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Dear *|FNAME|* , I’m writing to you as a candidate for the 2025 election. Our community’s imbalanced finances, declining property values, and the need for greater homeowner input on board spending call for directors who listen and work harder. I believe our high monthly HOA dues are a big problem. They now cost more than our property taxes and buyers don’t want to pay higher dues with poor property conditions and dropping home prices. This has been happening since FirstService took over in 2018. Have a look at the following information and please don’t forget to vote! Cheers,
Karim Elimaaroufi |
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Property Values Are Stagnant |
In 2024, two-bedroom units sold for these low prices: $420,000, $476,000, $477,000, and $483,000. Last year showed an 11.4% DECREASE in the average sale price compared to 2023 according to Zillow sales data.
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It's hard to believe with the highest dues ever, we still get the worst communications. FirstService always gives short notices for big projects like painting the garage and shutting off water, while it hides important information. Like damage on the roof, the broken spa, and long delays with the garage gates. Current board members won't try to renegotiate the FirstService contract or look for a better property management company. Besides ignoring high management costs, the board spent lots of money on unnecessary and expensive projects. If we don't stop spending recklessly, we may end up with the highest HOA dues in the Bay Area and the biggest drop in property values. |
Examples of Poor Spending |
1) Garage traffic markings were repainted from yellow to white. The cheap paint used by the FirstService "favored"vendor started scuffing and peeling off immediately, and that got worse after they repainted it again. They've tried 3 times so far, and it still looks bad. This project cost $100,000. This same vendor demanded $80K to repaint door frames during the Hallway Project in 2019. They want to paint the garage interiors this year for $266K (reserve items 52-54), and next do the building exteriors for $3M. Seriously? |
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2) The board plans to install a permanently mounted hydraulic pool lift chair. This unsupervised lift presents a significant hazard. So much so that no other HOAs in the area have one. The board’s estimate was $14K, but it will probably be much higher since the Plaza needs core drilling (more garage leaks) and only one company in Florida is interested (no competitive bids). |
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3) Months of delay preceded installation of the new $125,000 roll-up garage entry gate. People could reach through the new pedestrian gate and open it from outside, leading to a jerry-rigged plastic cover around the knob. The roll-up gate didn’t improve security since people can still enter through the raised exit gates; FirstService had to send a notice about increased garage car break-ins and thefts a few months later. |
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4) The final 2021 Reserve Study secretly added electric car chargers, which were missing from the draft study shown to owners. That non-existent item showed a useful life of 30 years, with 8 years of remaining life and a replacement cost of $275K. This grew to $324K in the 2024 study, with only 2 years of remaining life. The board installed four charge stations for $24K in 2024 (plus a $20,000 grant). But the 2025 study shows the remaining $300K is gone. Where did the original $275K come from? Where did the remaining $300K go—was this a slush fund for pet projects? Why didn’t FirstService solicit bids for hillside stations, a process followed in 2013 for charge stations, where battery fires present less risk and four inside visitor spaces are kept? |
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Here are just a few issues which really need more attention: poor hot and cold water delivery, leaky windows, garage leaks, and a corroded drain system. Vote for cost controls, or else face another year with a board and management company who act like Spanky and The Little Rascals! |
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This email was sent to you by Karim Elmaaroufi. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not spam or junk folders), please add my email address, [email protected] to your address book. You received it because you are a member of the Gateview Homeowners' Association and your contact information is on the Membership list. Copyright (C) *|CURRENT_YEAR|* All rights reserved. |
