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I have a few properties that are subject to homeowners’ associations (condo building boards, cooperative building boards, etc.). All of them have the following features:
1. For elections, the board circulates proxies in favor of the board president. Would you basically give a blank ballot to your Congressperson and let him or her fill it in for you?
2. The board can fill empty board seats itself. If there aren’t enough people at an owners meeting (either by proxy or in person), the board just stays in office. Would you let your Congressperson fill empty Congressional seats or stay in office if voter turnout on Election Day was below 50%?
3. There are no term limits.
4. There are no requirements to conduct elections as they are held for elected office in the US: no ballots are required and there is no requirement for the board to solicit candidates or publicize their names. Would you tolerate it if Election Day came and the government didn’t even have to provide a ballot?
Result: whoever is on the board can be in office forever and can pick like-minded people to fill the board, even if a majority of owners disagree.
You have a choice. Why did you buy properties in these areas if this is unacceptable to you?
Please do a search for the numerous "Pro-HOA versus Anti-HOA" threads. There are valid sides to each argument. But the important thing is you get to choose. And if you choose an HOA with whatever provisions are attached to your HOA; you have chosen it. Don't complain afterwards.
one thing I feel fairly confident of, nationwide regardless of state or municipality, is HOA rules.
They have to be established upfront, every owner signs on, and they are recorded/registered somewhere. And they have specific rules for changing rules.
Do folks unwittingly agree to an HOA, not realizing how incestuous the Board/process may be? I am certain.
Like most things in life, people don't start to think about the possible issues until it affects them personally. You see this frequently with HOA supporters: "my HOA is no big deal", "I've never had a problem", etc. Problem is, 'your' HOA is only a board change away from a dramatic shift in how it is run. It can go from uninvolved to a gang of petty tyrants controlling your every move before you can blink.
Even with a well-run HOA (for now), like everything else in life, the fee increases always seem to outpace inflation. There are a number of communities around here that have monthly HOA fees getting close to $500. That doesn't include any outside property maintenance, just the standard snow/pool/common areas/roads maintenance. That monthly bill will *NEVER* go down, and will impede your ability to sell when that time comes.
the same reason people don't get involved in the towns they live in....they are lazy. Think about how many people actually attend the meetings that are held for the town they live in with the council members
The land we bought is in a subdivision with an HOA. It is well run and dues have actually declined since the board was turned over from developer to homeowner run. I wouldn’t normally tolerate HOAs as I am not a fan, but we needed very close proximity and this was excellent for a number of reasons, the HOA and high price point being the only downsides.
Could it get taken over by despots? Perhaps. But even though we haven’t built there yet we stay involved in the meetings and elections and it’s all gone very well. It was not worth it to have no HOA and a sub par location than an inexpensive HOA with only very minor covenants and design oversight. Sometimes you have to pick the best of multiple trade off situations - that’s life!
Two problems. One there is no way to know the culture of the board before you buy. You can find all the docs even talk to a couple residents but no one will cue you to the way the board thinks. Only when you get under their thumb do their prejudices come out Two there is no ombudsman process for disputing their decisions. None. This puts the board in charge of your critical decisions. If the members have an agenda then you are stuck with it.
Now not all boards are narrow minded. Some work with changing times and culture of the rest of the homeowners. They made be knowledgeable of budgeting and community needs. But often members are just people who want to be in charge with no oversight and that is where the problems arise. What is needed is a higher level of professionals to whom individual homeowners can take their concerns and complaints
I have a few properties that are subject to homeowners’ associations (condo building boards, cooperative building boards, etc.). All of them have the following features:
1. For elections, the board circulates proxies in favor of the board president. Would you basically give a blank ballot to your Congressperson and let him or her fill it in for you?
2. The board can fill empty board seats itself. If there aren’t enough people at an owners meeting (either by proxy or in person), the board just stays in office. Would you let your Congressperson fill empty Congressional seats or stay in office if voter turnout on Election Day was below 50%?
3. There are no term limits.
4. There are no requirements to conduct elections as they are held for elected office in the US: no ballots are required and there is no requirement for the board to solicit candidates or publicize their names. Would you tolerate it if Election Day came and the government didn’t even have to provide a ballot?
Result: whoever is on the board can be in office forever and can pick like-minded people to fill the board, even if a majority of owners disagree.
Why do people tolerate this?
Because they’re too lazy to attend meetings and vote. You slam the Board as if it’s malfeasance on their part keeping them in office when it’s really the owners who don’t care who runs the HOA as long as they don’t have to lift a finger.
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