Category Archives: HOA

American News Media Getting Educated About HOAs? Nawwww!

Homeowners rights advocates like Deborah Goonan, Sara Benson, Nila Ridings and others are noting that more and more mainstream news outlets are beginning to be aware of the national Homeowners Association scam. Yes, they’re writing about it, but they’re still getting it wrong.

This is a multi-billion dollar scandal and these idiot reporters are just saying that homeowners have to be more aware and do more DUE diligence. The Fox Business article linked below is another example of a reporter learning that “there’s something out there!”

But the very structure and promise of Homeowners Associations is a complete lie. You can’t just ‘investigate’ to see if your HOA is being operated properly. A balsa wood doll house might look strong enough to stand on. But the strength it promises is a fabrication. Your HOA promises to protect your property values, but in tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of HOAs across America property values are plummeting. If you think your values are being protected then you’ve bought into one of the biggest lies ever sold to the American homeowner.

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!

(link to Fox Business article on the need to investigate before you buy)

 

Announcing BIG NEWS! The HOAX!

guest blog by Nila Ridings

Drum roll please!!!!After years of waiting….THE HOAX will be available online for all the world to see! Directed by Rodney Gray, this film is a documentary about HOAs. Starting 6 June 2016 for one week twenty-four hours per day from the comfort of your home, cabin, camper, or while on the bus, train, or plane viewers can see it all! This is one movie you do not want to miss!

How many thousands of times have we heard, “SOMEBODY SHOULD MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THESE CRAZY HOAs?!?! Rodney has entered this film into film festivals across America. He’s never given up on trying to get the word out about HOAs. He’s a true ‘fight to the finish’ warrior. Perhaps his time in the United States Marine Corps played a role in his tenacity, determination, and perseverance? Whatever it took to create this production is far more than most of us could imagine.

Congratulations, Rodney Gray!

Click on the the link below for instructions on how to watch the movie starting 6/6/16. Scroll down to #20-THE HOAX

 

Trump Sign Brings $50/Day Fine!

guest blog by Shu Bartholomew

Here we go again!  

The Cottages at Savannah Condominium Unit Owners Association in North Ridgeville, Ohio, is threatening Frank Kronen with $50 daily fines if he doesn’t remove his Trump sign from his window.  They claim it violates their “code rules and regulations” .  

The Cottages is not the first residential association that has attempted to strip a homeowner of his Constitutionally protected right to free speech. Many associations have tried over the years and many have succeeded – but not all.  

At least a couple of examples come to mind.  In both of these instances the results were epic.

The first story took place a little over 20 years ago when Cheryl Kagan ran for State Delegate in Maryland.  Cheryl lived in a high rise condominium and put a “Vote Kagan” sign in her window. And that’s when all hell broke loose!  A rather vocal HOA attorney warned everyone that the entire area would look like “the backside of a refrigerator” if people were allowed to put campaigns signs in their windows.  Where do they get these ideas? Unfortunately for the condo association and this particular attorney, Cheryl won!  And the first thing she did once in office was to introduce legislation protecting condo owners’ right to put campaign signs in their windows. What a concept!  The world has not spun off its axis and Maryland does not look like the backside of a refrigerator!  So much for the expertise of industry members!  

And let’s not forget the stunning accomplishments of Maria and Sam Farran who placed an Obama sign in their front yard.  The sign exceeded the association approved size for signs by a few inches.  When the Farrans were told they were in violation, they were more than willing to comply with the insanity of their HOA.   They brought the sign into compliance by cutting it in half.  Apparently the board was not amused. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back and started the war that captured the imagination of the country.  After several years of litigation, Olde Belle Haven filed for bankruptcy protection.  And then a sense of community returned to the neighborhood. Although the HOA corporation still exists, the homeowners amended the documents stripping it of all its powers.  The last I heard, the owners were a real community where people got along, did what they wanted with their homes and where property values went up.  

So much for the prognostications of the HOA industry!  

Meanwhile in The Cottages in Ohio, Frank says when he entered the US Army, he swore an oath to protect the Constitution and he is prepared to continue defending it now.  He adds, “If that offends anyone, deal with it.”   “I’m an American, I served to protect my right to put that sign in my window, I’ll be damned if somebody’s gonna tell me to take it out.”

I like his attitude.  Good luck Frank.  I look forward to adding your story to the ones where the homeowners win.

(link to FOX 8 story on battle over Trump sign)

Survey On Neighborhood Satisfaction

I originally wasn’t going to link to this survey written by Arizona Realtor Jill Schweitzer. Polling organizations like Zogby, which is often used by the Community Associations Institute, are famously flawed because of the leading questions asked by the survey. Still, because this website is in the business of educating clueless homeowners, I’ve reconsidered.

Take the poll. It can’t hurt. And who knows? It might educate someone.

(poll on neighborhood satisfaction)

 

An Even Deeper Dive Into CAI’s White Paper On HOA Governance

guest blog by Deborah Goonan

This week, let’s examine Community Associations Institute’s version for “enlightening’ developers and “improving governing documents.

Does the U.S need or want “communities created with CAI’s vision?

Below is a link to my website where I have Part 2, dissecting CAI’s white paper on Association Governance.

Does the U.S. need or want “communities” created with CAI’s vision?

https://independentamericancommunities.com/2016/05/16/cai-white-paper-on-association-governance-part-2/