The question is; how can a family that owns a 9-year old home valued at $74,000 pay the monthly mortgage and then be expected to pay an additional $150 a month, plus a $20.00 processing fee, plus accruing interest, fines and fees when the original yearly HOA dues was only $150 per year?  The answer is Big Business Payment Plan Greed which makes Pay-Day-Loans look good.

The HOA attorney, Tom Newton handles 83% of all HOA (Non-Judicial – No Court Hearing required) foreclosures in Bexar County, Texas.  Over the past two years Newtonhas posted 27 foreclosure notices on homes in the small subdivision of Lago Vista built in the near south side of San Antonio.  At least 2 of the same homes have recently been posted for a second time.

After speaking to numerous families in Lago Vista the story is the same. The process is a family fails to pay the $150 a year HOA dues on time in January.  When they are notified the $150 payment has been significantly increased by several hundreds of dollars in fees and interest that they cannot afford to pay.

Shortly after Newton, the HOA attorney adds his fees and the threat of home foreclosure on the courthouse steps. Most are offered payment plans that are designed to produce very lucrative steady incomes as the debt continue to compound by additional interest and fees. When a monthly payment is missed the home is again posted for foreclosure at the courthouse with additional penalties and attorney fees added.

Each month the attorney hits the Texas HOA Lottery payment of $3,400 if only 20 families send in the $170 payments, which never end.  Meantime the HOA dues have been increased to $250.00.

Attorney Fees Note: Just four years of attorney bank deposit fees will total $960.