On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:37:08 -0800, "SteveB" toquerville@zionvistas
wrote:


Wow, buddy! I know of associations that we've done studies on that run
$1,000 A MONTH.

$150 a year is very reasonable, particularly in a state that requires
reserve studies, and that rate is pretty much locked in and documented.

Steve

If you do move to an HOA place, you don't want one where it is too
hard to raise the dues. I think until a year ago, my dues were only
100 dollars a year, and before that for many years only 80/year and
it's not enough. Because in addition to some lawnmowing, planting
flowers, plowing snow, etc. every ten or 15 years we have to repave
the roads and parking areas, for $50 or 100,000, from 110 homes. So
we should take in 10,000 a year for that, or 100 dollars a year per
home just for that.

The rules here made it very hard to raise the dues. I think they
illegally raised hem last winter when I was out of town, but I don't
complain, because the hoa needs the money more than I do. I wish they
had raised them more.

If an HOA spends too litle money, the place looks run down and people
lose thousands or 10's of thousands when they sell. Plus even before
one wants to move, other houses are worth less and poorer people buy
them, and resist raising the dues, especially if they plan to move in
5 years, or after their first or second kid is born.