Do you have questions and concerns about your HOA? If you are searching for a home, how many of them are part of a planned community, condo or co-op association?
How much independence do you really have in your HOA common interest community? Does your HOA work for or against its property owners and residents? Is the HOA housing model conducive to friendly, thriving communities? What are the risks of owning property and living in HOA-governed communities? What role does government play in establishment and regulation of more than 300,000 HOA-governed communities in the U.S.?
For answers to these questions and more, you’ve come to the right place.
Independent American Communities (IAC) is a blog with a mission to inform and educate readers about the economic, political, and social realities of HOA-governed Common Interest Developments (CIDs), also known as community associations or homeowners’ associations. As the tagline says, HOAs come with many risks and pitfalls.
Homeowners’ Association Housing communities include:
- Mandatory-Membership Homeowners’ Associations
- Condominium, and Cooperative housing,
- Property Owners’ Associations,
- Master Planned Communities
IAC includes thousands of HOA Common Interest Development (CID) articles that cover:
- current events,
- case law,
- legislative and political news analysis, and
- HOA housing market trends.
Unlike HOA-industry published blogs, IAC takes a consumer protection and advocacy perspective. IAC focuses on the concerns of individual housing consumers — home buyers, homeowners, tenants, and other interested parties.
IAC documents harm to housing consumers, based upon two erroneous assumptions: that HOAs protect property values, and that CIDs save local governments money.
Beyond that mission, IAC also advocates for a moratorium on new HOAs and construction of a variety of new housing that is not part of a homeowners’ or condominium association.
HOA issues go far beyond the sometimes-crazy covenants, restrictions, and rules. It’s time to evaluate how we govern and manage our communities. It’s time to shift from an emphasis on property values and power plays to creating true communities that foster healthy relations among neighbors.
About Deborah Goonan
I am the Administrator of Independent American Communities. IAC is a housing blog focusing on the risks and pitfalls of HOAs. (Homeowners’ associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives)
On this site, you will find relevant analysis of real estate news and trends. You’ll read about legislative efforts to tackle HOA abuse and corruption. You’ll learn about important case law affecting HOAs. And you’ll read some thought-provoking essays and articles about the realities of HOA life.
See media and publication citations for Deborah Goonan here.
I support amending state and federal policies to strengthen and uphold private property rights for housing consumers. Many homeowners find that they have limited property rights just because they happen to live in an HOA. Additionally, I support common sense policies that promote a wider variety of housing choice U.S. residents. Most importantly, housing policies should encourage new construction of non-CID and non-HOA housing.
Disclaimer:
Please know that I am NOT an attorney. Opinion, analysis, and information provided on Independent American Communities or in communication with readers is not to be construed as legal advice.
This site is not intended to provide specific advice related to personal issues with your HOA. Please consult a qualified professional, such as an attorney, if you are having a problem with your HOA.
As a member of the independent media, my mission is to educate housing consumers. I strive to bring broad public awareness to the important issues affecting residents of HOA, condominium, and cooperative Common Interest Developments.
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