Exposing #HOA #Condo #AffordableHousing corruption & educating consumers in search of the American Dream #ValueMyRights #Homeowner #RealEstate
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities How would you feel if your city council and police joined forces with your HOA board to create a parking ban on public streets in your neighborhood? Sounds unbelievable, right? But it’s really happening in one Texas association-governed community. NBC Dallas Fort Worth, Channel 5 news reports that the …
Continue reading "HOA asks City for Thanksgiving street parking ban, homeowners not happy"
Water was slowly leaking into her condo. But the disabled homeowner could not smell the mold until her unit was heavily damaged. By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Many people who buy into the condominium lifestyle do so expecting both affordability and ease of maintenance. But for 72-year-old Judy Young of Orlando, life at One Thousand …
Continue reading "Disabled woman stuck with bills for moldy condo"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Several weeks ago, a reader forwarded a link to an opinion written NY Times columnist David Brooks. The gist of the Brooks’ opinion is that positive change can and should happen at the neighborhood level. Brooks appears to be a fan of neighborhood “self-government” rather than one-size-fits-all public oversight …
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Lake Sandy Acres, Arkansas, homeowners with an inactive HOA recently learned they could lose their lake, because the old earthen dam that holds back the water could fail at any time. The dam has sprung a leak, and it's in shabby condition. So add Arkansas to the growing list …
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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities All neighborhoods change over time, as old residents move out and new residents move in. But HOA and condo communities tend to struggle with change. Why? It’s a fact of life. Over time, people get married or divorced. Adults move to new locations for career opportunities. Children grow up …
by Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Following Darcy Spears’ recent KTNV “HOA Hall of Shame” report, Savannah Falls HOA board and management rethinks its aggressive towing policy. Spears is a godsend for Las Vegas area residents dealing with abusive homeowners associations. Due to her intervention, and after nearly a month of fighting with their HOA, …
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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Check out a fascinating new “Honest” HOA survey by InsuranceQuotes.com. “Honest About HOAs,“ shows the love-hate relationship between owners and their HOAs. Thanks to several of my readers, who forwarded a link to a Washington Post article summarizing the new HOA survey by InsuranceQuotes.com. But before analyzing the InsuranceQuotes …
Continue reading "Honest HOA survey shows many young homeowners hate HOAs"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Owners of twenty estate homes in the Greenbrook Manor subdivision, located in the Village of River Hills, recently learned they might have to pay a $11,404 special tax assessment to the city, to pay for a new sewer lift pump. No, Greenbrook Manor is not a planned community, and …
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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities A Community Development District in The Villages is enforcing deed restrictions, demanding that homeowners tear out driveway extensions, or face steep monetary fines. In my opinion, this is one of the most stupid and petty architectural covenants ever. But, even worse, in this case, it’s not an HOA enforcing …
Continue reading "Instead of HOA, Community Development District enforces restrictions"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Quietly, and with little fanfare, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed several important amendments. New laws regulate homeowners, rather than their homeowners’ associations (HOAs). On October 19, 2018, Governor Tom Wolf approved HB 1499. The bill is now officially recorded as Act 84, amendments to Chapter 68, Real and Personal Property. This post …