HOA Question

Started by CatS • 4 replies • 1086 views

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CatS (Virginia)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Does anyone live in a HOA where there is very little common area and you get nothing out of the money you put in for your HOA fees?

Our association is very new and has a very little area of common area (the areas look like they are a part of the front two houses yards) and there is no playground for the kids. How do you justify having people in your association pay money for where they live if there is nothing to show for the money they spend?

Jadedone4 (Virginia)
Posts: 495

Posted:

CatS, only you can determine what your assessments should be spent for in your community, not the posters here. We have no way of knowing how much maintenance your community is spending, and needs/should be spending on common areas. There should be access to the documents, budgets, contracts, etc. - for those services and how funded, and expended with regards to community funds. Ask for those records, reconcile them to what is appropriate for your community's needs - and be reasonable. Remember that there are insurance policies on common elements, the community in general, and the board specifically which require funding. Further there are the "what if" funds, called Reserves which must be funded in case something goes wrong in the community and the HOA is the responsible party to remedy. Ask around to other neighboring communities to see what they pay, and do a cost benefit analysis of payments to amenties - to see what your community is pay is fair, and appropriate.

NancyD1 (Florida)
Posts: 447

Posted:

CatS,

Jadedone is correct. If you question about how much you are paying for common areas, get involved with the budget process. If you have a finance committee, join it. You may be surprised at how much everything costs. The HOA is paying for all the common elements in the community not just one. Review it and question the BOD if you dispute something. This should be done before the budget is approved.

RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067

Posted:

Cat,
Does your HOA have insurance? They should.
Do they have a mangement company to enforce your Covenant violations? Based on the problem you posted on another thread you may need one.
Do you have utility bills for electric and water?
Do you have mailing and printing costs for newsletters, billings, bills, etc.
Who maintains your street lights, roads, curb, sidewalk, postal boxes, etc.?
Who does maintenance of your common areas?
I'd bet your HOA has some of these plus other expenses.

GloriaM (North Carolina)
Posts: 829

Posted:

Cats:

Ask for a budget and you will see the reasons for the HOA fees.

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