New Member - How Do I Start an HOA

the first step is to get a lobotomy done on yourself. That makes all the future hassles and headaches more bearable.

All kidding aside: why do you want to start an HOA? what is your goal, purpose? What do you think having an HOA is going to DO for you? knowing this will help us offer advice on the steps and process. It isn't easy: you basically must convince every landowner in your area to give up some of their rights forever, which as you can see, might be a tough argument.

First of all - WHY? Are you considering filling a social need or role? Or are there issues that need to be dealth with as a group, i.e. upkeep of a beach, etc.

Any group of neighbors can form an association, "Men's Group of . . . " or, "Friends of . . .", but if you are going to incorporate, manage property or services, assess dues, etc. then you will need a board and bylaws.

Get some like-minded people together and decide on a mission and reason to exist. Then post back here and we can walk you thru it all. You will need a mission and some goals and objectives.

P.S, In our state, an HOA must show that it has a reason for existing to get an IRS designation as a not-for-profit. There has to be a service or reason for existing that is NOT also available from current outside sources, for example, you could not form an association to get a different garbage collection company, since this is available without forming a group

As a former architectural committee chair for several years I would suggest that you not form a HOA. They are a "Nightmare" and in the end they ruin some wonderful relationships. I have seen neighbors go from friends to enemies over the colour over each other homes. Fights over pool hours. Choice of yard plants and pot sizes. Then throw in club houses and etc.

Architectural committees can quickly become goon squads with complaints about garbage cans, fence sizes and colour. Many of the personalities attracted to achitectural committees tend to mimic " Grade School Hall Way Monitors" or what screening committees called " Frustrated Wyatt Erps without a Badge". As a AC Chair I had to intervene to stop my committee's famous tuesday night rides, These self appointed watchdogs were riding around on tuesday nights, trash day, to see who was leaving their empty cans out to long on the curb.

If you want a committee then form a Local Volunteer Improvement Club to help each other by planting flowers, Helping that little old lady keep her yard up, Neighbor Watch for sleazy characters and prepare for the next emergency.

Don't Waste Your Time!