Co-conspirator in Plymouth Hill condo scam pleads guilty - Colonial News - Montgomery News

Co-conspirator in Plymouth Hill condo scam pleads guilty - Colonial News - Montgomery News

A co-conspirator in the Plymouth Hill Condominium kickback scam pleaded guilty in court April 26 and has agreed to testify against his accomplices. Keith Brandolph, a salesperson with Siemens Fire Safety, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by deception and one count of engaging in criminal conspiracy after he admitted to helping the condo association manager swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars from owners within Plymouth Hill condominiums. Last year, the district attorney initially charged Vincent Lopez, the paid facility manager of the condo complex, and three others with cheating homeowners out of as much as $600,000 through various thinly veiled means of hiking association rates. Lopez and two others — Irving Betoff and Roosevelt Harris — are scheduled to plead guilty to unknown charges May 2. Patricia Paugh, assistant property manager of Plymouth Hill condos, who is charged with theft, criminal conspiracy and related offenses, is expected to plead guilty the following day.
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Thanks to Rodney Gray for this link. There have been so many of these episodes that you would expect demands for government oversight of property management firms. This one is from Pennsylvania.

Covington-area family battles homeowners association over solar panels | NOLA.com

Covington-area family battles homeowners association over solar panels | NOLA.com

He had solar panels installed on the roof of his house in the Estates of Northpark near Covington in March and cut his family's time on the grid -- and his electricity costs -- by about 80 percent.
But the time for celebration never came. Before he ever received his first post-solar electric bill, his homeowners association sued him, saying Piazza had not gotten permission to install the panels on his house.
Neighbors in the gated enclave -- typical of many newer, upscale subdivisions in St. Tammany Parish -- also complained that the eco-friendly panels are "unsightly," according to the lawsuit.
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Thanks to Fred Pilot and Beanie Adolph for this link. It seems that this solar panel vs. HOA issue may become a  serious problem that will require national legislation. That's what happened with satellite dishes. Eventually the satellite TV industry lobbied congress, which ordered the FCC to draft a rule, and now we don't see so many conflicts over satellite dishes in HOA and condo properties. Solar panels will be a major part of our energy supply system eventually, and I can't see condo and hoa boards being allowed to get in the way of that, particularly on "unsightliness" grounds.

Powerful HOAs Leave Many Texans Feeling Homeless « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

Powerful HOAs Leave Many Texans Feeling Homeless « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

Fannie Mae had first-quarter profit, needs no new taxpayer funds - latimes.com

Fannie Mae had first-quarter profit, needs no new taxpayer funds - latimes.com

WASHINGTON — Fannie Mae on Wednesday reported a $2.7-billion profit for the first three months of the year and will not need new taxpayer money for the first time since the government seized the housing finance giant in 2008.


Fannie Mae said the improvement in its finances came from a slower decline in housing prices, a lower rate of homeowners behind on their payments and fewer foreclosed homes on the company's books.
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It's nice to see something that isn't entirely negative. I think that passes for semi-optimism.

The woman who lives in a shed: how London landlords are cashing in | Society | The Guardian

The woman who lives in a shed: how London landlords are cashing in | Society | The Guardian

Council finds people living in everything from massively overcrowded houses to a walk-in freezer – and the problem is getting worse...Converted sheds have become an increasingly mainstream – if illegal – part of the London property market. It's a logical development, given the explosion of property prices throughout the capital, and the huge shortage of supply. As central London becomes more expensive, people are pushed further out and rental prices even in Newham, which is the second most deprived borough in England and Wales, are rising fast.

Landlords are subdividing family homes into smaller and smaller units, haphazardly extending plumbing and electricity connections from the main properties into the garden sheds and garages, which they have no problem in renting out.

Newham's mayor, Sir Robin Wales, is dismayed. "It's big money. You get a few breeze blocks, sling up some crappy old shed in your back garden, and now you're making hundreds and hundreds of pounds a week. It doesn't take long for you to make a lot of money out of it, provided you are prepared to trade in human misery.

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Life under the virtuous austerity program of David Cameron is working out to be much like the Victorian Era. They are back in recession. If the Republicans take over the national government in November, we can look forward to the same.

Ecuador law would forgive debt on defaulted mortgages of first-time buyers - The Washington Post

Ecuador law would forgive debt on defaulted mortgages of first-time buyers - The Washington Post

QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador’s legislature has passed legislation that would require banks to forgive any outstanding debt on mortgages for first-time home buyers of properties worth up to $146,000 if they default and forfeit a home.


The measure, aimed at discouraging a real estate bubble of the type that has caused so much pain in the United States and Europe, won praise from many Ecuadoreans on Wednesday. The country’s banking industry did not immediately comment.
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That makes Ecuador the leading edge of housing finance reform.

George Lucas pushes low-income housing option

George Lucas pushes low-income housing option

The Marin Community Foundation announced Tuesday that it is working with Lucasfilm to "explore options" for building affordable housing in the location where the movie mogul wanted to build a film studio until residents in an adjacent subdivision protested.

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I can see why "affordable" housing is needed there. Marin County homes are currently worth an average of $565,000.

PHOTOS: Wilbur the pig wins Texas HOA court battle | kens5.com San Antonio

PHOTOS: Wilbur the pig wins Texas HOA court battle | kens5.com San Antonio
The HOA says Wilbur is livestock. The family says he is a pet. The judge agrees with the family: Wilbur is a pet. I wonder if he asked, "But why does the pig have a wooden leg?" (IF you don't know that joke, it's easy to look up.)

Thanks to Fred Pilot for the link.

“The HOAX” is Plugged on ABC Channel 13 Las Vegas | The HOAX documentary

“The HOAX” is Plugged on ABC Channel 13 Las Vegas | The HOAX documentary
Yes, indeed it is. There is even a link on the Channel 13 website to the trailer for Rodney's film.

HOA board member's bad behavior catches up with him - www.ktnv.com

HOA board member's bad behavior catches up with him - www.ktnv.com

North Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- He's the man Contact 13 dubbed president of the HOA Hall of Shame.

And now, his reign may be coming to an end.

Chief Investigator Darcy Spears first broke this story in late 2010. Now, a year and a half later, the state is finally taking action against Joe Bitsky...The letter says the Real Estate Division has "obtained sufficient evidence to commence a disciplinary action... and intends to file a complaint for hearing before the Commission for Common Interest Communities." In the letter, the Autumn Chase board is accused of violating more than 16 state laws, including failing to audit HOA funds; failing to hold proper elections; and conducting financial transactions not in the association's interest and for their own personal gain such as using association money to install security cameras on their home....And as always, continue sending your nominations for the HOA Hall of Shame to 13investigates@ktnv.com.

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And check out this plug for Rodney Gray's new documentary:  "Bitsky's behavior and Contact 13's coverage of it has earned Autumn Chase and our own Darcy Spears a featured spot in a soon-to-be-released national documentary on HOAs. We've set up a link to the trailer.  To see it, just type links in the search box.."

Off the Grid : Eric Valli

Off the Grid : Eric Valli


"There are growing number of people 
who have decided to live light on the earth
to not be a part of problem anymore
I spent the last few years with four of them 
striving for harmony with nature 
in the most pristine corners of United States."
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These photos are just amazing. Take a look.

The homes of the future: Amazing pictures of sleek and stylish houses show next generation of American living | Mail Online

The homes of the future: Amazing pictures of sleek and stylish houses show next generation of American living | Mail Online
Isn't it interesting that whenever people talk about homes of the future or dream homes, the place is always unique and often designed to reflect the owner's interests or personality?  That is, when the owner is rich. When the owner is a working schmoe like most of us, s/he gets a place that is a testament to rigid uniformity.  Not only does look like everything else in the neighborhood--it comes with a set of rules that make it impossible for the owner to make any significant changes in the house's appearance, size, or function.  I guess individualized homes are a perquisite of the rich and famous. The rest of us are governed by the banking and investment system that requires fungible housing units, so they can be securitized and valued and maintained as little pieces of security for mortgage backed securities.

State lawmakers look to ease oversight on private prisons - CBS 5 - KPHO

State lawmakers look to ease oversight on private prisons - CBS 5 - KPHO

Two convicted killers and a third dangerous criminal broke out of a medium security private prison facility in Kingman Arizona in July 2010.

The escapees were eventually caught after a nationwide manhunt, but not before an Oklahoma couple was killed.

The escape and murders that followed raised some serious questions about private prison safety standards and whether new policies should be put in place to prevent prison breaks from happening again.

Two years later, Arizona lawmakers have decided to go in a different direction.

Buried in the $8.6 billion budget proposal passed at the state Capitol this week is a plan to "eliminate the requirement for a quality and cost review of private prison contracts."

It means there would no longer be an annual review of how private prisons operate.

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Great idea. Handle privatized prisons the same way they handle privatized neighborhoods: no oversight. That way, the private contractors can claim that privatization is a huge success. Maybe Zogby could do a quick poll...

Oh, and guess what the last study found:  "That study found that in some cases private prisons cost taxpayers more than state-run facilities."

Co-conspirator in Plymouth Hill condo scam pleads guilty - Colonial News - Montgomery News

Co-conspirator in Plymouth Hill condo scam pleads guilty - Colonial News - Montgomery News
Keith Brandolph, a salesperson with Siemens Fire Safety, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by deception and one count of engaging in criminal conspiracy after he admitted to helping the condo association manager swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars from owners within Plymouth Hill condominiums.

Last year, the district attorney initially charged Vincent Lopez, the paid facility manager of the condo complex, and three others with cheating homeowners out of as much as $600,000 through various thinly veiled means of hiking association rates.
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Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link to yet another horrible story of owners victimized by crooked condo industry professionals. Tell me again why the property management industry doesn't need governmental oversight? 

Let’s just say it: The Republicans are the problem. - The Washington Post

Let’s just say it: The Republicans are the problem. - The Washington Post
This is from two prominent political scientists. They have a book coming out and this article is something to get the pump primed. I think they have things pretty well figured out.

Lawsuit: HOA Guards Threatened Tenants With Tasers, Stole Naked Pictures Over Foreclosure Miscommunication - The Consumerist

Lawsuit: HOA Guards Threatened Tenants With Tasers, Stole Naked Pictures Over Foreclosure Miscommunication - The Consumerist

Renters of a California condo say they got a rude awakening when a group of guards hired by their homeowners association allegedly used Taser guns to evict them from a house they didn't know had been foreclosed on.

According to the lawsuit filed this week in the Superior Court of California in Sacramento, the guards entered the building without permission around 3 a.m. and began a "military style raid of plaintiffs' residence."

One officer allegedly told the tenants who were present at the time that the building was supposed to be vacant and that everyone in the condo would be charged with burglary and trespassing. The guards said they had been told by the HOA that the people in the building were squatters.

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Thanks to Mystery Reader for this story about an HOA that went all Rambo on some tenants in a foreclosed unit. The article says there was an unlawful detainer action on file to evict them, but the tenants hadn't been served with it so they didn't know about it. Now there is another lawsuit: "The tenants have sued the guards and the HOA, seeking damages for trespass, extortion, assault and battery, false imprisonment, invasion of privacy, conversion and intentional infliction of emotional distress."
Here is the full original story.

14 more criminal cases unsealed in Las Vegas HOA probe - Tuesday, May 1, 2012 | 8:17 p.m. - VEGAS INC

14 more criminal cases unsealed in Las Vegas HOA probe - Tuesday, May 1, 2012 | 8:17 p.m. - VEGAS INC
That makes a total of 25 criminal cases. Eleven defendants have pled guilty to date. Thanks to Fred Pilot for the link.

Maybe no housing rebound for a generation: Shiller - Chicago Tribune

Maybe no housing rebound for a generation: Shiller - Chicago Tribune

"I worry that we might not see a really major turnaround in our lifetimes," Shiller said.

The S&P/Case-Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas gained 0.2 percent in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, the first uptick in prices in 10 months.

But Shiller called it "a very mixed bag." Nine of the 20 cities recorded falling or flat prices on the month.

He said suburban areas in particular might endure further price declines as high gas prices increase demand for "walkable cities."

Non-Disparagement - Contract Standards

Non-Disparagement - Contract Standards
Here is an explanation of non-disparagement clauses like the one referred to in the article cited below. It seems that they are already being used in CC&Rs. I can see why Warner Brothers and CBS would put one in Charlie Sheen's contract. I can't see why every homeowner in a CID should be silenced. I haven't researched the enforcement of these clauses in that context, and if anybody has a case citation please send it along.

U.S. Homeownership Hits Decade Low

U.S. Homeownership Hits Decade Low
From a high of 73% in 2006-2007, the homeownership rate has dropped to 62% and falling.  And back in 2006, 92% of Americans said their home was worth more than they paid for it. Now only 53% say that, and most of them are wrong.