Another Bridgewater horror story...Home owner fees like "extortion" (Wesley Chapel: sales, foreclose)

[bentlebee]

WESLEY CHAPEL - Two days before closing on a house, Eugene Vrooman got bad news: If he didn't come up with $14,000, the homeowners association wouldn't allow his deal to go through.

In addition to unpaid assessments, the Bridgewater Community Association demanded money for cosmetic repairs to the home, which had been vacant for more than a year. It wanted the exterior of the 4-year-old house cleaned and painted, weeds pulled and new sod.

"My wife and I were just devastated," Vrooman said. "We've been working on this deal for six months. We planned to clean up the home, but we want to do the work ourselves, not some homeowners association. This just feels like extortion."
Homeowner fees 'like extortion,' homeowner says

[BucFan]

Plenty of other houses out there - give it up and let the HOA be in misery.

[vaughanwilliams]

Hmmm.. how can I start my own HOA? What a racket.

[bentlebee]

I understand that the HOA and home owners who are underwater are frustrated with the drug dealing that went on over there and other mess...but the way they are now handling it, is clearly not helping the situation either....

[christinalsbrown]

Thanks for posting this!

[kbrkr]

I read this story in the Sunday paper. It's appalling what HOA's are doing these days. How can they steal this dream house from these poor people? Too bad the guy wasn't an attorney who could sue their assess.

[bentlebee]

I never heard that other HOA's are doing the same...so this might only be happening in Bridgewater and I feel for the Home owners who really try to sell and can't get out of this mess.

It is also sad for the people who stayed and did the right thing...the president is probably thinking he is doing the right thing too, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to work...but we need to hear the story from both sides...

[christinalsbrown]

bentlebee, it was actually my family's home to be purchased.
we spent MONTHS negotiating the sale, were ready to move. I have small children and we had to scramble to find a new home.
I can give you any details you would like.

Note: Mr. Spector and his BOD blocked the sale of this home for "pending assessments" this was not fees truly owed to the HOA. They had not sent any notices to the owners indicating any work needed to be done, they had not performed any work or spent any time/money on this home. They had not placed a lien which is the only legal way they can collect funds for violations. In addition to attempting to collect fees that were not truly owed they inflated these fees, such as $100 to clean a PVC mailbox. The agent put some bleach on it (about 50 cents worth) and it was sparkling white again. $6200 to paint a 4 year old 2K sq ft home.....absurd.
The sad part of this is that this home will foreclose and the HOA will not get ANY of the money they demanded at closing for pending assessments. They are only hurting themselves and dragging others along for the ride. If Mr. Spector is so concerned with the value of his own home he is handling this the WRONG way! we found another house, not as large and with about 50K less in upgrades in the SAME AREA and guess what??? the appraisal is only 2K less....why??? because NO ONE wants to live in Bridgewater, and this is why....so the sales prices keep dropping for JUST that subdivision...pull a comp in palm cove and see comparable houses THOUSANDS of dollars higher.
For the sake of people who DO live there, he really needs to wake up.

[bentlebee]

Sad to hear that someone thinks he is doing the right thing while chasing people out and buyers away.

Luckily most HOA's aren't like that. I deal with many HOA's incl. the homes I own in HOA communities and I never heard of things like this.

But for you in the end it turned out for the best for you so you won't be stuck in that community...sad for the seller though...It could easily be different and what about freedom to paint your own home in the required colors....this is more dictatorship...

[Keeper]

The HOAs in many communities let the power go to their heads. What about the person who put down artificial grass to keep a green yard?

I can understand the house painting though.. if you have never lived someplace where one person painted their house buccaneer orange and another painted theirs a bright purple with pink trim you would appreciate a color chart of required colors.