[house2013]

Originally Posted by xafpilot

Always expect the HOA fees to go up after the builder is gone.

Yay

[BBMW]

This may be the utility of the HOA to the owners, once the development is completed. It's not the reason the builders create the HOA in the first place. Usually they are forced to by the local gov't, because the gov't doesn't want to have to pay for maintaining the infrastructure, and wants to push it directly to the homeowners, through the HOA.

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

The reason for the HOA is that there's always the neighbor who will turn his yard into an amateur recycling center if he is allowed to do so.

Several times, I have related the story about my mother-in-law's neighborhood (which has CC&Rs and an HOA), and the adjacent neighborhood (built at the same time by the same developer -- identical except no HOA). HOA dues cost a great deal less than depreciation. The adjacent neighborhood looks like a bomb went off at Toys-R-Us and all the debris was dropped by helicopter onto the yards.

Las Vegas has many, many residents who need to be COMPELLED to do basic house and yard maintenance. They're not going to keep their place up for the sake of being good neighbors. They'll only do it if there's some kind of penalty involved. If you don't have an HOA, you're rolling the dice as to whether a hoarder moves in next door.

[lvoc]

Originally Posted by BBMW

This may be the utility of the HOA to the owners, once the development is completed. It's not the reason the builders create the HOA in the first place. Usually they are forced to by the local gov't, because the gov't doesn't want to have to pay for maintaining the infrastructure, and wants to push it directly to the homeowners, through the HOA.

Not completely true. Streets are still dedicated to the municipality unless gated. The only real benefit to the municipality is the maintenance of walls and landscaping on the external edge of the property.

You have to do something as soon as you have gates or other internal features. Still does not require a full HOA though...there are agricultural only HOAs with no other power than landscape and wall maintenance.

[kttam186290]

Where I live in Los Angeles, my Archstone HOA fees dropped because an adjacent condo complex wanted to be annexed into our HOA so they could have access to our pools, gym and other amenities.

Where I was once paying a $200-monthly HOA fee, I am now paying a $75-monthly HOA fee, thanks to the annexation. So, yes, it is technically possible.

[007 license to sell]

Condotels are such a different animal, that's because they are a glorified time share. The owner only owns the condo in the tower , the tower or towers can be sold to another entity like at the Palms, not only did the Palms casino hotle but so did Palms place the condotel. And that means the monthly hoa's could change without notice.

Where as a regular highrise the monthly fee's any changes in staff or the care of the building or changes in amenities are set by the owners of the condo's and the owners of the condo are owners of the towers.