Foreclosures And Tyranny in Homeowner Associations

September 22, 2002

By AHRC News Services

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USA Today reported that foreclosures are at a 30 year high in the United States.

U. S News and World Reports, the Houston Chronicle and AHRC News Services reported on the foreclosure floods sweeping the nation.

The 20/20 report on homeowner association foreclosures stated: "What's really driving this is the dynamics of these collection lawyers who are just out to generate fees and to sell these houses off as fast as they can."

As 1 in 5 of all Americans live in homeowner associations (58 million out of 280 million), the foreclosures in them are driving up the national average to historic highs. As homeowner associations are the fastest growing segment of the market, this average is expected to zoom even higher.

Following are tributes to 20/20 for reporting the homeowner association foreclosures.

Tribute to Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters
Anchor, T.V. newsmagazine 20/20
Date Posted: September 22, 2002
Company/Office: ABC News - 20/20
City, State: New York, NY 10023-6201
Reason for nomination: Reporting the Tyranny of Homeowner Associations

"Now, let me tell you about this week's 20/20. Arnold Diaz has a tale of nightmare neighbors. A growing number of Americans live in communities governed by homeowners' associations — and in some cases, that governing seems to border on tyranny...."

The show aired on April 20, 2002 - There was a massive national response to the show. Homeowners were thrilled that national T.V. had discovered the tyranny. Their calls lit up the ABC discussion board and newsgroups.

CAI vendors were alarmed and went into a frenzy of activity attempting to cover up and justify the tyranny. Prior to the show, the lawyer for CAI demanded that ABC air an interview with CAI. ABC refused to give in to the CAI pressure.

Private Governments? Critics Say Homeowners Associations Can Be Too Strict -Thinking of putting up pink flamingos in your garden? Or hanging the laundry out to dry?

CAI TRIES TO STRONG ARM ABC NEWS -20/20 Will Air Story on Homeowner Associations Today

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Tribute to Arnold Diaz

Arnold Diaz
Investigative Reporter - TV 20/20
Date Posted: September 22, 2002
Company/Office: 20/20 ABC News
City, State: New York, NY 10023-6201
Reason for nomination: For The Best National TV Report on Foreclosures in Homeowner Associations

Arnold Diaz has established his reputation as one of the leading consumer and investigative reporters in the country. He worked for 22 years with WCBS-TV in New York City and joined ABC NEWS 20/20 in 1995.

Millions of homeowners watched his report on the tyranny and foreclosures in homeowner associations He reported that the observation by homeowner advocates that "What's really driving this is the dynamics of these collection lawyers who are just out to generate fees and to sell these houses off as fast as they can."

Barbara Walters in introducing his report stated: "Now, let me tell you about this week's 20/20. Arnold Diaz has a tale of nightmare neighbors. A growing number of Americans live in communities governed by homeowners' associations — and in some cases, that governing seems to border on tyranny..."

Show aired on April 20, 2002 -

An unprecedented national response by homeowners followed the show. Homeowners were thrilled that the tyranny and foreclosure racket had reached national T.V. Their calls lit up the discussion boards and newsgroups. While homeowners spread the news, alarmed CAI collection lawyers and managers went into a frenzy of activity attempting to cover up and justify their foreclosures and tyranny.

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