We had our first annual Homeowners Association Meeting this week. We haven’t hit the magical number of 75% ownership, so all the power is in the builder’s hands and it’s obvious. Especially when residents speak out and ask for something.

Builders, especially TAYLOR MORRISON - here’s a tip for you: Listen to your residents. Drop the nasty attitude. It certainly won’t help spread positive chat about you.

In our case, we have a gated community and we want a pedestrian gate. Yes, folks, we only have drive-thru gates. And when those go on the fritz (which they have) it sort of puts the crimp on our egress and ingress here at the community.

We’re willing to pay. We’re willing to vote on a special assessment. We just want to be heard and at least given lip service that the builder will consider it. But instead we get the shoulder-shrug and a “It’s not on the Plan.”

Well, screw your Master Plan. We want to enjoy our neighborhood NOW. Not in two years when we finally hit that magical percentage of ownership and we actually get a say.

I’m actually a big fan of HOAs. I believe they have a purpose and can really help a community – when not run by Nazi-like freaks who take it upon themselves to police the universe.

The point of this whole rant? That builders suck? No. That builders with nasty attitudes suck? YES!