Homeowner's Association Update: 2/24/08

[TheMalcolmConnection]

OK, so we've had a development since the last time I wrote about my concerns with the HOA sending us letters saying we're forced to join.

So I had my lawyer write them a letter stating that they had no right to join nor will there be any type of lien placed on our house by them. Just Friday we got a letter from the head of the thing stating they had met with our lawyer and that they were willing to put in writing that we won't be paying for any roads that they want to maintain in their area.

Basically, they're "promising" that we won't have to pay if they decide to pave their roads. Also, this letter would seem to imply that they can't force us to do jack shit because if they had any legal right they would have just sent a letter from THEIR lawyer stating that we indeed had to join.

So in essence, I think we're free and clear should we not want to join. Anyway, the guy wrote a decent letter to us and said that he really just wanted us to be active members and looks forward to having us be a part of it in the future.

Please look at this like someone (like me) who hates conflict. Should we join as a sign of good faith and just tell them to leave us the hell alone? It's $50 a year only. But I ALSO have a philosophical problems with HOAs in general and don't want to give in just to get them off our backs.

Pretty much, what would everyone else do while trying to save some face at least, because yet again I feel like the asshole in this whole thing.