Never lived in a HOA until now in Texas

To begin with I am in Texas, Fort Worth to be exact.
My wife and I moved to our community because of the HOA.This is our first time living in a HOA community. I hope no one on here thinks I am a HOA Nazi, but we just want to do the right thing and expect the same from others. I am somewhat disappointed that things are not a bit more strict. We have a management company run our HOA and a Board of Directors. Currently the Board is two homeowners and the rest are still the developers/builders @ least that is my understanding. I just feel I am not getting what I pay for. It seems like I have to constantly complain to get anything done and am about wore out. We have a forum website that is paid for by one of the homeowners and it seems like it is all anti-HOA homeowners that use it. All they do is complain that the HOA is a joke and don't want to abide by the CCR's and think the rules are dumb. There are constant violations from commercial trucks parked in driveways to not having the proper landscaping (trees) per lot, shrubs in front of A/C units, lawns maintained etc., garages converted to living space, parking in street and parking motorcycles on sidewalk. Signs posted in yards and on street lamps. Pet owners let their dogs run loose, and some walk there dog and just let them poo and not pick it up. We have one homeowner who drives his ATV on sidewalks and in common areas. They (HOA) seem to have put a stop to this action with my help no less, pictures taken and cops called. According to my HOA manager the homeowner has been sent notice and has not replied she (manager) said she thinks they will be gone within 60 days because the ATV owner never replied back. She would not give details other than that. I want to be more involved with my HOA, but do not know what I am doing, and fear retaliation from homeowners. As a member of the HOA am I allowed to see records of who has been paying dues and it constantly violating policy? If anyone has questions I will be more than happy to reply back.

If I or my wife did something wrong I would want to make it right.

What to do? Is it just me? Do I expect too much?

Thanks!

Joseph,
Anna is pretty much on the money, except maybe she didn't stress enough how much this developer control over your life is real.

I would suggest you (personally) meet with this developer or his Board and air your views. Make a short list of your concerns and end your talk by asking, what you as a new owner just moving into the community can do to help. As has been said, take note with names and responses. If you get anything positive at all, try and get a time line for the issue. I would be very surprised if you get any support but you will now know where some of the cards lie. Then I would try and nose around and find out what the agenda of this web site is. It should be something constructive and if has turned into some disruptive entity, try to change the direction.

The concept of effective Hoa living is everyone is dedicated to the whole. If that power prevails, the Hoa functions well. If not it turns into a bunch of folks fighting for their personal agendas.
So you have two fronts in your war you are in that you didn't ask for. But don't blame one or both without understanding what is going on or why. It is imperative you know your documents, I mean know them better than 90 % of the owners there, that is where you build the foundation for change. I can't tell you how tough and hard it is, but in the end you don't have much choice, you are in this for the long long haul. The good part of this, if there has a good part is you will meet new friends that have the same thoughts you do and you may just find it is worth what you will have to go through. It will take a long long time and change will be small at times and you will get whacked around at time, but the more you know about all this the more you will be convinced the fight is worth it.

Oh one of the first things is to find out from your developer and your documents, make sure they both say the same thing, when your development will be turned over to the membership.

DanielH,
A good plan and one that applies to any owner in any Hoa, at anytime he/she is a member. You do things this way and over time things will turn around and finally reach a mangement stage. Then, be ready with your new broom and new manpower. Lots of Hoa ills exists because they are just there and hard to move, but time, patience and a consistant pressure will change the map. After all most homeowners are in this for the long haul, it is never going to be fix it, and that is the end, there will be a tomorrow and a new tomorrow.