Country Living Association

What can start out as a simple infraction of an HOA rule can wind up costing a homeowner big bucks. If you live in a neighborhood with an association, its very wise to pay attention to the rules and to answer any infractions youre accused of - and right away.

There are cases which would make the average homeowner start to sweat. Something as simple as a painting or garden violation can turn into a nightmare if not addressed. It isnt strange to hear stories about homeowners who ignore citations or warning, and then live to regret it. An HOA can keep fining you and those bills start to mount up. If you dont pay, they can and will put a lien on your property. Youll pay the court costs if you lose, and those can be hefty, and by the time it is over, you can end up losing your home and your credit. Sounds drastic, doesnt it? Most people dont realize how much power HOAs really have and if you dont comply with what you agreed with when you bought your home, there will be fines. And if you dont pay them, there will be hefty penalties. HOAs perform a lot of good services, but they dont cut any slack on a case by case basis. They wouldnt work too well if they did. Rather than risk additional fees for fine and penalties, pay up and then wage your battle. Youll be on much finer ground.

Changing written rules of HOAs is something that has to be done in an official way. It takes letters and a lot of conversations with other owners because the rules are there for a reason. You signed up knowing the rules, and now you have to live by them too.