Independent American Communities
Exposing #HOA #Condo #AffordableHousing corruption & educating consumers in search of the American Dream #ValueMyRights #Homeowner #RealEstate
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities It’s good to see that local investigative journalists are covering serious condo and HOA issues, including the dangerous collapse of condo balconies. When I first started this website in 2014, TV news reports focused almost exclusively on disputes over flag displays or paint color. While those are common HOA …
Continue reading "Condo HOA not helping owners after balconies collapse (KY)"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Dozens of homeowners from a waterfront community in King George County, Virginia, are protesting a real estate investment company’s plan to change the nature of their planned community. The waterfront neighborhood of Potomac Landing is small and exclusive, with spacious homes located near the Potomac River, not far from Fredericksburg. …
Continue reading "Potomac Landing homeowners protest changes to development plan (VA)"
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 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 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 …
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities IAC is reading an increasing number of reports about attorneys willing to sue your HOA. Sure, industry trade groups will attempt to convince Americans that residents are satisfied with life in a common interest community association. But, there’s no doubt about it: homeowners, condominium, and co-op associations are highly litigious …
Continue reading "More and more attorneys willing to sue the HOA"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities As part of a legal settlement with four disabled residents who filed a HUD complaint, a PA HOA installs handicapped parking spaces as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. The Village of Valleybrook Homeowners Association agreed to a $31,000 settlement, including handicapped parking accommodations, for four disabled …
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