 THE FEEDING OF ALLIGATORS CANNOT BE A POSITIVE STEP FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE MANY YOUNG CHILDREN AND PETS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. PLEASE STOP FEEDING THE ALLIGATORS! So read the letter my parents received several years ago from the Homeowner's Association (HOA) in their Boca Raton, Florida community. Their property backs to an artificial lake where White Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and turtles abound. Alligators occasionally visit, but much less since their HOA took some action. My parents and I often joke about this matter-of-fact letter from their HOA, even though the reality is no laughing matter. Take a look at the letter that I received yesterday at the door of my Alexandria, Virginia condo: 
"Someone is either feeding the birds or dropping Cheerio Cereal off of their balcony and it is making a mess of the balcony below. We request that you DO NOT FEED BIRDS FROM YOUR BALCONY." Honestly, it wasn't me. When you purchase a home in a development or a unit in a condominium, you are not only purchasing a home, you are buying into a community. It is very important to understand the rules of the community that are handed down from the association. For further information, read my article What to Look for in Condominium Resale Disclosure Documents. You can think of the Homeowner's Association or Condominium Association as the Department of Homeland Defense for your neighborhood. One of their main objectives is maintaining the property values for all owners. Many associations will have rules pertaining to the outside appearance of your home or condo unit. Pink flamingos and tacky inflatable toys on the front lawn can bring down property values for the neighbors. Associations are also involved with the security of the community. That can mean the hiring of 24 hour guards in a condominium building or a neighborhood watch and cooperation with local police in an HOA.  Associations are generally responsible for the common areas of a community, including but not limited to, a community pool, tennis courts, parking areas, elevators, hallways, etc. Before purchasing in an HOA or condominium community, you should carefully review the resale disclosure documents and check on the financial viability of the association.
With an association, you have the opportunity to get involved and have a say in the community once you are an owner. You can run for the board, participate in meetings, work on a committee, and generally help to improve your neighborhood. While associations have their positives, there can be some negatives involved as well. Some associations impose draconian rules and manage the community with an iron fist. Certain associations in different parts of the country have imposed ridiculous rules and edicts regarding the display of the American Flag on homeowners' properties. Sometimes they overstep their bounds into each owner's private property and private lives. The few associations like these make the national news and give other well-managed community associations a bad rap. This is why it is so important to complete some due diligence and read some of the board minutes before deciding on a purchase in one of these neighborhoods. Some of the loveliest communities in Northern Virginia are a part of an HOA or condo association.
CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR A HOME OR CONDO IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA Please leave the animal feeding to the zoo. We've got a wonderful one here in D.C. | 
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