I Bought 200 Acres for $2,000 — Then a Neighbor Claiming to Run an HOA Tried to Fine Me.

Yet the language was designed to sound intimidating.

For someone unfamiliar with property law, the letters might have seemed convincing.

I decided it was time to investigate further.

Meeting Other Landowners
I began speaking with nearby property owners.

The conversations revealed something fascinating.

Several neighbors had received similar notices over the years.

Some ignored them entirely.

Others paid small amounts simply to avoid confrontation.

A few had challenged the claims and demanded proof.

Those who requested documentation reportedly never received any.

One elderly landowner told me he had lived in the area for more than twenty years and had never seen evidence of a legitimate HOA.

Another neighbor laughed when I mentioned the fines.

“You’re not the first person he’s tried that on,” he said.

The pattern was becoming obvious.

The self-appointed HOA leader seemed to be operating on the assumption that newcomers wouldn’t know their rights.

Consulting a Real Estate Attorney
Although I felt increasingly confident that the fines were unenforceable, I wanted professional advice.

I scheduled a consultation with a real estate attorney.

After reviewing my deed, title report, and correspondence, the attorney reached a straightforward conclusion.

The property was not subject to any recorded homeowners association.

Because no covenant existed in the chain of title, there was no legal basis for mandatory dues or fines.

The attorney explained that legitimate HOAs derive their authority from recorded declarations and governing documents.

Property owners become bound by those obligations when they purchase land subject to those restrictions.

Without properly recorded documents, an association generally has no authority over unrelated property owners.

The attorney’s opinion matched everything I had discovered independently.

More importantly, it gave me confidence moving forward.

Responding to the Claims
Armed with legal guidance, I drafted a formal response.

In the letter, I requested documentation supporting the alleged HOA authority.

Specifically, I asked for:

Recorded declarations.
Covenants and restrictions.
Articles of incorporation.
Bylaws.
Evidence that my parcel belonged to the association.
I sent the request via certified mail.

Weeks passed without a response.