Posted on 09/15/2026 4:37:09 PM PDT by Libloather
An Arizona man lost the home he bought for nearly half a million dollars after falling just $977 behind on homeowners association fees — with the property ultimately selling back to the HOA for a mere $8,172.
Toby Newton purchased the four-bedroom Mesa home for $475,000 in 2022, but ran into financial trouble two years later after losing his job and being diagnosed with diabetes, according to the Mesa Tribune.
Newton fell behind on his quarterly HOA assessments, which were around $170, eventually owing $977 in fees and interest.
“I bought the house and then I got sick,” Newton told the outlet. “I got diabetes and I was out of work.”
Newton said he contacted the Superstition Springs Community Master Association in an attempt to work out a payment plan.
He initially offered to pay $50 per month toward his debt while keeping up with his regular assessments. After that was rejected, he increased his proposed payments — eventually offering $200 a month — but said the HOA rejected those offers as well.
By November 2024, the association had initiated foreclosure proceedings.
As the case dragged on, the relatively modest HOA debt ballooned.
Court filings showed that by July 2025, Newton owed $1,311 in missed assessments and late charges, along with $1,042.09 in plaintiff’s fees and $3,345 in attorney fees.
The home was ultimately sold at public auction in October 2025 to the Superstition Springs Community Master Association for just $8,172. Newton’s total debt stood at $6,579 by then.
The case unfolded as Arizona lawmakers moved to give homeowners greater protections against HOA foreclosures.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Jewish lightning.
One of my business associates is dealing with this problem now. And there’s no sympathy for the HOA scofflaw because that homeowner has been an ongoing nuisance in the neighborhood, has the police at the house with boring regularity, and is claiming they live in poverty despite having multiple new vehicles in the driveway and a landscaper mowing the lawn all summer long.
Someone bought it for a song
Check the records. I bet the buyer is related to someone on the HOA board.
HOAs are Karen.
He’s entitled to the balance. He owed $975, and it sold for $8k, he should get $7025.
Whoever purchased it acquires the senior liens too.
If he saw this coming he could have gotten an equity loan on it
“Quarterly HOA fees of $170 are inconsequential. I’d like to see all the other expenses this guy was paying while he let this thing sit without being addressed for 2+ years.”
Like the BMW sitting in the driveway.
I suspect there is more involved.
Like 6 months missed mortgage payments .
Yeah, yeah, yeah. HOA’s are evil.
But just know the real story isn’t being published here.
So when they come to seize you and your dog to sell into slavery because you allowed someone else to touch your system don't complain eh?
People expect a certain amount of reasonableness in any contract they sign.
For some reason HOAs are allowed to act like a government and law enforcement but carry none of the responsibilities and restrictions on the same.
They are frankly, unAmerican.
Me either. This has to have some other angles.
Why?
Your AI sites don’t work for you?
Read....
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/8a89519d-a5ae-467f-9c02-f8826e0c6f0d
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How is the bank note on the home handled?
Bump!!!
They should. If the bank forecloses on the home and the homeowner is in arrears on the HOA fees, the HOA lien would likely be secondary to the mortgage lien in most states. If the bank resells it for just enough to cover the outstanding mortgage, the HOA may be out of luck.
I don't know where you live, but in the states where I've lived and worked HOAs are held to very similar standards as a government ... kind of a cross between a governing body and a private corporation, in fact.
We had one of those in the gated community were I formerly lived. Never could do a thing about them. They are the same ones who made the lake in the development unuseable any time they were near it. Turned it into a jacuzzi with jet skis and trashed the picnic areas then left. Finally, multiple additions to the charter at least provided grounds to attempt restraint that never was effective. Beautiful 200 acre lake that had been stocked and managed that became useless for all intents and purposes.
My vote was to stock it heavily with alligators and American Crocodiles or Parana and leeches. Didn’t get any takers on that idea.
“How is the bank note on the home handled?”
If the HOA sells the home, the HOA has to pay off the note first (assuming it’s the First Lienholder), before collecting any money for the HOA. If some funny stuff by the HOA results in $9000 sale of a home actually worth $450,000, then you’re in the criminal world, due to not abiding by foreclosure laws.
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