Why we love (and love to hate) HOAs

By Matt Hufman

Sunday, March 4, 2012 | 2:03 a.m.

Dear readers,

Since asking last Monday for your thoughts about homeowner associations, we have been overwhelmed by the response. There has been an outpouring of emails, letters, calls and comments on the website. We’ve spent much of the week trying to keep up as the messages pour in, responding when we can.

Today, we’re sharing a sampling of your comments. You can see:

• Why people love HOAs.

• Why people loathe them.

• Why people think they're necessary or a "necessary evil."

When we decided to do this, we wanted to see if we could create a discussion about HOAs, given their significant impact on life in Nevada.

On that count, it has been successful, thanks to you.

This isn’t an easy topic to discuss. Just the term “HOA” can quickly spark passions either for or against them. (Several readers told me I was opening a can of worms by asking for your views.) What made your responses so enjoyable was that not only were they thoughtful and reasoned, but also they were largely polite and considerate, even among the most passionate of views.

Today, you’ll see just a sampling of what we received: an incredibly rich array of viewpoints, filled with personal experiences and careful analyses of the benefits and detriments of HOAs. We’ve heard from real estate agents, management companies, HOA board members and owners who love, hate and tolerate HOAs. Comments and letters have been edited for space to provide a wide range of the opinions expressed.

Also, don't miss David McGrath Schwartz' "HOA 101", which is a great overview on homeowner associations in Nevada. And you can see other Sun coverage of HOA issues at lasvegassun.com/hoa. And, as a bonus, here's an insightful 2006 column on HOAs by the late Hal Rothman, a well-respected historian and Las Vegas expert.

Thank you for the tremendous response. In the near future, we’ll print and post more views about HOAs, so if you didn’t get a chance to respond, please join the discussion.

Best,

Matt

Matt Hufman is assistant managing editor/opinion.