Ward Lucas is a longtime investigative journalist and television news anchor. He has won more than 70 national and regional awards for Excellence in Journalism, Creative Writing and community involvement. His new book, "Neighbors At War: the Creepy Case Against Your Homeowners Association," is now available for purchase. In it, he discusses the American homeowners association movement, from its racist origins, to its transformation into a lucrative money machine for the nation's legal industry. From scams to outright violence to foreclosures and neighborhood collapses across the country, the reader will find this book enormously compelling and a necessary read for every homeowner. Knowledge is self-defense. No homeowner contemplating life in an HOA should neglect reading this book. No HOA board officer should overlook this examination of the pitfalls in HOA management. And no lawyer representing either side in an HOA dispute should gloss over what homeowners are saying or believing about the lawsuit industry.
Strange how violently some Homeowners Associations react to any display of patriotism. But it happens over and over against across the country. Display the flag and risk verbal abuse, neighborhood shaming, fines, liens and foreclosures.
But it’s all about following the money. Give your HOA an excuse, let them believe you’ve got some equity in your home and you’ll be targeted by a rogue board for any reason, even the display of an American flag.
I’ve long predicted a huge implosion of the housing market. But that’s more based on instinct than in long, hard study. But it takes an investigator like Deborah Goonan to really gather the facts and offer conclusions. Her blog, today, an an excellent look at what’s coming and what may be behind a pending crisis.
I’ve written about this before, but if you want to see what happens when Homeowners Associations take over the reigns of government, you need go no further than what was formerly known as the “Cocaine Capitol of the World,” Aspen, Colorado.
Aspen is sometimes known as ‘Hollywood East.’ All the big movie stars have second homes there. Visit a couple of neighborhood bars and you’re more than likely to spot a half dozen TV and movie celebrities. Millionaires and zillionaires everywhere.
With its sordid history of corrupt and out-of-control Homeowners Associations, it’s astonishing that the Illinois Legislature has once again failed to provide any relief to beleaguered homeowners.
Illinois could have changed the course of the growing national HOA scam. It failed. Sponsors of the pro-homeowner bill say they’ll try again next year. I have a suggestion for them, though. Make it illegal for an HOA board to buy insurance against lawsuits by homeowners.
No, I’ll go one better: As you divide up legal costs among homeowners, make individual board members and managers pay double the assessment charged to everyone else.
