Advice on renting a place for a studio

[adcastillo]

I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions on renting a location to setup a studio. I have my studio in my house currently, but the neighborhood association is frowning on it.

[Holly]

Move outside of any Neighborhood Association boundaries. Continue doing business the way you are.

:)

I would hate being told what I can and can't do with my own house that I bought with my own hard-earned cash. Okay, my husband's hard earned cash. :)

[OversighT]

Originally Posted by adcastillo

I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions on renting a location to setup a studio. I have my studio in my house currently, but the neighborhood association is frowning on it.

They're frowning on a home business? Have your neighbors complained about the traffic? Offer to do a family portrait for them for free so they'll back down...would be cheaper than finding a location for a studio.


T.

[Steelsun]

Texas has real strong and strange homeowner association laws, and deed restrictions laws.

Many Home Owner Associations rules forbid commercial businesses inside residences in their area, and that includes daycare, ebay biz, and photog stuff. Proving you are doing the biz is hard though (but traffic, advertising, etc can all show the proof they need).
You don't even have to be a paying member of the association to be goverened by it and the deed restrictions.

I personally think the way the laws for HOAs in Texas are set up is too draconian and made sure when I bought a house a few years ago, we were in a nice neighborhood that did NOT have one. (although there is a voluntary one you can join but it does not have dee restriction enforcement powers). Our house and neighborhood in nearly identical to one just accross the street that does have Deed Restirctions, but you can't tell the differance.

You may want to check with an attorney if you want to fight them. Unless they actually renewed the deed restrictions in the last 20-30 years (I think thats the approx timeframe), then they may have been disolved. (This is something that can happen without notice or fanfare - they have to be actively renewed and refiled every so often or they go away).

Just my 2cents, not a lawyer (although I have chased one on TV).

[ndsimm]

Originally Posted by Steelsun

Unless they actually renewed the deed restrictions in the last 20-30 years (I think thats the approx timeframe), then they may have been disolved. (This is something that can happen without notice or fanfare - they have to be actively renewed and refiled every so often or they go away).

Just my 2cents, not a lawyer (although I have chased one on TV).

I wish mine would dissolve, the only way I know they are around is when I ge the bill for the annual fee. I know Heather's family jsut built a studio in SugarLand but i wouldn't mind sharing space with someone on my side of town or even someplace central...

[adcastillo]

What side of town do you live on?

[Abel]

how can they tell what goes on in your home? how'd they find out in the first place?

i wouldnt worry about it...

[ndsimm]

Originally Posted by adcastillo

What side of town do you live on?

NW Houston
290/Telge

[adcastillo]

I think it is pretty obvious when I have girls coming walking up my driveway in there Quinceanera outfits, and such. Plus my next door neighbor asked for me to take pictures of his daughter at one time and then we had a falling out, so I'm sure he told.

I live in the Beltway 8 45 N area.