Exposing residential real estate corruption & educating consumers in search of the American Dream #ValueMyRights #HOA #Condo #AffordableHousing #Homeowner
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Homebuyers often assume that a new neighborhood development will be free from defects such as infrastructure failure. Consumers often pay a premium price for the advantages of new construction: an attractive community with smooth roads, and good drainage to prevent flooding & erosion. They expect their new or nearly …
Continue reading "Who’s responsible for infrastructure failure in these HOAs?"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities A few weeks ago, a group of unit owners at River City Condominium in Chicago filed a lawsuit intended to halt the $90.5 million sale and condo deconversion of their iconic vintage Chicago riverfront building. River City Condominium Association includes 449 residential units. Since 2016, Marc Realty along with …
Continue reading "River City Condo deconversion breeds lawsuits"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Across the U.S., homeowners are considering tax districts to help them make essential repairs to their HOA infrastructure. Volunteer-led HOA boards face the difficult task of finding affordable solutions to deal with their busted dams, silt-filled lakes, crumbling roads and bridges, and obsolete wastewater systems. It’s an increasingly common …
Continue reading "HOAs consider infrastructure tax districts"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities As explained in a previous post, in 2016, HUD published a rule that clarified that association-governed boards and their managing agents have legal duty to prevent housing discrimination in their communities. Some industry leaders, including members of trade group Community Associations Institute (CAI), expressed strong disapproval of the Quid …
Continue reading "Can your HOA end neighbor on neighbor housing discrimination?"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Have you noticed the a culture war against millions of U.S. residents who live in suburban and rural locations? The war is waged by a small but influential group of city planners, and New Urbanism Think Tanks. In their zest to design and build utopian cities, these urban elitists …
Continue reading "America’s suburban soul has no HOA"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities The story of Georgetown Condominium, located near Green Hill, Tennessee, shatters the condo owner’s dream of a low-maintenance, carefree, and affordable lifestyle. The horror story began in June, when Lindsay Bramson and the WSMV I-4 team reported that a dangerous gas leak. That prompted Piedmont Gas company to shut off …
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities In many golf communities, the course and Country Clubs are privately owned and managed. When the golf business stops making a profit for its owner, the land and related facilities are put on the market, in hopes of finding a willing buyer. However, there aren’t many buyers of …
Continue reading "HOA, condo, coop Golf Community updates (Oct. 2018)"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Today’s post is an update to a story IAC has been following since 2016. In 2009, during installation of a drainage system, the Grand Manor Condominium Association discovered contaminated soil surrounding their housing complex. That prompted three years of investigation. The City of Lowell delayed responding at first, then …
Colorado homeowner says insurance won't cover the full repair cost of her roof replacement following a hailstorm By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities According to a report that aired on Denver7 last week, Piney Creek homeowner Kemberly DuBuke may have to replace her brand new roof. The homeowner just learned that her HOA won’t approve her …
Continue reading "HOA required roof shingles could cost owners thousands"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities The purpose of the Urban Service District (USD) was to expand Metro Services, that were available to residents of Nashville, but not outlying suburban neighborhoods. Those services include trash pick up, curbside recycling, street lights and the addition of liquor stores. In exchange for inclusion into the USD, homeowners would …
Continue reading "City says no trash pick up unless owners create HOA"
