How much money are they charging? Is that money going anywhere? The whole purpose of an HOA is to do this type of thing. If they aren't, then use the opportunity to get it abolished.

Anyone coming on my 68 acres had better have an exit plan. They may or may not be injured or just generally roughed up, by the killer chihuahuas!

Glad I don’t live anywhere with a bullchit HOA. I’m in a small neighborhood and luckily everyone takes pride in their place and doesn’t need a babysitter

I can't find an exact number of houses, but I did see something that said over 1900. Dues are $180/ year. So that works out to $342K, give or take. There was some big drama before I moved in, where the HOA sent out a letter claiming they had hired an accounting firm to conduct an audit, which was BS, the accounting firm actually performed a compilation. So there was some financial mismanagement. That bunch was removed new people were voted in, who then created more drama, with some of the board members not paying their dues, and then ratting each other out. One was a police officer is Leeds, and I doubt its a stretch to suggest based upon his board behavior, he was probably a corrupt police officer as well.

The main entrance to our subdivision has about a 6 acre lake. And a walking path around it that is about 4000 feet or so. We can't seem to keep non residents from using the lake and walking path, and its about impossible to get into the neighborhood on Halloween.

Their MO is to let something go to pot, before they fix it. Which costs more than maintaining it. The lake needs to have a pond management service come out. They don't keep the edges maintained, so every few years they have to hire someone to come in and knock down all the scrub trees. They can't seem to keep a landscaper. They had some sewer issue they fixed over the winter.

The primary expenses are electricity for the street lights. Maintaining road signs, and keeping the common area's cut and maintained. So the lake and the park. The biggest problem with the lake is the put in a bridge across the spillway, and then put up poles, so you can't drive a lawnmower across it. You basically have to go around to the park and come in the back way. Or some down steps to the walking path. The contractor that built the spillway bridge got stuck and rutted up the grassy area in front of the parking area, and never fixed it. The bridge and walkways are already beginning to rot (only 3 or 4 years old. Some of the railings (rod iron) on the spillway guard rails have fallen out, which is a liability, and also on the walkway at the other end of the lake.

Highland Lakes HOA fees are $600. For that they get full time security and gated access, exceptional grounds maintenance, Southeastern Pond Management managing all their lakes, street lights through out as well. I figure the paid security is the bulk of their outgoing expenses.

Lock Jaw sounds like you might live in Chelsea Park?

Have never, could never and will never live where there’s an HOA! Inherited a beach condo with an HOA and sold that like pronto. HOA’s are good for 3 things. H- Harassment’s O- Only want more of your money for their special projects and A- Aggravation.

People that don't want to be on the HOA board are the people that you want on the HOA board. Those that typically volunteer get drunk with power.

I am amazed that anyone would live in an HOA

Any neighborhood built after 1980 will have one. They’re very hard to avoid.

I realize a lot of y’all live in the country but in town it’s not easy.

Forest Lakes. Its a great neighborhood as far as property values and resale. I could sell my house in a minute. The demographics are good as well.

The grounds upkeep has been an ongoing issue. When you don't maintain safety rails on bridges and walkways, and don't keep the grass mowed around the lake, you just create opportunities for people to get injured or bitten by a snake. And its simple. When you hire a contractor to do something, like build a bridge, you keep 10% out for retainage, to make sure they finish the job. We still have ruts from the jackleg getting stuck. People run and play football and everything else out there. Then you have leverage. Hey, fix the ruts, or you don't get the final balance. Or we will fix it and deduct it from your final balance. The lady handling that swore she was going to get that fixed. Never happened.

I asked a year or two ago about the grass too. Oh the landscaper had his equipment stolen. So we go 4 to 6 weeks without the grass around the lake being cut. I swear it seems like every year, its the same. They start out doing a good job, and by the time we get to mid July, they aren't cutting it. So either they are underbidding the job, or they spent their money somewhere else and can't pay them. But if thats the case, why lower dues?

Can’t have nothing nice no more.

Ain’t first world problems a real Nightmare. Hang in there worse is coming

The very first question when looking for a house, is there a HOA.

Sounds like y'all need to get a line-item budget for review and also request an audit of the books, expenditures, etc.

HOAs like to say "we're here for you" until you start asking about money, and then usually they clam up and try to not show the books.

I would probably have to sue to get that. I called the HOA out on their letter claiming they had an accounting firm audit the books and pronounced them good. That isn't what the firms letter said. They said they performed a compilation, explained what it was and offered no assurance that the financial statements represented accurately the financial position of the HOA. Or something to that effect.

I would have to pull a Trump and get elected to get in there and figure it all out. Just not sure I want to take that on.

I think HOA’s and community/little league ball boards have serious embezzlement issues about as often as not.

That much money coming in and basically only some landscaping costs? The power for the street lights isn't going to be much, think most power companies charge a flat rate about $7 a month for a security light on a pole. I'd guess there is a lot of corruption going on.

HOA's usually have to carry liability insurance and there are other costs.

But like Hoggin said, lots of opportunities for skimming if the wrong person is running the HOA.

HOA costs are myriad:

Salaries for staff
Insurance policies - more if things like pools, tennis-sports areas, playgrounds are involved, and possibly with lakes-ponds (Karen might sue if Little Jimmy falls in the pond that doesn't have a sign or fence, for example)
utilities for any things like water fountains, special lighting
legal fees, licenses
attorneys
accountants
landscaping
repairs
emergencies


However, the amount of money coming in darn sure could result in skimming if the wrong people are in place


Lockjaw, it's a damned shame you'd have to get on the board or sue to get a simple line-item budget that should be available. But I know what you mean.