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Started by MichaelS56 • 19 replies • 179 views

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MichaelS56 (Minnesota)
Posts: 885
Posted:
This site appears to me to have fewer topics and discussions than in the past. Most of the past topics were appropriate and the follow up thoughts many times were very helpful for us to learn how to handle various issues.
TimB4 (Virginia)
Posts: 20,999
Posted:
Typically, posts start with an issue. I think people still have issues but they do a search and learn from past posts.

Additionally, as Board members become more educated, they (hopefully) make fewer mistakes resulting in fewer issues.

Many States have enacted various HOA laws over the years. As Associations comply with those laws, fewer issues occur.

I joined this site in 2008 (wow, 16 years ago). As you pointed out, the replies I received to my issue were very helpful and allowed me to resolve the issue I was having. Over the years there are two main issues I see repeated are:

1) membership apathy - another way of saying members not participating in the process. They don't volunteer which leads to burn out for board members (or reliance on management companies to prevent burnout) or they don't show up to the annual meeting or don't send in proxies preventing things from changing.

2) enforcement actions - This could be members not understanding the rules or Boards overstepping their authority.
DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046
Posted:
Probably in large measure because there are other HOA forums that are a lot more active.
Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.
TimB4 (Virginia)
Posts: 20,999
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DouglasK1 on 10/02/2026, 10:28 AM

Probably in large measure because there are other HOA forums that are a lot more active.

Actually, that is a good point.

In 2008, when I was looking for assistance with my issue, the sites I found only had complainers that said to bring legal action and were very anti-hoa.
This was the only site I found that actually assisted me with understanding why the issue existed and how to go about resolving it.

I just did an internet search for HOA forums and looked at the ones listed.
Other social media platforms were being used (as more people are looking at things on phones and tablets vs. a desktop) and the sites were trying to be helpful vs. simply anti-hoa.
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,409
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DouglasK1 on 10/02/2026, 8:28 AM

Probably in large measure because there are other HOA forums that are a lot more active.

Can you link some? I think the rules allow this.

I have looked at other forums and been unimpressed compared to this forum.

I wonder if the general public is using AI answers more.
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,409
Posted:
Moderators:

It is 2 PM Eastern time, and the "Load More Posts" link is not loading the latest post by Douglas.
DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046
Posted:
I'll try again in case a profanity filter is affecting my other post. There are a couple of fairly active (much more so than here) subreddits on reddit.com. One is reddit.com/r/hoa. I'll make a second post for the other.
Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.
DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046
Posted:
reddit.com/r/f**khoa.com
Replace the * with the obvious letters.
Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,409
Posted:
Thank you Douglas. I checked out reddit's HOA chatter. Maybe I am just used to the HOATalk format and so think HOATalk.com is better.
DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By ElleN on 10/03/2026, 7:30 PM

Thank you Douglas. I checked out reddit's HOA chatter. Maybe I am just used to the HOATalk format and so think HOATalk.com is better.

Like many of the forums on Reddit, there are some commenters who know what they are talking about and give good advice, and others who spout nonsense.
Since HOAs tend to have a lot of haters, many of the comments are not constructive. Obviously that's different from here, but this forum is dwindling down to averaging maybe a couple of new topics a week, and is not where most of the internet is asking their HOA questions.
I don't really know why that is, but until the recent refresh this site was looking pretty outdated, and still doesn't have modern features like edit or the ability to like or vote on posts.
Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.
TimB4 (Virginia)
Posts: 20,999
Posted:
Like Ellen, I also think this site is better.
Unfortunately, many have moved (or are moving) to social media sites vs. a dedicated website.

That said, I appreciate this site.
DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By ElleN on 10/02/2026, 2:01 PM

Moderators:
It is 2 PM Eastern time, and the "Load More Posts" link is not loading the latest post by Douglas.

And now it is showing 2 more posts to load and the button still isn't working. There were also a day or two last month where I could not reach it at all.
The admins running this site need to make it work consistently if they want to keep people to keep using it.
Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.
BryonW (Massachusetts)
Posts: 76
Posted:
I've noticed that many threads on this site quickly converge to "check your governing documents" or "you should consult an attorney". While these may be true, they don't tell the original poster anything they didn't already know. It's not in the spirit of the mission statement: "community leaders helping one another". Often, when a thread goes this way, the original poster never even makes a second post.
BrittanyB1 (California)
Posts: 2
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By BryonW on 10/06/2026, 8:26 PM

I've noticed that many threads on this site quickly converge to "check your governing documents" or "you should consult an attorney". While these may be true, they don't tell the original poster anything they didn't already know. It's not in the spirit of the mission statement: "community leaders helping one another". Often, when a thread goes this way, the original poster never even makes a second post.

I agree, but I think some posters are a little too vague when posting about their issues. The response from the community is really going to be based around your by-laws. No one wants to give bad advice. So I would like to see more people giving that answer in their post then saying "what can I do when x isn't happening" or "has anyone dealt with x before and have advice?".
TimB4 (Virginia)
Posts: 20,999
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By BrittanyB1 on 10/11/2026, 2:40 PM


--------------------------------------
Quoted Post:
Posted By BryonW on 10/06/2026

I've noticed that many threads on this site quickly converge to "check your governing documents" or "you should consult an attorney". While these may be true, they don't tell the original poster anything they didn't already know.
--------------------------------------

I agree, but I think some posters are a little too vague when posting about their issues. The response from the community is really going to be based around your by-laws. No one wants to give bad advice. So I would like to see more people giving that answer in their post then saying "what can I do when x isn't happening" or "has anyone dealt with x before and have advice?".

I agree. Often info is asked for and it isn't provided.


TimB4 (Virginia)
Posts: 20,999
Posted:
In reality, for most HOA issues the options are:

1) Reason with the Board
This would also include compromising.
If a poster has already put the Board into a defensive stance, or if the Board or member simply chooses not to be reasonable, option 1 is limited.

2) Gather support and replace the Board
If a poster has already put the Board into a defensive stance, or if the Board simply chooses not to be reasonable, option 1 is limited.
This is also a slow process (but quicker than legal actions) and the member or Board might not want to wait.

3) Comply and live with it
Sometimes the poster is the one who failed to comply and doesn't think they have to.
Perhaps they are partially to blame but refuse to admit it to themselves (failing to obtain prior permission before making an exterior change as an example)
Perhaps its a matter of principal.
All of those can limit or eliminate this option.

4) Seek assistance from outside agencies
Perhaps the issue is a fair housing complaint requiring HUD intervention.
Perhaps there is an ombudsman (like VA has) that can become involved.
However, this option often simply isn't available due to the issue or State involvement.

5) Sell and Move
Most don't even consider this an option and if they do, it's an expensive one that doesn't always eliminate the issue.

6) Seek legal options
If none of the above options are acceptable to the individual seeking assistance, then this option is the last one.
Nobody on this site will offer legal advice.
We might point someone to applicable statutes and, if appropriate, case law.
We might be able to help them know what questions to ask of an attorney.
Regardless of what is offered, that individual will have to seek out a local attorney for an informed legal question.

No matter what option is chosen, there are always intended and unintended consequences of what decision one makes. Hopefully, those on this site will help to illuminate those consequences so the individual can make an informed decision.

Additionally, not that this site doesn't have those who like to stir the pot (so to speak) this site tends to have a whole lot less of it than other social media sites discussing the same thing.

Personally, I think that anyone with a decision that has to be made should look at everything they can but with the ability to focus on what is the common theme. Often that provides a better opportunity to make an informed decision.


ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,409
Posted:
The response from the community is really going to be based around your by-laws.
Bylaws and covenants are the starting point.
BryonW (Massachusetts)
Posts: 76
Posted:
I have heard a rule of thumb from the restaurant industry that you want about 50% of your customers to be new, and 50% to be returning. A ratio that is too high or low either way is a problem. If it is all new customers, and few repeats, then there is a problem with the food or service. If there are all repeats and no new customers, there is a problem with marketing, or location.

A similar philosophy might be applied to this site.

I wonder if the site admins can pull a report of every user account who was active within a certain time window (perhaps everyone who made at least 1 post during the past 12 months), along with the current lifetime post total of each of these account. Then choose a break point, perhaps 10 posts. Count how many user have fewer than 10 posts, and how many have greater than 10 posts. Is our ratio 50/50?


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