Homeowner Loses House Over Unpaid Dues
An Arizona man found himself in a dire situation when his homeowners’ association (HOA) sold his $475,000 home after he fell behind on dues, which were less than $1,000.
Toby Newton, 53, bought his four-bedroom home in Mesa in 2022. However, he encountered financial difficulties following a job loss and health issues, including a diabetes diagnosis, coupled with his partner’s battle with breast cancer, he shared. “I fell about a year and a half behind because of everything happening with me and my girlfriend’s health,” Newton explained. “I tried to contact the HOA to make a payment arrangement, but they just told me I had to deal with their attorney, and that’s when things escalated.”
Newton mentioned he typically paid about $170 every three months to the HOA, eventually owing $977 after his financial troubles worsened.
In attempts to address the situation, he reached out to the Superstition Springs Community Master Association, proposing to add an extra $50 monthly on top of his existing payments to gradually pay off the debt. Unfortunately, that arrangement was denied, as was a later proposal to increase his monthly payments by $200.
“I really fail to see how an HOA that’s meant to support the community doesn’t collaborate with its residents at all,” Newton said. Meanwhile, the debt grew nearly to $10,000, largely due to attorney fees related to the HOA’s actions. His home was eventually auctioned off for just $8,172 in November 2025, as reported by the Mesa Tribune.
“The sale took place, and I’m still here,” Newton stated. “I haven’t been evicted yet. I’m just trying to hold on because I can’t comprehend how owing them $977 escalated to $10,000.”
Moreover, he noted that he wasn’t informed about the auction until just two days before it happened. He has no intention of leaving the home, which he envisioned as his retirement sanctuary. “We’re holding on to the hope that we might still have a chance to reclaim our home,” a fundraising effort initiated by Newton and his partner reads.
HOAs have faced criticism before for misusing their authority, enforcing strict penalties, or even foreclosing on homeowners for minor infractions. Nationwide, there’s a noticeable uptick in HOAs adopting stricter policies on unpaid dues, fueled by increasing operational costs, dwindling reserve funds, and fears that unpaid fees could hinder the ability to manage essential expenses, as noted by real estate experts. In fact, HOA-related foreclosures have surged nearly 40% compared to two years ago, according to reports.
