We have discussed so many problems facing American homeowners that it is time to start discussing how to fix them. My guest this week, Bill Davies, and I do focus on some of them. One of the main issues is ensuring that housing cosigners take possession of a structurally safe house. One that won’t fall apart in time should include having the home inspected by independent professional inspectors. The inspector should never work for the builder. Consumers deserve to get a well-built house. Using good quality parts is also a must. A homeowner shouldn’t have to replace the kitchen floor because the sink Leaks on the floor and destroys it. That is a recent story from someone locally.

The house was expensive. Whenever I have mentioned having professional inspectors working for the county, the immediate reaction is, “Oh, we can’t afford that.” BUNK, pure and straightforward BUNK. This year, Fairfax County officials have given themselves some pretty hefty raises. Where did all this money come from? Could it be all the property taxes they collected and NOT providing any services for the money they should have paid for? Even more recently, the county found a pot of gold sitting around doing nothing; that didn’t last long; the workers got something along a 2-cent per hour raise while the officials gave themselves something along the lines of an 87-cent per hour raise.

I suppose that is why they can’t afford to hire professional inspectors; how would they be able to give themselves these hefty raises? It is high time American housing consumers got well-designed, livable, and well-constructed housing. And it is time to STOP using private houses in developments to finance all the amenities like pools, Tennis courts, and other recreational amenities. These things are great but should be voluntary and not forced on everyone. Your houses should not be used as collateral to finance these amenities. And while we are at it, mandatory membership homeowner associations should be BANNED!, People still have no idea what they are getting into when they buy a home, also known as “the American Dream.

This sort of nonsense does not exist everywhere else in the world. Let’s go back to respecting private property. And to get to that point, where Americans enjoy the freedoms the rest of the world has stopped fines, at least two courts in this country have found them to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL! So why are our legislators not blocking them? STOP FORECLOSURES; kicking children, older people, and entire families out at the start because of some purely idiotic issue like being able to see someone’s trashcan is simply stupid and an abuse of power! Can we focus on happy families and neighborhoods instead of nonsense? Please? Happy homes for all; that’s my wish for all of you.

We have been talking about “fixing” the problem with HOAs.  I have said you can’t fix HOAs, they are a flawed concept, and I still maintain that.  By fixing HOAs, we want to make them more acceptable to the consumer.  How do you make taking all the homeowners’ rights away from them acceptable?  I still maintain you can’t do that.  During this show, we talk about many of the problems homeowners have to deal with and ,in the process, discover more problems that really ought to be fixed.  Homeowners should not be saddled with all the wants and wishes of the local governments.  That is unfair and unreasonable.  

Interestingly enough, we did find a few items that could and should be fixed, and maybe, just maybe, we will come up with some improvements for the homeowners.  Not everyone will be happy with our suggestions, but it is about time the homeowners got a break.  Please tune in and please let me know what you think about this particular show.  Thanks, as always for listening, and we wish you a very Happy Easter from the On the Commons team.

We are still in Florida for this show.  For those of you who have n ot had the privilege of meeting Senator Robaina.  Years ago I dubbed him the Energizer Bunny, I am happy to say, nthing has changed, he is still the Energizer Bunny and so full energy I had to work hard to keep up with him.  We talk about a lot of issues that affect life in HOAs and condos.  Julio explains the effect they have on the owners, especially the retirees who are living on a limited income.  It seems every time there is a major, headline grabbing problem happens, whether it is an entire highrise sondo that collapses or where millions of dollars are stollen from an association, it is always the homowners who are blamed.  Why?  Because they are not providing adequate oversight, but ask to inspect the books and records as per your right, and the world collapses around you or the homeowners are selfish and don’t care about what happens so they refuse to fund the reserves and that’s why we have these problems.  .   Julio explains it and fills in more details.  You will not want to miss this show. 

Over the years many people have tried to “fix the problems that riddle HOAs with all their inherent  problems. One of these people is none other than Jan Bergemann.  Jan is the founder and president of the FLorida based Cyber Citizens for Jystice.  He is also the go to guy for homeowners with problems in their asociations, be they HOAs or condos.  People who are wondering, “what do I do  now?”.  A good place to start is Cyber Citizens for Justice.  and Jann.  Jann will steer them in the right direction and demystify the demands that are being made of the owners. 

Jan joins us and fills us in on what is going on in Florida.  The bad news is that nothing was passed in the legilature this year.  Not quite sure what was proposed but maybe there is a silver lining  there somewhere. I do  know that Floridians have been hard at work trying to come up with laws that will fix all the problems in associations of all sorts.  I am , howeve, at the point where I no longer bellieve it is possible to fix HOAs and condos.  Jann and I talk about that .  Tune is and please let us know whether you agree.  If not, do you have the magic cure for HOAs and condos?  Again, we would love to hear from you.

The American Dream is often referred to as homeownership. Everyone wants a home of their own where they can be king of their castles, live peacefully, shut the world out, raise their family and be with their friends and loved ones. In the process, they build a haven for their old age. Unfortunately, our legislators have bowed to the special interests, enacted legislation allowing home and condo associations to fine homeowners for alleged infractions of the dumbest of rules and then empowered them to foreclose on their homes to collect those fines. That has to stop! No one should lose their home such idiotic rules as leaving a garage door open too long or having a pet that appears to weigh more than a certain weight for feeding baby ducks as is happening currently in Texas. Can you imagine a grieving mother losing her home because she fed baby ducks without a mother?

Bill Davis, a frequent guest, a Texas attorney who represents homeowners in controlled HOA and condo housing and I talk about this case but also about the need to ban fines in HOAs and Condos as well as banning foreclosing on homes especially evicting the elderly from the homes they have spent their entire lives building. I’d like to think it is UNAMERICAN to toss old people out in the cold. Getting these bans will require a concerted effort from all of us. We also need to enlist the support of organizations that purport to protect the interests of seniors. With the money they have, and the membership they have they need to ensure that their members are protected. I am not a member of any organization that sides with groups that are harmful to seniors and homeowners in controlled housing like condos and HOAs. I also will no longer donate to candidates who will not promise to introduce legislation to ban fines and foreclosures. Join me.