HOA Transfer/Reserve Fees???? $2000+???? (sale, how much, houses)

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by MotleyCrew

We paid the $3,000 when we bought this little box in Sun City. It seemed high until I started to use the facilities and they are very well maintained here. The gym is awesome as are the pools and the club facilities. I think they should lower it considering how sluggish the economy is but people still seem to trickle in here. I would imagine that the HOA fees would skyrocket if they did get rid of this fee.

The main problem with the $3000.00 PIF fee is that it is not a fair assessment. Only new buyers pay for it, but they were run down or their need to repair was caused by the wear and tear of the residents before the PIF was instituted. Every homeowner in SC should be assessed a PIF fee equally for using those facilities not just the newbies. And the funny (or sad) part is that only about 20% of the residents use these facilities. It seems that this should be a pay as you use it system.

[MotleyCrew]

Originally Posted by nitram

The main problem with the $3000.00 PIF fee is that it is not a fair assessment. Only new buyers pay for it, but they were run down or their need to repair was caused by the wear and tear of the residents before the PIF was instituted. Every homeowner in SC should be assessed a PIF fee equally for using those facilities not just the newbies. And the funny (or sad) part is that only about 20% of the residents use these facilities. It seems that this should be a pay as you use it system.

I was a big hit I agree. We do have the optional $40 rec fee we pay as well but at least it is optional. The HOA fees are $15 a year I believe. The gym is always packed so it does get good use.

[ajf7279]

No gym, no facilities, no pool....just one tot lot. On top of $119/mo....for a jungle gym. And it's not to sustain the building phase. It doesn't kick in until the homes begin reselling.

And the other community we were purchasing in where we initially saw this, they had been established for awhile and had just implemented it so it didn't pass the fair test either. Only new owners are paying it.

It is tough to find a community without an HOA in Phoenix. We are bummed and wish we had the resources to challenge this crap.

[sh9730]

Well, you could shoot of an email to the AZ Republic and it least it would get some public play...

[rgscpat]

Now I'm really glad to have bought an in-fill home that was built in 2000 and no HOA in sight. Some HOAs can be sensible and are not so expensive or onerous, but others... well, to each his or her own.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by ajf7279

No gym, no facilities, no pool....just one tot lot. On top of $119/mo....for a jungle gym. And it's not to sustain the building phase. It doesn't kick in until the homes begin reselling.

And the other community we were purchasing in where we initially saw this, they had been established for awhile and had just implemented it so it didn't pass the fair test either. Only new owners are paying it.

It is tough to find a community without an HOA in Phoenix. We are bummed and wish we had the resources to challenge this crap.

It's not that hard to find areas without HOAs, it's hard to find *new* areas without hoas in Phoenix.

Bottom line, the HOA fees never go down, and they never go away - so if they bother you, pick an older home - fix it up your way, and enjoy the bigger lot and the occasional "hillbilly" neighbor...

and - for the record, I live in a non-hoa area.

[ReadyFreddy]

I think the cities have required HOA's for a while, so you have to search older homes to find non-HOA. I'm just guessing you'd have to go early 90s and older for non-HOA in Mesa, at least.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by ReadyFreddy

I think the cities have required HOA's for a while, so you have to search older homes to find non-HOA. I'm just guessing you'd have to go early 90s and older for non-HOA in Mesa, at least.

probably back to 1985~ish in Phoenix, just guessing as well, based on what I've seen.

However there are a few neighborhoods where the HOA's have went "defunct" - like my current neighborhood. As long as there isn't any "community" property, like a clubhouse, it's a "win-win".

You still have deed restrictions, which any owner can enforce against the others, but with most lawyers charging a minimum of $10k to start that kind of suit, you would have to really *really* get them mad to see that.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by ReadyFreddy

I think the cities have required HOA's for a while, so you have to search older homes to find non-HOA. I'm just guessing you'd have to go early 90s and older for non-HOA in Mesa, at least.

I would be surprised to learn that they are required, I simply think they are preferred by builders. I could be wrong, though.

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

I would be surprised to learn that they are required, I simply think they are preferred by builders. I could be wrong, though.

Some, not all, municipalites in order to get a to build permit require the developer to establish an HOA and then turn it over to the homeowner members after the devlopment is completed.

Here is some helpful information on HOA's: Homeowner association - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia