Homeowner Associations

[Nick Danger]

For some reason, I stopped in at an open house this weekend. I don't know why, since I'm not really looking for a new house.

The house was nice, but the HOA dues were $600 a year!! This seems a little excessive to me, and am wondering if I am totally out of touch, or is this the usual these days? I know a lot of the neighborhoods, especially in the south part of town, have entrances and greenbelt areas to maintain, but $50 per month per house is a lot of money.

I would appreciate any input on the HOA concept. I can appreciate that neighborhood "standards" are maintained, but I also think there might be serious problems.

[TURobY]

Wow! Renaissance is $10... a year.

[Steve]

Just thinking out loud here, but I guess it all depends on the neighborhood, its age, and whether a mandatory association membership is part of the property deed/requirements.

$600/year seems extremely excessive to me for a single-family, detached residential lot, unless the neighborhood has some really "high dollar" common facilities to maintain such as pool/private park/rec. areas.  If you visited a new expensive development with elaborate ammenities, then I can understand the charge.  The more elaborate the common facilities, and the fewer lots in the neighborhood group, would dictate higher fees.

In my neighborhood, we actually have 2 neighborhood associations, one for my subdivision proper (Lortondale) and one for the square mile from 21st-31st/Yale-Sheridan that also encompasses my subdivision, the Hoover Neighborhood Assn.  Both groups are strictly voluntary and payment of dues is not mandatory.  The neighborhood pool in my subdivision is run by a non-profit and supported (barely) through private membership sales and uncompensated volunteer labor and donations.

The Lortondale Neighborhood Assn. was started (revived) in 2004, primarily out of concerns for preservation of the wonderful mid-twentieth century architecture (1954) and history of our neighborhood.  The Hoover Neighborhood Assn. was started about 1.5 years ago, primarily due to safety and code enforcement concerns.  Both are worthwhile groups, but both are strictly voluntary regarding participation and funding.

[rwarn17588]

HOA? What's that?

[]

[safetyguy]

Stonehorse in Jenks is mandatory $300 a year and they like every other HOA don't do squat. They actually hired an outside company to be the "bad guy" within the past year. The outside company can't act until the HOA tells them too. Case in point, we have decorative entrance lights that are POS and kids have been destroying them for the past 2 years. When I brought up to the company that they needed to be replaced AGAIN, they said that they had to go back to the HOA for approval to move forward.

The rest of the money is for the lawn maintenance and the usual stuff. We do have a park that occasionally needs work done to.

[sgrizzle]

As I understand it, HOA's are mandatory and Neighborhood Associations are optional. My neighborhood is forming an optional association just to have neighborhood garage sales, block parties, neighborhood watch and mowing.

[Nick Danger]

Actually, the neighborhood I'm referring to is a gated neighborhood, not a lot of houses, but the value of the homes is probably $160-$220K. So I guess the street maintenance is an expense they have to factor in, as well as the pond in the addition. I guess the liability insurance is probably high also.

I was just shocked at how much it was, and it would definitely have an effect on the decision I would make whether or not to purchase in a neighborhood or not.

I can understand it costs a certain amount to maintain the amenities in a neighborhood, but I do have my limits. The neighborhood I live in now has a voluntary association to maintain the entrances and mow the common areas, but it's only $50 per year, and I gladly choose to participate to keep up the property values.

With the other necessary costs of living escalating like they have been lately (gas, food, etc) and the rising rate of foreclosures, I wonder how many of these HOAs will begin to suffer from non-payment of dues. I guess depending on how the covenants are written, they can put a lien on the property, but they still have to have a certain level of funding.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Nick Danger

Actually, the neighborhood I'm referring to is a gated neighborhood, not a lot of houses, but the value of the homes is probably $160-$220K. So I guess the street maintenance is an expense they have to factor in, as well as the pond in the addition. I guess the liability insurance is probably high also.

I was just shocked at how much it was, and it would definitely have an effect on the decision I would make whether or not to purchase in a neighborhood or not.

I can understand it costs a certain amount to maintain the amenities in a neighborhood, but I do have my limits. The neighborhood I live in now has a voluntary association to maintain the entrances and mow the common areas, but it's only $50 per year, and I gladly choose to participate to keep up the property values.

With the other necessary costs of living escalating like they have been lately (gas, food, etc) and the rising rate of foreclosures, I wonder how many of these HOAs will begin to suffer from non-payment of dues. I guess depending on how the covenants are written, they can put a lien on the property, but they still have to have a certain level of funding.

My colleague pays $60 a MONTH and his neighborhood doesnt even have a pool.  At least we have a pool and the board is very responsible with funds.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Nick Danger

Actually, the neighborhood I'm referring to is a gated neighborhood, not a lot of houses, but the value of the homes is probably $160-$220K. So I guess the street maintenance is an expense they have to factor in, as well as the pond in the addition. I guess the liability insurance is probably high also.

It is my understanding that in "gated communities" the street maintenances costs fall directly on the property owners, as they should.  So the high HOA dues in this case are not a surprise.  If you want to live in one of these isolated enclaves, then you have to pay the price.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by Nick Danger

Actually, the neighborhood I'm referring to is a gated neighborhood, not a lot of houses, but the value of the homes is probably $160-$220K. So I guess the street maintenance is an expense they have to factor in, as well as the pond in the addition. I guess the liability insurance is probably high also.

It is my understanding that in "gated communities" the street maintenances costs fall directly on the property owners, as they should.  So the high HOA dues in this case are not a surprise.  If you want to live in one of these isolated enclaves, then you have to pay the price.

and it is worth it.  You don't have clowns buzzing through your neighborhood at 2am in the morning tearing up ****.

[TURobY]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

and it is worth it.  You don't have clowns buzzing through your neighborhood at 2am in the morning tearing up ****.

No gates here, and no clowns buzzing past my street at 2am in the morning... []

[rwarn17588]

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

quote:Originally posted by inteller

and it is worth it.  You don't have clowns buzzing through your neighborhood at 2am in the morning tearing up ****.

No gates here, and no clowns buzzing past my street at 2am in the morning... []

Same here. Anyone fooling around like that in Red Fork at 2 a.m. has a death wish.

And I don't have to pay $60 a month. []

[sauerkraut]

Yeah, I'll never buy a home that has a HOA. I don't like 'em.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by Nick Danger

Actually, the neighborhood I'm referring to is a gated neighborhood, not a lot of houses, but the value of the homes is probably $160-$220K. So I guess the street maintenance is an expense they have to factor in, as well as the pond in the addition. I guess the liability insurance is probably high also.

It is my understanding that in "gated communities" the street maintenances costs fall directly on the property owners, as they should.  So the high HOA dues in this case are not a surprise.  If you want to live in one of these isolated enclaves, then you have to pay the price.

and it is worth it.  You don't have clowns buzzing through your neighborhood at 2am in the morning tearing up ****.

This guy called me paranoid and "internet tough guy" for having two steel case doors on two entries and a heavy hardwood on the other (house came that way from the P.O.) and I keep a gun within reach which I'd have no problem using on an intruder.

He lives in a gated community.  That's just farking hillarious! [}:)]

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by Nick Danger

Actually, the neighborhood I'm referring to is a gated neighborhood, not a lot of houses, but the value of the homes is probably $160-$220K. So I guess the street maintenance is an expense they have to factor in, as well as the pond in the addition. I guess the liability insurance is probably high also.

It is my understanding that in "gated communities" the street maintenances costs fall directly on the property owners, as they should.  So the high HOA dues in this case are not a surprise.  If you want to live in one of these isolated enclaves, then you have to pay the price.

and it is worth it.  You don't have clowns buzzing through your neighborhood at 2am in the morning tearing up ****.

This guy called me paranoid and "internet tough guy" for having two steel case doors on two entries and a heavy hardwood on the other (house came that way from the P.O.) and I keep a gun within reach which I'd have no problem using on an intruder.

He lives in a gated community.  That's just farking hillarious! [}:)]

did I say I lived in a gated community?  No, I said that gates are worth it.