Why did you buy into a condo/HOA community?

I'm interested in whether posters on this board understood the condo or HOA concept.

What were your expectations?

Did you understand the concept going into the purchase?

Did it turn out to be completely different from what you anticipated?

JoyceS1:
I understood that:
1) We would pay for outside maintenance-lawn cutting & snow shoveling; 2) we would pay a monthly fee to cover the mgmt. of the HOA by a mgmt. company; 3) we would equally share in the total costs required for capital improvements since our streets are not dedicated and not responsibility of municality, unfortunately.

When we purchased, yes we were given a covenant document--declaration & bylaws to read and understand. Who understands at that time of purchase all that community living entails? Most of our problems seem to be centered around not the covenant & rules themselves, but how these documents are interpreted by those in power. There has been great harm done in our community by mis-handling of residents. Don't know if it will ever heal.

Obviously, one cannot know who their neighbors will be going into a new property, but it is evident that neighbors and dictator boards don't mix. I believe a great disservice is being done to those who live in communities--we have no advocate as a community resident. The local municipality doesn't want to be involved--they are thrilled to get our hefty tax dollars with little to nothing asked of them in return; the county and state say look to the state documents on 'planned communities'. We are on our own to either accept the Board and government style which is put upon us, or we recall them and get someone else in.

If I had my druthers...I would have:
-not bought in a brand new community, but one established with a successful board in place, with a financial vision for long term.
-asked a lot more questions about the governing of a community (don't know as this would have prepared us since the realtor is only interested in your name on the dotted line.)
- networked with residents in other communities--those with little turnover of Boards and little turnover in sale of properties--to find out what they are doing right!

PaulM

I bought my home in the HOA simply because I HATE mowing my lawn!!! My HOA, landscaping was paid for. I just took care of my flower beds and they handled the rest! Plus it was excellent investment property. It was my first house and payments were lower than rent in the area.
Honestly, I got involved with my HOA because of a guy! ( I am a woman!). The president of the HOA was what I thought was the man of my dreams and I was going to live happily ever after! You can guess what happened next... The president truly was a frog's turd and was ripping off the HOA (and elderly with alzheimers!). I figured it out and went on a campaign to oust him. Ironically, I won the election because of his "help". He thought he was going to run a "con" on me. He knew the MOST of the members didn't like him and were suspicious of his HOA spending. His plan was to get me "elected" and then con me out of giving him HOA money. He would try submit bids for maintenance and then charge whatever he wanted. His "master plan" was for me to threaten liens on houses if the owner's didn't do some kind of maintenance item. (Painting house, fence repair etc...) Of course, the HOA could pay him to do the work, and then lien the owner to get the money back. (All legal). A form of "double-dipping".
My momma didn't raise a stupid person! The dear president didn't know what hit him when I got into office! First order, his name came off the check signing list. Second, I fired his friends and hired outside contractors. Third, I enforced a 3 bid process for maintenance issues. No handing over bids like candy. Finally, his "master plan" of liening owners for HOA work, failed miserably. I simply gave the owner the presidents phone number and had them arrange a "Private" contract to do the work. The president got paid but it was NOT from the HOA budget!
It's been a few years now... My efforts did pay off while I was in office. I was able to straighten out the HOA. It ran so well, that others thought they could do a better job and they took over. (Always a "Bigger fish".) Unfornately, the new president is dumb enough to fall for the former presidents "tricks". Already threatening liens on several members as we speak. However, would I live in another HOA? I would have to answer "yes". Despite all the turmoil and cons, I found the job of President, a "ThankFULL" job and NOT a "ThankLESS" one. I was able to help many people and I know there is still a dinner waiting for me on someone's table if I ask. That's what living in HOA can be.

I had no idea either what it was all about. Mine was a new subdivision so we received rules and regs when we were in the process of putting in an offer. I was more at ease then because after reading the rules I assumed everyone would read and follow them and we could have a nice neighborhood.

I never suspected such owner apathy and disregard for rules, but that is why I serve, to try and make a difference.

Hi everyone – I bought a condo for many of the same reasons that many of you have provided – this was my first purchase, new development, lower cost than single family homes, landscaping/snow removal/exterior maintenance covered, etc. I really did not understand the concept of a HOA at the time – actually I did not even know of the concept! I attended the homeowner and BOD meetings while the developer had control, and the learning began. At the time of developer turnover, I was at the meeting and agreed to serve on the BOD. Fast forward to 13 years later – still on the BOD – served about the second half of it as President (but resigned last summer and am now, as is Lance, a “recovering ex-president of a HOA” – Lance, I love that! :-)

Would I do it again? Most definitely. Would I do some homework prior to a decision to purchase? Most definitely. But, first I would need to find a reason to move, as I do love my home and this HOA and the area – even given all of our BOD problems!

Joyce asked: What were your expectations? I did not have any expectations re a HOA, as I was not aware of it. I was excited to finally be a HO, to have a new home, and happy that it would be exterior maintenance-free.

Did you understand the concept going into the purchase? No – had never heard of a HOA.

Did it turn out to be completely different from what you anticipated? Since I did not know about HOAs, I did not have any expectations. But, what I can say is that we have had two PMs (same PM Co.) When we got our current PM, it was a definite change from what we had been used to (for the better, as it turns out). At that time, I did not have any complaints about our first PM. With the 2nd, I began to learn what being in a HOA was all about – evidently our first PM did not always do things the “right” way – he took care of everything and we did not need to do much (yes, we were a young BOD and believed what we were told). Reality hit with the 2nd PM – I had also just discovered the wealth of information on the web and was beginning to help our BOD learn the proper way of doing things. The new PM expected we knew what it was all about – so it has been a learning experience!

You know, thinking back, I do not believe that I received our governing docs until after the changeover from developer to owners. I received my copy because I was on the BOD and received a large 3-ring binder of information. I guess the HOs must have been mailed the governing docs at that time, but do not really know for sure. I do know that when a new owner comes in that our PM sends them a welcome packet, which includes all of the docs.

This has been an interesting topic – thanks everyone - Bonnie