By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Today’s blog is an update on LM Funding, the controversial company that has been the subject of two class action lawsuits. While the Tampa Bay Times recently reported that LM Funding has been able to stave off one class action lawsuit, the company still faces a second class action lawsuit by … More Condo owner shares her LM Funding HOA horror story
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Reports of fed up, frustrated, and fearful owners of property in association-governed communities continue to pop up all across the U.S. Rebecca Lindstrom of 11 Alive interviews several homeowners of Greythorne, a Douglas County homeowners association, and their stories and complaints repeat a familiar pattern. How far is … More Recipe for HOA abuse: too much power, no accountability
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Whenever I read talking points from an industry trade group, Community Associations Institute (CAI), claiming that Association Governed Communities are “democratic” self- governance, I cringe. Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps in a perfect world. But most associations are far from perfection when it comes to conducting … More After nearly three years of legal battles, Florida condo owners find replacing their board a daunting task
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Image Source: https://goo.gl/images/sThqof UPDATE: the Lopez family appeared in court earlier this week to make their case for keeping their home after the Rivercrest HOA sold it at foreclosure auction for less than $20,000. This all started with a $150 missed HOA assessment, which later ballooned to $4300, mostly … More Update on FL HOA that foreclosed on home over $150 assessment
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Finally, it’s official! A highly controversial HOA collection firm, LM Funding, is the defendant of a class action lawsuit. LM Funding has been in business since 2008, operating in Florida, Colorado, Washington state, and Illinois. The company markets itself as some sort of superhero of condo and homeowners association … More LM Funding HOA collection scheme crumbling under weight of class action lawsuit
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities A reader forwarded this KHON TV report on Village Park homeowners’ association in Honolulu. A homeowner contacted the news station when she received notice of a special assessment from her HOA. Here’s the KHON TV report: Residents upset over extra homeowners fee to cover hundreds who defaulted on … More HOA delinquencies cause division
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Image Source: https://goo.gl/images/sThqof Mainstream media is finally starting to publicize a few of these outrageously unjust foreclosures by homeowners associations. WTSP News 10 reports that the family home of Tina and Luis Lopez was simply sold out from under them for a mere $19,000. The couple originally paid $270,000 … More Rivercrest Florida HOA forecloses for $150, sells home for $19K
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Today I share the predicament of a townhouse owner from Minnesota. Her story begs the question: barring any public nuisance or criminal activity, is it appropriate for a homeowners association to dictate your choice of house guests or roommates? And should it be legal for your Association to … More MN woman sues HOA for discriminatory enforcement of covenants
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Chances are, if you actually choose to live in an HOA, you do so expecting a clean, safe neighborhood. And maybe you envision yourself lounging by the community pool after a round of tennis. After all, the political spin from the Association Governed housing industry is that HOAs enhance … More Ohio HOA forcing owners to pay up despite filthy pool, peeling paint
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Today, a ray of hope, seven years in the making. You may recall Michelle Germano, the Virginia woman battling with Harborwalk Condo Association over unpaid assessments for her uninhabitable home, which was contaminated by Chinese drywall. Last September, Germano’s struggle was covered by the Virgina Pilot. At the time, … More Michelle Germano finally free from contaminated condo
