Who hates paying neighborhood association fees?

[SherEPunjab]

Originally posted by: FreshPrince
Mine just raised our fees by $300 a year. Our clubhouse recently burned down due to theft and I have a feeling this is where the raised fee comes in. This brings my annual fee to $1050, that's outrageous!!! They called the $300 increase a "special assesment" fee, which to me means we're using this money to build a new clubhouse. $300x1000+ houses = $300000+ a year to rebuild the clubhouse. I have a feeling this increase will stick around for 3 to 4 years to fully pay for the new clubhouse. My question is...didn't they have insurance on that clubhouse? So where is this money really going?

Anyone else have bad experiences with their neighborhood association? How much do you pay? Any good advice to deal with this situation? Finally, is it possible to stop paying fees and not be in trouble. Can they cause problems for home sales if you don't pay the fees?

thx!

- FP

we pay $1600 in Houston of all places (TX is SUPPOSED to be cheap).

 

[Ryan]

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH - We don't have these in my neighborhood 😛

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

it's amazing how rich people lose control of their lives out of their goal to be materially elite.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey
it's amazing how rich people lose control of their lives out of their goal to be materially elite.

Agreed.

 

[OFFascist]

I would never buy a home where I would have to deal with that bullshit.

 

[SpiderX]

Originally posted by: XFILE
how much are hoa fees for those exclusive areas that includes 18 hole golf course, country club, 24hr security patrol.

My grandparents live in one of those in Palm Desert, California. I'll find out. I bet you its a hell of a lot.

 

[brtspears2]

It sounds like a stupid idea, and I've never seen or lived in one myself.

$100+ x 12 = $1200+. That means alot of money for your own home improvements. Oh well, I plan to live the normal folk anyways.

 

[yellowperil]

Pay someone thousands of dollars a year to give them control over your common law property rights? What an ingenious idea! 😛

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: yellowperil
Pay someone thousands of dollars a year to give them control over your common law property rights? What an ingenious idea! 😛

Actually, having the fees is not such a bad idea. I feel like I get a lot for my $640 per year. Sure, there are some rules that we live by, but I can handle those. There are plenty of communities which do not belong to associations, and they look like crap. There are options that one can make when purchasing a home:

1) Either live in a community that has an association, or

2) Live in one that doesn't

Personally, I like living in a managed community. There are plenty of people that would let their places get pretty trashed up, but for people like me, I find comfort in knowing that the management of the association will ensure houses get painted when they need it.

I'm a member of our architectural review board for the community I live in. There are some general outlines that dictate what a homeowner can/can't do. However, these rules do not makes their lives impossible to live by.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: wje
I'm a member of our architectural review board for the community I live in. There are some general outlines that dictate what a homeowner can/can't do. However, these rules do not makes their lives impossible to live by.

wje, I'm sure you are a reasonable person, and in your association, with you on the board, your statement is correct. However, as my parents found out to the ruination of their life savings, you never know what new officers might do, and there isn't squat that anyone can do about it. The new officers in their association decided that the way to keep my parents from building their home was to refuse to approve their home plan, refuse to give any reasons why, and refuse to discuss it.

I think there is an incredible risk in being tied to an association. Today's well-run, fiscally-sound, and even-handed association can end up being something totally different after the next election.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: wje
I'm a member of our architectural review board for the community I live in. There are some general outlines that dictate what a homeowner can/can't do. However, these rules do not makes their lives impossible to live by.

wje, I'm sure you are a reasonable person, and in your association, with you on the board, your statement is correct. However, as my parents found out to the ruination of their life savings, you never know what new officers might do, and there isn't squat that anyone can do about it. The new officers in their association decided that the way to keep my parents from building their home was to refuse to approve their home plan, refuse to give any reasons why, and refuse to discuss it.

I think there is an incredible risk in being tied to an association. Today's well-run, fiscally-sound, and even-handed association can end up being something totally different after the next election.

I think their refusal to perform a proper follow-up with your parents was completely unprofessional. During all of the meetings that occur with the various boards, the community members are always welcome to attend. Usually, a few members will show up with a previously rejected application. 90% of the time, the differences will be worked out by the time the leave the meeting. For 10% of the times when a resolution can't be achieved, the homeowner will usually go home and seek revised plans for their project so that the project falls within the guidelines. The guidelines for our community are very clearly written. In a large majority of the times, the homeowner simply refuses to read them. Plus, these documents are available for review before a potential homeowner decides to purchase a home within our community.

As you've pointed out, not all associations are created alike. I'd have troubles with an association that didn't want to provide direct communication with me - as a homeowner, it's one of my entitlements.

Clearly, there are both good and bad reasons for living in a community that falls under some form of association rules. As far as I'm concerned, the positives usually out-weigh the negatives. I can drive 5 miles from my house and pick out all of the communities that don't have any form of association within their community. Usually, these communities tend to get run-down quite a bit quicker than communities where some rules for upkeep are enforced. Many home purchasers prefer to live in communities that have associations. When they are buying a single family home that sells for $400K to $700K, they want to ensure their investment in the home is protected - and that their neighbor will not open up a junk yard in his back yard which would be a complete eyesore.

My wife and myself are of the belief that our next move would be to an area that does not have an association. However, we'd want to ensure that we live far enough away from our neighbors that we won't be bothered by their junk collection - or the funky colors that they could potentially paint their house.

 

[astroview]

I really have to disagree with parts of what you guys are saying. Basically these associations take away your property rights, you can't do what you want. We have no associations here and our suburbs are still very nice. If you move to a good neighborhood/burb you won't have any of the problem you're complaining about eyesores, and it even allows for people to *GASP* put up architecturally innovative buildings.

It would annoy the hell out of me to not do what I want to my own property.

 

[RobCur]

These association basically sucks, you pay them to bitch at you. 🙁 They act like your landlord but they are NOT and get paid to be a pain. I know some people that have these bullies on their back, they would make threat like take to court, and pay a higher fee if you don't pay or do as they say! Grrr, so fsuked up.

Originally posted by: OFFascist
I would never buy a home where I would have to deal with that bullshit.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: RobCur
These association basically sucks, you pay them to bitch at you. 🙁 They act like your landlord but they are NOT and get paid to be a pain. I know some people that have these bullies on their back, they would make threat like take to court, and pay a higher fee if you don't pay or do as they say! Grrr, so fsuked up.

Originally posted by: OFFascist
I would never buy a home where I would have to deal with that bullshit.

You're not paying an association to bitch at you. Believe it or not, very little money goes towards the actual property management company of an association. Most of the community management is done by VOLUNTEERS!!! I'm on two groups already and enjoy the work very much. It's a small contribution of time to make, but the rewards that I get in return are great. Back in an earlier post, I indicated that I pay about $640 a year in community dues which includes: road paving, swimming pool, childrens pool, jacuzzi, racquetball court, work-out room, common ground landscaping, fertilizing and mowing, snow removal, trash pick-up, tot lots in the common areas and insurance in the common areas. I feel that I'm getting much more than $640 each year out of the community that I live in. Price a family pool membership for the summer and trash pick-up for a year - I'd be willing to bet that the two combined would be at least $640. As you can see, there are lots of benefits of living in a community that is planned - and has some control.

Oh, and regarding people should be able to do what they want to their properties. Well, I can sort of agree with you there. However, I've walked many of our community streets and had the opportunity to view most houses. Most members of the community can barely take care of the small amount of painting that's required for the trim and front doors of their homes. If they don't have the time or the energy to do some simple maintenance, how are they going to take on more advanced projects to improve their property? That's right, it's not possible.

For those who have a lot of drive and energy, by all means find a place that is not controlled by an association. Please feel free to modify your place as you see fit.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: pab
In so many words: If you dont like the way your association charges or the way its being run, consider moving. Or running for office.

That's where the tricky part comes in. People love to sit in their homes, behind their computer keyboards and behind their telephones and bitch. In my community of nearly 1,000 homes, the same 20 or 30 people always volunteer for the various committees and activities. What about the other 2,700 people? They never participate, never get involved, but they are the first ones to bitch when something goes wrong in the community. Go figure!

People are so weak.

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: wje

Originally posted by: pab
In so many words: If you dont like the way your association charges or the way its being run, consider moving. Or running for office.

That's where the tricky part comes in. People love to sit in their homes, behind their computer keyboards and behind their telephones and bitch. In my community of nearly 1,000 homes, the same 20 or 30 people always volunteer for the various committees and activities. What about the other 2,700 people? They never participate, never get involved, but they are the first ones to bitch when something goes wrong in the community. Go figure!

People are so weak.

Bingo. I have 1300 homes in my subdivision.

Highest membership withinn the last 5 years? 200.

-PAB

 

[Spagina]

I live in a non-HOA neighborhood, and I thank my lucky stars everyday. It's great being able to do with my property as I please. I personally think HOA's are a ridiculous infrigement on rights and I would never participate in a community that had one.