HOA

Can a homeowners association force you to cut tree branches? And - how do you know how they are spending the dues? We are answering these HOA questions.

Homeowners in one Katy neighborhood have hit a wall trying to work with their homeowner’s association. We are talking about a literal concrete wall that surrounds their subdivision. At issue: who is responsible for it. KPRC 2 Investigates has a story that could impact anyone with an HOA.

Located in the eastern part of Gaithersburg, Md., Saybrooke has 478 single-family homes. The average price was $557,000 in 2021.

From her cell phone, Teresa Hanna surveyed the battlefield. Her front yard had been toiled by hoof and snout, blown up by an infantry of feral hogs on a mission to grub.

Here are things to know for Monday, Dec. 6:

A new law allows homeowners in Texas to put up a perimeter fence around their property for added security. The law specifically states that homeowners associations can not restrict it. But some are trying. KPRC 2 Investigates team is looking into what your HOA can and can not do.

A group of residents is fighting to keep peacocks in their West Houston neighborhood.

We've received a flood of emails and phone calls from viewers with questions and concerns about HOA issues. We took some of your questions to Attorney David Kahne. He represents homeowners against abusive HOAs. The answers in this article are from his decades of experience dealing with HOA issues.

Whether it’s politics, school spirit, or simply decor, people living in the Barwood community have no problem expressing themselves.

Some neighbors are not too excited about an affordable living complex expected to show up near their neighborhood in Northwest Harris County.

From overreaching homeowner’s association boards that try to control what you can do with your property to corrupt directors, KPRC 2 News has shown you the stories right here in Houston and across Texas that are frustrating hardworking homeowners.

He is a six-foot alligator some neighbors in the River’s Edge subdivision in Richmond have recently become acquainted with. “Just a few days ago, my mom called me and said there’s an alligator. “I mean a gator could have been right here three feet away from my mom last night,” said Cortes. “Normally, if we had a four-footer or three-foot alligator, we would kind of ignore it, it would just go back. The HOA tells KPRC 2 the rescue group is expected to pick up the gator sometime this week.

While Rodriguez says the sign allows neighbors to know what happened, his HOA has given him roughly two weeks to remove it. The sign reads “Botched Raid Sept. 1, 2020.” It refers to the day Harris County Sheriff’s Deputies charged through the front door of his home, claiming to have an arrest warrant. The Sheriff’s Office regrets the mistake and the incident is under review,” the department wrote in a statement in September. READ: Retired HPD officer files complaint against Harris County Sheriff’s Office over raid at wrong houseAdIt’s not the sheriff’s office, however, that’s asked Rodriguez to remove the sign — it’s his HOA. It’s a sign, Rodriguez said, leaves a simple message — what he said he learned after the ordeal left he and his family shaken.

One Texan is now working on a restaurant thanks to a legion of 600K TikTok followers. Texans were without power for an average of 42 hours, according to the study.

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HOUSTON – In northwest Harris County, Westlake and Westlake Forest are among the newest neighborhoods in the Houston-area to use technology once only available to police: license plate readers. Westlake and Westlake Forest have a total of six cameras. The still frame generated from the camera allows those with access to see the time, date, car make and model and the license plate number. For Westlake and Westlake Forest, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office can see the same photos. “It feels just too much like an invasion of privacy,” Jennifer Marquardt, a Westlake Forest resident said.

Only a few days remain to take advantage of Meridiana’s Holiday Savings Event, a savings opportunity of 2021 HOA dues paid with the purchase of an eligible new home in the community south of Pearland. Home buyers who write a contract up until Dec. 31, 2020 will save $1,050 in 2021 HOA dues. Purchasers must close 30 days after the contract is written for a home already completed or 30 days after the completion of construction of the home.

(KVOA) – A Tucson, Arizona man is fighting to keep his Christmas light display up until Christmas. Frank Morales has staged the elaborate light show for the past four years with no problems. The HOA’s rules state any holiday display must be taken down 30 days after the initial start or performance. Morales says the HOA started his 30-day countdown too soon. “Me building a couple of props and little stuff is the day they started, which wasn’t up.

MISSOURI CITY, Texas – The Lake Olympia Homeowner’s Association in Missouri City sued an elderly resident recently for up to $10,000 in damages after she refused to get rid of her pet chickens. The Alveys thought chickens were allowed in the backyard of their home in Lake Olympia in Missouri City when they moved in 22 years ago. That year, the Alveys told KPRC 2 that an HOA member told them they could keep hens, but no roosters, as long as the animals didn’t disturb the neighbors. After initially resisting, Don Alvey told his wife they might have to give up. “The matter is in litigation and we can’t comment,” HOA attorney Terry Sears said over the phone on Wednesday night.

HOUSTON – A mother is dead and four children are recovering after a two-vehicle crash in north Harris County. One of the children -- a 9-year-old girl who was in the front passenger seat -- was wearing a seat belt and suffered minor injuries. A father and son, who heard the crash, ran to the scene and performed CPR on a boy who was unresponsive. The driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. But we need a red light," Taylor said.

These are amenities most homeowners pay for in their HOA dues. Now, some of you want to know if you will get a break or a refund for the amenities you can not use. She pays $720 every quarter in HOA dues. Just like auto insurance companies are giving customers back some of their premiums, Kahne believes HOA’s should refund homeowners part of their dues. Homeowners have the right to see the HOA budget if you request it.

Neighbors of a 3-year-old boy are filing a lawsuit over a backyard playscape which was pre-approved by HOA before being installed. When Colton Costa, 3, learned he could pick out which playscape his parents would buy for their Georgetown, Texas yard, he went for the largest one with the most slides. “We’re trying to live in the now because the future is very scary with this kind of diagnosis,” says Colton’s mother, Kim Costa. Their next-door neighbors, Richard and Carole Gottleib, filed a lawsuit claiming the playscape cannot be properly be screened from view. The Gottleibs say the 14 feet high playscape violates HOA restrictions.

Playground Fight: Neighbors Sue Over Terminally Ill Boy's PlayscapePublished: January 21, 2020, 7:15 pmTexas family says they secured HOA's approval before constructing slide-and-swing set for their terminally ill 3-year-old now at the center of a neighborhood lawsuit.

Ladera Creek is a secluded new home community with greenbelt trails. Nestled off of Loop 336, this rapidly growing community provides quick access to I-45 and local shopping. Students living in Ladera Creek attend Conroe ISD. Build-out year: 2017Median square footage: 2,146Home values: $230,000-$275,000HOA dues (estimated): $650 annuallyAmenities: picnic area, greenbelt trails, close to Carl Barton Jr. ParkSchools: Runyan Elementary School, Washington Junior High, Conroe High SchoolProperty taxes (in dollars):City of Conroe: 0.42Montgomery County: 0.47Montgomery County Hospital District: 0.06Lone Star College System: 0.11Montgomery County MUD 148: 0.90Conroe ISD: 1.28Total (per $100 valuation): 3.24

Located between Cypresswood Drive and Louetta Road, this neighborhood is zoned to Klein ISD and includes Raveneaux County Club and a bird sanctuary, among other amenities. Build-out year: 1982Median square footage: 3,253Median appraised home value (per square foot): $91HOA dues (estimated): $250-$350 annuallyAmenities: pools, tennis courts, clubhouse, golf course, bird sanctuaryProperty taxes (in dollars):Lone Star College System 0.11Harris County 0.42Harris County Dept. of Education 0.01Harris County ESD No. 16 0.05Harris County ESD No. 11 0.04Harris County Flood Control District 0.03Harris Health System 0.17Klein ISD 1.43Port of Houston Authority 0.01Cypress Forest PUD 0.29Total (per $100 valuation) 2.56

This subdivision is located in Spring just north of Louetta Road and west of Stuebner Airline Roadnear Hwy. Nearby attractions include shopping in Vintage Park and recreational facilities at Meyer Park. Build-out year: 1998Median square footage: 3,328Median appraised home value: $249,986HOA dues (estimated annually): $630Amenities: neighborhood pool, tennis courts, clubhouseProperty taxes (in dollars):Lone Star College System: 0.11Harris County: 0.42Harris County Dept. of Education: 0.01Harris County ESD No. 11: 0.04Harris County ESD No.

RealEstate4Located in Pasadena, this community is close to shopping districts, schools, medical facilities and entertainment venues. It features several amenities, including a pool and clubhouse. Build-out year: 2000Builders include: Tremont HomesSquare footage: 1,800-2,700Home values: $217,000-$350,000HOA dues (estimated): $1,300 annuallyAmenities: pool, playground, clubhouse, neighborhood parks, tennis courtsSchools: Brookwood Elementary School, Space Center Intermediate School, Clear Lake High SchoolProperty taxes (in dollars):Clear Creek ISD 1.4000Harris County 0.4185Harris County Flood Control District 0.0287Port of Houston Authority 0.0115Harris County Hospital District 0.1710Harris County Dept. of Education 0.0051City of Pasadena 0.6154Clear Lake City Water Authority 0.2700Total (per $100 valuation): 2.92062

Tower Oaks has 389 single-family homes ranging from 1,260-4,597 square feet. Located off Fallbrook Drive and North Eldridge Parkway in Cy-Fair, the community is zoned to Cy-Fair ISD schools. In addition to local schools, residents have access to shopping, dining and entertainment options nearby. Build-out year: 1968Square footage: 1,260-4,597Home values: $168,000-$399,000HOA dues (estimated): $80 annuallySchools: Cy-Fair ISD (Adam Elementary School, Arnold Middle School, Cy-Fair High School)Property taxes (in dollars):N. Harris-Montgomery College District 0.11Harris County 0.42Harris County Dept. 9 0.05Harris County Flood Control District 0.03Harris Health System 0.17Cy-Fair ISD 1.44Port of Houston Authority 0.01Total (per $100 valuation) 2.24