Problems with Class Bs used as second cars where restricted.

[Heapie]

Here is the problem. My wife and I have just moved to an over 55 community with a lot of rules. One of them, according to my wife, is no RVs. Our RV is a Roadtrek Versatile 190., which can be a second car, seating four. I maintain that it is a second car and can be parked in the driveway. She says that it is an RV and can't be parked in the driveway.
(Being Versatile, it has more than one use.)
It can fit in the garage with slight modifications.

If I take off the decals, and say it is a second car, how do I defend that? It is registered in Massachusetts as a camper which is the law.

Also, as what happened at a reunion a few years ago, when I said I was bringing a small RV, they said NO RVs. When
I arrived at the reunion, they realized that they had made a mistake. (Most people, when told you have an RV, think Class A, Class C, or trailer.)

Would like to hear from people who have gone through this problem and their solutions.

HEAPIE

[Heapie]

Well Folks,

After much higher thought and research, I am not going to show up with my camper. The only way it would work is if it would fit in the garage. No way on that. The idea of using the Roadtrek 190 V as a second car will not work.

Thank you for your interest,

Over and out,

Heapie

[manualman]

Some perspective for further consideration: In many areas, ALL new subdivisions have an HOA because the municipality requires them. An HOA allows the City to require the developer to include all sorts of prestige, property value adding elements without the City getting stuck with the bill for owning and maintaining them over time: detention ponds, landscape buffers, entry features, even clubhouses. They are becoming harder to avoid in my area unless you are a fixer upper buyer.

Having worked in the development field for a couple decades now, I promise you that the HOA docs and rules were NOT carefully thought out and agonized over with a big research budget and focus group testing. The money guy told his lawyer "And ban those big ugly camper boxes from driveway storage" and here we are. In most cases, nobody ever intended to ban the parking of a high top van in your driveway. It's the eyesore mohos and TTs sitting in place unmoved for months they are looking to avoid.

I was the HOA board president at my HOA for 10 years (precisely so that the job wouldn't get filled by a power-hungry fascist). Board member do NOT generally enjoy dealing with this stuff. They hired a management company precisely to handle the routine stuff for them. A request letter like I suggested above to the management company will be presented to the Board in the next update and a recommendation made. 9 of 10 times, the board approves what the management company suggests.

[toedtoes]

stan909 wrote:
I think the take away from all this is before making the decision to buy in an HOA situation you better decide how much freedom you're willing to give up. If you like living under HOA rules then find storage. If you want more freedom then sell and buy a regular home. I understand that the question is about daily drivers but rules is rules.

I agree. I also think that if you choose living under an HOA because it sets standards for everyone, then you have to be willing to live under ALL those standards also - you don't get to choose to ignore the ones you don't like.

[stan909]

I think the take away from all this is before making the decision to buy in an HOA situation you better decide how much freedom you're willing to give up. If you like living under HOA rules then find storage. If you want more freedom then sell and buy a regular home. I understand that the question is about daily drivers but rules is rules.

[1775]

The problem is that even if it slips by at the beginning, sooner or later someone is going to come into the HOA looking to buy and when told that their RV is not permitted, they will come back and say - "Well, how come there is an RV owned by one of your residents now?". Then it will be "Oh really, where?" - and yours will be pointed out and then they come and say get rid of it or move. Be honest and direct up front and any agreement that is made has to be in writing with the stipulation that the agreement holds until you sell the condo, house, or whatever.

[garmp]

Isn't "where restricted" the key phrase here? I'd find out what is "restricted" and what is not. Pending the vehicle, the title will not give the proper info, i.e. our SportsMobile conversion. Titled as a Ford van, NOT an RV. Don't try to misdirect or mislead the HOA. Be up front, all will live better. There has to be alternatives to your situation.

[mkguitar]

manualman wrote:
...The HOAs are aggressive at trying to restrict your life unreasonably...

People who choose to live in a HOA also agree to live with the same rules that restrict paint choices and landscaping and etc etc

They have a contract to live under the CCR's etc of the HOA ( excepting those declared illegal/unconstitutional)- and they want to live that way.


an rv is an rv is an rv- look at the VIN, title or insurance. You can call it what you want or take pictures from carefully selected angles but, the truth will out in the paperwork
And part of the contract will spell out the penalties agreed to


We deliberately excluded HOA's from our housing search.

mike

[manualman]

How is it deception if you include a photo? The HOAs are aggressive at trying to restrict your life unreasonably. It's perfectly fair play to be equally aggressive in asserting yourself against their pettiness.

If you send them a letter like the above that includes a PHOTO of the van, there is no deception. Just advocacy.

[My_Roadtrek]

That is terrible advice, and I suggest not listening to it.
Be honest, trying to deceive a HOA. will really tick them off.
A camper van is not the same as a Class B, which is an RV.
In most cases the board makes, and enforces the rules, not the management company.

[manualman]

Geeze, people get a grip. This isn't that hard.

Thinking about buying a B van, but live in an HOA? Take a picture of the van, send it to the HOA management company with a letter that says "I'm considering buying the conversion van in this photo, but am concerned that it might be considered an RV and prohibited. Can you please clarify rule 46.2.3.a in this regard? Thanks."

If you are careful of what angle you take the photo from and CALL it a conversion van in the letter, it's about a 98% chance it will be fine. Then save the response letter against future busybodies. Modify the above process slightly before moving INTO an HOA community.

[drsolo]

I think all HOA end up on a downward slide like condos. The power hungry eventually run the board and then they make more and more laws restricting the freedom of the people who live there until people start to leave out of exasperation and new people find out how restrictive it is and dont want to buy. I would rather live in my RVan than an HOA.

[My_Roadtrek]

Doesn't matter what the chassis is registered as, it's still going to be an RV.
Get everything in writing, try and video the conversation of the Board giving you permission, and make sure it can't be revoked in the future.

[Heapie]

Back again. The head of the HOA says that if the RV fits, you can park it for 365 days.

Well, my wife got a notice from the manager of the development who has had complaints and that it is against the rules to park any RV in the driveway unless you are preparing it for a trip. She also said that the plates say CAMPER. Massachusetts made me register the van based upon the VIN number. Massachusetts gets more money for an RV, and a trailer. I believe it is $60.00 a year. A car is $40.00 for three years. I am going back and ask the person who told me I could park it what is going on.

The van is at my other house. I am trying to find inside storage at a reasonable cost.

Thank you,

Heapie.

[mkguitar]

Shearwater wrote:
...I would just keep your RV at home and wait for repercussions....

in some areas ( such as AZ) a HOA can assess fines and interest at the rates they set.
they can use accumulated fines to foreclose on a property.



One of my Pals tried playing the game and lost his house...he was assessed $50 a day compounded for leaving his car in the driveway when he left to take care of his sick mother for about 2 months.
he also didn't have the correct type of landscaping as required in his contract...which spelled out which types of plants but also demanded he use their chosen contractor ( he had planted himself)

his fines exceeded the equity in the home and he walked away from it.

HOA, you play by their rules- an HOA works really well for some people.
but not for individuals.

Mike