If you are reading this promo or tuning into On The Commons regularly, chances are you have had a nasty surprise or two when you bought your HOA burdened house.  I often hear homeowners tell me they will never buy in an HOA again for as long as they live.  Do you suppose they would have felt that way had they known what they were getting themselves into?  Would a 2 or 3 inch stack of legal papers prepared them for life as usual in an HOA?  Do you feel you were you given all the necessary and pertinent documents about the association before closing escrow?  Did you have enough time to read and understand the contents of the package?  Were there any red flags?  What would you tell a friend and/or a relative who is house hunting to look for? What do you think should be included in a disclosure package that is not included now?  

John Cowherd joins us On The Commons.  John, an attorney in Virginia, is one of a handful of attorneys across the country who represents homeowners in disputes with their HOAs.  John is also interested in educating the public about HOAs and condominiums.  He has a widely read and discussed blog called Words of Conveyance  where he writes about cases, legislation, and how stories that have made the headlines might affect associations.  We talk to John about the Virginia Disclosure laws and whether they are doing an adequate job of informing potential buyers of what they can expect if they buy in the HOA.  We also talk about whether the 72 hours buyers are given is enough time to read through the package and make a decision of whether to not to cancel the purchase. He gives us a lot of food for thought.