HOA payment plan concern need help
real estate attorney Maryland Aug 7, 2026
Location: Maryland -Can I lose my home over this? I could really use some advice from anyone who’s dealt with an HOA, collections, or a similar situation. Unfortunately, I bought my townhouse in an HOA community. I wasn’t paying my HOA dues because I mistakenly believed they were included in my monthly mortgage payment. I know now that was my mistake, and I’m trying to make things right. The HOA turned my account over to a law firm for collections. The total balance was $3,523.73. They wanted me to pay all of the past-due balance, along with my ongoing monthly dues, over roughly three months. There’s just no way I can afford that while also paying my mortgage and my other monthly expenses. To show I was acting in good faith, I made a payment of $1,169.93 on July 15. After that, I emailed the attorney explaining that I’m the only income in my household and asked for a more manageable payment plan. I proposed paying the remaining $2,353.94 over six monthly payments of $392.32, then resuming my normal monthly HOA dues once I was caught up. The HOA and law firm has not responded, but I’m concerned about some of the terms. It says that if I default, they can record a lien against my property without additional notice, that my payments are applied to new assessments before the arrears, and that the agreement doesn’t stop any post-judgment collection that may already have been started. The problem is that since making my first payment, my financial situation has gotten tighter, and I don’t think I can realistically afford the remaining payments under this agreement either. I’ve reached back out asking for additional time or a restructured payment plan, but so far I haven’t received a response. My questions are: Can I actually lose my house over a debt of around $3,500 in Maryland? What should my next steps be? Do I have any leverage or legal protections in this situation? I’m not 100% sure I can make every payment on time will I lose my house? I’m not trying to avoid paying what I owe—I just need a payment arrangement I can realistically keep up with. Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
