HOA dues

Periods and paragraphs are your friends - please use them. I didn't see a question in this either, so if you just wanted to rant, that's ok too.

That said, you've lived in this community for 23 years and so you've had plenty of time to read the documents that show how it's supposed to be run. You would also know the homeowners elect and re elect the board members, so if you didn't approve of their performance, why haven't you and your neighbors voted them out? Why haven't you run for the board and work to change things?

You didn't say If you had a question or concern about the assessments - if you're concerned how the money's being spent, review the financial reports carefully and take your questions to the board. IF you hear doubletalk or they refuse to answer, that's a sign of trouble and you and your neighbors should get together and demand answers or vote them out.

Bottom line - it's one thing to complain, but then what? If you don't like where you live, you'll have to consider if you should move. If you really like where you're at, you need to decide if you'll try to change things and get your neighbors to help (it can be difficult to do this alone) or learn to live with it. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

The thing about real estate is that the buyer is responsible for knowing about any deed restrictions. I believe that most states currently require the owner to inform you of any restrictions and HOAs but you not being told does not excuse you from your obligations. This is why most people use a title company, to avoid surprises.

Your covenants are a contract. They don't change with who's in charge. If you don't know the terms or you are allowing a little man to violate the terms, that's on you.

I agree.

In our HOA when you signed a 30 day Letter of Intent to purchase from the developer/declarant they gave you a copy of the Covenants/Bylaws/Rules and Regulations which you had to sign for and initial each page. During those 30 days you had to pick your model, lot, upgrades, etc. before your signed a Purchase Agreement. During those 30 day yo could cancel for any reason.

The owners we have the vast majority of our problems with are 2nd or later buyers claiming they never knew about Covenants/Bylaws/Rules and Regulations. I place this blame on sellers and agents for either making up answers of flat lying when a potential buyer asks questions.

I saw an MLS listing that listed our dues as quarterly when they are monthly and the figure listed was the monthly figure. I called her, told her I was an Officer of the HOA, and told her she was wrong. I asked her to please correct the listing. She never changed it.

New owner stopped the landscaper last week and asked when was he going to trim the bushes and cut the grass in her backyard. He said our service only does the front and side yards. Each owner takes care of their own backyard and he (as has been to do to) gave her my phone number. She called and was literally screaming at me. I politely explained the way it is. She said well her agent told her otherwise. I said well your either your agent did not know what they were talking about or they lied to you. Your choice. She said bye hung up on me.