January 02, 2002

By George K. Staropoli (View author info)

Buyer's Guide to Living in a Community Association

George K. Staropoli, editor

Citizens Against Private Government HOAs, inc

120 page paperback, $5.00

As a result of a personal difficulty with his homeowner association's board, the author/editor broaden his research and has uncovered more universal, more commonplace aspects of how living in a homeowner controlled property differs from living in a non-controlled property. The use of the phrase "HOA controlled property" is deliberate and hits to the heart of the matter. Those rights, privileges, freedom of decision and personal property rights a citizen has come to expect, and grew up with, are severely affected when your property is in an HOA.

You, the owner, and your home are subject to the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions that is agreed to when you sign on the "bottom line". And they do mean conditions, restrictions and promises to keep! The courts have taken such a position and have imposed severe penalties on Boards of Director for not enforcing these provisions. There is no appeal, no oversight review process to challenge board decisions. You do not have "equal protection under the law" since courts and other government agencies regard the HOA as a personal contract between buyer and association.

Most of the time, and in most homeowner associations, the homeowner can enjoy the benefits of the governing documents that protects property values, but when something goes wrong it really can go wrong. And it's the homeowner who lacks protection.

This booklet presents those factors that are not advertised by the developer, nor by the real estate agent, nor of which are you warned by the government. Actual examples are presented revealing how far an HOA board can go and the extent of the lack of protection available to a homeowner.

You can read this book on line, free for a limited time, at Read me, in PDF format. In order to print any pages you must order the hardcopy at Buyers.