The story from Sebring, Florida shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to people who study the Homeowners Association Movement. The Highlands County Homeowners Association has decided it is going to cease to exist because nobody in the HOA even cares to show up for meetings. Speakers who were brought in to educate homeowners about things going on in the community found themselves mostly talking to empty rooms. Officials of the association blame widespread apathy.
Well, I remember my Psychology 101 classes in college where we discussed the kinds of things that lead to apathy. Unresolved conflict, frustration, a feeling of helplessness (being bullied), and finally the long descent into apathy.
It’s textbook. It happens to voters. It happens to Homeowners Associations. But it may also be an interesting peek into the future of HOAs.
The American Homeowners Association Movement has long been out of control, led by neighborhood bullies, agenda-driven people getting themselves elected to the board. Once ensconced they begin targeting personal enemies and start diverting money away from homeowners and into improper pockets. Even people who are never targeted by HOA bullies watch the abuse and then begin shrinking from neighborhood involvement.
Yes, apathy is a growing problem in private HOA communities. So is violence. People watch their neighborhoods decay from neglect and abandonment while property values plummet.
The HOA movement is a fifty billion dollar a year scam. And the word is getting out.
(news story from Highlands Today)
http://highlandstoday.com/hi/local-news/homeowners-association-disbands-20131216/
Illinois HOA: Documents were obtained by residents in Candlewick Lake Single family home gated community. Obtained from the associations own documents. The documents have shown that from all the annual meeting minutes since 1998 they did not establishe a quorum of the homeowners according to their own by-laws which means they could not conduct business besides the day to day, until a quorum is established.
Since 1998 they have collected special assessments to the tune of 5 million dollars for road resurfacing. In 2005 they sent out a survey to the property owners to build a golf course and the survey resulted in a sound NO. The residents did not even get an actual vote. The golf course passed.
They took money out of the reserves fund to pay it off in the amount of 3 million dollars.
The board secretary was confronted at the following meeting and asked to put it in writing that the board and her were illegally seated. This has been documented and at the following board meeting, she stated that it was not her fault she stated it was due to home owner apathy!
Even after all that she never resigned and the other board members never did anything about it. Welcome to the HOA world. When are board members going to realize, ignorance is not bliss, they are accountable for their actions. I have always said that HOAs either appointed to the board or GM it is the setting for the perfect crime, no oversight or accountability on anything, take hard earned money from residents who have a notion that they are members…members of what? Then do what you want with it, no receipts, illegal board members, mileage paid for non board members…all with a big sign on the gate that says community of volunteers!