The Modern Property Rights Battle!

Home Owner Associations Face Increasing Opposition
From Homeowners to End “Transfer Fees”

Homeowners and Realtors have fought for years to end the controversial Home Owners Associations (HOA) and Freehold Capital Partners private transfer fees charged each time a home sells.

Representatives with the Business & Industry Committee will hear House Bill 8 later this week or next. The bill is an enabling act that opens the door to mandatory transfer fees and substantially increases the number of gratuitous administrative fees and fines the HOA management industry can charge.

If passed, HOA governments can impose not only transfer fees but unlimited others: entry fee, resale certificate fees, certificates of compliance fees, capital Improvement fees, special assessment fees, covenant compliance inspection fees and even contribution fees.

Adding unjustifiable fees and fines will hit the seller and buyer hard at the closing table with costs possibly totaling $10,000.00, with absolutely no added intrinsic home value or service benefit for either the buyer or seller. These added fees could further negatively impact the market by pricing many buyers out of homeownership. Too often the real estate agent bears the brunt of the seller’s anger over these unexpected and ever escalating fees.

House Bill 8 does not end HOA transfer fees, nor does it limit the infinite number of other creative fines and fees that the HOA industry can mandate for its own enrichment.

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The Texas HOA Reform Coalition is comprised of concerned homeowners and homeowner organizations including the Home Owners for Better Building, Texas Homeowners for HOA Reform, Inc., and Texas Housing Justice League. The coalition was formed in 2010 with the intent of bringing a unified voice to the Texas Capitol. For more information visit us online at http://www.hoareformcoalition.org .

http://www.texashoareform.org/