HOA's & The Internet

I was out for dinner a few nights ago with a lovely widowed woman in her 6th decade. She's resided in her home for 18 yrs. No surprise when she contacted me about her troubles with her HOA board. What made the dinner so pleasant? She did her research on the internet. She knew up front that the HOA attorneys were there to protect the board, she knew the laws were all slanted to protect the board, she knew that not only were there State Statutes that allegedly gave her some protection but those same laws have no teeth in them so board members get away with anything, she knew that there were also non-profit statutes that gave further protection to the board. She knew the board was devious. She knew Legislators support the HOA Industry. She knew if she sold her home, she likely wasn't going to be able to find another home in the same price range outside of an HOA. And she knew the HOA would spend 10's of thousands of community money to fight her. She's seen the tyranny and she's had to deal with the lies. She's seen others in her own community suffer abuse.

This story is not about her abuse. It's about her ability to search the internet so she knows she is not alone and what she faces. Millennials are sure to be doing the same. What they might not be doing is searching the records of Office of Administrative Hearings and Superior Court before they make an offer on that lovely economies of scale 2X4" canned housing, with short driveways and neighbors 5'away. They can find out which MC represents the HOA and search for lawsuits against it. They should ask the board to attend a BofD meeting and if they're told it's closed to Members only, that's true but it's a red flag about the community. Ask to see all financial records including receipts and all email correspondence between board and community members. Remember I said "ask" they won't give them to you. The only things you'll get are the CC&Rs & Bylaws. Both are worthless bc boards do not follow them and you must accept that. And, accept that the board Members have not read governing docs either and have no clue how to manage.

Most HOA Members keep their end of the bargain; it's Boards who fail to do the same whether thru ignorance or revenge. Blind faith in bad leadership is not patriotism. Bill Moyer If people want to continue to live in HOA's, stop the apathy. Scrutinize your board.

If you have suffered HOA abuse, contact HOATruth.com. Dennis Legere is the principal advocate. Or you can reach me at EarsUp@iCloud.com. Full disclosure, neither are attorneys. We do this bc we don't like bullies. FREE.