‘NEVER again!’: New homeowners pay an unexplained $300 HOA fee, board accidentally lets it slip that the fine is made up and the HOA fees are voluntary

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Oct 21, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

If you ever move somewhere that requires you to pay anything to an HOA, make sure you know exactly what you are paying for. There are too many instances online of new and old homeowners being duped out of money by their own HOAs. Why? Because these neighborhood boards start to get too entitled for their own good and eventually expose themselves. Hopefully, with justice being served to follow.

 

In the case of these new homeowners, they were duped out of $300, but luckily nothing more. Their corrupt HOA was trying to get monthly fees out of them even after the $300. However, the board didn't know that the husband, aka the new homeowner, was at one of their meetings. They were talking about how they made up the HOA fee number simply just to get money and they let it slip that they were a voluntary HOA. That means this couple doesn't technically have to pay a dime! The man was so upset, he let them know a piece of his mind and told them they would never get another cent out of him and his wife. And they never did!

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  • "My true HOA story..."

    new homeowners, HOA, karma
    via Unsplash+ (and Alexander Mass)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • When we bought our house 6 years ago in GA. We supposedly had an HOA. While sitting at closing, my wife and I were told the HOA fee was $300.
    via Iluvxena2
  • No more information was given to us as to what it covered or what the monthly cost was.
    via Iluvxena2
  • So, we paid because the wife wanted the house bad. 2 months later after moving in the house we saw a sign that read "HOA meeting at such and such a date and time at so and so's house" We thought we should go and meet our new HOA fellow home owners!
    via Iluvxena2
  • Fast forward to being at the meeting. I'm sitting on the couch with the HOA treasurer.
    via Iluvxena2
  • He mentions to me in casual conversation that he didn't know how much to charge the 'newest' HOA member who just moved in (that would be us).
    via Iluvxena2
  • He said he just pulled a number out of his ass and charged $300. I kept silent.
    via Iluvxena2
  • During the meeting there was some discussion of who should be mowing the common area. (the common area is a small plot of grass right next to the road ) 20 ft x 200 ft.
    via Iluvxena2
  • and butt's up to someone else's yard. This was a joke as they kind of expected one of the HOA members to mow this small patch of grass with no real monetary reimbursement.
    via Iluvxena2
  • But wait, it gets better.... While sitting in the same meeting it became clear that this was a 'voluntary' HOA.
    via Iluvxena2
  • wtf???? Voluntary? Yes, there was no mandatory monthly payments, 100% voluntary. With that little bit of information, I commented that I would not be part of their little community and would not be paying another dime to their coffer.
    via Iluvxena2
  • FUCK HOA's! They got me for 300 bucks, NEVER again.
    via Iluvxena2
  • new homeowners, HOA, karma
    via Unsplash+ (and Yunus Tuğ)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Did they get their $300 back? Unfortunately, no. But, so many new homeowners pay HOA fees for years before realizing they never really had to. So we're just happy that this couple got away when they did! Just goes to show ya, you should probably go to at least one HOA meeting to see what in tarnation they're charging you for.

  • MaxwellSmart07 $300 x 1 is better than $300 x any other number. Count your blessing.
    via www.reddit.com
  • OP Iluvxena2 Yea, it was nuts. The realetor dropped this little nugget on us when signing all the paper work. We bought from out of state. Wife handled everything except for the closing and paper signing.
    via www.reddit.com
  • Ok_Cardiologist_7150 Have the same thing(GA). We have a tennis court, small playground, entrance stone sign, wood fence, and shrubs. There is also a street light at the front entrance. If we want it to look nice, we have to pay for the upkeep and electric bill. It's $125 a year. People that pay are recognized on the Facebook page. It's usually about 60% of the neighborhood. Tree fell on the tennis court metal fence once and it had to be repaired. Voluntary HOA in my neighborhood, means we have n
    via www.reddit.com
  • OP Iluvxena2 The crazy part is we only have a small stretch of grass right by the road. No pool, no tennis court, no kids playground, nothing.
    via www.reddit.com
  • Ellionwy >While sitting at closing, my wife and I were told the HOA fee was $300.' If this was a "voluntary" HoA, how did closing say the HOA fees were $300? Did the closer say this? The realtor? Both should have known there was no legitimate HoA.
    via www.reddit.com
  • OP lluvxena2 Sorry to disappoint. It's true. Closing was a sh\*t show. We drove in from out of state to sign the papers. Someone at the meeting said there was an HOA fee of $300. At this point we (wife and I) just wanted this to end. We signed papers, paid the money at closing and left to go to our new to us home.
    via www.reddit.com

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homeowner costs hoa hoa stories hoa fees hoa scandal HOA board member homeowner homeownership new homeowners community drama owning a home entitled people karma homebuyer real estate hoa drama justice served entitled new homebuyers official hoa owning a house new home entitled people buying a new home hoa members
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