A NORTH Carolina woman is being forced to sell her home after facing thousands of dollars in fees to her homeowners association.
Charlie Cromartie lives in Back Creek, a neighborhood just northeast of Charlotte, North Carolina.
2
2
For months she has been facing HOA fees of up to $100 a day – all stemming back to a simple gardening dispute.
Cromartie told WSOC-TV 9 that in January, her local homeowners association allegedly fined her for weeds on her property.
At the time, the North Carolina woman only owned $132 in HOA fees, however as of Monday that had ballooned to over $4,700.
“I just don’t think it’s fair, and it’s not right,” she told the outlet.
Read More on Homes
“This is insane. These excessive fees are insane to me.”
Due to state law, the HOA reportedly put a lien on Cromartie’s property and told her they may move to a foreclosure.
In North Carolina, homeowners associations are permitted to place liens on properties for any amount of money that is 30 days past its due date.
After 90 days, the association is permitted to start foreclosure proceedings.
Most read in The US Sun
On Monday, Cromartie told WSOC-TV 9 that before the HOA can move forward with that, she is going to sell her home.
The HOA – the Back Creek Chase Association – did not immediately respond to The US Sun’s request for comment.
Currently, state lawmaker Ya Liu of Wake County is seeking to make it harder for HOAs to move forward with such proceedings.
Liu has co-sponsored a bill that would only allow the associations to start foreclosures after a member owned more than $2,500 or had accumulated up to a year's worth of fees – which ever happens first.
“Homeowners work so hard to own a home, the biggest purchase of their life, and now, just for a few hundred dollars in HOA dues, you are taking that American dream away from them,” Liu told WSOC-TV 9.
So far, the bill has passed in the state House.
For those concerned about excessive fees from their HOA, experts suggest paying any outstanding fees right away.
