Every year, your HOA holds its annual meeting, and buried in the agenda is a confusing line item that reads something like this: Vote to apply excess membership income to the following year’s budget or refund it to members: IRS Revenue Ruling 70-604. Most homeowners glance at it, shrug, and move on, but what you […]
Special Assessments
Balcony and Deck Repairs: What California Homeowners Need to Know About SB 326 and Out-of-Control HOA Assessments
Across California, thousands of homeowners are being hit with massive special assessments for balcony and deck repairs, sometimes totaling millions across an HOA community. While safety is important, many boards are using new inspection laws as justification for excessive, rushed, or poorly managed repair projects that leave homeowners footing the bill. If you’ve received notice […]
Why Most Homeowners Lose Against Their HOA
The Harsh Truth: Most Homeowners Lose to Their HOA If you’ve ever tried to challenge your HOA board and felt defeated before you even began, you’re not alone. Every year, thousands of homeowners across the U.S. face unfair fines, assessments, and board decisions that seem impossible to overturn. Why? Because most homeowners enter the fight […]
The Most Common HOA Special Assessments: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know
When you buy into a homeowners association (HOA), you expect to pay regular dues that cover community upkeep, amenities, and shared expenses. But for many homeowners, the real shock comes later: the dreaded special assessment. Unlike regular dues, special assessments are extra charges imposed by the board, often running into thousands, or even tens of […]
From Frustration to Victory: Homeowners Who Took Down a $4.2 Million Dollar Special Assessment and Successfully Recalled an Unfair HOA Board
For many homeowners, HOA life begins with a promise: shared amenities, community pride, and well-maintained property values, but too often, that promise turns into frustration, unexpected special assessments, confusing financials, and boards that seem unaccountable to the very people who pay the dues. What happens when an HOA board pushes too far? When they try […]
Avoid the Trap: 7 Mistakes Homeowners Make That Let HOAs Get Away With Financial Abuse
Homeowners associations (HOAs) were meant to protect property values and maintain community standards. But for many residents, the reality looks very different: ballooning dues, questionable “special assessments,” and boards that operate more like shadow governments than community stewards. Financial abuse inside HOAs is more common than most homeowners realize, and the scariest part is that […]
The Millions of Dollars Hidden in Your HOA Dues: How Boards Misuse Funds
If you’re a homeowner feeling the sting of escalating HOA dues, you’re not alone. Across California and beyond, residents are confronting boards that levy exorbitant special assessments, mismanage funds, and operate with little transparency, but here’s the good news: you don’t have to accept it. Homeowners have the power to reclaim control, as demonstrated by […]
5 Signs Your HOA Board Is Out of Control
Homeowner frustration with HOA boards is at an all-time high. Boards are meant to protect property values and ensure smooth operations, but some act in ways that are controlling, opaque, and even financially harmful. If your HOA seems out of control, you need to recognize the warning signs and act decisively. In this article, we’ll […]
Why Electrical Maintenance in HOAs Matters More Than You Think
If you own a home in a community governed by a homeowners association (HOA), you’ve probably heard the phrase special assessment. Few words cause more frustration for homeowners than an unexpected bill in the thousands, and when it comes to electrical repairs, the stakes are even higher. Electrical systems are the lifeblood of a community. […]
What to Do If Your HOA Hits You With a Surprise Special Assessment
Imagine this: you open your mailbox, expecting the usual stack of flyers and bills – only to find a notice from your HOA demanding thousands of dollars. Sometimes the deadline is just 30 days away. Panic sets in. How could this happen? And more importantly… what can you do about it? You’re not alone. Across […]