Category Archives: lawsuit

Structural Engineers Wail Warnings About HOA And Condo Design Projects

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guest blog by Nila Ridings

In the same way homeowners are getting wiser and wiser to the nightmares of HOAs and condo associations so are the engineering professionals who get caught in the very early stages of this insanity. The HOA attorneys are wiping them out, too.

I love it when “insiders” open the can of worms on corruption.  This time it’s the structural engineers and their insurers sounding the alarm about working with architects and developers on condominium projects. And their insurance agents are giving them a “heads up” on how to protect themselves against the inevitable HOA lawsuit.

Reading between the lines it seems they’re saying, “Run from condo projects! HOAs and condos are a pain in the neck to deal with even in hard times when work is scarce! Don’t let the pockets of your engineering firm be the deepest ones in the courtroom” is the message I’m hearing.

It’s disgusting to see the vast numbers of people who are being harmed by this entire HOA and condo association mess. I think we should invite the structural engineers to join our activism. They can relate to the pain and suffering that homeowners are going through… and the fear of the inevitable legal battles with the HOA attorneys.

(the legal risk of working on a condo design)

(And another good link:)

 

HOAs And Electric Cars. Whew!

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You just never know what to expect when you start writing about the outrages of HOA Amerika. But I suppose I could have predicted this one.

It happened in Venice, Florida. The owners of a brand new Chevy Volt discovered one of their neighbors was cutting the cord of their plug-in vehicle.

Now I’m no fan of the Volt. I actually think it’s a little stupid-looking and wouldn’t hold the boxes from any of my recent trips to Costco. But not in a million years would I think of intentionally damaging someone else’s plug-in car. Let them live in peace. It saves more carbon-based gasoline for me.

But intentionally wrecking someone else’s car?

Beyond idiotic. And I hope some Florida cop can figure out a way of sending this creep to jail.

(link to Venice, Florida story)

 

Yet Another Clueless Columnist

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The link below is to a story in the Chicago area’s Daily Herald. The question it poses is innocent enough. “Should condo owners press their boards to seek FHA approval?” But the writer misses some terribly important points.

1. 70% of all HOAs in the country have underfunded reserves.

2. With all the fines, lawsuits, liens and foreclosures across the country, any kind of HOA is an investor’s worst nightmare.

3. People are getting educated about HOA Amerika, and Realtors everywhere are hearing, “Only show me listings that are NOT in HOAs.”

4. Fifteen to thirty year old neighborhoods are falling apart, making disaster properties impossible to sell at any price.

5. Financial experts say there’s a housing bubble coming that will look more like a nuclear bomb than a bubble. This one will be a doozie.

It would be very interesting to see if the FHA has approved any Homeowners Associations in the past decade. My guess is that you’d be hard-pressed to find a single one. Freddie and Fanny have financed some recent HOA projects but these two federal agencies are already on life support.

If anyone knows this Illinois journalist, drop him a line. Tell him to do some real reporting.

“The times, they are a-changin’.” -Bob Dylan

(link to column on FHA approval)

 

Deck Collapses At Wolf Lake Homeowners Association In Indiana

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guest blog by Nila Ridings


Homeowners Associations, beware! The Wilt Family Christmas gathering, on December 22nd suddenly ended with the family photo gathering on the clubhouse deck.  Their lives were changed forever in a matter of seconds when the deck collapsed out from under them.  3 of the family members are still not able to walk.  

The deck had no center supports.  No bolts.  Just nails to support it and the weight of all who walked out onto it.  A family member has taken the time to post a video on YouTube revealing these undeniable facts.  The builder of the deck says it’s been ten years since it was constructed and he has no liability.  The president of the HOA, John Karaffa has not returned calls to the television reporter…don’t hold your breath, he never will.  But, very soon everybody will be talking under oath in the courtroom! 

If you live in an HOA with a clubhouse and balcony, I strongly encourage you to watch the video.  And then watch the videos included in the context of the article.  Insist on an inspection of your clubhouse deck.  As a homeowner in an HOA you hold liability for injuries or deaths.  The risks are too great not to demand an inspection by a professional.
 
 


 

Hogtied & Hammered By Transfer Fee!

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I knew it was coming. I just didn’t realize how massive the damage would be. It’s huge.

Some close friends just sold their HOA home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Before they could sell their house they had to come up with $10,000 at closing, much of that for a Transfer Fee. The Realtor didn’t warn them (they rarely do). Despite me writing Neighbors At War, and doing this blog nightly, these friends just didn’t understand what was coming. It’s hard for younger folks to listen to the ‘old man.’ I’m embarrassed to say that at their age I never listened to my own ‘old man’, either.

But these friends had counted on that $10,000 to help with the down payment for a new house (again, in an HOA!). In their position I would be seething with bitterness.

Dear Readers, Colorado Realtors stood silent when Homeowners Rights advocates tried to convince State Legislators that Transfer Fees are fundamentally unjust and illegal. Just three years ago the state passed a law which actually declared transfer fees to be illegal (except in Homeowners Associations). Why the exception for HOAs? Well, just a single HOA lobbying group takes in 55 billion dollars a year. How in Hell does an insider industry group NOT use that kind of money to ‘buy’ legislation?

Shame on the corrupt HOA lobby. Shame on the greedy legislators. Shame on the Realtors who stood silent when they could have made a difference.

I really think our rising movement should take aim at Realtors. They make 7% on a home sale. On a $400,000 house that’s $28,000.  All homeowners should begin demanding that Realtors agree IN WRITING that they will pay the cost of all transfer fees. You don’t agree? You don’t get the listing.

Maybe those Realtors will join us at the Legislature next year.