Vet Could Lose Home For Displaying Small US Flag In Front Yard

CBS Tampa ^

[Mercat]

I don’t care. He’s an idiot. He signed onto that neighborhood and as I understand it there are ways he is allowed to display the flag. Next he’ll want to display faded plastic flowers and whirligigs. Then we’ll start putting out dozens of naked plastic baby dolls like a weirdo in my community.

[RIghtwardHo]

Oh Lord we have one of those.

I tend to agree with you. Just because you are waving a flag, etc. doesn’t mean you don’t have to follow the rules. They aren’t draconian. There is nothing wrong with them. And while I am no fan of Homeowners Associations you live there, and you need to follow the regs.

[Enlightened1]

Did you see this part?

““I want it to go away. It’s such a minor little thing and they keep coming after me,” Murphree told WAWS. “They just sent me a letter that says I owe them around $8,000 and they put a foreclosure lien on my house.”

[Paladin2]

Free the Pink Flamingos.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

HOAs are evil. If you don't want to obey the rules of an evil HOA don't purchase property subject to an evil HOA. By purchasing property subject to an evil HOA you are saying you will obey the evil HOA. Did I mention that HOAs are evil?

[fwdude]

Becoming a member of an HOA community is basically indentured servitude. I would NEVER advise “buying” one of these properties - EVER. (Because you don’t really own it.)

[Enlightened1]

I don't think a Vet should loose his home because he put 1 small American flag in a flower pot....

You know that's overkill by an over zealous HOA. The guy has 30 days to pay 8k or he will lose his home.

Good grief that's ridiculous!

[Mouton]

This is a scam....the HOA responded to the first press comment and noted it had nothing to do with the flag. It had to do with his not paying his association monthly assessments according to them.

Their argument seems logical to me.

[bert]

-——whirligigs——

Ahh whirligigs. My neighbor seems obsessed with them. At first they seemed tasteful, but with the increasing number tasteless.

It seems that when going to buy them, perhaps three must be purchased. But lo, there are different sizes and different colors and soon....... there are whirligigs everywhere.

Fortunately, July is coming and with it thunderstorms and high winds.

[fwdude]

I once worked for an HOA management company, and I agree with you that HOA's are evil. But people who buy into them are culpable for, of their own free will, selling their property rights and freedom for a little security and uniformity. It's not worth it.

I can't tell you how many people go into these purchase deals absolutely blind to all that is involved, and then become shocked when they have to pay dues and follow the often stringent rules. One girl called not knowing that she had to pay dues, several thousand dollars per year. It made her home purchase unaffordable.

[Phillyred]

Can we stop with the fake wells while we’re at it? We have owners around the corner who think it is cute to keep a skeleton hanging by the front door throughout the year. They dress it up differently for each season. It was never funny, but apparently the joke never ever gets old for them. We get it.

[fwdude]

You know that's overkill by an over zealous HOA. The guy has 30 days to pay 8k or he will lose his home.

Good grief that's ridiculous!

But it's all in writing, signed by the homeowner. Sorry, but if contracts are to mean anything in this nation, we have to begin to honor them, even when they seem unfair.

Language in HOA contracts is very specific and unambiguous. Otherwise, these communities would have no leg to stand on.

[P-Marlowe]

He signed onto that neighborhood and as I understand it there are ways he is allowed to display the flag.

NERDY HALL MONITOR ALERT.

Everyone, let's tackle him and give him a Wedgie!

[super7man]

Actually, I’ve heard that whirligigs breed and multiply in the night. Whirligigs infestations are common in condo complexes.

[fwdude]

I know that the HOA is probably on solid ground here. I’m just addressing the issue of HOA’s in general. They are on the deed of homes as the owners if the homeowner breaks the rules, and can eventually foreclose on the home if violations are not remedied.

[Straight Vermonter]

I can't tell you how many people go into these purchase deals absolutely blind to all that is involved, and then become shocked when they have to pay dues and follow the often stringent rules.

That's pretty understandable actually. Around here the HOAs will not let you see the agreement until you are at the closing. It's pretty much too late at that point to turn back. We walked away from a couple of properties because I wasn't going to get myself in that position.

[fwdude]

Then you are one of the smart ones. Most people have no business assuming the responsibility of home ownership if they won’t even read the controlling documents.

[Mouton]

No problem with your comments, I was addressing he headline.

I just got into a spat with mine, I had to remove about 8 dangerous diseased trees near my residence and was noted by the HOA that I had violated the CandRs by not getting approval from the architectural board before doing that. My response is I don’t see the connection between removing trees and architectural changes beyond the fact had these trees fell on my home I would have a remodel resulting in rubble. No answer yet to my comment.

In almost all developments here these days, HOAs are mandatory due to requirments to maintain water run off and to accomodate “state and county land use standards”. Unfortunately, as you and others note, these frequently become the vehicles where petty individuals decide to become lord and kings.

[thackney]

Florida statute 720.304 section 2a states that “Any homeowner may display one portable, removable United States flag…in a respectful manner…not larger than 4 1/2 feet by 6 feet…regardless of any covenants, restrictions, bylaws, rules, or requirements of the [homeowners'] association.”

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/veteran-may-lose-home-over-flag-fight/ngRCt/