By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities
debgoonan@icloud.com
Most homeowners probably assume their HOA board members are community volunteers, because that’s the message promoted by the HOA-industry trade groups.
But the truth is, a significant number of HOA boards remain developer-controlled for more than a decade.
Large, master-planned communities, built in phases, can take decades to complete. In some cases, developers can remain in control of the Master Association indefinitely.
As for small HOA communities, most developers self-manage these and hold onto several homes or units as personal rental investments.
No matter the circumstances, homeowners usually pay higher HOA fees and utility costs when developers retain long-term control of HOA-governed communities.
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