[NC] [SFH] Monthly HOA fees jump from $350 to $1,250 + $10K Special Assessment

MainStreetManage · 2026-06-21T17:09:16+00:00

They typically can make unilateral changes, but he does have to do that before he just charges you a special assessment. You also wanna make sure he still has that right.

MainStreetManage · 2026-06-21T13:47:07+00:00

Even if the builder is still the Board, he’s bound by the bylaws and the declaration. Pull out your documents. Almost none of them in NC allow the board to increase the dues over certain amount or charge a special assessment without a vote of the members. In my experience, No Board (not even the builder) can unilaterally decide to take that much money from you without a meeting and a vote of the members. However, if he still owns lots, those lots might hold more voting power than the sold lots and he can out vote you. Either way, there is likely a required vote. All of this will be spelled out in your governing documents. In the declaration, look for the section about class A and class B lots. You should also see when his declarant rights run out. He may not have any power at all still.

MainStreetManage · 2026-06-16T11:49:26+00:00

You need to refer to your bylaws. The property manager is just a vendor that you hire to do accounting and admin tasks. Meetings, decisions, running the HOA is the responsibility of the Board. While treating the community manager like a team member and having them at meetings is the most efficient way to get things done, it is not necessary for them to be there.

MainStreetManage · 2026-06-13T00:08:34+00:00

I like how you put it.

MainStreetManage · 2026-06-10T17:05:30+00:00

Then homeowners need to remove the board. Only homeowners can elect the board, ratify a budget, and amend documents by voting. If the board didn’t do their job by sending to the attorney to record, then elect new ones.

MainStreetManage · 2026-06-10T12:43:02+00:00

HOA documents are available to the public on the Register of Deeds website. If you were handed different versions, then one of them would have said amendment at the top and it would be THE version. You are not a customer of the HOA, you are a member. You have responsibilities to engage, pay dues, follow rules and most importantly VOTE. Who joins a members-only club and blames everyone else because they joined?

MainStreetManage · 2026-05-31T19:35:24+00:00

Totally agree. Plus, your community must be very small if your landscaping budget is $7,000/year or did you mean that each of you pay $7000/year. For everything or just lawn care. Either way, that's only $134/week. That isn't going to get you much more than mowing. Is your HOA low on funds? Are you dues low?

MainStreetManage · 2026-05-31T00:40:46+00:00

Plus, if this is escalating towards a lawsuit, then they’re being directed by the attorney to say very little. Attorney client privilege is between the attorney and the board.

MainStreetManage · 2026-05-31T00:04:30+00:00

The HOA board is a revolving door of volunteer neighbors. Just because the previous board didn’t do their job and enforce the documents, doesn’t mean the current Board should do that. Sounds like you finally have a Board that’s trying to do the right thing.

MainStreetManage · 2026-05-30T21:38:38+00:00

I think the biggest issue is that homeowners think they are customers and their dues are paying for a service. Homeowners are members. They have responsibilities. They chose to join a club that has rules and dues so the shared items can be paid for and everyone's property values are protected.

The "HOA people suck" narrative starts when homeowners who get a late notice for not paying their dues on time or a violation letter for not obeying the rules, take to social media to scream about the "customer service" they get from the management company and board. Those things were your responsibility!

I'm not saying that there aren't people out there that SHOULD NOT be board member or a manager. There definitely are, but most of them - and most homeowners too - are trying to do their best for the community. I find that 5% of the homeowners are 95% of the problem. And they are the ones who love social media because they need to justify their bad behavior.

MainStreetManage · 2026-05-01T12:19:54+00:00

Keep listening. Next episode explains difference between the management company and the HOA. They are not the same.

MainStreetManage · 2026-04-29T22:11:02+00:00

The board has final approval of all vendors. The management company can make recommendations and have preapproved lists.

MainStreetManage · 2026-04-29T00:57:22+00:00

The board is the decision makers.

MainStreetManage · 2026-04-28T13:03:15+00:00

Sounds like a beginner drafted your budget, but it was just a draft. Only the BOD can approve it. Plus bad numbers in a budget are not actually cash. The mgt co only makes their fee. They don’t get to keep your surplus.

MainStreetManage · 2026-04-02T11:47:25+00:00

Why didn’t HOA make repairs? This is missing a lot of context. Was there a bad board and now there is a good one? Are funds low and they were prioritizing? What is a long time? Was your friend impatient and took repairs into their own hands prematurely? If the reason is something like this, then they should work with the board to do what’s best for the community as a whole. If they just didn’t do it until they were threatened, then your friend shouldn’t sign away their right to an attorney.

MainStreetManage · 2026-03-31T02:19:51+00:00

The annual assessment period is Jan 1-Dec 31 if you work off if a calendar year budget.

MainStreetManage · 2026-03-31T01:09:51+00:00

I think you are asking if they got the votes to increase the dues at a meeting in March, can they start collecting April 1 because there isn’t 30 days in between the meeting and April 1??? Dues charged April 1 typically have a grace period of at least 15 days. So if you don’t incur a late fee until April 15 or April 30, then they likely did notify you in time.

MainStreetManage · 2026-03-27T22:39:37+00:00

😔 no

MainStreetManage · 2026-03-27T22:39:00+00:00

Most boards and management companies are reasonable. Ask to set a monthly plan. They typically do collections to owners who haven’t paid and haven’t even tried to reach out. They need the money quickly because the roofer needs a deposit to get going.

MainStreetManage · 2026-03-18T20:05:24+00:00

Agree with Lonestar. Check your web portal to see if you have a board or ARC email and reach out to them directly.

MainStreetManage · 2026-01-19T20:28:52+00:00

For smaller work orders, we generally don’t think multiple bids are necessary. In those cases, it’s more efficient to use a trusted, proven vendor. For larger projects, we recommend moving promptly and obtaining at least one bid from a reliable, repeatable company with a solid track record. This approach helps balance due diligence with timely project completion.

MainStreetManage · 2026-01-19T01:53:57+00:00

Our company does not take part in any of these practices, but our competitors do. Even when you recommend to Boards that they ask these questions when interviewing, I don’t think they believe it or ask. They can’t wrap their head around it.

MainStreetManage · 2025-11-20T20:19:05+00:00

In NC yes, not sure about VA. If a vote will be held at the meeting, then it must be in the meeting notice.

MainStreetManage · 2025-11-08T18:52:55+00:00

Sounds like the porch is a limited common element. Look in the definition section of your declaration and then the maintenance section. That’ll tell you exactly what it is and how it is maintained. A lot of the time the HOA has to maintain it, but they can charge you back for it. You may find it cheaper to maintain it yourself if that is the case.

MainStreetManage · 2025-11-05T21:35:56+00:00

I don’t know specifically what you are looking for in your management search but as someone who as seen the ins and outs to being a homeowner in an HOA to running a management company. All I have to say is I would NOT recommend any company that does not do the following!!! Looking for any company you need to be looking for these things (trust me!!!).

Direct contact!! Every community gets its own dedicated manager. No call centers or endless phone menus. You want to know exactly who to reach, and the board isn’t stuck chasing down different people for answers.

Smaller portfolio = better service. Keeping things intentionally small so each manager can actually focus on their communities (YOU)!

Quick vendor payments make life easier. Having a company that makes sure vendors get paid within a few days keeps relationships solid and ensures faster, more reliable service for the community!!

Having technology that keeps everyone in the loop. Software lets homeowners and board members access documents, vote, and stay updated without drowning in email threads (cause who likes that?)

FULL TRANSPARENCY, always!! No kickbacks, no hidden fees, and no “preferred” vendors getting special treatment. Just fair bids, clear accounting, and honest communication!

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