HOA demanded she spend $800 repainting her home because two floors didn't match — she looked at her neighbor's home and had one question for the HOA
After receiving an unexpected repainting notice, Dr. Shawntae Collins started asking questions her HOA didn't want to answer
When a homeowners association letter arrives, most homeowners know what to expect, like a messy lawn or trash cans left out. But when a letter arrived from the Mountain's Edge Master Association to homeowner Dr. Shawntae Collins, she was stunned. The HOA claimed that she had to repaint her house and spend roughly $800 for a problem she couldn't even see. Instead of complying, Collins decided to fight back, as reported by KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas (@KTNV) on July 11, 2026, in a clip that has been viewed by over 4,300 people.
The dispute notice
The conflict began when Collins received a formal enforcement letter from the Mountain's Edge Master Association regarding her Southwest Las Vegas home. The notice claimed that the paint on her first-floor and second-floor fascia did not match and so the window trimmings required immediate repainting. Collins was completely caught off guard by the violation, noting that paint wasn't peeling, fading, or visibly damaged. In fact, from the street, the paint looked completely uniform, leaving her frustrated by what she felt was an invisible issue.
Counting the cost
Faced with the demand to repaint, Collins gathered price estimates and discovered that it would roughly cost $800. Similar to many families in the suburban community, an unexpected bill like this represents a major financial burden. Her neighbor, Ryan Crawford, voiced his own anxieties about the enforcement, noting that a similar $1,000 surprise would deal a significant blow to his monthly budget as well. Crawford stated, "That would be pretty much a whole paycheck for me," emphasizing how heavily these HOA demands weigh on the residents.
Questioning the rules
That's why, instead of quietly paying the fee, Collins decided to investigate how the HOA was choosing which homes to target. She discovered that while representatives seemed to have cited "over 167 houses," many nearby properties with identical paint schemes were completely ignored. She questioned the fairness of the rollout, asking why the board didn't select her immediate neighbor who had the exact same style of exterior painting. To put it simply, the apparent lack of consistency made her feel targeted.
Demand for transparency
Seeking clarity on the situation, the local journalists even reached out to the HOA on Collins's behalf. However, they refused to talk to them, stating that they "do not discuss community matters with media outlets." As for Collins, she clarified that she isn't against HOAs but has concerns about them "overpolicing." She also noted that for her, this ongoing battle isn't about the $800, but about transparency and fairness from the people running the neighborhood.
Majority don't like the HOA
Many homeowners harbor a dislike for homeowners' associations (HOAs) primarily due to their lack of transparency. In fact, a striking 57% of American homeowners express a preference against having an HOA. Furthermore, 37% feel that their membership has complicated their lives more than before. About 3 in 10 homeowners believe that HOAs hold too much power over residents. This dissatisfaction is significant enough that around 10% of homeowners are willing to sell their homes to move to neighborhoods without HOA restrictions, according to Rocket Mortgage's survey of 1,001 HOA residents and board members.
It looks the same
Meanwhile, the people were baffled regarding the HOA's request to Collins to repaint her house. @MsPorbski noted, "If this is original paint, then why is this an issue? ALL original paint is by its very nature 'to scheme, ' and it's up to the HOA to update their records with that scheme for that address." Meanwhile, @webguy commented, "'We do not discuss community matters with media outlets.' That's all I need to know about the disgusting HOA."
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