Condo associations suck (1 Viewer)

[Quez]

I have exactly zero experience or knowledge of HOA's condo boards, etc. , so can someone explain to me why this needs to be collected at all and can't just be written off?

Apparently this represents multiple years' worth of fees, so it isn't like the association is in danger of going bankrupt. I would be furious if the clowns in charge of collecting money tried to jack up my fees to cover money they failed to collect from someone else. Especially since they've just demonstrated that nothing happens if you don't pay the fees to begin with.

Would a lien on the condo have accomplished anything, or does the bank's claim trump that?

Good point. They've obviously gotten along without this money since the Bush administration. I'm not sure why they need to collect it now.

Next board meeting is on the 6th. Pretty sure I'll be making an appearance. At the very least, I'll be talking to some neighbors tomorrow to see what others are thinking.

I'd just try and forget about it. I went to countless board meetings and nothing ever gets accomplished. You just leave depressed and more confused than when you went in.This is standard procedure for a foreclosed condo. The association can't do anything really.

 

[northern exposure]

Did you ever get that meth lab situation handled? Or was that just an Indian couple making curry?

They moved out a while back under somewhat suspicious circumstances. One day they rented a small truck and moved out all their furniture (there wasn't much), clothes, ect. Then like 3 nights later, like 10 Indians showed up at like 10 PM and moved a bunch of unmarked boxes and containers out into a van assembly line style. It was eventually rented to an older couple (who's only crime is having a bunch of tacky #### on their porch, which doesn't bother me) but not before it was "repainted". Again, it was weird. The painters worked very late hours, made a ton of extra noise and wore extra gear (gloves and surgical masks) that you don't typically see from someone freshening up an 1100 square foot condo. Something shady was going on.

Other than the hot ### blond who just moved in across the street, this neighborhood sucks.

This thread has been a bit of a downer. Some pics of the blonde might be just what this thread needs! TIA

 

[Mr. Pickles]

HOAs are pure evil. I don't care if they're only charging you $50/year for minor front entrance upkeep. Nothing good can come of this.

 

[mquinnjr]

HOAs are pure evil. I don't care if they're only charging you $50/year for minor front entrance upkeep. Nothing good can come of this.

Never, ever again for me. The one that I live in with a 1-bedroom apartment is absolutely a for-profit enterprise. Any time something considered "common area" or "not within my walls" as per my HOA agreement affects my apartment, I have to go through the song and dance of having a lawyer (I subscribe to a legal plan at work) contact them before they do anything. I've had to do this more than once, totally unacceptable.

Rising rates every year, no "value" I see for this. Perhaps its insurance costs, I don't know, but I'm just not a fan.

 

[Christo]

This is stupid. Can't hoas put a lien on property and collect debts when sold?

This is stupid. Can't hoas put a lien on property and collect debts when sold?

They can put a lien on, but the foreclosure process wipes out the lien. The association should be able to collect only for the time the bank has possession of the property and sells it to a new owner.

Why do people keep saying this like it's the only thing they can do. They can get a judgment and garnish the deadbeat's income too.

 

[Christo]

Not a big fan of the power of these HOA.

Then don't buy into one.

 

[Raider Nation]

It's funny, I'm done renting and I was in the process of deciding between a condo or SFH. This thread made the decision easy.

 

[mquinnjr]

It's funny, I'm done renting and I was in the process of deciding between a condo or SFH. This thread made the decision easy.

Take benefit from our collective pain.

 

[Quez]

Maybe townhouses aren't as bad, but condos suck.

 

[TLEF316]

Maybe townhouses aren't as bad, but condos suck.

I should clarify. I don't live in a big condo building. My association is a group of like 10 2 story buildings with around 10 units in each one. It's more garden apartment style.

I insure quite a few of the high end condo buildings in North Jersey. They're very nice and located in cool neighborhoods bur I'm not sure I'd ever want to own one. Waaaay overpriced and susceptible to major water damage if one of your neighbors does something stupid.

 

[Tom Skerritt]

My wife has been in real estate for over a decade, and I mentioned this thread to her. And it probably varies from state to state, but she says that in many states, any payouts get paid to an HOA before the lender.

 

[eoMMan]

Yes, yes they do. They all over here in Florida and people are dumb for getting involved in in one (usually).

 

[The Ref]

Yes, yes they do. They all over here in Florida and people are dumb for getting involved in in one (usually).

Well..... every situation is different. 3 years ago when I moved down to Fla I never imagined I'd ever get involved with a HOA situation. Now I cant imagine living in a place that wasn't one. Yeah the occasional letter in the mail that it's time to wash the roof or power wash the driveway is a hassle. But you dont get Uncle Elmer and his big bucket of pig parts with his broken truck up on blocks in the front yard either. There is a certain satisfaction in knowing your neighbor cant just decide he is done mowing his lawn for the year.

 

[jon_mx]

My wife has been in real estate for over a decade, and I mentioned this thread to her. And it probably varies from state to state, but she says that in many states, any payouts get paid to an HOA before the lender.

Most states it is the other way around. First priority is Property taxes, Second is Mortgage. But it also can depend on when the liens were recorded.

 

[Kal El]

That just sounds insane. Why should you have to pay for some other deadbeat's problems? My HOA is $10 a month, which pays for garbage pickup, but other than that and making sure the neighborhood isn't turned into a dump, that's about the extent of their influence.

 

[TLEF316]

Nobody ever responded to my initial email asking for an explanation. This was nearly 3 weeks ago. The assessment was due last week. Obviously I didn't pay it.

Just sent a 2nd, not so polite email demanding an explanation. I told them that if I don't get one, I'll have to consider filing a D&O suit. I work in the industry and the guys who write D&O sit 15 feet away from me. I'm sure they'll be able to review the board's policy and let me know whether we have a case.

I really hate being "that guy" who makes a stink about this. But its pretty bush league that they couldn't even give me the courtesy of a quick reply.

 

[mquinnjr]

Just got a $180 assessment for excess snow removal last year.

"We went over budget/didn't manage it correctly - pay up, suckers."

:skimask:

Never, ever again.

 

[Bucky86]

Just got a $180 assessment for excess snow removal last year.

"We went over budget/didn't manage it correctly - pay up, suckers."

:skimask:

Never, ever again.

Yeah stuff like this is BS. I had a condo on septic once and right after I bought it they decided to replace it. Originally it was supposed to be only a 4k assessment. I guess the contractor messed up on the estimate and we all soon got an additional 4k assessment.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

My dad is the HOA president at his community. They just slapped an $11k assessment on 28 units to rebuild a failing 25 ft. tall retaining wall.

Fun times.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

Just got a $180 assessment for excess snow removal last year.

"We went over budget/didn't manage it correctly - pay up, suckers."

:skimask:

Never, ever again.

yea we got hit with an extra $80 per month for the same.

 

[Christo]

Just got a $180 assessment for excess snow removal last year.

"We went over budget/didn't manage it correctly - pay up, suckers."

:skimask:

Never, ever again.

Yeah stuff like this is BS. I had a condo on septic once and right after I bought it they decided to replace it. Originally it was supposed to be only a 4k assessment. I guess the contractor messed up on the estimate and we all soon got an additional 4k assessment.

Why? We had a very long winter with a lot of snow. I heard on the news quite a few times that cities around had run over budget on their snow removal. Why would a condo association be immune from that?

 

[TLEF316]

They finally responded (in the form of a 3 page long letter which was sent to every resident). Pretty sure I pissed someone off over there. Apparently the massive fee was the combination of several different factors (mostly an uncooperative county court system and the bank forgoing the foreclosure on at least one occasion). It wasn't just 10 years of unpaid dues. I still don't know how all these fees added up to what is now $29,000, but whatever. The unit was eventually sold on a short sale and we got nothing.

Last paragraph of the letter (again, pretty sure my 2nd email struck a nerve)

The board and the hired professionals they work with do everything legally possible to collect
delinquent assessments. Please remember that if you ever happen to pay late and receive a late and/or
interest invoice. The board does not just sit around waiting for someone's dog to poop on the lawn or
for someone put an illegal grill on their porch. There are many other facets of association business that
must be taken care of on a continual basis which is why we always immediately ask for volunteers
when a board member vacates their position. It's easier to be a Tuesday morning quarterback than step
up to volunteer for your neighborhood. We get that, we've all been in those shoes, now we ask that you
step into ours and give us a hand. There are still two open positions on the board!

 

[Jaysus]

Whoa, there are illegal grills now? (Or do they mean holocaust style)

 

[mquinnjr]

Whoa, there are illegal grills now? (Or do they mean holocaust style)

I can't have a grill on my deck unless it's hooked up to a gas line.

Hello, 3x George Forman config!!!

 

[-fish-]

They finally responded (in the form of a 3 page long letter which was sent to every resident). Pretty sure I pissed someone off over there. Apparently the massive fee was the combination of several different factors (mostly an uncooperative county court system and the bank forgoing the foreclosure on at least one occasion). It wasn't just 10 years of unpaid dues. I still don't know how all these fees added up to what is now $29,000, but whatever. The unit was eventually sold on a short sale and we got nothing.

Last paragraph of the letter (again, pretty sure my 2nd email struck a nerve)

The board and the hired professionals they work with do everything legally possible to collect
delinquent assessments. Please remember that if you ever happen to pay late and receive a late and/or
interest invoice. The board does not just sit around waiting for someone's dog to poop on the lawn or
for someone put an illegal grill on their porch. There are many other facets of association business that
must be taken care of on a continual basis which is why we always immediately ask for volunteers
when a board member vacates their position. It's easier to be a Tuesday morning quarterback than step
up to volunteer for your neighborhood. We get that, we've all been in those shoes, now we ask that you
step into ours and give us a hand. There are still two open positions on the board!

sue the board for breach of duty, and see if the association's d&o insurance will cover it.

 

[Quez]

A young ambitious me would have created a "CondoAssPrezzz" alias and claim I stumbled upon this site after I googled part of my letter.

 

[Johnny Rock]

Join the Board and make a motion to exempt you from the fees. If it doesn't pass, quit in protest and yell out that you're not paying anything more until things change around there.

 

[Dickies]

In front of my condo they planted agave so dense that they are pretty much all dead at this point. I ripped up 5 of the ones nearest the condo that were beyond dead and planted a tomato plant and 2 zucchini plants. Yesterday the association ripped out my plants and left me a note on my door that I will be assessed a $75 fine to my dues for "tampering with the landscaping"

 

[Paulymaggs]

My wife has been in real estate for over a decade, and I mentioned this thread to her. And it probably varies from state to state, but she says that in many states, any payouts get paid to an HOA before the lender.

Where's that "dumb things my wife says" thread?

 

[johnnycakes]

Wife and I went to tour Ponybrook Lexington, a new neighborhood just being built and the first few houses going on the market in the next month or so. I was somewhat interested until the realtor told me the neighborhood would have an ASSOCIATION that would set the rules for what everyone could have in their yard or on their house, etc.

You never saw me get out of a place so fast... told the guy a neighborhood association was an absolute deal-killer for me. Why? he asked, somewhat incredulous.

"Because we're the neighbors everyone else complains about!" I told him in reply. He was dumbfounded and did not know what to say after that.

 

[Quez]

In front of my condo they planted agave so dense that they are pretty much all dead at this point. I ripped up 5 of the ones nearest the condo that were beyond dead and planted a tomato plant and 2 zucchini plants. Yesterday the association ripped out my plants and left me a note on my door that I will be assessed a $75 fine to my dues for "tampering with the landscaping"

Common space isn't really yours to garden on. I can't blame them here. If you didn't like the landscaping they had you should of brought it to the attention of the board.

 

[The Ref]

Here is one for you. A house 5 doors down from me has just completed a 3.5 year foreclosure process. A new young family moved in with two kids and a puppy, all that's missing is the white picket fence. Over the past 2 months they have been in and out of here painting, washing, cleaning the roof and sidewalk. They even ripped up all the dead grass and put in new Sod and fixed the sprinkler system. So as typical with new grass you need to water the heck out of it and you should let it grow long so that the roots take hold.

The management company for the entire community sent us (the five HOA board members) an e-mail last night saying we need to connive and direct our fine committee to issue a fine to the new owners because they haven't cut the grass yet. Thankfully all 5 of the board members (myself included) responded in kind and told her to piss off. Even with the long grass the place looks twice as nice as it did a month ago. In fact one of the board members spoke to the new owner and they already have a landscaper in place to cut it on Friday.

Goes to show that these HOA's can throw away common sense in an awful lot of situations.

 

[NCCommish]

Here is one for you. A house 5 doors down from me has just completed a 3.5 year foreclosure process. A new young family moved in with two kids and a puppy, all that's missing is the white picket fence. Over the past 2 months they have been in and out of here painting, washing, cleaning the roof and sidewalk. They even ripped up all the dead grass and put in new Sod and fixed the sprinkler system. So as typical with new grass you need to water the heck out of it and you should let it grow long so that the roots take hold.

The management company for the entire community sent us (the five HOA board members) an e-mail last night saying we need to connive and direct our fine committee to issue a fine to the new owners because they haven't cut the grass yet. Thankfully all 5 of the board members (myself included) responded in kind and told her to piss off. Even with the long grass the place looks twice as nice as it did a month ago. In fact one of the board members spoke to the new owner and they already have a landscaper in place to cut it on Friday.

Goes to show that these HOA's can throw away common sense in an awful lot of situations.

Any power can corrupt small minded people.

 

[Dickies]

In front of my condo they planted agave so dense that they are pretty much all dead at this point. I ripped up 5 of the ones nearest the condo that were beyond dead and planted a tomato plant and 2 zucchini plants. Yesterday the association ripped out my plants and left me a note on my door that I will be assessed a $75 fine to my dues for "tampering with the landscaping"

Common space isn't really yours to garden on. I can't blame them here. If you didn't like the landscaping they had you should of brought it to the attention of the board.

Eh, I've attended multiple meetings over the past 2 years and nothing has happened. I'm on the end of the development and face an open field. Sick of walking out of my condo to a jungle of dead, shriveled, rotting agaves. I didn't touch the irrigation system since I was using it to water my own plants (which were staying alive perfectly fine) The association would always claim at the meetings that they are required by the city to landscape densely (which is total BS).

 

[Christo]

Wife and I went to tour Ponybrook Lexington, a new neighborhood just being built and the first few houses going on the market in the next month or so. I was somewhat interested until the realtor told me the neighborhood would have an ASSOCIATION that would set the rules for what everyone could have in their yard or on their house, etc.

You never saw me get out of a place so fast... told the guy a neighborhood association was an absolute deal-killer for me. Why? he asked, somewhat incredulous.

"Because we're the neighbors everyone else complains about!" I told him in reply. He was dumbfounded and did not know what to say after that.

There's a surprise.

 

[Christo]

Here is one for you. A house 5 doors down from me has just completed a 3.5 year foreclosure process. A new young family moved in with two kids and a puppy, all that's missing is the white picket fence. Over the past 2 months they have been in and out of here painting, washing, cleaning the roof and sidewalk. They even ripped up all the dead grass and put in new Sod and fixed the sprinkler system. So as typical with new grass you need to water the heck out of it and you should let it grow long so that the roots take hold.

The management company for the entire community sent us (the five HOA board members) an e-mail last night saying we need to connive and direct our fine committee to issue a fine to the new owners because they haven't cut the grass yet. Thankfully all 5 of the board members (myself included) responded in kind and told her to piss off. Even with the long grass the place looks twice as nice as it did a month ago. In fact one of the board members spoke to the new owner and they already have a landscaper in place to cut it on Friday.

Goes to show that these HOA's can throw away common sense in an awful lot of situations.

Sounds like the HOA made the rational, common-sense decision.

 

[mquinnjr]

Jesus Christo, is the black cloud hanging over your head permanently affixed, or do you take it down every once in awhile when being so negative becomes overly tiresome?

 

[Christo]

Jesus Christo, is the black cloud hanging over your head permanently affixed, or do you take it down every once in awhile when being so negative becomes overly tiresome?

 

[mquinnjr]

Jesus Christo, is the black cloud hanging over your head permanently affixed, or do you take it down every once in awhile when being so negative becomes overly tiresome?

People are coming in here to vent about dealing with HOA's. I feel like every one of your posts in here is a potshot of some sort piling on in reply to people's posts. It's tiresome, let us be.

 

[Christo]

Jesus Christo, is the black cloud hanging over your head permanently affixed, or do you take it down every once in awhile when being so negative becomes overly tiresome?

People are coming in here to vent about dealing with HOA's. I feel like every one of your posts in here is a potshot of some sort piling on in reply to people's posts. It's tiresome, let us be.

I will when people start complaining about stuff that's complaint-worthy.

 

[(HULK)]

They finally responded (in the form of a 3 page long letter which was sent to every resident). Pretty sure I pissed someone off over there. Apparently the massive fee was the combination of several different factors (mostly an uncooperative county court system and the bank forgoing the foreclosure on at least one occasion). It wasn't just 10 years of unpaid dues. I still don't know how all these fees added up to what is now $29,000, but whatever. The unit was eventually sold on a short sale and we got nothing.

Last paragraph of the letter (again, pretty sure my 2nd email struck a nerve)

The board and the hired professionals they work with do everything legally possible to collect
delinquent assessments. Please remember that if you ever happen to pay late and receive a late and/or
interest invoice. The board does not just sit around waiting for someone's dog to poop on the lawn or
for someone put an illegal grill on their porch. There are many other facets of association business that
must be taken care of on a continual basis which is why we always immediately ask for volunteers
when a board member vacates their position. It's easier to be a Tuesday morning quarterback than step
up to volunteer for your neighborhood. We get that, we've all been in those shoes, now we ask that you
step into ours and give us a hand. There are still two open positions on the board!

Tuesday morning QB?

 

[Bucky86]

They finally responded (in the form of a 3 page long letter which was sent to every resident). Pretty sure I pissed someone off over there. Apparently the massive fee was the combination of several different factors (mostly an uncooperative county court system and the bank forgoing the foreclosure on at least one occasion). It wasn't just 10 years of unpaid dues. I still don't know how all these fees added up to what is now $29,000, but whatever. The unit was eventually sold on a short sale and we got nothing.

Last paragraph of the letter (again, pretty sure my 2nd email struck a nerve)



The board and the hired professionals they work with do everything legally possible to collect

delinquent assessments. Please remember that if you ever happen to pay late and receive a late and/or

interest invoice. The board does not just sit around waiting for someone's dog to poop on the lawn or

for someone put an illegal grill on their porch. There are many other facets of association business that

must be taken care of on a continual basis which is why we always immediately ask for volunteers

when a board member vacates their position. It's easier to be a Tuesday morning quarterback than step

up to volunteer for your neighborhood. We get that, we've all been in those shoes, now we ask that you

step into ours and give us a hand. There are still two open positions on the board!

Tuesday morning QB?

Must be a woman that wrote it.

 

[TLEF316]

They finally responded (in the form of a 3 page long letter which was sent to every resident). Pretty sure I pissed someone off over there. Apparently the massive fee was the combination of several different factors (mostly an uncooperative county court system and the bank forgoing the foreclosure on at least one occasion). It wasn't just 10 years of unpaid dues. I still don't know how all these fees added up to what is now $29,000, but whatever. The unit was eventually sold on a short sale and we got nothing.

Last paragraph of the letter (again, pretty sure my 2nd email struck a nerve)

The board and the hired professionals they work with do everything legally possible to collect

delinquent assessments. Please remember that if you ever happen to pay late and receive a late and/or

interest invoice. The board does not just sit around waiting for someone's dog to poop on the lawn or

for someone put an illegal grill on their porch. There are many other facets of association business that

must be taken care of on a continual basis which is why we always immediately ask for volunteers

when a board member vacates their position. It's easier to be a Tuesday morning quarterback than step

up to volunteer for your neighborhood. We get that, we've all been in those shoes, now we ask that you

step into ours and give us a hand. There are still two open positions on the board!

Tuesday morning QB?

Must be a woman that wrote it.

This was my sense as well. The entire thing (including the parts I didn't post) reeks of "pissed off woman".

A man wouldn't have taken such a simple request (please document how we got to $29K in fees) as a personal attack.