Monday, August 18, 2008
2 Fronts
I have been on this computer all day! I find myself fighting on 2 fronts. The state of Washington wants the land we live on. You may have already known that. Now, I'm trying to figure out what to do about the property owners association for our Texas property. (I did something stupid almost two years ago and bought 5 acres on Terlingua Ranch.) At first I thought, "$145 a year to keep up roads and access the lodge facilities, including pool, coin washing machines and bathroom w/ showers." What I did not know is that there was a lawsuit in progress. So, after paying the $145, they needed a "one time" $100 to pay for legal fees. I thought, "Ouch, but ok I can see that." Wait, it gets better. Now they are closing down the aforementioned facilities, including limiting road maintenance. On top of all that they want another $65! Yeah, it gets better. Next year they want the full $245 upfront, with the option to add one time fees whenever they want, not to exceed some amount. I don't have the stupid thing in front of me, so I don't remember that amount. Does it matter?! We're talking about a dried up piece of land with no electricity, no water, and dirt roads. Anyway, that's what I've been working on today. As far as I can see, I got nothin'. They can do whatever the hell they want. I could try to get a new law passed. Gee, that'll be fun. Florida is the only place I could find any info on what to do about problems with an HOA. Let's see... there's the Federal Trade Commission. You know, I was planning on living there in the relatively near future, so I don't know if that's really an option. I read on a blog or somewhere else that in America you never really own land. It's sad, but it may just be true. I have no problem paying the whole $60 a year in taxes on the property. But, come on! $300 plus for a whole bunch of nothin'? Oh yeah, did I mention they can put a lien on your place if you don't pay? Not far off is foreclosure. Oh that's just great. Are we having fun yet?
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4 comments:
I think that HOA fee increases need to be approved by the HOA members. The board just can't raise them.
I say go after them for poor management of funds or something. Why not dissolve the HOA if the roads are not going to be maintained there really is no reason for them to exist.
It really sucks because the fees are so nominal that it's hardly worth the hassle to go after them. That does sound like a scam, though. If you can get some more of the property owners together to go after these guys then maybe you can get something done.
It's missuse of money. That's what the orginal lawsuit was about. All it did was piss them off. Can't dissolve the HOA because it's all tangled up in a land management agreement. It's a mess really. This is rural Texas, good ole boy, insider, crap. It's like trying to deal with the Mob. We'll see what happens.
Never, EVER subject yourself to a HOA!!!! They always seem to be run by a bunch of busybodies with nothing better to do than jack with their neighbors. What a shame..... And it is true, you NEVER "own" anything anymore. You only lease it from the county, city, or whatever. It's a damn disgrace! But if you can minimize those taxes, so much the better. I dream of some "junk" land, a travel trailer, and an ag exemption...... Anyways, your few hundred dollars beats the hell outta the $2,700 a year the county and city rape me for. And our roads ain't much better than your unpaved ones!!! I'd rather have the unpaved ones!!!!!
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