Comments on: HOAs in need of bread http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2008/05/19/hoas-in-need-of-bread/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:29:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Anonymous http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2008/05/19/hoas-in-need-of-bread/#comment-4395 Anonymous Wed, 21 May 2008 13:21:07 +0000 http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2008/05/19/hoas-in-need-of-bread/#comment-4395 I would never live in a community with an HOA. The first poster has a point - the owner of the property should be obligated to pay the HOA dues regardless of whether the property is occupied or not. The problem does not appear to be with foreclosures, rather the HOA's failure to enforce the requirement to pay the dues. I would never live in a community with an HOA.

The first poster has a point - the owner of the property should be obligated to pay the HOA dues regardless of whether the property is occupied or not. The problem does not appear to be with foreclosures, rather the HOA’s failure to enforce the requirement to pay the dues.

]]> By: Anonymous http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2008/05/19/hoas-in-need-of-bread/#comment-4341 Anonymous Wed, 21 May 2008 02:19:10 +0000 http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2008/05/19/hoas-in-need-of-bread/#comment-4341 If he assessments are not paid the condo can put a lien on te property and sell it our from under the bank, if the bank elects not to pay. If he assessments are not paid the condo can put a lien on te property and sell it our from under the bank, if the bank elects not to pay.

]]> By: JessieX http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2008/05/19/hoas-in-need-of-bread/#comment-4267 JessieX Tue, 20 May 2008 16:21:14 +0000 http://blogs.mddailyrecord.com/ontherecord/2008/05/19/hoas-in-need-of-bread/#comment-4267 For a number of years, I was a communications consultant to over a dozen HOAs. I watched, studied and thought often about the value and purpose of such organizations. Again and again, I saw the same mistake: Homeowner managers who were more interested in keeping the monthly fees low, dealing with petty issues and rarely being willing to deal with long-term strategic issues facing their community. I remember once (in the early '90s) an association claiming with pride that it had kept their dues at the same rate for the fourth year running. When really, a dollar or two a month increase, times 600 units, over four years, would have been a significant contribution to their coffers. I don't understand the point of your article. It's as though you're attempting to blame a long-term management issue on the current economy. Hrrmph. Even if a unit is empty, the HOA dues are still due. If an association is having a hard time collecting, maybe it's time for them to hire a management company that is set up to tend to such details. Even if an HOA property is in foreclosure, those dues are still due. Can't they be transformed into a lien against the property? Plus, big projects shouldn't be paid for with this year's HOA fees. Such things are supposed to be identified, planned for and executed when the funds are available. Perhaps a more informative article would be about the need for HOAs to plan, hire good management firms and deal with long-term upkeep concerns. For a number of years, I was a communications consultant to over a dozen HOAs. I watched, studied and thought often about the value and purpose of such organizations. Again and again, I saw the same mistake: Homeowner managers who were more interested in keeping the monthly fees low, dealing with petty issues and rarely being willing to deal with long-term strategic issues facing their community.

I remember once (in the early ’90s) an association claiming with pride that it had kept their dues at the same rate for the fourth year running. When really, a dollar or two a month increase, times 600 units, over four years, would have been a significant contribution to their coffers.

I don’t understand the point of your article. It’s as though you’re attempting to blame a long-term management issue on the current economy. Hrrmph. Even if a unit is empty, the HOA dues are still due. If an association is having a hard time collecting, maybe it’s time for them to hire a management company that is set up to tend to such details. Even if an HOA property is in foreclosure, those dues are still due. Can’t they be transformed into a lien against the property?

Plus, big projects shouldn’t be paid for with this year’s HOA fees. Such things are supposed to be identified, planned for and executed when the funds are available.

Perhaps a more informative article would be about the need for HOAs to plan, hire good management firms and deal with long-term upkeep concerns.

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