Home Associations Mean Taking a Risk

Jeff Lane says associations are leftist institutions and an un-American assault on private property rights (Letters, Aug. 29). He is right.

They are also a very risky investment. Home associations are usually run by a group of volunteer homeowners and some management companies who have little or no training in handling the corporate formalities of multimillion-dollar nonprofit corporations (which is what you are investing in) holding the life investments of many of its members.

We often invest far less in banks or savings and loans that are insured by the FDIC. Homeowners who buy their “castles” in associations have no insurance against tyrannical or errant associations and often have to resort to the courts to rectify problems. That is no way to live the American dream.

BEN and CAROL GOZA

Fullerton

Re Lane’s Aug. 29 letter: Unlike the people of Lenin’s time, we have a choice of where we can buy a home.

Some people choose to live with a homeowners association that will regulate policies for the good of everyone--policies such as cars parked on the front lawn, junk vehicles on the sides of the house, weeds 4 feet high growing in the front, old appliances stacked in the driveway; the list goes on and on.

No, none has the “freedom” to bring the value of someone else’s property down because of these unsightly things.

STEVE SEUPERT

Lancaster

Jeff Lane’s telling home buyers to “avoid associations at all costs” just does not agree with the facts. A well-run association is the best way to protect your investment in a property.

If the neighborhood is uncared-for and the homes poorly maintained or the residents loud, horn-beeping idiots, property values go to the dogs.

Having an association membership that works to make sure all owners keep up their part of the bargain will benefit everyone in the neighborhood.

If Jeff bought into an association, he knew it before escrow closed; so all I can conclude is that his place there does not now fit the norm and he should reconsider his “leftist” feeling before the value of his property takes a dive and affects his next-door neighbors.

CHUCK APPEL

San Pedro