Homes Not In Property Owners Associations Might Still Have Restrictive Covenants
Scott P. Rogers
Just because the house you are buying is not located in a Property Owners Association... that does not mean that there are not rules that affect your ownership of the property.
Many neighborhoods developed in the past 20 to 30 years do not have Property Owners Associations... but do have Restrictive Covenants.
These restrictive covenants often set down guidelines such as...
[1] If you want to make exterior changes to your house or add an outbuilding, etc., you may need to first seek approval from an architectural review committee.
[2] Non domestic animals (chicken, pigs, goats) are often prohibited.
[3] There may be restrictions on parking commercial vehicles, campers, trailers or boats on your property.
...and the list goes on!
So, if you are buying a house that is not a part of a Property Owners Association, let's also take a moment to check for any restrictive covenants that may affect your ownership of the property and make sure you are familiar with and comfortable with those restrictions.
