Tag Archives: Ridings

$50K Goal For GoFundMe And The Purple Playset

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

The blog I wrote about the Raintree Lake HOA in Lee’s Summit, Missouri on August 10th mentioned discussions of a GoFundMe account for the Stout family legal defense. They are standing up and fighting against the HOA to keep their daughters’ purple playset.

Sure enough, somebody took the bull by the horns and set it up. The donations are rolling in. And the comments from some of the donors are VERY interesting. Even a Realtor is making mention of people being afraid to buy in HOAs. How many times have we heard that before?

It’s so sickening to think all that money will go to fund the college funds of children of two HOA lawyers. Or maybe a second home in Breckenridge, Bozeman, or Bonaire. Or, possibly a yacht for the Lake of the Ozarks. No matter what the outcome of the lawsuit in the courtroom, the lawyers come out the winners. This is how the HOA legal game is played. Everybody loses except the lawyers. The pay off is determined by how long the lawyers can keep the battle raging.

When I sold yellow page advertising years ago, I had hundreds of attorneys as clients. When I asked what was the best case I could bring them they would tell me a nasty divorce. Naive me, I asked how do you know it’s a nasty divorce? With a chuckle from the attorneys I kept hearing, “you get them to call and we KNOW how to make it nasty!” Something tells me the days of the nasty divorces have been replaced with nasty HOA legal battles. Unfortunately, in that arena, I am not at all naive!

http://www.gofundme.com/hekvt8xm

 

Cautions About Condos From Heloise

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

Something about the condo purchasing information in this newspaper column tells me she’s had some first-hand experience. She knows enough to wave the warning flag and sound the alarm, but not enough to know those items are the lesser of the worries in a condo purchase.

I’ve written her a paragraph about my perspective on condo living. If you feel so inclined to help add to her HOA education write her at: Heloise@Heloise.com

Perhaps it will be a newspaper columnist who impacts the most people in the shortest time period? I don’t know. What I do know is the vast knowledge about HOA and COAs among our readers must be shared far and wide.

Just today, I called an Attorney General’s office for some information as I was investigating another HOA nightmare. She asked me, “What makes you inquire about HOAs?” I proceeded to give her the shortest version I could of the past eight years of my HOA exploration and experience. She said, “You sure called me at the right time!” Our conversation continued with her telling me she is looking to buy her first home. All of her friends have purchased condos!!! She thanked me several times for the information I gave her. I hung up feeling like I had just saved a life! I feel 99.9% sure no real estate agent will get her signature on a contract for an HOA property. And I know she will do the research and read the things I suggested so her level of knowledge will most likely be greater than the Realtor trying to sell her a property.

Education…it’s imperative!

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/heloise-333687-ocprint-grapefruit-dear.html

 

 

Visual Assistance For Making Decisions

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guest blog by Nila Ridings
My lifelong friend shared the video below with me.

The visual images put life into perspective in a way that makes a person think. Think, about what has been accomplished and what lies ahead.

Where is it we wish to be down the road? The young may be seeking the perfect mate, an exciting career, a dream car, or a luxury vacation. The older folks mostly set their focus on their health (and wish it had been their top priority decades before), hope they can hold onto their job until they can afford to retire, and they cherish calls from friends and family while clinging tightly to their beloved pets.

When it comes to the roof over all of our heads…I hope the young have learned to run from condos, POAs, and HOAs. I wish every senior would get out of them before they cannot make the move. And for those still able-bodied and know the risks I hope for them to find the motivation to pack up and drive right out the gate. I fall into the latter category and this video just helped me to stay focused on my goal.

If you find it interesting and motivating, please share it. I’m so thankful my dear friend shared it with me.

School Loans + Home Buying = Lack of Info

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

It’s worth repeating that the only way I see changes for the future of HOAs is with the younger generations.

Younger people will listen and participate in discussions about things that could decimate their future. Many of them struggle to find jobs that allow them to live outside their parent’s basement, buy gas and insurance for their car, and still be able to stop at Dunkin’ Donuts for a latte and muffin.

The article and survey below show how the Millennial generation is carrying the burden of school loans that are causing a delay in their interest to buy a home, get married, and have children. It also addresses the fact a high percentage of these loan takers felt they were not given enough information prior to taking out the loans.

These same people will also not be told about the risks of buying a condo, loft, town house, or HOA restricted property if they depend on a Realtor, mortgage lender, or the HOA office to hand over the unvarnished truth. It won’t happen. In an effort to protect these young property buyers I will bare the truth. The whole truth. And nothing but the truth. Because I’ve spent a decade in HOA HELL I will do everything in my power to protect others from the same.

If buyers, of any age forget the sales pitch and remember the following they will be making an informed decision. You sign away your US Constitutional Rights when buying in an HOA. You become business partners with all of your neighbors in a non-profit corporation. You become the guarantor for money to pay on all debts, loans, lawsuits, settlements, liabilities, construction defects, and disaster rebuilds. And any other reason the HOA board of directors may decide an assessment shall be demanded from you.

Just like those college loans, you cannot escape the HOA payments and risks. One may be the ball and chain around your ankle while the other could be the noose around your neck.

I’m going to ask a favor of every reader. Please share this blog and the link below with every person you know between the ages of 18 and 30. We must save as many in the younger generation as possible. For each one we reach there will be countless others who will also receive this message via social networking and coffee shop discussions.

Thank you in advance for being a reader who tries to make a difference!

(link to article on student loan debt)

 

Mommy and Daddy Are Going To Jail!

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

Excuse my language, but WHAT THE HELL is going on at Raintree Lake in Lee’s Summit, Missouri?

This family project of building a playset is about to land the parents in JAIL. All because the stain they used on the wood is purple. And since when do HOAs have the legal right to put somebody in JAIL? Isn’t JAIL where criminals go? Tell me what is criminal about purple? Or a playset. Oh! That’s right we’re dealing with an HOA here. Now, this all makes sense.

I know people who live in this Raintree Lake HOA. I’m not sure how happy they will be to see their neighbors hauled off in handcuffs to JAIL over the color purple. And I know they will not be happy having their dues burned up in legal bills! I need to ask them if their HOA has built a jail for those who they think did not follow the CC&R’s? Perhaps this is the up and coming thing with HOAs? I’ve always felt like I was living in a JAIL since I moved into an HOA.

I can hear it now. “Hi Dad, it’s Marla. We’re in JAIL because we stained the girls’ playset purple! Can you come down with some bail money so we can get out of HOA JAIL?”

The internet discussions are about starting fundraiser websites to help this family fight to keep their playset. So sad. Good money being donated and spent to fill the pockets of HOA attorneys…again!

Folks, in the big picture of life would somebody please clue these Raintree Lake HOA board members in on how insanely ridiculous they are conducting themselves. When I think of the massive issues we are facing in America and worldwide, it really irks me that bullies on HOA boards are relishing the idea of destroying lives and bank accounts over nonsense. And purple paint is total nonsense!

When will the legislators wake up and see what damage is being done to homeowners by people with evil intentions?

Thanks to Scott McDonnell at KMBC for covering this story. I have tried for years to get this television station to help us educate homeowners about HOAs. Finally, I see progress is being made!

(link to KMBC story on the purpose swing set)