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An Article
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ISN'T THIS MADNESS ?
Footing the bill for foolishness in homeowner associations
August 06, 2003
By
Alex Lyte
Copyright Alex Lyte
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"Love thy 'NEIGHBOR' as thyself" is in sharp contrast to stealing their condo's, homes, and mobile homes via non-judicial foreclosure because they are 15 days past due in their HOA assessments or refuse to pay for country club privileges which they never signed up for...
...and is hardly "NEIGHBORLY".
They "covet" anything they don't have, lust after, wish to grab for themselves to convert in 'cash' (which they appear to desperately be in need of) and to "Control".
It's a maniacal racket, and we all have our work cut out for us.
Posted Aug 14 2003 3:36PM CEST
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Alexis Lights
, California |
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To the previous comment regarding the Ten Commandments, I had even looked them up recently in thinking about our HOA. Here's another that is consistently violated on a daily basis:
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.
“Love thy neighbor as thyself” (added later)
(see http://www.duhaime.org/Law_museum/tencomm.htm)
What have we come to, living in these "company towns?" Vote with your feet while you still can: MOVE OUT and state WHY. Notify all license boards, legislatures and regulatory agencies so a "body of evidence" will be amassed, and perhaps we can then DO SOMETHING to end this absolute tyranny.
"HOA reform is the new civil rights movement of the new millenium." Did we ever think "it couldn't happen to us, it couldn't happen here!" Hah!
Now we know what it is like for those living in third world countries, or what it is like to be a poor "minority" as how do you fight the Devil when the Devil is our own?
Posted Aug 13 2003 11:43PM CEST
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Catherine Todd
(View Profile)
Durham, North Carolina |
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"Vast knowledge"? Surely you jest. How many (what percentage) owners or board members do you think have actually read their CC&R's? Do you truly think that any of them know what the Civil Code is, let alone the fact that is unequally enforced by boards, managers and their beloved-attorneys?
Try "ignorance" "complacency" & "apathy" instead of knowledge.
If there were any with "knowledge" they'd be protesting loudly to their elected representatives or puting a For Sale sign on their little piece of the American Dream and getting the heck out.
It is a fact, you have more rights and privileges as a renter in an apartment building than you do in an HOA. Don't believe it, stop paying your dues (like you are legally permitted to withhold rent as a tenant if something is wrong) and see what happens to the ownership record of your "home" (stolen swiftly through non-judicial foreclosure) faster than you can could imagine.
Besides, HOA's appear to violate at least 2 of the 10 commandments
#8. Thou Shalt Not Steal.
#9. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor.
If only the good book and the powers above could see fit to send down a few well-targeted lightening bolts, we'd fix the problems in a jiffy.
Posted Aug 10 2003 2:26AM CEST
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Alexis Lights
, California |
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What is done in HOA's is deplorable - why would anyone "like it" let alone permit it to continue once they comprehend what is "really" going on.
The problem is not with those who truly "volunteer" and take an active interest and genuinely wish to contribute to their own community.
The problem is with the un-necessary strangle hold with un-licensed, un-insured, under-educated and completely UN-NECESSARY "expert" managers (there is no such thing - as they are a self governed, self annointed, learn-by-the-seat-of-your-pants industry which is profit driven and seeks to bleed and drain dry the coffers of HOA's across the country with their "maintenance" scams.
The problem is that most (many, the majority of, almost all) Board members seek election to "THE BOARD" only to subsequently delegate their authority and responsibilities to these same inept managers who take advantage of, and abuse, the trust placed in them.
Further, the trade groups which have wormed their ways in the HOA's (CAI, CACM, ECHO et al) sound to most of the complacent owners like they "serve the needs of Associations", but they sneekily forget to tell you that they view owners like account numbers that generate monthly HOA dues and your "community" like a cash cow that they are leading to the slaughter house.
Please don't attempt to delude yourself that anyone "volunteers" for free- everything has a cost- including the handy plumber and electrician.
And when they need cash to buy some beer to put gas into their Ford Pinto station wagon they don't give a second thought to "creating" maintenance problems which need repair.
That's what's wrong with HOA's and why what goes on is not liked.
It's crooked - and we're footing the bill.
And look around for yourself, if you become disenchanted with your little piece of nirvana, who are you going to call or seek out to help you? Anyone living in HOA's is on their own, and there is no representation for them or help available to them when they have a problem.
And that my dear HOA-afficionado is simply NOT RIGHT!
Posted Aug 10 2003 2:05AM CEST
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Alexis Lights
, California |
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With the vast knowledge located in the HOA, why don't you do like we do?
If you have an electrical problem, we have a electrician that lives here. Valve problem, we have a plumber, etc. They are volunteers, so no pay is involved. The only costs are for any parts which may have to be purchased. This way, costs are kept down and so are dues and special assessments.
Posted Aug 7 2003 6:13PM CEST
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Rita Hayes
(View Profile)
Granite Falls, Washington |
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