of work in the woods and the property has been in our family for 200+ years.

The fourth garage in on property a half an hour from me next to my Aunt's. I remember my Dad building it with my grandfather. We're gonna turn this one into a little cottage. Right now it holds a '53 Dodge pick up and misc things.


My Dad's a bit of a pack rat if you ask me. We work on him getting rid of things and not collecting old radios and crap. He's an engineer. A bit of a nerd but can build and fix anything so we let him have his fun.

On top of everything else, he bought a few acres of land last year to build those self storage kinda things on - as part of a semi-retirement thing. There's actually nothing like that up where they live, and it would keep itself going with little involvement.

Anyway, I ramble. Garages in our family are almost as important as homes. For that I blame my father. I spent a lot of time with him out there as a kid. He spent a lot of time in them when he was going through chemo. I don't trust a man without one :)


On to coffee...

[RACER X]

LOL, house 2 down and across the street. 2 car garage, lex GX470, new Mercedes E350, camry, & corolla. 2 teen drivers they share the corolla....

merc is sunday church car
lex dad drives
camry mom drives

so yesterday, i;m walkin down to the mailbox and the merc is in the 11-12 y.o. is sitton on the trunk of the merc.

i tell her "its not my car and i don't care, but she prolly shouldn't sit on it" she jumped off.

gonna get more damage sittin in the garage then drivin......lol

[Sixxxxer]

When I was house shopping that was the first thing I did. Show up at the property, open the garage, drive in pickup. If the pickup didn't fit easily with room around it to walk, open doors, etc, it was out of the question. :lol:

I kinda did the same thing...I Wouldn't look at a house without a garage...But I also dont have a pickup so for me it was will the car fit and still leave me room to walk around it/work on it.

[Mrs. Colleen]

Love that fzr....

Thanks. :beers: Although it looks MUCH better now. :panic:

[unknownroad]

Bike goes in the garage with other crap. Its sad how small they build garages these days. You can barely fit one vehicle all the way.

We had a pair of Cadillacs that measured out at 20' 6". They would not fit into our old garage if you wanted to close the door. I've got a picture somewhere of the garage door sitting on the hood of one of them, with the tail fins actually dug slightly into the drywall at the back the garage.

[Cutty72]

I kinda did the same thing...I Wouldn't look at a house without a garage...But I also dont have a pickup so for me it was will the car fit and still leave me room to walk around it/work on it.

Any new(er) car should fit into a garage. Pickups are a bit of a different story. at 20' long, there were a LOT of garages it wouldn't fit in leangth wise. Some were a height issue, and a couple a width issue.

There are enough people today that drive pickups/SUV's, why don't builders make the damn garage big enough for them to fit! :panic:

[Flexin]

Like I said, the race bike is one of your hobbies that you derive great enjoyment from.......And if you weren't into bikes, you'd blow the same amount of money on another hobby, as would any of us. But a church car isn't someone's hobby..... it's a waste IMO. There is a difference between a nice Sunday drive in a good sports car, and a mere 20-minute drive to church in a nice car just so you can impress your fellow churchgoers.

I'm no fan of church at all. Some people want a car that they just drive on weekends. My stepfather wants a truck to work in during the week and a nice ride for the weekend. This way you have a clean car all ready to go. It doesn't do the stop n go traffic duty all week. Its kinda a treat to drive.

As far as a garage goes, I do not keep my suv in the garage. I had the front tires in there a few times changing the oil but thats it. I used to put my truck in there at times but that JUST fit. I kept my Escort in there during the winter but not in the spring, summer or fall. My Oldsmobile was only in there for oil changes. My ATV was kept in the garage at all times (once I moved in the house) and so was my R6.

One reason I didn't keep my car in my garage is because its not a large garage so its tight after a car is in there. My house is on slab so I have no basement so I use my garage as a workshop and home gym (rack, bench, heavy bag...).

After closing my business I needed to put my detailing gear somewhere so that went to the garage. With that and the other items in my garage I can't put a car in there. After I organize it again I might be able to get a car in there but I won't.

I don't have a problem with cars in the driveway.

I don't think cars in a driveway is ghetto if they are not on blocks.

I hate a garage loaded with junk. I think it should be able to be used for something but not a full storage room.

Fuck HOA's

If I have my way in my next house I will have at least a two car (attached) garage for the daily drivers. They will be kept in there during the winter. Maybe during the rest of the year as well. Its hard to say.

I also want a three car (detached) garage for the toys. I wouldn't mind having a room over most of the garage. One bay I would like a high ceiling so I can have a lift.

I also don't want to be in a sub division. I want to be off the main road so I don't have other houses that are really close to me. I want the room to park a dump truck, float and excavator in my driveway if I want to.

I like the fact that my neighbors didn't say a word when I parked a dump truck, trailer and an excavator in my driveway. Wait, one guy did say something. My neighbor that lives in teh house that has his yard right beside my driveway said I was a man after his own heart. He said he loves coming out his back door and seeing that there.

I never say anything about his one ton dump in his driveway or when he has a bbq every week and his friends and family fill his driveway and also park on the street. They are good people, I don't have a problem with it.

James