I live in a subdivision in Pickerington, Ohio. When I closed on my house, the deed I was given had a set of restrictions that did NOT provide for a HOA. However, there was a set that had previously been recorded, but in such a non-descriptive manner, that the title searchers overlooked it. Now, 16 years later, a professional HOA management company hired by the developer tells me that I have to belong.

My title company has disappeared and I tracked to as far as New York, but have been told that they are “gone” whatever that means.

This Professional company is chargeing $19,000 from this subdivision, but has not touched one thing for 2 years. Weeds are covering the tops of cars, the entrance is totally neglected. He never calls meetings with the homeowners, just sends invoices for the money once a year, then disappears.

He is now threatening to file a lien and then foreclose on my house. I am 69 years old, live alone on a small retirement income and have no other resources other than the equity in my house. I also have MS and cannot work. I am worried sick over this and feel like I have been raped. I have no rights. It will cost me thousands to fight him and I have been told that I will probably lose because this state considers the filing alone of a restriction to be sufficient notice and therefore the “hidden” one would be found to apply. Even though it took 16 years for it to be found, and by the HOA at that.