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 Here’s an example of an HOA working with their County to create a tax district to help pay for a $500,000 lake dredging project. The lake community was forced to lower water levels and eventually drain the lake, following flooding earlier this year. Over time, silt has covered the …
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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities The November 2018 roundup includes reports of HOA corruption from embezzlement to wire transfer fraud to money laundering. Orange Sheriff’s Office investigating reported $400K embezzlement from Lake of the Woods Association (VA) By Allison Brophy Champion Culpepper Star-Exponent Nov 27, 2018 The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the …
Continue reading "HOA, condo & co-op corruption and fraud roundup (Nov 2018)"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities What can go wrong when homeowners’ associations (HOAs) rely on private security guards to “police” their exclusive communities? How about an HOA private security raid by Indiana State Police? Earlier this month, Indiana’s Attorney General ordered an investigation of private security officers at Lakes of Four Seasons . LOFS is …
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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Lake Sandy Acres, Arkansas, homeowners with an inactive HOA recently learned they could lose their lake, because the old earthen dam that holds back the water could fail at any time. The dam has sprung a leak, and it's in shabby condition. So add Arkansas to the growing list …
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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Last August, IAC introduced readers to a complex New Jersey legal dispute involving property owners near Crystal and Mirror Lakes. Since the 1950s, both lakes and related recreational facilities have been maintained by Ramapo Mountain Lakes (RML), Inc. According to legal records, the community was developed in the 1940s as …
Across the U.S., a disturbing trend is taking place. The HOA industry is quietly making it possible to preserve CC&Rs — or revive them after expiration — without consent of all homeowners. Correction (March 12, 2018): a previous version of this post noted that a majority of affected parcel owners attending a meeting could vote …
Continue reading "Should neighborhood covenants and HOAs last forever?"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Retention ponds are the anchor used to create many HOAs. But it is my opinion that constituents should pressure public officials to deprivatize ownership and maintenance of storm water and flood control infrastructure. It is in the public interest to have competent oversight and adequate funding for such important …
Continue reading "HOA, condo, co-op Stormwater system articles (Dec 2017)"
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Ramapo Mountain Lakes Association (RML) must proceed to make its legal case to enforce collection of lake maintenance assessments from owners of all 1,645 properties in the community. Judge Christine Farrington dismissed summary judgment on behalf of RML, and also denied a homeowners’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit, calling …
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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Public domain photo of unknown lake. Occasionally I hear from homeowners who want to know if they can be forced to pay assessments for a property owners' or lake association, one they had not been made aware of at the time they purchased their home. The answer is, it …
By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Water management and flood control are serious issues faced by municipalities and counties all across the country, and not just in coastal communities. Much flooding and property damage in recent years has been the result of poorly designed or maintained storm water infrastructure. Homeowners Associations are almost always …
Continue reading "HOAs must pay for their own water management, flood control"