Denver Post article about HOA troubles and calls for legal reform

[wanneroo]

In rural Colorado, many of my relatives have lived with forms of HOA's in various mountain subdivisions with large acreage. They were/are simply too far from any town, so these organizations bond together to provide a source of water, utilities and things like snow plowing or security. And that makes sense, as it is basically like a township like agreement on a small scale basis.

But having them in urban subdivision home based neighborhoods when services such as plowing or water are already catered for by local government, all an HOA ends up being just a vehicle for busybodies and nosy people to harass their neighbors and bleed money off. I am sure there are many HOAs and people that mean well but I think it's just something that ends up abused by the wrong people. I've never heard of many people with positive experiences with urban HOA's. Personally to me the whole thing reeks of the Stasi and I'm not living under one.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by Nayabone

The case they use as an example tells of a couple who haven't paid their $240.00 per year dues for nine years. How do you feel sorry for someone who refuses to cooperate with the rules?

Perhaps you could re-read the article. The article does NOT state that the homeowners have not paid for 9 years. The article points out that the dispute has been going on for 9 years.

These disputes are typically provoked for profit by the HOA management company, HOA attorney, and board members. The sole way that these vendors operate is to threaten homeowners with foreclosure in order to extort money from the homeowner for the benefit of the VENDOR.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

Perhaps you could re-read the article. The article does NOT state that the homeowners have not paid for 9 years. The article points out that the dispute has been going on for 9 years.

Exactly what I was going to point out. Altho I have also heard of residents who withhold their payments because their HOA hasn't fulfilled their side of the contract.

I spent 4 months last year just trying to get the HOA to plant a shrub in front of my door and it still isn't there. It certainly is true that many HOA managers aren't the brightest bulbs. One of our previous managers told me not to worry about the mounds of dog poo on our grass as it was good for the soil .

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

...These disputes are typically provoked for profit by the HOA management company, HOA attorney, and board members. The sole way that these vendors operate is to threaten homeowners with foreclosure in order to extort money from the homeowner for the benefit of the VENDOR.

That's total crap. Our HOA board members do not get a single penny from anything. Our management company gets a flat fee, no extras. The legal firm only gets paid a small amount for filing actions, serving notices, etc.

Our HOA saves the residents money....back east we paid $400/year for trash and recycling services, but our HOA here in COLO gets us that same exact level of service for $108/year since we buy the service on a community-wide basis and compete the contracts.

We reply to homeowners the same day and usually approve change requests within days.

I'm sure HOAs can vary widely; ours is quite well run, efficient and with lower dues than similar and larger HOAs nearby.

[phetaroi]

I used to be not in favor of HOAs, but as I've lived in TH communities over the past 20 years, my view has changed.

The most immediate example...a new neighbor...up to 9 big piles of dog **** on the common area grass and sidewalk. Hogging visitor parking spaces.

So, HOA, here I come!