HOA Forums

[WinniVoyager]

Does anyone know of a site for discussing HOA related topics? I'm having some difficulties with my HOA and was looking for guidance on how to handle the topic.

Thanks in advance.

[Major]

Originally Posted by WinniVoyager

Does anyone know of a site for discussing HOA related topics? I'm having some difficulties with my HOA and was looking for guidance on how to handle the topic.

Thanks in advance.

There's no shortage of advice on this forum! However, you get what you pay for.

[songkrai]

The bottom line is to never buy into any HOA housing development.

https://www.hoatalk.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

We call them the HOA Nasi's.
Self appointed monitors that drive around to find HOA rules violations.
Then report them.

But each HOA has a "constitution" under various names. And probably no buyer reads before buying property in an HOA. Sometimes called Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs)

Some of the smaller ones just have elected homeowners. While the larger ones will have a management company. The management company may have an attorney on contract.

[The Real BigGuy]

I think that’s the problem. People buy property subject to an HOA, get a copy of the rules, covenants, etc to review before the finalize the sale and choose not to read them and then sign the documents that say they received and reviewed them and understand that they are bound by them. Then they think that they shouldn’t be held to them.

Unfortunately, the time to object or negotiate is before you sign. Once you sign you are bound by them and could end up in court with the HOA sueing to enforce.

It really is simple - If you don’t want to be bound by HOA rules, don’t buy a property subject to them.


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[John Mercier]

Just for the record...
Having a ''problem'' with the HOA doesn't allows mean the property owner doesn't want to follow the rules.

[Descant]

You'll get better comments/advice on this Forum if you can clarify "problems with the HOA" as being the management, the rules, the board of directors (one director?) or something very specific that isn't in the by-laws. Many sets of by-laws are cut and paste from some other HOA and may not really apply. Read them at least three times.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Descant

Many sets of by-laws are cut and paste from some other HOA and may not really apply. Read them at least three times.

That is true with a lot of legal work in most categories but you wouldn't know that by looking at the billing.

[Dick52]

I live in an HOA. I know the by-laws inside out. Will the HOA follow the by-laws? Nope they do what they want regardless. People will say well they cannot do that. Oh yes they can unless you decide to hire a lawyer and sue them. That might get you relief but at what $$$ cost.

HOA are run by little people who either never had any power in their lives but now want to rule over their neighbors or they are people who indeed did hold some power and are now retired but want to maintain that power so they run for BOD and rule the neighborhood.

Not buying into HOA is problematic because so many exist.

Best advice is to find an attorney who specializes in these issues but don't expect the HOA to comply with the law...after all they can spend all of the HOA's monies to fight you off while they personally attack you as the problem, telling the membership any lie the fits their need.

[phoenix]

It would be helpful at least for me when this is settled what bills passed.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Dick52

I live in an HOA. I know the by-laws inside out. Will the HOA follow the by-laws? Nope they do what they want regardless. People will say well they cannot do that. Oh yes they can unless you decide to hire a lawyer and sue them. That might get you relief but at what $$$ cost. HOA are run by little people who either never had any power in their lives but now want to rule over their neighbors or they are people who indeed did hold some power and are now retired but want to maintain that power so they run for BOD and rule the neighborhood. Not buying into HOA is problematic because so many exist.

Best advice is to find an attorney who specializes in these issues but don't expect the HOA to comply with the law...after all they can spend all of the HOA's monies to fight you off while they personally attack you as the problem, telling the membership any lie the fits their need.

If you're living in an HOA, will the Board support the HOA homeowner with a squatter issue?

[map]

Originally Posted by songkrai

The bottom line is to never buy into any HOA housing development.

https://www.hoatalk.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

We call them the HOA Nasi's.
Self appointed monitors that drive around to find HOA rules violations.
Then report them.

But each HOA has a "constitution" under various names. And probably no buyer reads before buying property in an HOA. Sometimes called Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs)

Some of the smaller ones just have elected homeowners. While the larger ones will have a management company. The management company may have an attorney on contract.

We have the opposite problem. Our elected homeowners' HOA doesn't like to police the community.

[codeman671]

There are plenty of good groups on Facebook.

The attorney that represents Gilford Yacht Club would be a good one to reach out to should you need to take it to the next level.

Robert E. Ducharme, Esq.
Ducharme Law, P.L.L.C.
72 Portsmouth Avenue, Suite 101
Stratham, NH 03885
603.235.7006
www.newhampshirecondolaw.com

[camp guy]

Welcome to the Winnipesaukee Forum.
With respect to discussing HOA issues, I would suggest, with all due respect, that this may not be the best place to do so. HOA issues are generally very specific to a particular HOA, and the advice from this Forum might be very accurate and true, but not to your HOA. All too often someone posts a question or situation (about anything), but the information isn't specific enough to produce an answer to the question or situation. Having been in an HOA, I found the best avenue was to confront the HOA governing Board directly. This isn't always the most amicable avenue, but it does put you face to face with the answer to your question of situation.
Good luck.

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by Dick52

I live in an HOA. I know the by-laws inside out. Will the HOA follow the by-laws? Nope they do what they want regardless. People will say well they cannot do that. Oh yes they can unless you decide to hire a lawyer and sue them. That might get you relief but at what $$$ cost.

HOA are run by little people who either never had any power in their lives but now want to rule over their neighbors or they are people who indeed did hold some power and are now retired but want to maintain that power so they run for BOD and rule the neighborhood.

Not buying into HOA is problematic because so many exist.

Best advice is to find an attorney who specializes in these issues but don't expect the HOA to comply with the law...after all they can spend all of the HOA's monies to fight you off while they personally attack you as the problem, telling the membership any lie the fits their need.

If you disagree with how your HOA is run, run for a spot on the board at the next election. Having been an association board member in the past I can attest to the fact that it is a time consuming, aggravating, and thankless task, and my association was full of really nice, good people.

It seems that people, in general, are very good about complaining about things but are generally not inclined to be part of a solution. You also need to understand that a lot of association board members end up as such because no one else wants the position.


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[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by ApS

If you're living in an HOA, will the Board support the HOA homeowner with a squatter issue?

One of the issues is that in a lot of states (I am unsure about NH) there is little you can do to evict a squatter. I believe that a board would “support” the homeowner but, they may leave the actual financial & legal responsibility to the homeowner.


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[TiltonBB]

The responsibility for evicting a squatter, or a deadbeat tenant, falls on the homeowner. The HOA will not get involved. Sadly, it takes about 3 to 4 months to evict a squatter and 95% of the time you will never recover any overdue rent.