Mesa homeowner loses $475K house over a $977 HOA bill

Toby Newton, 53, of Mesa, Arizona, says his four-bedroom home valued at about $475,000 was foreclosed by his HOA after he fell roughly $977 behind on quarterly dues amid job loss and health issues; legal fees ballooned the debt to nearly $10,000, and the home was sold at a 2025 auction for about $8,172, with Newton reportedly still in the house as he seeks to reclaim it. He says the HOA refused to discuss a payment plan, a point raised in broader concerns that rising costs are driving tougher HOA collections and foreclosures nationwide.