Why Do We Have or Need a Homeowners Association? Each year a number of our neighbors ask why this neighborhood continues to have an HOA when we do not have a community pool, park, or other visible reasons to collect dues. The following list is intended to provide some examples as to why your CCHOA Board members volunteer their time and believe a self-run homeowners association protects each and every homeowner’s interests. 1. HOAs preserve the nature of the community and protect property values by enforcing deed restrictions. HOA regulations are another layer of protection against neighborhood degradation and an effective means to maintain community standards and protect property values. 2. HOAs lessen the need for local government oversight of housing conditions. The City of Friendswood does not have the manpower to monitor housing.a) Stagnant pools, tall grass, RVs and boats stored on lots, etc. are not issues the city will quickly identify and remedy. The city does not care if RVs and boats are parked in driveways. Only an HOA has the authority to prohibit these and similar vehicles from being stored on lots. With the assistance of the HOA board, these items are addressed much more quickly. b) Homeowners in HOAs have a vested interest in reporting and correcting problems, from architectural and building code violations to illegal parking and landscaping issues. 3. HOA leaders live in their communities and better understand the needs of the community, from the delivery of core services, such as waste collection, to amenities and decisions affecting the future of the community. 4. HOAs promote a higher level of civic involvement than municipalities, in terms of voting, meeting attendance, and volunteerism. 5. HOAs offer a sense of community, an important contribution in an increasingly transient society. 6. We have an Architectural Control Committee (ACC) that continues to safeguard property values by reviewing and approving plans for property modifications. 7. Staffing of CCHOA by volunteers allows its dues to be very low and avoids the use of a management company. Such companies often inflate the dues and initiate unneeded legal action in order to pay the salaries of management staff. 8. CCHOA is transparent when it comes to its money. At each Board Meeting the Treasurer summarizes expenses and any questions can be addressed as to the status of the CCHOA monies. When legal action is required to maintain property values, CCHOA has resources to pay for attorney expenses. Our HOA is constantly vigilant for violations of our Deed Restrictions that reflect adversely on the property values of our subdivision. Although you may have observed violations in our neighborhood wondering why they are allowed to continue, persuading violators to correct the violations is a legal procedure requiring actions which may take some time to resolve. If you are aware of properties that appear to be violating our restrictions, please contact us. |