Newspaper columnists who favor the Homeowners Association system are getting about as rare as hen’s teeth.
On the other hand, many many journalists are finally ‘getting it.’ Either they’ve been bitten themselves, or they’ve had a flood of complaints from bullied or cheated homeowners. The column linked below from the Capitol Gazette, in Maryland, is really, really good.
She uses the words, “no accountability.” Amen to that!
(link to column on HOAs in Capital Gazette)
The word ‘Christmas’ must be anathema to some people. In fact, any word containing the letters that spell C-h-r-i-s-t makes people spit nails. Oh, they’ll use the word, but only while slinging cuss words around.
In Arizona, Roger Walklin of the Velda Rose Estates Homeowners Association, says a bunch of little old ladies who stitch Christmas stockings each year in the clubhouse are no longer allowed.
“You’re a religious group,” he said. “It’s against the covenants to allow religious groups in.”
Each year, Ferne Skidmore and her friends stitch about 3000 Christmas stockings, stuff them with goodies and hand them out to less fortunate kids.
“We’re not a religious group. We have no religious affiliation at all. We donate stockings to anybody who wants them. Besides, there’s nothing in the covenants that says religious groups can’t use the clubhouse.” Ferne is now taking the money out of her air conditioner repair fund to take Walklin to court.
I’ve got a much better and cheaper solution for Ferne. Don’t call it the ‘Christmas Stockings Project.’ Call it the ‘L’il Hitler Stockings Project.’ It’s an HOA for gosh sakes. That one might slide right by and nobody would catch it.
BTW, Arizona property manager Dave Russell is outraged and he’s already offered his community clubhouse to the ladies for free. No hassles!
(link to story on KPHO/KTVK TV, Phoenix)
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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)
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)
Ah yes, an untold number of people have lost their homes to bully Homeowners Association boards. But there ingenious ways to survive without money. Witness what you can do with an abandoned Walmart cart. With this you can lounge in comfort under a bridge.
