‘Boy, was I tickled pink': Couple who's lived in their home 15 years gets a 4-page passive aggressive plea to join the HOA for $70 a month, turns them down

Why pay nothing to do whatever you want with your property when you can pay $70 a month to be told what you can and cannot do with your property?

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Author image for Elna McHilderson Elna McHilderson
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  • Buying property without an HOA seems like the best way to go, according to the internet. There are countless accounts of homeowners being constantly harassed by their HOA with no actual helping coming from their board. Sometimes, you buy a house and then an HOA forms in your neighborhood or for a boarding one. Luckily, in these cases, you aren't always forced to join, since you already signed the paperwork that said you were not part of the HOA. So you go live your life and do whatever you want with your property, bestie!

    Unfortunately, these new HOA boards will always bug you to join because they want your money to help “improve” the neighborhood. Funny thing though, you have lived in the neighborhood longer that the HOA has existed and all of your neighbors that you have known for years always talk about how unhappy they are with the HOA. So why in tarnation would you want to contribute to such an unhelpful organization? Well, that's what's been happening to one homeowner who went to Reddit to share his story. Apparently, the HOA send him a 4-paged plea giving him the reasons he needs to join the HOA and the first one is that they will potentially have to dismantle if they don't get his contribution… LOL Is that a promise?? See the entire situation and other's responses below. 

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  • 01
    "I can't imagine what [the HOA] is doing with thousands of dollars of monthly dues, but I'm not contributing towards them..."
    Via Vanessa Garcia via Pexels
  • 02
    Got a 4 page passive aggressive plea to join the HOA today I'd link pictures if I could, but it's hilarious. I've lived here almost 15 years and never been a member. Had a few brief run ins with them, but nothing real serious, mainly the usual things like them trying to stop by and trying to give 'friendly reminders' to get approval before doing things to my house or yard. I'm friendly with most of my neighbors, and have heard stories about how displeased they've become over the years with the b
    Via Lootthatbody
  • 03
    So, my wife texted me today saying we are getting a nasty gram in the mail from HOA since she gets the mail notifications that give her pictures of our daily mail each morning. Boy was I tickled pink to get this 4 page document going over all the reasons why it's so important for me to sign up and pay $70 per month. I'll give a few:
    Via Lootthatbody
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  • 04
    1. Without massively increased memberships, the HOA will be forced to close 12/31/24. 2. Without HOA, property values will (allegedly) drop by FORTY PERCENT! Public roadways will no longer be landscaped (mowed). There is a line here that specifically states many members don't use any of the facilities but still pay just to ensure their property values continue to rise.
    Via Lootthatbody
  • 05
    3. Here's the big one. The letter mentions multiple times how we are all just a big family of friendly neighbors, we are in this together. But, there is a whole section about 'who are you going to call when..! And gives examples like neighbors working on cars on their lawn (never seen. it, but honestly don't care), 10 renters living in a 2 bedroom and having parties all night (currently happening across from me but I don't care because they don't bother me), and when your neighbors have commerci
    Via Lootthatbody
  • 06
    front of my house. I didn't really care because she said it was only temporary, whenever but my dog did lose his they'd be opening up the truck or messing with the trailer. I came outside one day and saw what looked like police writing a ticket, didn't think much of it but now realize the HOA must have called. Police officers don't just casually drive through our little neighborhood. 4. There are multiple times where it says 'don't tell us you don't like how things are/were done previously. It's
    Via Lootthatbody
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  • 07
    5. Lastly, it talks about how low the dues are at $70 monthly, and how joining won't lower those dues, but will 'potentially' keep them from going up, or at least keep increases small. That $70 gets you access to an old pool, a run down clubhouse, and irrigation for your yard that really isn't needed. I just watered my grass for the first time in 8 or so months because we haven't gotten much rain lately. I probably won't have to water again all year. There are probably 100 or so houses in this s
    Via Lootthatbody
  • 08
    mybreakfastiscold 21h ago • Shucks, if they had more members, they could afford a marketing consult. That letter sounds ridiculously sad and pathetic. Last gasp of a dying bureaucracy. I like to think that whenever an HOA dies, an entire legion of angels get their wings. 543 Reply
    Via mybreakfastiscold
  • 09
    BiohazardousBisexual • 21h ago Host an HOA going away party. 112 + More replies Reply Sad Wind_7992 • 21h ago Point one sounds like a reason to celebrate and not join ↑ 99 ⇓ + More replies Reply
    Via BiohazardousBise*ual
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  • 10
    Nearly_Pointless • 21h ago Please pay me for the privilege of me telling you exactly what you can and cannot do with your property. Best regards, Lemony Snickett ↑ 79 ↓ Reply 0
    Via Nearly_Pointless
  • 11
    JamesT3R9 20h ago . Considering the strong push based on financial rationale and they WANT me to join I would ask to see the last 2 years bank statements, financial statements, list of all owners, etc. I still wouldnt join but I would copy all those documents with appropriate redactions and either post them online somewhere or send a copy to all the members.... If they collect $70/mon from HALF the neighborhood (50) thats $3,500 of revenue per month and $42,000/year. I am curious where the money
    Via JamesT3R9
  • 12
    CdnPoster 20h ago • You should write back and say, "With regards to point #1, I WANT you to close. I don't need intrusion into how I live my life or people telling me what I can and cannot do with MY property." ↑ 8 ⇓ Reply
    Via CdnPoster
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  • 13
    cam52391 18h ago My in laws just moved from their house. When they bought it they were on a dead end and it was expanded for a new subdivision that has an HOA. They spent 12 years getting letters about their violations like adding a cover for their grill or new plants in their yard. They'd always return to sender with 'not part of you' written on them. Then last year they tried to say they'd use legal action to make the original houses in the neighborhood to join, a nice letter from a lawyer fin
    Via cam52391
  • 14
    . [deleted] 18h ago 1. Oh no, anyway... 2. A house is still worth exactly one house. 3. All these problems could be solved via the far more expedient method of "minding your own 4. "Yeah we know we business" , don't bother complaining" ain't the flex they think it is 5. If you don't join, the dues are $0. What a weird sales pitch. ↑ 4 ☐ Reply
    Via [deleted]
  • 15
    Face_Content • • 20h ago Edited 15h ago My hoa used to enforce parking restrictions until somone took them to court. Ruling: roads are maintained by the city so the HOA cant enforce a blanket no parking rule. If you want to control parking, gate off the community and make the roads private. +3⇓ Reply ...
    Via Face_Content
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  • 16
    . • scottonaharley 17h ago Edited 9h ago Reply and say raze the clubhouse, fill in the pool and make it a park. No more HOA needed In my neighborhood everyone simply contributes $50/year which pays for the landscaping of the little entrance areas and small public spaces. No documents, no rules, just neighbors doing the right thing. Edit: grammar, raze, not raise + 3 ↓ Reply
    Via scottonaharley
  • 17
    Deep_Caregiver_8910 20h ago You should have some fun with them. Write them back and ask for additional benefits for joining. See if they'll negotiate. Then make it as weird as you can get away with. Of course don't actually join. If this works and you get some juicy content, share it with your neighbors. ↑ 2 Reply
    Via Deep_Caregiver_8910
  • 18
    Danigurl001 • 19h ago I don't know how hoas work but they sound awful, kinda like a co-op board filled with retired Karens. They pressure people to join but are you allowed to leave one and say I don't want to play with you anymore? + 2 ↓ Reply
    Via Danigurl001
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  • 19
    XANDERtheSHEEPDOG • 16h ago I would respond with a cease and desist letter, sent certified mail, of course...... but then, I'm really petty ↑ 2 ↓ Reply
    Via XANDERtheSHEEPDOG
  • 20
    PL Sea-Contact5009 • 13h ago Why pay 70 to make it not go up when you already pay 0? Keep paying 0.
    Via Sea-Contact5009
  • 21
    DeserPunk68 8h ago Music to my ears when an HOA shuts down. ↑ 2 ↓ Reply
    Via DeserPunk68

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