# HOA **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa/819232 "2018-08-07T15:07:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa/819232/41 "2018-08-09T01:06:15Z")
> [@Sgtdanno](#): > > After a few phone calls to the county courthouse, there has never been an HOA filed in this county. But the paperwork from my neighbor shows a “legal” HOA signed by neighborhood 5 year’s ago. And signed and stamped by local attorney. My understanding of the law is that once paperwork drawn up it needs to be submitted to Court’s. From m finding this was never done. When we closed on our present house 19 years ago, we were a little surprised to be presented at closing with a paper to sign to acknowledge our neighborhood’s HOA…my initial reaction was to look at the real estate agent and say, “Whaaaat??”, the lawyer pointed out it was a voluntary HOA, that the dues were $5 per year, and the only thing the HOA did was publish an annual neighborhood directory, prove printed maps for the annual yard sale and maintain the sign into the neighborhood…some years we’ve forgotten to pay, but no recourse…we try to as we like the directory… That being said, we are looking for a retirement home, likely a condo near a beach, the HOA is one of the first things we look at, we know we’re going to pay (a pool, clubhouse, insurance and coverage from the sheet rock out is important to us), it’s just a matter of how much… ---
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa/819232/42 "2018-08-10T00:29:54Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Reason number 323 I don’t live in a suburb. I think you’ve confused subdivision with suburbs. Totally different beasts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa/819232.md?page=2)