It’s the guy that owns Whiskey River- he’s racked up $1M in legal fees trying to claim he’s not part of the Sun Valley Lake HOA
HOA’s and their nonsense
- Thread starter Drew0311
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We have HOA in our Florida high rise. It is absolutely necessary. Fortunately there is some grace for certain idiotic rules whose enforcement would be ridiculous in every unique situation.
That said, every year, two or three brilliant do-gooders with great ideas to create idiotic rules for us all, chime in at the owners' meeting. The best thing about it is they are seasonal residents (as am I) who are then asked if they are going to be on the enforcement team; and you know, you have to enforce those rules all year, not just the 3 months you're here.
Here in Iowa our HOA finally met last year for the first time in like 15 years. The president was having health issues and so there was a need to elect a replacement. That, and the $65 monthly dues were raised to $75. It covers mowing, yard chemicals and snow removal. No issues here at all.
Bottom line, it's all in who is (elected by owners) running things and how much like Gladys Kravitts and/or Adolf Hitler they are.
That said, every year, two or three brilliant do-gooders with great ideas to create idiotic rules for us all, chime in at the owners' meeting. The best thing about it is they are seasonal residents (as am I) who are then asked if they are going to be on the enforcement team; and you know, you have to enforce those rules all year, not just the 3 months you're here.
Here in Iowa our HOA finally met last year for the first time in like 15 years. The president was having health issues and so there was a need to elect a replacement. That, and the $65 monthly dues were raised to $75. It covers mowing, yard chemicals and snow removal. No issues here at all.
Bottom line, it's all in who is (elected by owners) running things and how much like Gladys Kravitts and/or Adolf Hitler they are.
Yes it was up to me to straighten out their mess. I hired a surveyor and I sold my neighbor property so he could have title to his house. The only thing that remains a mess is his water line and electric line are still on my side of the line. I had hoped he would move them but he is pretty cheap. So some day I may give him the easement when I leave. Don’t wish to give up ownership to any more of the property I own.
Over a million now, all on a $1000 judgement against him.
We have an HOA for the first time when we purchased our home in N. Ames, dues are $140 a year, to basically mow the park in the center of the development. Very few rules, all fences must by white vinyl so they match, all pools must be in-ground, and no out building in the back yard. So no she-shed in the back. Outside of that, they are pretty laid back, have not heard a pep from them after our original purchase.
We live in a neighborhood in Ankeny with an HOA but it's mostly to deal with the shared green space down each street. $100 a year keeps it mowed, snow cleared from the mailbox area, and any trees that need to be cleaned up/replaced (Ash trees). Technically we shouldn't have our camper in our backyard but we also have enough land to do so and it's tucked back and away and we upkeep everything.
I am on the HOA board for my townhome association. I am on there due to poor spending, financial planning and oppressive management.
We replaced 18 roofs in September and replacing driveways this summer. Trying to atone for the awful decisions from the past.
That said, everyone complains about everything. Can’t make anyone happy and am done trying.
We replaced 18 roofs in September and replacing driveways this summer. Trying to atone for the awful decisions from the past.
That said, everyone complains about everything. Can’t make anyone happy and am done trying.
Have owned 2 homes over almost 20 years with HOAs. Our HOA is great, I wouldn't want to live somewhere without. There isn’t a poorly kept home to be found in the neighborhood. And the amenities are great. The HOA offers miles of walking trails, 70 acres of green space, a playground, pickle ball couts, a couple pools, clubhouse, and it hosts a number of clubs and social events year round. It is a huge asset to the neighborhood.
This. HOAs are not bad. They get bad raps from the people who run them. We live in one that has nearly 600 properties. During the last election, there were 3 spots open, 3 people running, 2 of which were incumbents. The majority of our Board is run by retired white men, and we have A LOT of young people and diversity in our neighborhood.
If you don't like the way things are going, get on the Board and turn it around. It's really not that large of a time commitment.
I mean some of the rules make sense to keep the neighborhood nice . However, enforcement police people who have nothing better to do is the most annoying thing ever
HOA are necessary for townhomes with shared roofs, etc. I've not been part of a single home HOA that does anything with the dues other than throw a block party once a year and pay a lawyer to put liens on people.
Some I do tax returns for pay for lawn care, pool maintenance, clubhouse maintenance, snow removal, trails, trash removal, golf course memberships, road maintenance, insurance, property taxes, gym memberships, etc.
About the only thing guaranteed for every one I look at is they're underfunded for when something big happens and then people freak the **** out when the fees go up and demand to know where all the money got spent and get sticker shock when they see the bills. Then they know this lawn company that will be way cheaper. Then the new lawn company underbids to get the work and then jacks the renewal rate. Same thing happens commercially with common area maintenance in things like strip malls.
Dues are 1k a year. It also includes weekly trash, recycle, and yard waste pickup.
And attendance at annual board meetings is often poor enough that if the board is running things poorly it wouldn't take much to flip the board. Could even get the proxy votes of a few neighbors if its hard to get them to actually attend and the current board is annoying enough.
And those who do attend are all boomers. We had several things come up at our meeting this year, like too many kids playing in the street inhibiting their ability to drive their cars over 15 mph, houses being too white, pool closing too late (it closes at 9), and not having enough money to do basic things, but also not wanting to increase fees for the 5th straight year.
Welcome to governance. Doesn't really matter the scale, people either hate you because of what you make them do, or because you aren't making others do what they want them to do. No one will ever really be happy with you.
I get some HOA's can be a pain, we have all read the stories about them, but you know what you do not read? The stories where they are working fine, people are not having problems with them, and people are doing what they are asked. Those stories do not make the news like the guy down by Mt. Ayr or Freerents over in Iowa City, fighting the HOA.
Like I said earlier, we pay $140 a year, never have heard from them, no one is complaining, that I have heard about, and everyone seems happy with our HOA.
