For the most part, I love living in Anthem, Arizona, a master-planned community built mostly by Del Webb (Pulte), located just south of New River. However, I hate my anal HOA (Home Owners Association). In fact they have to be one of the most anal, annoying and idiotic HOAs on the planet. A recent violation notice they sent me has got me all fired up. Now I’m ready for a fight!
Although I consider myself a model neighbor (I abide by the CCRs, keep our home in great shape, have the landscape manicured regularly, etc.), I have had more battles with these “power hungry” powers-that-be than I care to recall. I have received violation notices on several occasions regarding everything from parking vehicles in the street in front of my home, to leaving trash cans out on days they are not supposed to be out, to even one where they claimed my grass is not green enough. They even go so far as to steal your garage sale signs that are placed around neighborhoods to draw in traffic.
The notices over the grass was so idiotic that it is almost humorous. A few years ago, they sent me a notice that my grass was not green enough. My grass was actually very lush at the time with the exception of a couple of small patches that those pesky rabbits had eaten. I mostly ignored the notice because I thought it was so absurd.
Soon afterwards, we had the grass cut down to the dirt to prepare for overseeding of Winter Rye Grass, something of which the CCRs require Anthem residents to do every year. I got a second notice that my grass not being green enough to which I responded to them that I was in the process of overseeding, something which they required my to do. They admitted to their folly (ignorance) and dropped their action against me.
The latest incident that has really pissed me off and really turned me against HOAs altogether is related to a parking violation. They sent me the first notice a few months back (not the first type of notice I’ve ever received) about a Jeep parking on the street in front of my house, something of which they strictly forbid. The problem is that the Jeep was not mine, nor did it belong to any visitors to my house. In fact, the day of the incident, my wife and I were out of town. I replied to their notice letting them know this.
Today, I received a second notice related to the first violation saying that I was now going to be fined $25. This time, the notice made reference to a BMW that was illegally parked. Again they got the wrong person as I do not own a BMW nor does anyone who has recently visited our home.
What’s even more ironic is that the Anthem HOA does not govern the streets in Anthem, at least in Parkside on the west side of I-17 (the section we live in). Maricopa County does and to my knowledge there is no law restricting parking vehicles on the street at any time. Therefore the Anthem HOA cannot legally enforce this although they do send notices and fine people all the time.
I wrote them back the following response:
To whom it may concern,
I received a notice from you which is titled “2nd Notice of Non-Compliance Fine Notification” with regards to vehicle parking on the street. I do recall getting a recent notice regarding a Jeep parking on the street in front of my home to which I pointed out to you in my response that the vehicle was not associated with me or anyone I know. In fact if we are referring to the same vehicle, it is a vehicle belonging to a service person providing services to my neighbor across the street.
This second notice I am writing about makes reference to “BMW ALG3488.” Now if that is referencing a BMW, whoever is reporting these so-called violations got it wrong again as I do not own a BMW nor does anyone I know, at least that has been visitors to our home recently.
This being said, we do have service people come to our home including pool service people, landscapers and even more recently, medical staff aiding my dying father-in-law who has been in a hospice situation in our home for the last two weeks. I will not allow these service people to park their vehicles in my garage or carport and it is ridiculous for you to assume that any homeowner in Anthem would allow services to park anywhere but in the street in front of their homes.
Finally, even if I were to park my own vehicles or vehicles of my guests on the street, you have no right to enforce a “no parking” rule as the streets in Park are not governed by the Anthem HOA but Maricopa County and there exists no such parking restriction in Maricopa County’s laws governing neighborhood streets. If there is, please reference it to me. Otherwise I demand that you remove the fine imposed on my account immediately and bother me no further with false accusations of parking on the street.
By the way, I have three vehicles that I personally own, all of which are in the garage (come see for yourself) and as of the last two weeks, we have had two additional vehicles parked overnight, one which is my ailing father-in-laws and the other my sister in law, who has been helping my wife take care of their father. Both of these have been parked in the carport during the entire time.
So as you can see, both notices were related to vehicles that I had nothing to do with and even if I did, the Anthem HOA has no right to tell me if I can or cannot park on the street. Really, are we supposed to let the landscappers pull the vehicles and trailers into our garage in order to keep them off the street? If we decide to have a gathering or party, are we to limit the attendance to only those who can park in our carport?
Anthem is still a great place to live but if you aren’t able to stomach a “Barney Fife” home owners association that is super anal about everything, live somewhere else. I know if I ever move from here, it will be to place where HOAs are non-existent!
Dave, I feel your frustration, I too have been fined for cars not belonging to me. had to tussle with HOA a bit, but got it removed. And we have had other notices too. yeah love the HOA, it does make me crazy. But we have lived in an unincorporated area and it was crazy too. Had a neighbor when off her meds would write black paint all over her house all sorts of paranoid things, had to call the police, who contacted her family who would get her back on her meds. Had weeds to the eaves of some houses (blight) cars (working not working) parked in yards not on the street and left there for ages. The crazy lady with the paint had a gun. So I don’t think that there is an easy answer you just have to try and get along.
when we lived in anthem for the 8 yrs that we did we got several notices about parked cars that also were not ours. we were getting fined for a boulder that was landscaped in our yard before we even bought the house. we had our trash can pulled up and by the gate of our house for 2 days and received a fine. we found that we had received a fine for all three of these at the same time!
Hi david the hoa is also sending me fines for parking in the street in front of my house, im up too a $100.00 now my deal is that i have roomates so i can stay in my house in anthem parkside ironic i have 3 roommates in a 3 bedroom home so one of us parks in the street every time someone dose i get fined i payed one and i will never pay again they can have the dame house the old lady across the street ratted on me ever cince iv bin fined she plays cards with others every wensdays and there is 6 cars only 2 in the drive way one wae even parked in front of my house . oh and i went to anet mc carthy she handles fines she said to me if this is not a place for you to live mabey you should find another place , i will never be talking to her again so after the fine in the mail today i left a nasty mesage with bad words for her . ps. i have a shredder
Wow.. I really feel sorry for such HOA board members that do not have more to do in their life than check to see if the grass is green enough! My suggestion is: get a sign from the county or city place in front of your house “NO Parking” if anyone parks in front of your house have it towed away. You could get an attorney .. I think some of this action is a type of harassment and sounds like you are being subjected to get you out of the residence for good. HOA’s can put a lien against your house.. be careful.
I just received a notice for parking my work van in the driveway…contacted the HOA they said park it at Walmart or the park and ride…who the !@#% are these idiots with their interpretation of a commercial vehicle and why cant I park my van in my driveway!…I am sure the original authors of the CC&R’s were referring to large dump trucks, semi’s, boom trucks and this sort of thing but not a van!…further more if this is something they want to reinforce they should provide the following…a place CLOSE to my house that is secure for me to park my van with all my tools and a ride to and from. The reasoning in the notice was they are trying to keep the neighborhoods property value up…lol send that to Washington “Anthem HOA doing its part to create value in property”…it is impossible to deal with them, it would take the residence demanding revisions and really in this climate who has time…I will keep checking in to see if anyone wants to lead the charge..
hi R Jones, i am going to step up to the plate im not shure were to start but i want these basterds to stop harssing the rest of the residents who did not lose there homes here . they are fining me for parking in the street i tryed telling my reason and they did not give a crap i would like to say more curse words but i cant in case they see this . i was so pissed off when they sent more finds i curst on the there phone they sent me a $250.oo fine for cursing lol i just want them to leave me alone , contact me , by writing back on this
On top of the annoying fines for vehicles parked on the street, we just got an amazing letter from the Parkside HOA.
They say we need paint our house.
The house is only eight years old; the paint looks great!
By what standard do they make such an arbitrary judgement that may cost us thousands of dollars????
The Parkside HOA IS OUT OF CONTROL!!!!!!
They must be stopped or the exedous of owners will DRIVE DOWN PROPERTY VALUES as a CONSEQUENCE OF THE HOA OVERSTEPPING IT’S BOUNDS!!!!!!
i have just recieved that same letter my house dose not need painting the can go to hell they need to be stoped . we voted the bastered’s in im not painting im not responding to the ass holes.
I have my problems with Parkside HOA. Homeowners alone are helpless. United we can make changes. We must organize. I have received many notices and fines and haven’t paid one yet. People willing pay the fines and probably didn’t really have to. Easy way for Board to get money. I thought when Dell Web left things would be better but things are worse. The Parkside Board is going wild with thier power. My latest fine/$25 trim and maintain front yard. Trim bushes and trees. I have had my appeal meeting before the Parkside Board. They favored their compliance staff which is direct by them and did not remove the fine. How fair a hearing was that. They didn’t even define in writing how I must trim and maintain my yard. I must guess how and be fined until I guess what they want. Whenever they want they can issue me a higher fine. Board members are homeowners. What changes them when they sit on the Board??
Hi Mary im in the same boat, i will not pay any finds or paint my house. i also went to a apeal hering and they just staired at me not saying a word , we have to unite i was thinking about putting a junk car on my front lawn and calling one of the news programs and also asking the last board presadent to come and help us . will you stand behind me with this and can you find others ?
PLEASE HELP. I am in the same boat, this is OUTRAGEOUS! If I cannot invite more that 2 people to my house (which are the permitted vehicles that FIT in the driveway) then I think we have lost all liberty. LETS GET TOGETHER and SPEAK UP.
im with you liz lets get togther on this and call 12 on your side or one of the other news programs this crazyness has to stop
Dont Get Angry Get Even. People Fight FIRE with FIRE!!!!! All of thes Board members own homes here just get there names and look up there home adress on free sites like White Pages. I Have 😉 these people don’t walk on water. I have driven past their homes and have seen violations of the CC&R’s Photo Document and send in letters telling them to knock the Sh*t off or this will only be the beginning. Invite and encourage your neighbors next time they get an annoying letter from these NAZI Pr*cks to all go Over and park your cars outside and in front of there homes. Take Photos and send it to them asking them to investigate these obvious violations of the CC&R’S and state why Board members feel they are above the rules by having all these vehicles parked in front of their house. Where I come from there are a million and one ways to unleash torture upon thes Power Hungry Nazis by putting them under the same scrutiny that the impose upon others and then AMPLIFIE IT!!!!!!!! Good Luck Ball Buster 😉
Hello, I have been researching Anthem for a while now because my family is considering moving from Oregon to the Phoenix area. Anthem has certainly caught our eyes. Reading about the HOA I am a little worried. Do all the neighborhoods have them? How much is the monthly fee for these HOA. I have never lived in an area that had them so I guess you could say I am nervous. Other cities we have looked into are Chandler and Gilbert. Maybe I should stick with that area. Any advise from people living in the area is great. We also have kids so this is a big part of why Anthem is looking good to us.
Thanks again.
Despite the anal HOA, Anthem is a great place to live. I’d definitely recommend it over the other areas you are looking at. Hint though, if buying a home here, try to buy a house on the west side of the I-17 freeway, what we call “west Anthem” due to the fact that your water bill will be much less than if you live on the east side. The water issues on the east side is a whole different story. Let’s just say it is pricey!