Sell a Lot With HOA or POA Dues and Liens
Buying a lot in a planned community is easy; getting out of one is not. Property owners' association dues, road fees, and amenity assessments keep billing on an empty lot forever, and unpaid amounts turn into recorded liens with attorney fees attached. Plenty of the lots we buy were bought as retirement plans that changed.
What you are dealing with
Sound familiar?
- Annual dues and road assessments on a lot you will never build on
- A recorded POA lien and a collection attorney's letter
- Restrictive covenants that limit who would ever buy the lot
- A resale market where similar lots sit unsold for years
Questions owners ask us first
- “Can I just give the lot back to the association?”
- “Who pays the past-due dues?”
- “Will the covenants scare off a buyer?”
What you will need
- • Your most recent dues statement
- • Any lien or attorney letter you have received
- • The recorded declaration or CC&Rs if you have them
How it works in Tennessee
The timeline, the law, and your options
- Step 1
Assessment and default
Dues are levied under the recorded declaration. Nonpayment triggers late fees and interest at whatever rate the declaration allows.
- Step 2
Lien and collection
Most Tennessee declarations allow the association to record a lien against the lot and add collection costs and attorney fees.
- Step 3
Enforcement
Associations can sue for the debt or, where the declaration permits, foreclose the lien. Either way the amount owed grows every month it sits.
Legal notes
- • The recorded declaration controls -- lien rights, transfer fees, and estoppel procedures vary by community.
- • Some declarations impose a transfer or capital contribution fee at closing; we account for it in the offer.
- • Associations generally will not simply accept a deed back, and a deed in lieu to an association is rare.
- • This is general information, not legal advice.
Your options
- • Pay the arrears and keep the lot on the market
- • Negotiate a settlement with the association
- • List the lot with an agent who works that community
- • Sell for cash and have the lien paid at closing
How we handle it
What selling this parcel to us looks like
We buy lots inside planned communities with dues behind and liens recorded. We order an estoppel or dues statement from the association, pay the balance at closing out of our funds, and the assessments stop being your problem the day it records. We read the covenants ourselves rather than asking you to explain them.
Our process
Three steps, no surprises
- 1
Tell us about the house
Call or send the address. We ask about condition, timing, and what is going on -- not for photographs or a clean house.
- 2
We walk the property
We look at it ourselves as a licensed contractor and price the repairs from real numbers instead of a padded guess.
- 3
Written offer, your date
You get a written, no-obligation offer, usually within 24 hours. You pick the closing date; we can close in as little as seven days.
Cash offer vs. listing
Compare the net, not the headline price
| Selling to Unique Construct | Traditional listing | |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs | None — we buy as-is | Seller pays before listing |
| Commissions | None | Typically 5–6% |
| Closing costs | We cover the standard costs | Often seller-paid |
| Showings | One visit from us | Open houses and lockbox |
| Contingencies | No financing, appraisal, or inspection outs | All three |
| Timeline | As little as 7 days | 45–60 days after a contract |
FAQ
Questions sellers ask
- The dues are more than the lot is worth. What then?
- We sometimes negotiate the balance down with the association as part of the closing. Associations often prefer a paying owner over another lien.
- Do you buy lakefront and golf community lots?
- Yes, along with interior lots that never had a view to begin with.
- Will you need architectural approval?
- Not to buy. Approval only matters when someone builds, and that comes later.
No obligation
Get a written offer on your parcel
No survey, no soil test, and no cleanup at your expense. Send the parcel number and we will do the digging.
HOA Lot With Dues
No obligation, no fees, no repairs. Tell us about the property and you get a written cash offer within 24 hours of the walkthrough.
This situation by city
HOA or POA dues and liens in your area
Not sure what your parcel is worth? Call (865) 277-6808.
Call (865) 277-6808