I was both heartened and saddened to read this very well written exposé on homeowners associations.
I was heartened to see that so many people who still have a sense of personal dignity have come to realize what a farce homeowners associations are. However, I was saddened to see that they are, and always will be, tools of petty personal politics.
As I have mentioned before, homeowners associations are quasi-governmental entities run by unaccountable amateurs (busybody neighbors who probably have no leadership experience, or a management company that happily takes your money to monopolize and overcharge on what an ordinary marketplace would never accept), that add another layer of taxation (association fees from homeowners on top of regular property taxes), and police ridiculous minutiae (color of blinds, number of plant pots, etc.) in order to enforce a cookie-cutter facade.
Add to the fact that many are under-capitalized and often levy additional, mandatory taxes (specially assessed fees) to fund capital projects, any potential benefits are far outweighed by the true costs of living under a fiefdom which exhibits the worst of petty tyranny.
Finally, I will close this post by quoting from the article mentioned above:
“'If you have a dispute with your HOA, they’re paying the legal fees to fight you from your money, and then you have to come up with your own legal fees as well,' said Deborah Goonan, an adviser to the Coalition for Community Housing Policy in the Public Interest.
Moreover, critics say, the HOA boards then pit other homeowners against the one filing the lawsuit, telling them the legal fees could result in an increase in their association dues."
Remember, if you have to sue your homeowners association, even if you win, you still lose. Just don't do it. Avoid living anywhere that has a "community association" or homeowners association.
I was heartened to see that so many people who still have a sense of personal dignity have come to realize what a farce homeowners associations are. However, I was saddened to see that they are, and always will be, tools of petty personal politics.
As I have mentioned before, homeowners associations are quasi-governmental entities run by unaccountable amateurs (busybody neighbors who probably have no leadership experience, or a management company that happily takes your money to monopolize and overcharge on what an ordinary marketplace would never accept), that add another layer of taxation (association fees from homeowners on top of regular property taxes), and police ridiculous minutiae (color of blinds, number of plant pots, etc.) in order to enforce a cookie-cutter facade.
Add to the fact that many are under-capitalized and often levy additional, mandatory taxes (specially assessed fees) to fund capital projects, any potential benefits are far outweighed by the true costs of living under a fiefdom which exhibits the worst of petty tyranny.
Finally, I will close this post by quoting from the article mentioned above:
“'If you have a dispute with your HOA, they’re paying the legal fees to fight you from your money, and then you have to come up with your own legal fees as well,' said Deborah Goonan, an adviser to the Coalition for Community Housing Policy in the Public Interest.
Moreover, critics say, the HOA boards then pit other homeowners against the one filing the lawsuit, telling them the legal fees could result in an increase in their association dues."
Remember, if you have to sue your homeowners association, even if you win, you still lose. Just don't do it. Avoid living anywhere that has a "community association" or homeowners association.
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