Let me tell ya a little story. We live in an HOA. Several years ago the board decided that the stucco on the exteriors of the homes was defective and was the cause of all kinds of bad things. I was among a group of residents who asked for more info than the engineering firm( a branch of which also got the contract to remediate) we had hi…
Let me tell ya a little story. We live in an HOA. Several years ago the board decided that the stucco on the exteriors of the homes was defective and was the cause of all kinds of bad things. I was among a group of residents who asked for more info than the engineering firm( a branch of which also got the contract to remediate) we had hired was providing. Also, note that we are connected to another community of stucco clad homes that are in a different association. Our “ protest” group was gaining some ground by door knocking and having meetings. The board then had a big invitation only meeting which excluded all of us at which they showed homes collapsing in California. According to the board, the collapse was caused by stucco exteriors. Overnight things changed. “ Neighbors” hated us , much mischief ensued, threatening mail sent, dog poop at front doors, etc. because we wanted “ neighbors “ homes to collapse. Of course, once the fear entered, we lost in our effort. We all paid a very hefty assessment and our homes were recladded with another product. This was 10 years ago. The homes connected but not in the association are still stucco exteriors and still standing.
Our message was not disjointed. Our objectives were clear but we could not overcome the tool of fear. Perhaps I was naive but I was astounded at the degree of venom expressed neighbor to neighbor.
To your point, I am trying to speak with some folks now but not getting very far. I think people are inured to so much. These endless wars that are the subject here also wreak endless “ collateral damage”. How can my triple jabbed friend who has had Covid twice not be angry? I don’t know.
I Am Not A Lawyer, but if the HOA is holding secret meetings and retaliating against homeowners who are questioning questionable assessments, that sounds actionable.
I would not be the least bit surprised if the ones pushing these unnecessary repairs have some familial or financial connection to the engineering firm and/or contractor.
Your first mistake was buying where there is an HOA. Joking not joking.
I can’t quite understand the logic of persecuting stucco-house neighbors though. I guess it’s something like “ your unvaccinated house lowers the value of my vaccinated house.” Real Estate is such a rich playing field for the banks and local Gooberment for fleecing the marks. In a nearby county there was a run-up in prices that doubled prices in about 7 years. There were a lot of poor former middle class old people living out their days in vintage “single wide” “mobiles” bothering nobody. The county got excited about accessing the real estate higher and started A frenzy of “red-tagging” the old dwellings. They (the old folks) were holding us back, right? “Improve your property or else!” Meanwhile everybody who could swing a hammer was building a crappy “spec house.” Suddenly the boom ended and house prices dropped 50% almost overnight. A young man I knew had just bought a place for $300,000 with his sister that a month later was assessed at $160,000! They walked away, leaving their down payment. It was sad. People are going to have to learn to think critically again.
Let me tell ya a little story. We live in an HOA. Several years ago the board decided that the stucco on the exteriors of the homes was defective and was the cause of all kinds of bad things. I was among a group of residents who asked for more info than the engineering firm( a branch of which also got the contract to remediate) we had hired was providing. Also, note that we are connected to another community of stucco clad homes that are in a different association. Our “ protest” group was gaining some ground by door knocking and having meetings. The board then had a big invitation only meeting which excluded all of us at which they showed homes collapsing in California. According to the board, the collapse was caused by stucco exteriors. Overnight things changed. “ Neighbors” hated us , much mischief ensued, threatening mail sent, dog poop at front doors, etc. because we wanted “ neighbors “ homes to collapse. Of course, once the fear entered, we lost in our effort. We all paid a very hefty assessment and our homes were recladded with another product. This was 10 years ago. The homes connected but not in the association are still stucco exteriors and still standing.
Our message was not disjointed. Our objectives were clear but we could not overcome the tool of fear. Perhaps I was naive but I was astounded at the degree of venom expressed neighbor to neighbor.
To your point, I am trying to speak with some folks now but not getting very far. I think people are inured to so much. These endless wars that are the subject here also wreak endless “ collateral damage”. How can my triple jabbed friend who has had Covid twice not be angry? I don’t know.
Fear is incredibly powerful. It is disproportionately powerful in a population not used to hardship. We are soft, and we will pay for it.
I Am Not A Lawyer, but if the HOA is holding secret meetings and retaliating against homeowners who are questioning questionable assessments, that sounds actionable.
I would not be the least bit surprised if the ones pushing these unnecessary repairs have some familial or financial connection to the engineering firm and/or contractor.
Your first mistake was buying where there is an HOA. Joking not joking.
I can’t quite understand the logic of persecuting stucco-house neighbors though. I guess it’s something like “ your unvaccinated house lowers the value of my vaccinated house.” Real Estate is such a rich playing field for the banks and local Gooberment for fleecing the marks. In a nearby county there was a run-up in prices that doubled prices in about 7 years. There were a lot of poor former middle class old people living out their days in vintage “single wide” “mobiles” bothering nobody. The county got excited about accessing the real estate higher and started A frenzy of “red-tagging” the old dwellings. They (the old folks) were holding us back, right? “Improve your property or else!” Meanwhile everybody who could swing a hammer was building a crappy “spec house.” Suddenly the boom ended and house prices dropped 50% almost overnight. A young man I knew had just bought a place for $300,000 with his sister that a month later was assessed at $160,000! They walked away, leaving their down payment. It was sad. People are going to have to learn to think critically again.
Like.