Tag Archives: HOAs

Watch Out for Young Black Males? Oh, My!

I have not investigated this incident personally, so I can only pass on the link to another blogger’s website. But I have seen rampant racism in a number of other HOAs across the country. In my upcoming book, Neighbors At War: The Creepy Case Against Your Homeowner Assocation, I trace a number of similar cases that should be of intense concern to anyone who respects the civil rights of all people.

If this story in Houston is even halfway accurate, then all men and women should read and weep:

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2012/05/walnut_bend_black_males_e-mail.php

Ward Lucas
Author of
Neighbors At War: The Creepy Case Against Your Homeowners Association

Sneaky, Sneaky Trick in the Foreclosure State

The wise guys in Florida are picking up some sneaky new tricks. Most homeowners who are overdue on their debts to HOAs owe less than $15,000. HOAs aren’t required to notify primary mortgage holders that the homeowner is in arrears on HOA payments.

HOA lawyers tell their clients to file for repayment in county court rather than circuit court. Circuit courts, of course, are working on huge backloads. So the HOAs can get a foreclosure in about half the time by going through county court.  The major lenders suddenly discover the rug’s been whipped out from under them, and the HOA which was owed the smallest debt now gets the entire foreclosed house.

It’s slick. It’s almost foolproof.  And it allowed one person to grab a one million dollar house for just $10,000. Is something wrong with this picture?  Is this kind of sickness really endemic in America?  What have we wrought? What have we wrought?

Ward Lucas
Author of
Neighbors At War: The Creepy Case Against Your Homeowners Association

STOP THE PRESSES!!!

Well, at least it sounded cool, but I didn’t have the guts to say that to my publisher. I actually did want to hold off for a couple of weeks on my new book, Neighbors At War: the Creepy Case Against Your Homeowner Association. With all the embezzlements from HOAs, I’ve got a last minute update I’d like to make. I want to slip into Chapter 14 a $1000 challenge: a reward for the reader who can compile a verified list of the largest number of Homeowner Association embezzlements.

It’s really too tragic to be funny. But the latest case involves Kevin Douglas Harris, an HOA officer who pleaded guilty to embezzling money to buy himself some golf equipment. It’s the Hi Hill Village Homeowners Association in Orion Township, Michigan. Perhaps Kevin felt he was working so hard as treasurer, his neighbors sort of owed him a new set of clubs.

This theft was only for 6000 bucks. But still, don’t HOA homeowners get it? It’s too easy! Embezzling from Home Associations is out of control.

So, if my publisher doesn’t beat me to death with a tire iron first, here’s the deal: compile and verify the longest list of HOA embezzlements in any 365 day period. I’m the sole judge. If you win the money, I get to publish your research in my second book!

If we both do our jobs quickly, maybe our golf club embezzler will be able to read both books while he’s still on parole…that is, if he gets sentenced at all.

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/01/13/news/local_news/doc4f0f724e2c027029623300.txt

Ward Lucas
Author of
Neighbors At War: The Creepy Case Against Your Homeowners Association