I’m really good, aren’t I? I should go into business as a professional psychic! Just a few days ago in a blog post headlined, “Fire That Reporter, Judy Thomas,” I predicted that the powers-that-be would come down like a sledgehammer on the reporter who wrote the fantastic HOA series in The Kansas City Star.
It’s starting, just like I said it would. Linked below is an internal column by the Community Associations Institute, (CAI). It’s so typical of the rank distortions by CAI whenever they refer to homeowners rights advocates. The KC Star’s series was not only incredibly accurate, but it was also fair and balanced. The national Homeowners Association scam is so far out-of-control that a typical reaction to the phrase, ‘homeowners association’ is a couple of raised eyebrows. It’s hard to find a single person who hasn’t heard horror stories about HOA life.
The more you learn about CAI, the more you learn to distrust anything they say. In fact, CAI should really change it’s name. The acronym, ‘CAI,’ sounds too much like ‘lie.’ I’m open to suggestions but I kind of like HOAs-For U. That makes for an even more accurate acronym.
(link to CAI column blasting Kansas City Star series)
Wow! All of a sudden it seems like HOA media coverage has exploded! A raindrop here and there, and all of a sudden a thunderstorm!
HOA aficionados, lawyers, liars, and HOA organizations that perjure themselves while testifying in State Legislatures continue to complain that true HOA problems are so rare they don’t merit attention. Rare, indeed! The rare HOA is one that DOESN’T have problems.
Get it, folks? HOAs are universally as fascist as they are incompetent. Bullies run for the board. They get elected because homeowners have been bullied into submission and don’t even dare to attend the meeting and vote. Once a bully is in power, the testosterone gets released.
I’m linking to comments on Reddit from people who’ve been screwed by the lawn Nazis in HOAs across America.
(link to readers’ comments on a Reddit post)
LOL! That’s the lie I’ve been railing against for the past half dozen years.
No, HOAs absolutely DO NOT protect property values. And across the country, homeowners are learning about that the hard way. The latest hair-raising story comes from North Carolina.
Police in Wake and Johnson counties confirm they’re investigating possible embezzlement of more than a half million dollars from more than two dozen Homeowners Associations managed by Kornerstone Community Management.
Let’s see, I’ve got a home in The Wellington HOA I’d like to sell. Oh, a special assessment? To cover all embezzlement costs? Now, where did my prospective buyer go? Guess I’ll have to lower the asking price again.
No, your HOA does not protect your property values.
(link to WNCN-CBS news in Raleigh, North Carolina)
Most people in our network already frequently check into Shu Bartholomew’s incredible weekly radio show, On The Commons. Everybody who’s anybody in the homeowners rights movement has been interviewed by Shu at least once. But this weekend’s show had a ‘first-timer.’ And what a first-timer it was!
The guest was Judy Thomas, the reporter behind the huge HOA investigative series in last week’s Kansas City Star. Judy says she’s gotten responses from all over the country. Strange, because so many other major newspapers have turned down stories about the HOA mess because they assume it’s a non-issue. It’s getting more and more difficult for professional lobbyists like the Community Associations Institute (CAI) to pretend that almost all homeowners are happy with their HOA. It’s obvious that millions, even tens of millions of homeowners have been burned by the national HOA scam.
Definitely listen to how this Kansas reporter uncovered the truth about HOAs.
(link to OnTheCommons.net)
guest blog by Nila Ridings
Communication and documentation. Key words in the business world.
Here’s a case of a contractor who sold windows to the HOA. He became ill and unable to perform as promised. He also stopped communicating. Why didn’t he call the contact person and explain he was ill and would be back on the job? Why did he spend the money that was supposed to pay for the windows? Why didn’t he refund the money immediately and apologize for not being able to fulfill the agreement?
As I see it, the HOA paid too much money up front. Why didn’t she get a surety bond to guarantee the work would be done? Why didn’t she require the money be put in an escrow account and withdrawn as needed to pay for the windows and then the labor? Did she talk to other customers of this company? If not, she should have. Did she do an internet search for lawsuits, past and pending?
The loss could have been much greater. Hopefully, the windows will arrive and the contractor will get them installed and all will be well. But if they aren’t this HOA will be in court trying to recover its money and the cost of litigation will more than likely exceed the recovery.
Another lesson learned about board members who lack the experience of negotiating contracts and operating on trust instead of logic. Amateurs managing an HOA? Always a formula for disaster. We’ve seen it happen all across America. And there are times when the best of people with massive business knowledge still get taken.
Who ever thought the HOA concept would ever work must have been out of their minds!
(link to story about HOA mistake)
