On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:33:41 -0400, BAR wrote:

My guess is that nothing is binding, if they didn't also assent to and
sign the restrictive covenants prior to purchase.

The covenants come with the land. There is no option to dissent from the
covenants.

Where we've been looking, it seems that neighborhood/development
"associations" are the norm.

And that real estate agents will lie about it.

We almost closed on a house. One of the conditions was no
restrictions or "associations" or anything like that. I want to put
up a tower for my radio hobby and I like to keep my trailer boats
close to my residence.

As the paperwork was being passed around for signatures, the agent
slipped in one that said "association dues" - I asked and yeppers -
there was an association alright - very loosely worded constraints on
what could and couldn't be done with the property.

No thank you.

Lawyers were po'd - not my fault - talk to the agent.

Loser.