[org.whodat]

The story has to be hog wash, congress long ago made this type of stuff illegal. Anyway in most states, the debtor has a year to pay off the debt and reclaim his property, called right of redemption.

[tbw2]

His wife was mentally ill and did not respond to notices and bills.

[shezza]

According to the article, the HOA foreclosed for $800 (by letter only) in May 2008. They didn't realize what had happened until June 2009, and Michael didn't return home from Iraq until September 2009. That is well over a year, according to Texas Property Code, they only had 180 days from the original notification for redemption.

§ 209.011. RIGHT OF REDEMPTION AFTER FORECLOSURE.
(b) The owner of property in a residential subdivision may redeem the property from any purchaser at a sale foreclosing a property owners' association's assessment lien not later than the 180th day after the date the association mails written notice of the sale to the owner under Section 209.010.

[mamelukesabre]

If you don’t pay your property taxes, they auction your house without telling you and one day the sheriff comes and pays you a visit.

The above is all perfectly legal.

The only way to reclaim your property is to pay the man that won the auction whatever his price is...assuming he wants to sell.

[bigredkitty1]

This is any example of the kind of legal power these God-awful HOA’s have in Texas. To lose your home over a few hundred dollars of HOA fees is preposterous. These self-serving hypocrites on HOA boards should be ashamed of themselves, but they are not. Time and again, people all across Texas have their homes auctioned off on the courthouse steps for a few hundred dollas of HOA fees and legal costs. The Texas Legislature needs to strip these vultures from their ability to ever do this again to another family.

HOA’s are the Devil’s own. Any FReeper in the market for a home needs to steer clear of ANY house with a HOA. It will save you headaches in the future.