Author Archives:

About

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.

Hilarious!

Ya just gotta love Texans. “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” That was Sam Houston’s cry as his Army chased General Santa Anna across the desert. Texans have always had a fighting spirit.

The story linked below deserves to be read and shared. A number of homeowners in the Pecan Lakes Homeowners Association are rebelling against stupid HOA rules. They’ve got a knight in shining armor and a funny way of defying authority.

(link to ABC-13 news story about the traveling knight)

 

Get The Embezzling Message Across!

Slowly, very slowly, members of Homeowners Associations are discovering that the basic design of American HOAs is fundamentally and profoundly flawed. The system encourages embezzling. The system of double-checks that marks all traditional governments was just never built into the HOA system.

The latest alleged embezzlement was only discovered by accident. More than a quarter million bucks is missing from an Arizona HOA and each homeowner is going to be straddled with special assessments. “Gosh, I thought Homeowners Associations protected property values?”

Dunce.

Buy into a Homeowners Association and risk your life savings. That’s just the way it is.

(link to yet another embezzling arrest)

 

This Could Be Interesting!

Lots of negativity in the HOA world. But on the other side of the fence there’s an interesting plea which we could actually network into something positive.

Anyone who knows someone in the San Antonio area please pay attention.

The word is that there’s a retired Air Force pilot who’s battling leukemia. The city has threatened to fine him because his grass is too high. There may be some other issues as well. Obviously, his health is preventing him from mowing his yard himself, but a family member who lives elsewhere in the country is trying to find someone or some agency which can help this fellow.

We love our military people. Surely, our network can come up with some ideas to help this gentleman out in his time of need. Email me your contacts and I’ll forward them.

ward@NeighborsAtWar.com

 

These Homeowners Will Lose A Bundle

Ever heard of Keizer? It’s a small community next to Interstate 5 in Central Oregon. And homeowners in the McNary Estates Homeowners Association are about to end up in a giant bloodbath because of stupid HOA leaders. And I mean Stoopid, with a capital ‘S.’

How many times do we hear of HOAs breaking state and federal law protecting handicapped people? You can’t discriminate against them. It’s blatantly illegal and it’s almost an automatic jury verdict of millions. Now, with the mistreatment of the family of a disabled girl, the family has filed a lawsuit. This HOA essentially chased this tragic family out.

Guess what’s next? Special assessments. Every homeowner in McNary Estates will get a sudden bill to pay up his or her fair share of the money this family will win. Wanna buy a home there? Heck, betcha you can pick one up right now…real cheap!

Another HOA ‘protecting’ your property values.

 

http://keizertimes.com/2016/09/23/hoa-lawsuit-rachets-up/