# Deal breakers on a new home... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 10, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584 "2013-03-10T23:46:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584/61 "2013-03-12T06:21:49Z")
My current home actually violates two of my deal breakers on future homes: an HOA and a beam that I have to duck to walk under. At 6’5" tall, I’m hardly the Jolly Green Giant, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask that all of the ceilings be at LEAST 7 feet high. I’d prefer 8 or 9 feet. Other deal breakers would be noise, large amounts of ambient light, and lack of a place to set up my workshop. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584/62 "2013-03-12T11:12:21Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Just wondering, do you also avoid all incorporated cities? There are cities with actual laws that compare to the scary internet stories about HOAs, so presumably if you avoid all HOAs you’d want to avoid all cities. Actual laws are fine. It’s the imaginary ones( from the HOA) that cause all the problems. A city law may require you to paint your house..but it won’t dictate what color. A city law may require you to park your car on your own property, but it won’t prevent you from keeping a car on your own driveway. A city law may prohibit you running a business in your house, but it won’t dictate no garage sales, ever. And city laws are administered by a formal legal department, not the bitchy woman next door. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584/63 "2013-03-12T11:39:21Z")
Not only would I not mind a cemetary, I would enjoy most of the ones I’ve seem. Some are amazingly beautiful; others of historic interest, and as has been mentioned, are quiet at night. Dealbreakers: location in a flood plain, or near a bar. I once lived a summer in downtown Madison, WI, a popular student bar across the street and another round the corner. The noise levels at bar time were deafening; the levels of vomit and public urination were disgusting. I will never, never, never live near a bar again. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584/64 "2013-03-12T11:43:59Z")
In all seriousness, for the doubters: My Father’s neighborhood HOA will fine you $400 for parking your car in your driveway overnight. All vehicles are required to be kept in the garage. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584/65 "2013-03-12T11:55:32Z")
I would move next to a cemetary, in some cities it’s the largest green space for miles. landfills, gravel mining, & mega churches all deal breakers ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584/66 "2013-03-12T12:10:16Z")
My biggest one – no HOA. I prefer the tyranny of faceless bureaucrats to the petty bickering of my idiot neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584/67 "2013-03-12T14:54:11Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Oh Lordy. > > :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: He’s got a point: you can’t spell “Shoah” without… you know. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584/68 "2013-03-12T16:30:06Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Actual laws are fine. It’s the imaginary ones( from the HOA) that cause all the problems. > A city law may require you to paint your house..but it won’t dictate what color. > A city law may require you to park your car on your own property, but it won’t prevent you from keeping a car on your own driveway. > A city law may prohibit you running a business in your house, but it won’t dictate no garage sales, ever. > > And city laws are administered by a formal legal department, not the bitchy woman next door. Well said. HOA’s tend to be run by little tin-pot dictators who seem to think that they are living in Stalinist Russia, or maybe in a Borg collective. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584/69 "2013-03-12T16:51:16Z")
For us: 1. A strong HOA, I don’t mind a weak one with very few powers. I will read all the documents prior to purchase to make sure that they don’t have those powers. 2. bad drainage. Water problems are expensive to fix. 3. On a main road. Our current rowhouse is on a busy street, and while we’ve installed good windows, and really don’t hear it. It would be nice to have easily available parking in the front for guests. I’d like a bit more quiet and privacy. 4. Not really close to public housing. 5. Bad schools. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deal-breakers-on-a-new-home/652584.md?page=3)