Tag Archives: goonan

Should There Be Federal Standards & Regulations For HOAs?

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guest blog by Deborah Goonan

My colleagues and I have posed this question on several occasions in HOA discussion forums frequented by Community Associations Institute (CAI) members – mostly community managers and attorneys, with an occasional Board member.

Of course, the knee-jerk HOA industry reply is “NOOOOO!” The standard mantra is that HOAs do not want or need more government control. Why would Association members want some bureaucrats in far-off Washington DC telling communities how they ought to govern themselves? They reason that members of HOAs are quite capable of choosing their own destinies, within their own “form of democracy.”

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Texas Judge to Decide Meaning of ‘Family’ in HOA

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guest blog by Deborah Goonan

This is an update to an earlier blog about the Plantation Resort 2 in Frisco, Texas. The PR2 HOA is filing a lawsuit against City House, to block use of a home they recently purchased and renovated for use as transitional living for homeless youths.

The local CBS affiliate has been covering the story, and the link to their video is below.

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Another Insignificant HOA Embezzlement?

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guest blog by Deborah Goonan

Another isolated incident?

It seems like there are several reports of HOA theft and embezzlement each week. Sometimes it’s a rogue Board member writing checks to herself or buying himself a new car. But sometimes it’s the Community Association Manager skimming funds, as in this case in Georgia. Atlanta, Dunwoody, and Chamblee police departments are currently investigating up to twelve HOAs where Michael Sisson was hired to manage the communities’ operations and finances.

Yes, up to one dozen.

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Beach Erosion Threatens SC Condominium

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guest blog by Deborah Goonan

Stories like this one never cease to amaze me. Some people will do just about anything for an ocean view. An illegal sea wall and some sand bags are the only thing stopping the Ocean Club condominium from washing out into the Atlantic on the coast of South Carolina.

The million dollar unasked question is why was a construction permit issued on this site nearly 30 years ago? The resort sits at the mouth of the Dewees inlet, where waves batter the fragile coastline.  Adjacent to the condo building of 150 units, part of the beachside golf course had to be closed, slowly eroding into the ocean.

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Open Letter On HOAs To All Policy Makers

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guest blog by Deborah Goonan

Although HOA horror stories and reports of financial failures of common interest developments are reported daily in the media, industry proponents claim these are “isolated” incidents, that most people are happy under government by CC&Rs, and that buyers actually want more of the same.

When I or others attempt to discuss realities from the HOA resident’s perspective, we hear “HOAs aren’t for everyone,” “move if you don’t like it,” and “stop whining and complaining.”We are told our democratic proposals for reform are “fantasy” and “unrealistic.” Tell me, when did Democracy become taboo?

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