Category Archives: Marketing Hype & Political Spin

Political division feeds the HOA industry

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Republican vs Democrat political politics elephant donkey symbols

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities debgoonan@cloud.com   As we approach the 2020 election cycle, it reminds me that housing politics is mostly driven by separate but competing agendas of the real estate industry. Yet, curiously, both ends of the political spectrum lead to the same endgame — new construction of homes in HOA-governed, common interest communities. Here’s my analysis of how and why political party agendas keep feeding the HOA industry, which limits the Continue ReadingPolitical division feeds the HOA industry→

HOA industry makes its case for affordable “attainable” housing

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Townhouse row home brick

New ULI report offers insight into the HOA-industry’s agenda By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities By now, everyone in the U.S. knows about our housing affordability crisis. The problem extends beyond our cities’ disgraceful problems with homelessness. As home prices continue to rise in most U.S. housing markets, middle class American households are stretching their budgets to the limit. In some of the hottest real estate markets, consumers continue to pay rent, often because they Continue ReadingHOA industry makes its case for affordable “attainable” housing→

6 HOA promises vs. HOA realities

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HOA suburb aerial view

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Home buyers may be drawn to HOA-governed housing because of all the so-called “advantages” promised by home builders and sales agents. But how many experience buyer’s remorse? In September 2018 Insurance Quotes surveyed 649 homeowners about their opinion of HOAs, revealing that a minority of people actually ‘love’ HOAs. Honest About HOAs analyzes survey data by board membership, the results are somewhat predictable. Among board members, 57% love HOAs, Continue Reading6 HOA promises vs. HOA realities→

What is the root cause of HOA dysfunction?

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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, let’s look beyond the increasingly obvious abuse and HOA horror stories, and recognize that we have built this model of community housing on a false foundation. What are the building blocks in that foundation? What is causing Continue ReadingWhat is the root cause of HOA dysfunction?→