Homeowners in the new Paseo del Este neighborhood in far east El Paso say surprise homeowners association bills are landing in their mailboxes, some running into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, despite a developer promise to waive late charges. Many buyers say they were repeatedly told at closing that their homes were not part of an HOA and only found out about dues when certified letters and fines started showing up.
Residents describe demand letters and assessment notices that turned into instant financial headaches. Anita Garcia, an active-duty service member, told CBS4 she returned from deployment to find an attorney's letter demanding $1,301 and a separate $868 bill for late fees, interest, and annual assessments. Other homeowners, including Luis Zubiate, reported bills topping $2,000 and said checks they mailed were never cashed, according to the report.
Developer promised waivers, but bills keep coming
Hunt Companies, the community's developer, told a KFOX14 reporter in October that, after reviewing concerns with management company FirstService Residential, assessments for 2025 would be reduced and late and delinquency charges would be waived through March 1, 2026, when the pool and amenity center are expected to open. Despite that pledge, homeowners say the management company is hard to reach and that refunds for payments they made have not appeared in many bank accounts. KFOX14's reporting captured both the developer's public promise and the discrepancy residents now describe.
Listings and closing paperwork do not match
Public listings for Paseo del Este identify an HOA and name FirstService Residential as the association manager, which residents say contradicts the paperwork they received at closing. For example, Zillow pages for Paseo del Este homes show yearly HOA fees and list “FirstService Residential” under association details, and the builder's site markets the community as “Paseo del Este (HOA Community)” on Tropicana Homes. That mismatch between online listings and what some buyers say they were told has left neighbors searching for clarity.
Legal options for homeowners
Texas law requires property owners' associations to deliver a resale certificate and governing documents within 10 business days of a written request, and it limits the association's ability to collect amounts that were not disclosed in that certificate, according to the Texas Property Code Section 207.003. Sellers must also provide buyers with a written seller's disclosure notice about known HOA obligations per the Texas Property Code Section 5.008. Homeowners who believe they were not properly informed should request their resale certificate from the title company, demand a written accounting from the HOA or its manager, and consider consulting an attorney or filing a complaint if disclosures were incomplete.
On Wednesday, residents said they remain out of pocket and short on clear contact information for refunds. As CBS4 reported, Hunt Companies said it had nothing new to add; neighbors say they will keep pressing the developer and manager for answers before the neighborhood amenities open next year.
