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 […]
Tag: HOA disputes
BBQs on Balconies: The Hidden Firestorm Inside HOA Rules
It always starts with something simple. A sunny Saturday.A new propane grill.And that first sizzle of steak on the balcony. For Mel, it was supposed to be a quiet afternoon… until a violation notice appeared on her door: Unauthorized use of an open flame appliance on balcony: $250 fine. She was stunned. Wasn’t this her […]
The Day Your HOA Parking Citation Changed Everything
It Started with a Bright Orange Slip The first thing Chelsie noticed wasn’t the orange slip. It was the glare. The afternoon sun bounced off her windshield, and for a moment, she thought it was just another flyer or delivery notice. As she got closer, her heart sank. “NOTICE OF VIOLATION.” Her HOA’s logo sat […]
HOA Insurance Hikes: How to Stop the Costs From Falling on You
When Your HOA Insurance Premiums Skyrocket and You’re Asked to Pay Homeowners across California are opening HOA notices with shock, insurance premiums doubling or tripling, followed by a special assessment or dues increase to cover it. What many don’t realize: not all of these charges are justified, and boards sometimes pass costs onto homeowners prematurely, […]
HOA Special Assessments: What Homeowners Need to Know Before Paying
Understanding HOA Special Assessments Before You Write a Check When your homeowners’ association (HOA) sends notice of a special assessment, it can feel alarming. Whether it’s for roof repairs, new landscaping, or electrical upgrades, few things frustrate homeowners more than surprise fees. Before paying, it’s critical to understand what special assessments are, when they’re legal, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]