HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — John Seckar, a resident of Southwest Houston, expresses frustration every time he steps outside his condo at Piper’s Crossing. Despite having paid off his two-bedroom, two-bath condo in full, he continues to pay $550 in monthly fees to the homeowner’s association (HOA). However, he feels dissatisfied with the upkeep of the property.
Seckar took 13 Investigates’ Kevin Ozebek on a tour of Piper’s Crossing, highlighting issues such as broken doors, damaged fencing, inadequate wheelchair access, and unrestrained dogs on the premises. Despite his concerns, the board members, who are volunteers and fellow condo owners, declined an interview regarding Seckar’s grievances.
In response to inquiries, the board’s attorney stated that the HOA prioritizes spending on repairs rather than legal fees. They admitted that due to financial constraints, repairs cannot be made all at once. However, they assured that the board is meeting with legal counsel to address the concerns raised by Seckar and the investigation by Channel 13.
Seckar isn’t the only condo owner troubled by the state of the property. Another owner, William, expressed regret over his investment, citing escalating HOA fees and worsening conditions.
Despite having approximately 200 units, Piper’s Crossing HOA had only $61,175 in assets at the end of 2023. The financial statement also revealed a remaining loan balance of $770,806 for repairs.
Real Estate Attorney Richard Weaver deemed this level of funding inadequate for an HOA of Piper’s Crossing’s size. He advised residents to actively participate in board meetings and consider electing new members to address their concerns effectively.
Seckar escalated his grievances to the City of Houston, resulting in the shutdown of the pool by the Houston Health Department in January due to unsanitary conditions.
Moving forward, Seckar pledges to advocate for himself and fellow residents while exercising greater caution in evaluating properties with HOA involvement.
“From now on when I buy a home, no matter how pretty it looks and everything seems exciting and all the security, double check and learn about HOAs,” Seckar emphasized. “I’ve learned about HOAs. HOA – that term, I want to say is almost a cuss word now.”
