-
HOA in Florida, Forget About It!
So if you want to buy a house in Florida, you better research additional costs aside from mortgages, insurance, and taxes. The HOA, the dreaded Home Owners Association, or modern-day Nazis. When we researched homes in Florida, we soon realized the HOA was a big expense., sometimes $350 per month, which can cost more each year. You have no control over this. Okay, they give you a pool and some lawn service. Our last HOA had $375,000 in their account. Where does that money go? When we asked about fixing the sidewalks, their response was that this was the city’s concern. When we got in touch with the city, they said it was the HOA’s responsibility. The oak trees had grown over twenty years, displacing the sidewalks with huge root growth and cracking the sidewalks. It is very scary when you walk the neighborhood.
They drive past your house and take pictures; you never see them; they are as stealthy as the CIA. I heard that for each fine they write, they get $5.00. Here is a case in point. They took a picture of our gutter at noon, which created a shadow. They sent a notice that the paint had faded; when we checked later in the afternoon, there was no shadow, and the paint seemed fine. We received another picture taken at noon, and they demanded that we repaint. This went on for some months, and finally they conceded—the assholes that they are!
Our neighborhood was overrun with vehicles, sometimes four or five cars in driveways and parked on the street, often making it hard to pull in or out of our driveway. They said they have no control over who parks where. When we realized there was a meth lab across the street with 15 people living there, the HOA had no control. Good thing the police did, and they were evicted a year late. One of the meth guys started staring me down one day, thinking I had ratted him out. I stared back. I take no shit from people. He walked across the street toward me, and I simply told him, I am old, I can’t run, and I don’t dial 911. Life in prison would be a short time for me if you fucked with me or my family. He decided to go back across the street; he didn’t plan on meeting Tony Soprano, robe, and .38. The same house was rented to a chain of car thieves. Two stolen cars were found in their driveway. The HOA has no control over who rents what. Again, the police did, and I have them on speed dial.
Do yourself a favor and avoid HOA, or Horrible Owner Assholes.
-
4 Replies
-
Good morning, Peter. This is what I took from your experience as far as people considering buying a house in Florida with HOA’s:
Hidden fees: When buying property in Florida, it is important to consider more than mortgage payments, taxes, and insurance.
Expensive HOA dues: Some associations charge up to $350 monthly.
Limited say: Homeowners have little control over the HOA’s activities or the amount they pay in dues yearly.
Value vs. cost of services provided: Commonly included things like lawn care or access to community pools may not be worth the price.
Financial transparency: Management should easily explain where funds are allocated within an organization like this. Therefore, seeing a large amount sitting idle in their account raises questions about that money’s intended use.
Maintenance mix-up: You mentioned the sidewalk repairs and who should have been responsible. This suggests that there needs to be more clarity between city officials and HOAs regarding whose job it is to fix those areas. Or an outright conflict between them on this matter altogether.
Long-term infrastructure issues: The oak tree roots growing underneath sidewalks over time show that some upkeep problems could continue if not properly addressed.
Safety hazards—Walking paths should never be left unrepaired because cracked walkways present potential dangers that can harm people living near them.
In conclusion, based on what happened during your stay, it seems wise for any individual looking to buy into an HOA-managed residential area anywhere (not just in Florida) to undertake a thorough investigation. Homeowners association fees are like another property tax. Some members of HOA think they are above the law and have political power. Many members of the HOA have more arrogance than brains and need to be more competent and fit to make decisions on behalf of homeowner’s hard-earned dollars. The profit and loss as the HOA balance sheet and all money coming in and going out must be fact-checked and audited by a third-party counting and auditing agency. You never know who may be getting a financial or other form of kickback. Concerning their activities so far, like charges levied against homeowners, things covered by the fee charged each month, previous performance records, etc., better ways need to be established through which dwellers can be engaged together with local authorities concerning regular checks on safety issues related to poor maintenance standards, among other thing
-
Yes, please. Can you please elaborate on all aspects of HOA and home buying in Florida. Are only condominium complexes have homeowners association or do single-family homes and townhomes belong to homeowners association? I know family and friends who live in Florida in single family homes and are being charged $700 per month. That is the cost of another mortgage. How many percent of homes and condos are part of an HOA in Florida? What does this percentage compare to the rest of the states in the nation?
-
It’s a scam, they do nothing and wield power, thanks Gus for the information.
-
Certainly, Tom. Surely, I will expand on HOAs and home buying in Florida based on your query.
HOAs in Florida include the following types of communities:
- Condominiums.
- Single-family homes.
- Townhomes.
- Planned communities.
There are Homeowner’s Associations outside condominium complexes. A good number of single-family homes and townhomes in Florida belong to HOAs, too, particularly those that were built recently or are part of planned communities.
HOA fees:
The monthly fee for single-family homes you mentioned ($700) is high but common for Florida. Fees can vary greatly depending on the following factors:
- Location.
- Amenities.
- Property size.
- Age of Community.
- Services offered.
Percentage of homes in HOAs:
The current figures as of June 30th, 2024, show that about 60% to 70% of the homes in Florida have ties to a homeowner’s Association. As my last update on June 30th, 2024, here’s some context:
- Florida has one of the highest percentages of homes belonging to an HOA in America.
- Recent estimates indicate that around 60-70% of houses fall under an HOA in Florida.
- This is significantly higher than the national average (25-30%).
- Please double-check this number with a current source since it could have changed over time.
Comparison to other states:
Alongside California, Texas, and Arizona, among others, Florida continuously ranks among the top states where most people live within an HOA. The reason why there are so many associations here compared to elsewhere includes:
- Rapid development through planned communities
- An abundance of retirement living facilities
- Coastal areas with large numbers of condos
Key aspects of HOAs in Florida:
Governing: Homeowners Associations are governed by Chapter 720 (HOA) and Chapter 718 (condominium) under the state statutes known as “Florida Statutes.”
Services: These can include common area maintenance, security services provisioned within the Association-managed properties only, amenities management like gyms or pools…and sometimes utilities.
Rules and regulations: HOAs may set rules regarding various aspects of home ownership, including exterior painting colors, pet limits, and landscaping restrictions.
Financial management: They collect fees from residents to budget for general repairs and maintenance on common areas or buildings within community facilities.
- The Association then reserves funds for bigger renovations in case the need arises over time.
Legal powers: Homeowners Associations can go to court if necessary. However, this rarely happens since they already have a lot of power. Homeowners associations have much power and authority when placing liens upon properties due to unpaid fees in Florida State law.
Considerations when buying a home with an HOA in Florida:
- Read all HOA documents carefully before purchasing property governed by them.
- Understand what constitutes regular dues plus any extraordinary assessments that may come up throughout ownership.
- What is the financial situation like? How much money have they saved up in reserves?
- What kind of reputation has this particular Association had in the past?
- How many disputes have happened recently?
- What are some things I cannot do?
- Certain rules and regulations apply only to houses owned under said Association.
- Consider attending at least one meeting before purchase to get a feel for how things work here, but keep your information private!
Pros and cons of HOAs in Florida:
Pros:
- Kept up common areas plus amenities.
- Higher property value potential.
- Enforcing standards throughout communities.
Cons:
- There are expensive fees at times.
- Curbing use/renovate rights.
- Mismanagement/disputesMismanagement/disputes among members.
- Given the prevalence of Homeowners Associations and their effects within Florida, buyers must consider joining such communities during their house-hunting process!
- Also, those high monthly charges you discussed play a major role in determining the overall cost of owning a home in Florida!