How to inspect your homeowners association records

As with many boards and associations with power comes control, but when is the control so much we as residents can't live normal lives? My HOA has enforced a strict "Towing Policy" in contract with Bexar Towing a tow truck patrols so to speak the street looking for "violators" . Between the hours of 2 and 6 am if you are parked on the street without a parking pass your vehicle is towed. A pass that hangs from rearview mirror. Yesterday morning I awoke to find my car gone. Single mom exhausted after a long day, I parked infront of my home as my sitter was in the drive. I became busy with normal activities once inside forgetting to move my car. Bexar towing charged 288.00 to release my car with the only explanation to fee charge, a contract with my neighborhood HOA. Or how about my elderly neighbor whose son drove in to take care of his sick mother and awoke to find his car gone. Whose expense is this on, but us as residents! My question is why is the gate continually broken and the entry sign missing letters at this kind of parking rate? Resident of the Vistas at Stoneoak

First to HOA supporter: In Houston Texas we wanted to buy newer house without HOA. We look for almost a year,we could not find any.TELL us where to go and look ? HOA might be originally ment like help to homeowners. BUT now HOA in combination with their managment companies is a lucrative business of milking homeowners for fees and fines. That is why they are everywhere and gain step by step such a power that single homeowner has no any chance against them. Please everybody who is just averidge homeowner, who never ever did any serious violation of deed restrictions and still get every month or two letter about violation like we do let us now how we can join the efforts and fight this almost criminal harrasment and financial exploatation of homeowners together. Our administration gets almost $ 40 dollars for each letter they send about violation , so they are not going to stop. Our yearly fees goes up. Even nothing else than more violation letters is done in our community.The board pretend to control situation,but in fact it is totally under control of administration. They do not let anybody on board whom they can not manipulate. Any suggestion what to do about it ? Thank in advance.

There's no secret to the HOA records, morons. Everyone has an account and can access anything, anytime it is asked for. Also, if you don't like HOA's, DON'T MOVE INTO A SUBDIVISION THAT HAS ONE!! They aren't SPRUNG on you, unexpectedly, you SIGNED a document when you bought the house that is located in a subdivision with an HOA. As for "busybodies," yeah, I guess you can say that HOA board members are busy bodies; BUSY TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH THEY LIVE IN.

God, this is such a joke. I served on our HOA for 2 year. Sheesh, what a THANKLESS job that was! Only ONE time did enough homeowners make it in so that we could VOTE on things. Most people don't give a flying rats patootie about what is going on until THEIR neighbor decides not to cut his back/front yard, or jack up a clunker on some bricks, park vehicles on the sidewalk, have the neighbors portable basketball court repeatedly left lying on their yard, throwing trash over the fence, let their dog bark all day and night.....

I beg to differ with you Fido. HOA's are all about a bunch of busy-bodies telling a homeowner what do do with his/her house. Their the result of lobbyist in bed with lawyers and the homeowner gets screwed... Just my 2 cents worth.

Fido you have a lot to learn. HOA's have many many functions. Keeping the trash out is just a small fraction of they do. The HOA boards make all the decisions for the community and trust me, your vote doesn't count. They vote mostly amongst themselves and the residents have no say so. You get a power tripping person, or greedy crook and the whole community suffers. Fido educate yourself on HOA's before you comment on them. One function---ppppfffttt....

I do not understand all the hate. The HOA serves a function, one function, and that is to keep out the trash, like hippies. I'm guessing that this Hollister must smoke pot like they all do, but I am horrified and astonished that Beamer has jumped on board now. They named a seal after him. I'm starting to think that WOAI is run by hippies. Sorry, boys, but hippies are not going to take over. Your stupid media tricks confuse no one.

Ha Ha Ha Ha! With all due repect, tell me another fairytale from reading a book. In practice, as long as there are no financial penalties to deter boards and management firms from violating state laws and the governing documents, fat chance they will welcome you with open arms! Get real! For more about the real world of HOA-land, the world being kept "secret", see http://pvtgov.org and http://pvtgov.wordpress.com

Time to outlaw them.. period. And, quit buying houses where the land developers establish them. If they aren't making money.. trust me.. they'll QUIT making them. SECOND! While we're at it... no more developing.. until the roads are COMPLETELY built.. and if it's a large development.. MAKE THEM build a school too. Isn't it time.. for the citizens to get some relief from these land sharks?

Most of the HOA's don't like to release information but the Management Companies should attend the annual meetings and release the information to homeowners. Any questions should be addressed and answered that same evening. Where do we draw the line? We place Board Minutes on our web site but are we required to place the Contracts that the HOA does sign with Vendors? Some vendors charge different prices as I don't think it good business practices it does happen.