FL HOA horror stories - ANY "good" stories?

Started by ClaudeV • 13 replies • 2204 views

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ClaudeV (Florida)
Posts: 86

Posted:

Greetings fellow HOA members! (Corny...huh?) This is my first post, hopefully not my last. I just wanted to introduce myself to the regulars, (if any), and make a couple of observations about HOA's, if I may.

My real name IS Claude. I live in a small community, 85 or so homes, north of St Augustine, Florida. Soon, in April, our developer, whom has been a BOD member and President of the HOA since it inception, is departing the Presidency. I, and other members of committees and BOD members are concerned since we have little experience with running a HOA. Our President pretty much satisfied everyone for the past 4 or 5 years and pretty much "ran the show".

Now, reality is setting in. WE have to get up to speed and take this thing over in the coming 6 months. There are some issues the membership wants addressed before we let the presiding Prez go..the more obvious we have addressed, (books, records, accounting etc..all covered). Can anyone suggest something we may have missed?

Observation: I have been researching for a short while, the hundreds of websites dedicated to HOA's and problems with them. I have read dozens of "horror stories" about everything you could imagine. NOT ONCE did I run across a story about a HOA that was running smoothely and liked by all!
Is there such a HOA? Where? In Florida? Northern Florida area?

Geez...The wife and I moved into this place BECAUSE of the "rules"...NOT "in spite" of the rules! Seems many people do that: Sign an agreement, then decide they will just do whatever they want to! To heck with the rules! They never liked them anyway and just signed the papers because it was "required" to buy in the development! (We have a few of those too! We wonder why they bothered to buy in here. I feel they should move out, rent the home or sell it. CYA!)

We see a HOA as a "binding" entity for a community, NOT a "divisive" or adversarial one. I hope we, in this developement, do not fall into the pits that I have seen so many other HOA's fall into. I subscribe to the "8 P" principle. (If anyone wants to know what that is, ask me via email...it may "offend" some people and I'm new here...want to get off on the right foot!) :-)
Thanks folks!
Claude in St Augustine

hoatalk (California)
Posts: 599

Posted:

Claude, Welcome to the group. You mentioned all the other web sites out there that address HOAs and I wanted to comment on the situation. One reason this site was started was to give HOA Boards and other active members a postive place to discuss issues and actually solve problems, which we see a lot of here. There seem to be many other web sites that are sensational in nature and very negative against HOAs, as you saw. Our site's focus is to help the people that are out there actually working to make their communities and HOAs better.

I like that your post asks for good news on well run HOAs and I look forward to hearing the replies.

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ClaudeV (Florida)
Posts: 86

Posted:

hoatalk,

So do I....So do I! :-)

So far...it's slim pickin's! I hope things aren't as bad as the other sites make them out to be. There HAS to be HOA's that are well run and appreciated by it's members. Perhaps, because they ARE so well run, that the BOD and Officers have no need to seek sites such as this one or the negativity breeders.

Let's hope not anyway. My HOA is going to need help, or it WILL decend into the "pit". And that will be a real tragedy. :-(

CJL (Florida)
Posts: 1

Posted:

Hey, Claude, my first post, too.
My HOA is a small association with 32 luxury townhomes. Here's what happened in our transition from the developer: An enthusiastic board was elected with little or no experience. The HOA board members worked very hard as volunteers. Ultimately, it was decided to hire a management company. There were too many things to handle with volunteers that have full-time jobs and no experience in managing a HOA.
I would recommend you hire a management company. Interview at least three management companies to decide which would be the best for your development. Ask other associations who they use and if they are satisfied.
BTW, I have no association with the management company. I am a new HOA board member.

ClaudeV (Florida)
Posts: 86

Posted:

CJL,

Thank You!
As with many valid suggestions/recommendations, there is always a "reason" why it may not work for our HOA. Our situation is that a majority or our residents, while not "poor", are retired and living on fixed incomes. I doubt the exspense of hiring a professional manager would be in the financial means of this association. I suppose the logic follows that we "can't NOT afford" one. That may be true and sometime in the future, we may be forced to evaluate that option. What is the "average" costs of a management firm? (We have 85 homes with 6 or 7 pending.) After those additions, the developement will be "full". We are in the St Augustine ZIP code near the World Golf Village area.
Merry Christmas to you & yours!
Claude :-)

WilliamH (Florida)
Posts: 4

Posted:

The residents of our Park purchased it from the developer almost 20 years ago. We are a 55+ Park, so most of our residents are retired. There have certainly been differences of opinion, but those are generally put out to the residents for a decision and we move forward. We recently considered hiring a Management firm ($60,000/year) but decided to keep the present system which is a CAM licensed Manager and a Secretary. With less than 100 units, I would think you could hire a management firm for less than you would have to pay a CAM licensed Manager and that could be an excellent fit for your Park.

JimmyP
Posts: 15

Posted:

Claude in Florida,

What is your email address, that I may comment in private so you can get off on the right foot. [email protected]

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,046

Posted:

Claude,

Good stories are there. However, they don't make the news. Goes to the saying of misery loves company.

Welcome aboard! Stow your gear and be prepared for the stormy seas as well as the calm. Either way it can be a great education and a lot of fun when you have friends to share in the experience.

Tim

AnnaD2 (Florida)
Posts: 960

Posted:

Jimmy and Tim---did either of you notice that this thread is from December 2005? Who knows where Claude is today?

ClaudeV (Florida)
Posts: 86

Posted:

Re: Latest posts about whre Claude may be:
I'm STILL KICKIN'!!! LOL
I resigned from our BOD a couple of years ago. The wife was convinced that since as ARC I was "hated" by the community since our ARC Chairman, (me at the time), was assigned the task of "enforcement" of the rules and sending letters to violators etc. I had been openly challenged and/or attacked at a couple of meetings. Anyway, I didn't think it was worth the heartburn to the wife to continue so I quietly resigned. The other BOD members have been begging me to run again ever since. I was one of the very few ARC's that actually got things done.

Now a days I take things easy. I still "patrol" the community but only to have a cigar someplace other than on our lake deck. Of course, many of the rabble rousers still think I'm "spying" on them...I think it's HILARIOUS!!! At least it helps keep them on their toes!!! LOL

Anyone that so desires can send me a private message from this forum on the tool provided under my profile. I will gladly share my email address with anyone that wishes to chat or get or give info. I am still involved in my community and take an active part advising our HOA President when asked. There have been a few developments, nothing earth shattering.

I play golf more now when I can. The wife and I are fully retired now and plan to travel a lot this year. We purchased a new vehicle just for that purpose. We have a "bucket list" of 20 items which we plan to accomplish one each year, maybe two for the little stuff. Our 1st is a train trip to the Grand Canyon which we will take this September for our 12th anniversary.

Anyway, just wanted everyone to know that I'm still around. I just do not come to this forum much anymore...but I can start again since I have plenty of spare time on my hands. When we travel I'll have a W-Fi laptop with me so even then I'll have time to stop by now and again. Thanks for remembering me folks!

RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067

Posted:

Hi Claude, glad to see you are still kickin'. Missed you! Long time no contact. Hope you achieve all 20 items and you live atleast 20 more years! BTW, my name is Roger and I knew your's is really Claude.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,046

Posted:

Anna,

No I didn't. It popped up as new when I was looking at the forum and I expected it all to be new. I'll try and pay closer attention.

Good thing is that Claude is still kickin'.

Tim

ClaudeV (Florida)
Posts: 86

Posted:

Hi back Roger! Long time no see friend!

I know your name is Roger too! I have your email address in my address book online.

Our HOA has been operating pretty smoothly in recent months, I happy to say. We still have the usual few that like to live like they are in a "trailer park" still, mostly renters. All of the lawns are still "dormant" so lawns aren't an issue YET...lol.

The only development of significance is our old property developer, the one that still owns the water/sewer services, is advocating that the community request the county to purchase the utilities. It seems that the counties in Florida have turned over ALL utility regulation to the PSC of the state. The paperwork and fees are beyond what our developer can handle so he wants OUT of the water/sewer business. I don't much blame him. The water here is of good quality but HARD. We recently purchased a water softener and WE LOVE IT now! Of course we are going to have to replace our dishwasher and hot water heater in the coming year. The scale build up in them is heavy. Several residents have done the softener deal and replaced appliances over the past 2 years.
Overall we are still happy with our community and plan to live here until we die.

BTW: If anyone is in the market for some GREAT property deals in a manufactured home community, there are several places in here that are available. In fact the home next door to us is a large 3/2 with a 3 level deck and dock on the lake plus a nice front deck. Hardwood floors, a beautiful home. The bank has it now and the remaining mortgage is only $85K...on a good market, (which WILL come back in a few years), this place would be worth double that! There are about a dozen places for sale in here for various reasons...usually it is NOT dissatisfaction with the community but other health or family reasons etc. A couple are bank repos.

Later..Hope all is well with you and yours...and I promise to visit this site more often in the future. This is the ONLY HOA site I have ever found that is a place to find timely and helpful information verus some of the other sites that are meer "flame pits".

JohnM3 (Florida)
Posts: 288

Posted:

Hey Big guy welcome to the land of servitude and slavery ( 21 years on the BOD 18 as Treas and ARC Chairman ) The bad was we had a monster sinkhole 3 city blocks square. We hired a law firm who subbed out to a bigger law firm an wew on 27 Million dollars an the lawyers got most of it.....that's the bad side. The good side one of the partners got to big for his britches got elected sheriff an now resides in the local cooler. So that was good.

Any one who does not hire a p/t management company is creating a suicide pact with themselves if you want to be constantly harassed then don't hire them. I prefer walking around with my little companion Buddy half Maltese half Shit-zu. Dont tell him cause he thinks he is a German shepherd all 12 pounds of himself.

I walk our hoa of 307 homes 3 times a day an writeup everything in sight under the managers signature he hates me but tough he is paid to do it so be it. Get a good cheap law firm that specializes in liening on a fixed price status only no hourly nonsense. Unless you want to carry them as a dependent on your tax return.

I have come up with the most ingenious ways to make money for our hoa. We started out 21 years ago at $40 a month an now 21 years later we are at $105 a month 307 houses 12 are empty 72 are in collection an 2 are in small claims court 2 on reverse foreclosure and 1 is with a real estate guy who claims he can short sell it...............because we got smart a long time ago we are cashing checks monthly from collection 1-5 years ago................

we have never had a special assessment in our history. We attempted 15 years ago to borrow money from a Bank an they laughed themselves silly. We had 1 million dollars coming in from the law suit as collateral. The bank said no an there specialty is handling Condos and HOAs. They sat me an the Prez down an explained you cannot have more than 4-8 percent of your accounts in arrears so we started talking to everybody and found a company that would do liening for a flat fee no hidden extras. Our PM charges us a flat fee to consolidate an make legal the paperwork on the account an the lawyer charges us a fixed price to lien an if we wish foreclose on the lien an kick them out. I know it sounds brutal but face a fact of life you an I pay on time why not everyone else. Or were they dumb enough to get a mortgage an not read everything they signed???????Yep done heard that 20-50 times so far. In 350 law suits we have lost zero...............zero sometimes we have to wait but we always win because we run our HOA as if it was a Bank. Remeber please from my heart to yours being on the BOD is a priviledge an never forget it an in closing it is a business not a social club run it like your life depends on it because the biggest investment in your life is that house protect it an everyone given into your hands to protect there hom also...................life is not a social club.........

Do people hate me sure so what Buddy loves me an my wife is very proud of me an I am as active as my 73 years allow I am also a founding member of the citywide association of hoas an Condos an the local Police Dept Pension Fund Trustee. Yes Bertha there is a lot to do after retirement make your grandkids proud of yourself dont sit home an be a boob in front of the tube get out an run your small city called a HOA

Jack Murphy
President 2 years
Vice President 4 years Treasurer 15 years

Life is what you make of it!

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