Category Archives: Hidden Costs of HOAs

Pennsylvania HB 523 considers maintenance of private roads, without an HOA (Oct. 2019)

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities The Pennsylvania House recently tabled a bill that clarifies who will be responsible for maintenance of private roads. HB 523, as amended on September 24 (2019), attempts to sort out a person’s obligation to pay for maintenance of a shared private road. The reader may assume that all shared private roads and driveways are part of a common interest ownership community. In these communities, a homeowners, condominium, or cooperative Continue ReadingPennsylvania HB 523 considers maintenance of private roads, without an HOA (Oct. 2019)→

Fairfax County to take over Kingstowne Lake?

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities debgoonan@icloud.com   A large-scale Virginia homeowners’ association is asking its County to take a 14-acre stormwater retention pond off its hands. Kingstowne Residential Owners Corporation, or KROC, is a planned development of more than 5,300 homes. It shares maintenance costs of Kingstowne Lake with the Kingstowne Commercial Owners Corporation (KCOC). KROC sent a petition to Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay in July, asking the County to take over maintenance Continue ReadingFairfax County to take over Kingstowne Lake?→

Residents endure stench of fish kill in HOA retention pond

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Suburban pond lake sidewalk storm water woes

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Goodyear’s Estrella Mountain Ranch is working with Arizona Lake and Pond Management to control a chronic algae bloom in North Lake. Newland Company is the master planner of the community. The HOA released a statement, which says, in part…“planned communities and golf courses with manufactured lakes have been challenged with the extended period of excessive heat, which has contributed to the loss of oxygen levels in the lakes.” It’s Continue ReadingResidents endure stench of fish kill in HOA retention pond→

How will changes in FHA financing affect condo homebuyers?

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities   FHA to ease condo financing, claims it will boost homeownership If you’ve been following housing news over the past several years, you’ve probably read many articles on proposed revisions to FHA financing. The HOA-industry, including trade group Community Associations Institute (CAI) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) have been pushing their agenda to ease mortgage qualification standards for condos for several years. Now it looks like stakeholders Continue ReadingHow will changes in FHA financing affect condo homebuyers?→