So, I got the HOA financials and everything, and an apologetic letter about how they had to increase our HOA dues during these trying times.
My spouse, who HATES the HOA with a passion starts griping while I flip through the paperwork trying to find actual dollar figures. I tell him, "Oh chill out - our HOA dues have only gone down over the years - which is crazy unheard of in any economy - much less THIS ONE." I mean, the majority of the homes around here are in default - no one's paying their dues. I hate the HOA too, but they have their financial crap together. I have no idea how we got so lucky. I'd like to say I poured over financial statements and did my research, but we were an early buyer in a completely new neighborhood. There was nothing to research about the HOA at that time. We just got lucky.
Anyway, I finally found the dollar figure. We have to pay an extra quarter per month.
Who wrote that letter?!? If it was me, it would be, "In spite these hard economic times and the over-bearing amount of non-paying homeowners, the dues will only need to increase 25 cents per month to balance our budget". I mean, seriously. Write a sad apologetic letter over a quarter?
It is the first time in many years they raised the fee at all. Somehow we survive.
{To be fair, we live in the cheapest neighborhood. Some of the others, especially the gated parts, have extra services included. Theirs went up $1.25 - $2.25 per month. & theirs always goes up, so the apologetic letter was probably for them}.
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I am pleased with how 2014 is shaping up. I think I have got all the budget numbers I need except for any potential raise. I think odds are I won't get a raise and so will just plan on that for now. (I will find out for sure in January).
I'll have to post numbers later. I am pleased I have managed to offset all cost increases with other cost decreases.
0.035% Expense Increase
November 14th, 2013 at 09:11 pm
November 16th, 2013 at 03:43 am 1384573429
Where will you find the cash to cover that increase?
November 19th, 2013 at 01:37 am 1384825039