Comments on: Ask the Broker: What is an HOA, and should I care about them?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:47:50 +0000

I found your article very interesting. My main concern regarding HOAs is that their increasing prevalence has eclipsed the laws that govern them, if there are any at all. Considering in Florida, where HOAs seem to be the norm, the State does little to regulate these corporations, and lobbyists for the industry have made it difficult for homeowners to fight back, should they be stuck with a runaway board. I have been involved in a situation that involves another neighborhood’s HOA believing they are in charge of my subdivision. It has gone as far as the threat of legal action against my family. When contacting the state, I have been directed to lawyer up and go through mediation (which is a process established by the state, run by lawyers and property managers, to work out problems between homeowners and THEIR HOAs). In the case of mediation or a lawsuit, HOA statutes allow for the winning party to recoup legal costs, and in my situation, the HOA’s lawyer had already indicated that they would seek reimbursement from my family.

Every time legislation regarding HOAs comes up, it always gets pushed to the back burner because lobbyists representing associations have more resources then individual homeowners. Organizations, such as the CAI, represent association’s interests over homeowners.
Kevin´s last blog ..Bunning Objection Results In Furloughs Of Critical Construction Projects

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:09:34 +0000

Any one heard about KGB or Soup Nazi's.. i think its a nick name.. I always think any how should be worth taking a look at with or without, and then look at the neighborhood, if it is established, and people are taking care of their homes, pretty safe bet they will continue...
hoa software

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:09:34 +0000

By: Patty@Orlando Real Estate

Patty@Orlando Real Estate — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:47:18 +0000

If you are in a HOA, be sure to encourage all rational residents to be active. Trouble makers without a life often use assocations to satisfy their lust for power (similar to politcal pressure groups).

By: Marbella property Sawsana

Marbella property Sawsana — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:59:41 +0000

Great article, in Spain we call HOA “community association” or “neigbourght community”. As a disadvantage i would say that this meetings are really boring but as advantages, a development with HOA aslo raise the prestige of living on it.
Interesting blog, greetings from Spain,

By: simon9985

simon9985 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:49:59 +0000

I have had some clients not willing to look at homes with them and others that will not without them — I think this all comes back from their personal experiences.I would think twice about a brand new subdivision, with no HOA, because we all know the turnover that happens in the first 2-3 years in those,

By: scott

scott — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:10:57 +0000

Good read...My opinion is that HOA's are more impressive to older folks than to younger folks. Where you mention that people may think "It's my house and I can do what I want to it" probably is a quote a younger person would use. Most older folks in areas rich in HOA territory like AZ and FL prefer that their homes are upkept by HOA**scott´s last blog post..700 Grove

By: Vicki Walker@davis real estate blog

Vicki Walker@davis real estate blog — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:56:05 +0000

In my neighborhood, an HOA was in place when the development was built to see that CC&Rs were upheld. There is not annual fee, and since the development has been finished, the HOA does not have the force it used to and it not as active.

But in Boise, Idaho almost every neighborhood has HOA’s that charge a small annual fee (less than $100). For this you get common area landscaping and maintenance and a company that sees that the CC&Rs are upheld.

I have found that it helps to keep up the property values of homes in Boise, as rental homes have to be kept up to the same degree as owner-occupied. Absentee owners are held accountable for property upkeep.

By: Jay@My Denton County Real Estate

Jay@My Denton County Real Estate — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:06:12 +0000

I have never seen as many HOA's as I have when I moved here to North Dallas. In the Florida burbs they were hit or miss. I got lucky here in that I got street that was built out with about 1118 houses, and no HOA, mail does not get delivered to the door.grrr, blame the builder for that too. But anyway, overall value on this matter I have found is in the eye of the beholder, I have had some clients not willing to look at homes with them and others that will not without them -- I think this all comes back from their personal experiences. I have heard of some nicknamed KGB, or Soup Nazi's. I always think any how should be worth taking a look at with or without, and then look at the neighborhood, if it is established, and people are taking care of their homes, pretty safe bet they will continue...if someone new moves in, and they want to have "the Shi**y house" on the block that is on them. I bet those neighbors who are keeping theirs nice, would start encouraging some landscaping, and the "new guy" may start getting rakes, and brooms with bows on them on their front step. Now with all that being said, I would think twice about a brand new subdivision, with no HOA, because we all know the turnover that happens in the first 2-3 years in those, and with todays market maybe even less, and more of it.**Jay´s last blog post..Path to home ownership…What makes a good FICO Score?

By: jean@Barbecue Fish

jean@Barbecue Fish — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:48:05 +0000

Maybe I missed it in the article, but can the HOA be a good thing for the raising of the overall value of a neighborhood?**jean´s last blog post..Preparing the Vegetables