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Communities are formed by people, not HOAs
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Editor's note: The new "Our Communities" column, which is printed every other week in the Real Estate section, will feature invited guests to discuss Las Vegas communities and HOA issues.
As battles continue in Carson City, one never-ending topic includes homeowner associations. The media continually reports on associations where misuse of funds has left problems for homeowners.
When housing was booming in Southern Nevada, so were the homeowner's associations. The HOAs ensured the neighborhood would not depreciate because homeowners agreed to live by specific rules and properties would be maintained to certain standards: Front yards would look respectable. Houses would remain in pristine condition with paint colors that matched the rest of the neighborhood.
It sounded good and, for a few bucks a month, the homeowner was free of worries such as mechanics leaving their vehicles on jacks in front of the house with unsightly grease stains in the driveway.
HOAs gave residents a chance to participate by serving on boards. Gatherings would feature residents chatting cordially over cups of coffee while discussing how much better life was with an association. When neighborhoods began to decay, associations would repair or freshen up everything from block walls to entry gates and common areas.
The problem arose when members lost sight of the reasons for an HOA, such as encouraging residents to mingle and providing friendly reminders to preserve property values. Power freak board members, spurred on by expensive and egotistical attorneys, began attacking neighbors with nasty letters including threats of fines.
With each edict, the attorney included a hefty invoice. A hundred bucks for the recommendation was chump change and by the time charges added up every year, attorneys were making a fortune and HOAs were going broke.
When the economy tanked in 2008, and Las Vegas became the foreclosure capital of the country, dues-paying members of HOAs began moving out of homes that collapsed in value. The money stream dried up and associations had eyesores, such as vacant homes and filthy community swimming pools.
Our house, originally built by US Home, has no association, one of its selling points. When it's time to clean up the neighborhood, several of us get together and discuss the issue. We find who's available, set a time and go to work. No homeowner receives a threat of fines, if the property fails to meet so-called community standards. If someone in trouble needs help, we all chip in.
Our neighborhood looks good without dues, monthly meetings or reminders that a garbage can has been left on the curb or a basketball hoop in the street. We tease one another saying that if garbage cans aren't removed or if yards aren't mowed, we'll report the infringement to the attorney. We laugh about our invisible association, knowing we don't need a real HOA and some slick attorney providing recommendations and the bills that go along with them.
Funny thing is, while our subdivision looks fine, those surrounding us don't look quite as good, and all are governed by a homeowners association.
Mike Henle is a Las Vegas-based freelance writer and 44-year resident of Southern Nevada. He was the Las Vegas Review-Journal's real estate editor from 1985-1989. His articles have appeared in the New York Times and other local and national publications. He the author of "Through the Darkness: One Man's Fight to Overcome Epilepsy." The book details his life with epilepsy and his recovery from the disorder. To contact him, visit mikehenle.com, which includes his blog.
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Unless I was living on at least a half acre, I wouldn't consider living anywhere in this valley without an HOA.
If your HOA is out of control, blame your neighbors who sit on the boards and committees and then step up and volunteer to serve yourself - that's how things change.
• HOA Problems occur because of LACK OF TRANSPARENCY!
Most here in Las Vegas Valley and Henderson are more and more becoming run by HOA Bully Boards! It is just Human Nature I guess for a Volunteer Board Member to discover how they enjoy this 'new power' to pick on their Neighbors! Board Members quickly start to act "Like Royalty" and RUN AMUCK! Until NRS116 Laws are changed allowing every HomeOwner to have "Informational" Voting Rights from their Home Computer 24/7 365 days a year? I fear the problem with HOAs will surely worsen! Please? Visit OUR WEBSITE: http://www.HOA1234.com .........HOA1234 Dot Com .....Join Us! Help us to change NRS116 to make the laws more: HOMEOWNER FRIENDLY ............and to cripple this Cash Cow for ALL those in the HOA Industry and Collection Agencies
What surveys are you talking about. The only one done without bias tells a VERY different story!
78% of homeowners would NOT buy into another HOA.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/202747/know-the-rules-and-protect-your-client
Mike's column reminds me of the way things used to be but rarely are anymore in an era when most people don't even know their neighbors.
Nationwide surveys have shown that most homeowners living in HOAs are actually happy with their associations. And, despite the vocal minority of people who have complaints with their HOAs, Nevadans continue to vote with their own hard-earned dollars by continuing to buy homes within HOAs, which then help protect their property values.
My only complaint with my HOA is that it can't do more when a neighbor routinely violates our CC&Rs.
HOA bashers and those who don't want to follow the rules they agreed to when they bought their homes may want to move to a neighborhood that is not part of an HOA.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant! Nice job in sheding some light o on these pathetic excuses for stealing equity and transfering it into a lawyer's pocket.
Here in Massachusetts we are having the exact same problem. I started a blog about my own pathetic HOA...the Falmouth Airpark Homeowners Association.
Read about how they ripped off my 91 year old neighbor
http://falmouthairparkhoa.blogspot.com/
Dear Mr. Henle,
Yes, HOA stands for HOME OWNER. So they change the name to Common interest community. WHY?
The lawyers want all CIC to be Corporations driven by the idea of getting others to pay for their wants and needs.
You are right on Man, Hope they have you write more articles.
There is no Home, there is no Owner in CIC.
Are you are small business owner? like myself, Refi or anything is very difficult for us. It is not easy now a days but still I was able to do refinance with "123 Mortgage Refinance" where you can find the rates with out SSN! they will help you
Well ths...I plan to start working this week on a survey. This survey (or I guess you could call it a poll) will go out to a randomly drawn slice of homeowners living in HOAs across Clark County. We are looking for a response of hopefully 2500 homeowners. My question will be simplified. Are you happy with your current homeowners association on two separate levels? 1st level is the performance of your board and whether or not they are in sync with you on your community issues 2nd...the performance of the dues that you pay towards the actual betterment of your community. Are they being applied and utilized in areas you agree with. My guess, based on recent interactions with many homeowners/HOA members is there is a growing animosity between boards and their actual "constituents' the homeowners. HOA'S in this city have become more "money machines" than associations. The intent years ago is not being followed in Clark County in 2011. I can already hear your response to my post "well all you have to do as a homeowner if you don't like them is to vote them out !" you know as well as I that is much harder than most people think.
I actually know of one local management company that was removed from a property for not "generating enough fines and fees against its homeowners' The board removed this management company, not the homeowners.
Excellent column and certainly the right solution, but and sadly their is often a butt or but. His volunteer approach only works if there are no common elements in your community. In other words no shared property such as a pool, entrance or roads. Often developers screw buyers by not building sub-division roads to County standards and so their roads have to be maintained by the homeowners. This means liability insurance on these elements and an operating and reserve fund to maintain them. If your subdivision's roads are County or City maintained and there are no other shared features, you would be a complete moron to want an HOA and be subject to a very corrupt system that favors developers, community management companies and lawyers and you as their suckers. Personally, I would mow 10 of my neighbors lawns once a week for free and come out ahead if there was no need for an HOA.
Yes and no to this story. Most US Homes built in the valley were above average size homes in the valley and the communities have more affluent homeowners that have the means, understanding and others of being a community. In other areas it sometimes takes a HOA to remind people, and sometimes it takes a good HOA Board to help organize those social events that bring the community together. Once again a writer using a broad stroke to generalize.