Texas family told by their HOA to take down their too-early Christmas decorations

[Ohiogal]

CNN) - When's the best time to put up Christmas decorations? A homeowners association in San Antonio thinks it knows the answer, and it's not now.

Claudia and Nick Simonis put out a handful of Christmas decorations November 1. Three days later, they received a letter from their homeowners association, Diamond Association Management & Consulting, demanding they take down the decorations until closer to the holiday. DAMC did not respond to CNN's requests for comment via phone and email.

The couple didn't see the letter until this week. But once they did, they were in shock.

"I felt shocked and angered," Nick Simonis told CNN. "The HOA has so much time on their hands."

More:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/14/us/family-remove-christmas-decorations-trnd/index.html

[Aristus]

1. HOA: Get a life.

Homeowner: Wait until after Thanksgiving. What the hell is wrong with you?

[demmiblue]

14. This is correct.

[we can do it]

2. Good it's too damn early.

[Lochloosa]

3. Live by the HOA...die by the HOA

Not for me.

[atreides1]

4. "The HOA has so much time on their hands."

What do these people think their HOA does?

[gopiscrap]

5. tough shit

they chose to live there and knew the rules before moving in. The only speech that is absolutely protected is: political there can be curbs on Religious, Commercial or Personal

[Hortensis]

8. Agree. They can run for the board and see how many agree.

Fact is, a lot of people like strong controls and only complain when they interfere with something they want.

[gopiscrap]

12. exactly

in fact if I was on the HOA I would vote for no religious, or religious holiday themed decorations at all

[Hortensis]

20. Ouch. What can I say? That's why we don't do HOAs.

That said, our kids' HOA in their fairly large, well established development is relaxed and sensible, and very successful. It's known to be a good place to live, and there are always people wanting to buy in, all of which suggests to me that it's always been dominated by liberals. The HOA mostly runs the common areas and some popular community activities and otherwise just keeps gross maintenance and obnoxious violations from impairing livability and dragging down property values. No socioreligious oppression.

[Thomas Hurt]

6. HOAs are just set up to free people's inner fascist.

[beachbumbob]

7. If people don't want to abide by HOA rules/decisions simply don't

Live in one. All else is whining

[LeftInTX]

16. Everyone lives in an HOA if your home is new around here

I live in San Antonio and it's a fact of life. Live in an 40+ year old house or live in an area with an HOA.

I live in one and my home was built in 1980

Some HOAs are strict, but most provide amenities, such as a neighborhood pool etc. Ours has a pool, playground, and small tennis court. We also have two small entrances. (Not gated or anything, just a sign with a few a plants that are maintained) The HOA will call code compliance if a home is constantly violating city codes. Also, when building new structures on one's property one needs to contact the HOA. This is too assure that the new structure is not on city property or an easement. Ours is not strict. Ours probably wouldn't do anything about the Christmas decorations, unless they were still up and going during February.

Some upscale properties are strict. (Some cater to millionaires where the homeowners really buy into swanky stuff) Most new areas are gated.

The community in this article is fairly rural and contains numerous private parks and a golf course etc. (It's almost like a planned village) It isn't swanky, but it is upscale and people purchase homes there because it is considered a "getaway". The community in the article was started in the early 80's. There were always radio ads: "Get out to Timberwood Park and purchase an acre of land. We've got parks, deer you can feed, Smithson Valley schools"

[beachbumbob]

18. the bottom line you assume to follow all HOA edicts, simple enough to understand that, if people

want HOA rules to change then get on the board to do so

[LeftInTX]

21. Yes

Or in this case work out a compromise with the HOA because the homeowners probably didn't know they couldn't have Christmas lights up at this early. (Mainly because it is a lot of work to put all this stuff away and take it out again on short notice)

They can turn the lights off and keep the inflatables down until Thanksgiving.

[brush]

9. Ridiculous. It happens too often that some who get a little power abuse it.

[mopinko]

10. i have often said- there is no bit of territory so small that some idiot wont

fight to the death to take or protect it.

[Major Nikon]

11. We put ours up this weekend

Just won't be turning the lights on till Thanksgiving.

[Grins]

15. Very reasonable

I have neighbors who never take down a huge lighted wreath that is INDOORS in a bay window above their front door.
Key point: You can’t see it at all from the outside. Unless it is lit.
When do they light it? 8PM Thanksgiving day.
Turn it off? January 6.

[Major Nikon]

17. We usually take it down the first weekend after Xmas

[IcyPeas]

13. it's a war on Christmas!!!!!

[msongs]

19. most residential areas are not zoned to be churches nt