guest blog by Nila Ridings
Let’s refresh our memories about the Davis Lake Community Association in North Carolina, the HOA that foreclosed on Alfred Thompkins, an ill and elderly man who stopped paying his dues. He was upset because the HOA wouldn’t let his niece and nephew who lived with him use the swimming pool. Obviously, he was honest and said he wasn’t their legal guardian, so the HOA just grabbed his house.
The point is: Who gives a rip? In the beginning Thompkins was paying dues, which contributed to the pool even though he wasn’t using it. So why not let his niece and nephew take a dip?
This is what gripes me about HOA board members. So many of them seem to be incredibly lacking in common sense! They foreclosed and sold Thompkins’ house for pennies on the dollar. But was that really the issue? Or could it have been the fact that his house was mortgage-free and loaded to the roof top with equity? (Click on the link below to find out how a reverse mortgage saved his house from foreclosure.)
I think of all the people inconvenienced and costs that were involved in this insane situation:
1) He had to pack and move
2) Rented a storage unit
3) Stayed at a relative’s house
4) Wells Fargo got involved
5) The television station got involved
6) The county court system got involved
7) Utilities were disconnected
8) His mail had to be forwarded
9) Relatives are buying gas and driving from Chicago to help him move back in
10) Utilities have to be re-connected
11) Mail has to be re-established
12) He will have to unpack and re-settle
In the big picture, would it not have made better sense to have worked this out with Alfred before putting him and all these other people through such tremendous stress and nightmares?
I can personally think of at least ten ways this could have been resolved without this “bullies on the board” approach.
Not to mention, Mr. Thompkins could have just lied and said his two relatives were his children. Would the board have paid for DNA testing? Doubtful. But he told the truth and this is the mess he got into for being honest. A person’s honesty should never be met with a penalty. This is one of the reasons deception and dishonesty have become a way of life in America!!!
And, now we have another elderly person in tears because of the torture he endured at the hands of an HOA! The rest of his days in that house he’ll be living in fear of doing something wrong and losing his house again.
I guarantee it!
list of Davis Lake board members:
stevendonai@davislake.org
bettylee@davislake.org
bruceauerbach@davislake.org
lesliematthews@davislake.org
briansenatore@davislake.org
I am the president of this HOA and the only who signed off on this foreclose, not eviction. Your information and speculation on this incident is an unfortunate misrepresentation of the facts of the actual interaction, or lack of, between Mr Thompkins and this community. Per the advise of our council I did not comment at the completely inaccurate TV story; however, with your bio I would have expected more out of you before posting such incorrect information.
This had zero to do about accessing the pool and if you want to contact me directly please feel free to do so. After all, you posted all of our emails without our consent anyway.
Steve
Hi Steve. At first I wasn’t going to reply to your comment. As you can see, I’ve posted it unedited by me. But now I’m thinking I really should send you a free copy of my book. You may be a very nice guy in what you think is a nice HOA. But every HOA is just one step away from disaster. And American HOAs are crumbling before our eyes. Embezzling, federal racketeering charges, mass murders, idiotic fines, and foreclosures just to “get the black guy out of the neighborhood.” Again, just because you seem like a nice guy, please CONFIDENTIALLY send me your mailing address and you’ll receive my book. I’ll even autograph it to you if you wish. -Ward
Steve, you should ask for the HOA money back from the attorney who advised your HOA board to foreclose. Maybe even file a state bar complaint. Someone didn’t do their homework to find out if there was a reverse mortgage. You state that you are the president of Davis Lake CA and you were the only one to sign off on the foreclosure. Do your documents allow ONE (1) board member to sign off to foreclose on a home? If not, you are definitely in a position to be sued for breach of fiduciary duty. If the homeowners in your community were smart and involved, they would be recalling all of you board members. National attention, no matter what the story, is not going to fare well for your property values.
Thank you, Holly for your comment!
This is what I love about this website. Not only did Ward Lucas provide us with a purely factual book about HOAs, but his followers are knowledgeable people. And tens of thousands of others come here to learn.
I’ve spent time on other sites around the internet and it’s just sickening how so many people “think” they are authorities on HOAs and they spread so much false information.
Holly, your comment could possibly save another HOA or a board member somewhere around the country from making a very serious mistake. Kudos to you for sharing your knowledge!