Welcome to Ungated

Mr. A, In many parts of this country, almost all new homes are being built in community associations. Those looking for a new home, under the guise of affordable housing, buy into associations because they have no other choice. In the Bay area you can't find property to build a single family residence on. The developers have made huge monetary deals with the city councils in this area in order to build thousands of homes in community associations. They have invaded our agricultural land, our open space and our backyards. Our infrastructure is not capable of handling 5000 new homes yet the building continues. What you miss is people don't have a choice where to buy nor do they realize what they have bought into until it is too late. Being on the welcoming committee in this association, more than half the new owners had no idea what belonging to an association can mean in the long term. The governing documents are written with legal jargon so the lay person cannot understand them. Civil, corporation and business codes are not something most people know or should have to know. I am glad you are happy in your association and things run so well for you. Many associations aren't so well run and the result is the many homeowner advocates you may have run across. Many of those on the opposing side want us to believe everything is ok in associations but we know otherwise. We have seen too many homeowners lose their homes. We have seen too many homeowners battle their association in courtrooms across this land when there was no reason except a Board made a bad decision. George and I and many others will continue to remain homeowner advocates until the laws of this land change so we are equal with those who live outside gated communities. Outside of these gates, you can't take my home for a $1.50 late charge or fine me thousands of dollars because someone decided my landscaping is not up to community standards. It happens Mr. A and that is why we are here.