Homowner Association Foreclosures in San Diego County

February 24, 2004

By Pete Fuentes - FOX 6 News San Diego
Copyright FOX 6 News

They'll hit you where you live. We are talking about condominium foreclosures in San Diego County.

The issue is so big the State Senate has stepped in to referee.

Peter Fuentes tells us all about it:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FOX 6 NEWS REPORT ON SAN DIEGO HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION FORECLOSURES AND LAWSUITS

These homeowners are angry and scared over the possibility of losing their homes and their money. All these people have something in common. They live in condominiums governed by homeowner associations and they are in lawsuits:

* Fines over pet dogs,
* Light is not O.K.
* Lawsuits and counter lawsuits
* Web sites and counter web sites
* Homeowners against lawyers who represent association boards

What's more, many Californians are complaining their homes are being taken away if they complain or break condo rules.

"This is infringing on homeowner rights and the attorneys are making millions of dollars off us. This has got to stop." says James Galley the organizer of this meeting.

However, Michael Kim, a lawyer in the law firm of Peters and Freedman who is suing homeowner Sonni Bass over her light has a different view. "Let's face it. I'm not going to sugar coat it. As lawyers we make money. Everybody know that. We are simply doing our job.",

"Your home is not necessarily your castle in your homeowners association." says David Peters who works with Kim suing the the Bass family.

When you live in a homeowners association, in essence you are married to everyone in the community so you have to get along, work together and play by the rules. The issues are so serious that the State Senate held hearing on the matter last week.

Denise Ducheny is the chairwoman of the Senate Housing Committee. "We had a meeting last week. We know we have an issue, and what we need to do is focus on how the best way to put regulations and procedures in place to protect both the homeowners association and the individuals."

According to the California Senate, four bills have been introduced to regulate the homeowner association industry.