Verifying if Home Owners Association is legit?

Question

I have heard that some HOA's operate, and collect your money, have meetings and such...but if they are not in good status with the state corporation laws...the HOA does not have the right to ask/take your money?

Something similar happened to an aunt years ago...and it wasn't until an attorney moved in that people began to realize the HOA hadn't filled the proper papers in years...

Anyway...How would one verify if the HOA is legit? Any ideas where to look?

Answer 1

i have no idea...talk to your attourney generals office...

HOA's are evil....ugh...

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure that HOA's have to register with the state government.  If so, you should be able to check on their status (as well as any complaint history) with whichever agency regulates HOA's in your state.

Answer 3

Check your deed--if there's a homeowner's association, there should be something mentioned in it.  It will be a restriction on the deed that you are required to pay dues and follow the rules of the HOA.  And even if you didn't agree to it personally, but an earlier owner did, it's called a restriction that runs with the land--in other words, if an earlier owner agrees to it, and the restriction is on the deed, you are bound by it, even if you didn't see it on the deed.  A lot of the restrictions probably wouldn't hold up in court if you really challenged them, but you'd probably end up in the appeals court or supreme court to get them overturned.