A couple in Arizona has announced that they may lose their home due to a $977 debt to the homeowners association. Toby Newton, who lives in eastern Mesa, Arizona, purchased a four-bedroom house for $475,000 in 2022. Newton lost his job two years later and developed diabetes, which complicated his ability to pay expenses.
Financial difficulties and payment proposals
Newton stated that due to financial difficulties, he was unable to pay the homeowners association fees on time and ultimately became $977 in debt. He contacted them in 2024 to set up a payment plan and proposed to pay $50 a month, which was rejected by the association. He then made other offers of $133.70 and $200 a month, which were also rejected.
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Foreclosure process and health issues
In November 2024, the association's attorney, Augustus Shaw IV, initiated the foreclosure process on Newton's home. This process was officially completed in 2025. According to records, Newton owed $1,311 for association fees, $1,042.09 for plaintiff costs, and $3,345 for attorney fees. In October of that year, his home was sold at a public auction to the Superstition Springs Community Master for $8,172.
Newton stated that the association offered him the chance to reclaim his home if he paid off his debt within six months. However, his long-term partner, Sherri Patten, was diagnosed with breast cancer and required long-term rehabilitation, making it more difficult for them to pay the debt.
The couple decided to prioritize their health, and the six-month period for paying off their debt elapsed. The association informed Newton that the main deadline had passed but suggested that if he could secure $10,484 by May 2026, he could reclaim his home.
Newton filed for an emergency stay and requested explanations regarding the rejection of his proposal at the association's board meeting earlier this month. Meanwhile, Patten is still undergoing treatment for her cancer, and the couple is trying to raise funds through GoFundMe to buy back their home.
Arizona recently passed a law that increases the foreclosure threshold from one year of non-payment to eighteen months and raises the minimum amount that triggers foreclosure from $1,200 to $10,000. If this law had been in effect a year ago, the association would not have been able to proceed with the foreclosure on Newton's home.
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Source: independent.co.uk
