Reader poll on HOAs imposing fines
June 10, 2017
How to make your HOA work for its members, a daunting challenge
June 23, 2017
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Overall, the industry that builds, sells, and serves HOAs promotes the wildly unrealistic assumption that unit owners and shareholders will forever engage in fair and friendly cooperation with their association leaders and their neighbors. But the association governance model is based on several faulty assumptions, and is dependent … More How to make your HOA work for its members, a daunting challenge
NJ Condo association gets $10 M in landmark construction defect lawsuit
June 22, 2017
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities A legal team from Becker & Poliakoff recently announced a $10 million award for the Grandview 1 at Port Imperial Condominium Association, located along the shores of the Hudson Bay in New Jersey. A jury award included $9 million from Hovnanian Enterprises, one of the country’s largest real … More NJ Condo association gets $10 M in landmark construction defect lawsuit
Recent HOA conflict results in gun violence
June 21, 2017
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities This week brings two disturbing reports of violence among residents living in association governed communities. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that 33-year old Eric Leroy shot and injured his HOA president, Timothy Rose. Although Leroy has been arrested in connection with the incident, the name of the … More Recent HOA conflict results in gun violence
Dammeron Valley HOA board not acknowledging recent exit of members?
June 20, 2017
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities It never ceases to amaze me when an entrenched HOA board member insists upon going against the will of the people. I wrote about Dammeron Valley, Utah, a few weeks ago. At that time, three additional subdivisions had voted to exit from the 40-plus year old Landowners Association. Seven … More Dammeron Valley HOA board not acknowledging recent exit of members?
Poinciana owners say developer cast thousands of invalid votes in HOA election
June 19, 2017
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Conflicts over who should control Poinciana, one of Florida’s largest homeowners associations with 26,000 homes, have been ongoing for years. At the heart of the matter is the fact that the 44 year old planned community – a Census designate place near Orlando – remains primarily under the control … More Poinciana owners say developer cast thousands of invalid votes in HOA election
Civic and neighborhood associations very different from “modern” HOAs
June 18, 2017
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Many types of organizations are referred to as homeowners associations (HOAs). The media tend to lump all HOAs together as the same thing, often failing to make important distinctions between voluntary civic associations and mandatory homeowners associations. And that explains, in part, why there is so much public confusion … More Civic and neighborhood associations very different from “modern” HOAs
Census reports many layers of government, HOAs not counted among them
June 17, 2017
US Census data on Special Districts helps explain why your taxes are so high By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities The U.S. has continued to add additional layers of local government, even though industry trade group Community Associations Institute (CAI) estimates there are more than 340,000 association-governed communities now in existence. Ironically, when CAI … More Census reports many layers of government, HOAs not counted among them
New homes under $200K less likely to be part of HOA per Census data
June 16, 2017
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Although the number of new homes sold in the U.S. has increased dramatically in recent years, the share of new HOA home sales as a percentage of all new construction home sales has been relatively modest, with trends that vary significantly by region. Let’s take a look at data … More New homes under $200K less likely to be part of HOA per Census data
What is the root cause of HOA dysfunction?
June 15, 2017
Originally posted on Independent American Communities:
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities ? To solve any problem, it helps to identify its cause or causes. So as we attempt to tackle social and economic problems plaguing many of our association-governed, common interest communities, we need to look beyond the increasingly obvious abuse and HOA horror…
Condo to hotel conversion a bad deal for 20% of FL unit owners
June 14, 2017
Minority investor-owners’ investments turn sour, full-time residents are displaced. By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities People buy condo units for several different reasons. Some buyers purchase a unit in a condominium with the intention of making it their primary home. Other buyers may intend to live in their condo full-time or seasonally upon retirement, … More Condo to hotel conversion a bad deal for 20% of FL unit owners
