The California Supreme Court has ruled that a condo association can enforce a previously-existing (previous to 2001, when a law allowing condo owners to have at least one pet) no-pets rule, effectively trumping the rights of a homeowner.

'Scuse me? If I am BUYING a home, whether it's on a lot or is a condo, I don't want anyone telling me that I can't have as many damn animals living with me as I want! As long as it's within local ordinances, I don't want some tight-ass "association" board member with his/her own agenda telling me whether or not I can keep my furkids in MY HOME, whether or not I can plonk a satellite dish on MY roof, or whether I can have terra cotta flower pots on MY deck.

If you're reading this post and you're looking to buy a home, whether it's a condo or a house, please do your due diligence. Even a house might be governed by a neighbourhood homeowners' association and they, too, will dictate to you what palette of colours you may use to paint YOUR home and what shade of green your grass may be. If you're like me and you want to be able to do what you please with your own property (again, as long as you don't violate local codes/ordinances), be very careful about where you buy your home.