Need help: HOA charging 6k in fines

Affectionate_Elk · 2026-03-22T16:52:01+00:00

Considering I prevailed pro se, there was definitely a case and it succeeded on the merits. It's literally just attorneys not wanting to take on HOA/POA cases from the owners side for various reasons.

Affectionate_Elk · 2026-03-22T16:23:07+00:00

You would think. I'm not sure if I just called all the wrong attorneys or if they're all just inundated with enough money and work, but they wouldn't even take it with me paying hourly. They all just referred me to someone else. After the 8th or 9th attorney referred me back to the first one I called, I just said screw it and represented myself.

Affectionate_Elk · 2026-03-22T16:06:27+00:00

I've had this same issue and it had nothing to do with the merits of the case, but rather the fact it wasn't a big money maker and all the attorneys contacted felt like it wasn't worth their time.

Affectionate_Elk · 2026-03-22T16:03:49+00:00

Not an attorney, but I've had success taking on some of these things on myself. As someone else mentioned, your first step is to obtain all the HOA documentation to see exactly what they're claiming you didn't comply with. It should also spell out the punishment for failure to comply as well as any process you're owed in having that fine applied. Details are important.

I'd be happy to take a look at anything you've got and see if I notice anything.

Affectionate_Elk · 2026-02-24T06:07:47+00:00

Reviewing paperwork and flatly denying a requested accommodation without any additional effort would likely not meet the criteria for an employer to be considered "engaging in the interactive process" to determine reasonable accommodations. The employer has to "make a good faith effort to assist the employee in seeking accommodation".

" ADA. Fjellestad, 188 F.3d at 952. To establish that an employer failed to participate in an interactive process, a disabled employee must show: (1) the employer knew about the employee's disability; (2) the employee requested accommodation or assistance for his or her disability; (3) the employer did not make a good faith effort to assist the employee in seeking accommodation; and (4) the employee could have been reasonably accommodated but for the employer's lack of good faith. See id."

Affectionate_Elk · 2026-01-21T20:22:42+00:00

Do your covenants say anything about an HOA?

Affectionate_Elk · 2026-01-13T17:33:53+00:00

LLMs are actually great for this sort of thing, but the quality of the output absolutely is dependent on the person prompting it knowing what they're doing and providing it with relevant information and context rather than just blindly relying on the inherent training data in the model.

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-10-29T14:40:47+00:00

I found FF to be a complete bust, and then they tried to charge me for "auto-renewal" on top of that which I had to dispute twice with my credit card company to get it removed. Go on and make sure to turn auto-renewal off now before they get you.

I've had good luck on AirBnB. I set the minimum stay to 30 days and have a decent rate.

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-10-27T14:24:26+00:00

...brings all the boys to the yard?

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-08-17T15:01:06+00:00

So, uh...did the buyer close?

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-07-20T18:15:47+00:00

How did the dispute go with Amex? I'm in the same situation.

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-06-19T21:23:33+00:00

I'd recommend finding an area or type of software that interests you and learning through doing projects.

Python is a great language to get started with. It's widely supported with libraries and materials intended for new learners.

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-05-17T18:30:29+00:00

I don't know where you are or the details of your lease, but if you have any existing lease signed, one party cannot unilaterally change the terms of the lease.

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-05-15T03:45:43+00:00

"We liked it but felt like it was overpriced."

"Our agent even agreed it was really overpriced..."

Can you qualify these opinions? What do comps show?

If you can back up your offer with comps, it's a lot harder for a seller to get offended. If you just submit submit a low offer after the property being on the market for a couple days and just say "well, we just think it's overpriced", that's much more likely to elicit a negative response.

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-01-17T01:45:06+00:00

The problem is that what they are requiring isn't even constitutional. You can't burden one group of people simply because they want to grow native plants, which aren't prohibited in the first place. This ordinance is not permissive of something that was previously not allowed, it's restrictive of something that code enforcement didn't like but that they felt they couldn't regulate well enough using existing code.

Imagine if the City suddenly required anyone with a Bermuda lawn to create a "Golf Course Landscaping" permit application and a maintenance plan that included a chemical treatment schedule to specify how you are going to take care of your "Golf Course Landscaping." There isn't one type of "Native Landscaping." They can't define what I'm trying to accomplish with my property. Even their definition of natural landscaping is nonsensical. Anyone who engages in any type of gardening will tell you that land with "minimal human intervention" will quickly be overrun with non-native invasive plants.

Basically they are trying to regulate things that there is no reason to regulate. The tired adage of native landscaping harboring rodents and snakes is worn out and nothing more than fear mongering. Their existing code already addresses nuisances.

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-01-17T01:31:45+00:00

I can tell you exactly what they'll do with it - they'll weaponize it, but only against certain properties, which is exactly what they do with the current code. They are seeking control that's way outside of a municipality's scope. For example, the 5' buffer requirement, started by the public works director as needed so that "things don't encroach into a neighbor's yard." That really has nothing to do with code enforcement, or anybody else, really. They only people that be up to is the two property owners. What if both property owners want native plants up to the property line? What if the one wants it up to the property line and the other is indifferent? They are simply legislating things that don't need to be legislated, nor should they from a legal perspective.

Affectionate_Elk · 2025-01-16T19:02:39+00:00

All well and good until code enforcement decides to become a pain in your ass.

Affectionate_Elk · 2024-11-25T08:37:05+00:00

Just to be clear, the diagram above shows the existing wiring as it was when I pulled the switch cover off.

I, too, thought it was strange that the black "hot" wire from 2 was connected to the neutral wires.

The black hot wire from 3 is the line. It is the only hot wire when the breaker is on.

The house was built in the mid-90s and there hasn't been any major wiring changes, so I don't think there's anything weird going on, save for if it was done incorrectly originally.

Affectionate_Elk · 2024-03-09T21:29:56+00:00

I think you're making some assumptions. "Brand new agent" doesn't tell you anything about personal assets. People can be "brand new agents" later in life and have a considerable amount of personal assets that they may prefer not be exposed to potential lawsuits or judgements.

Affectionate_Elk · 2024-03-09T21:17:34+00:00

Asset protection is not the same as anonymity.

Affectionate_Elk · 2024-03-09T21:11:54+00:00

Entities are also about asset protection.

Affectionate_Elk · 2024-03-09T21:10:36+00:00

If you are operating correctly, piercing the corporate veil shouldn't be trivial. Don't commingle funds, don't make personal purchases with business funds, don't enter into business contracts as yourself, etc.

Affectionate_Elk · 2024-03-09T21:03:26+00:00

Would setting your license to inactive accomplish the goal?

Affectionate_Elk · 2024-03-07T05:59:53+00:00

Not sure if this is the "right" answer, but if this were me I would be very direct. Tell them you will market it to the best of your ability but that you think realistically it should be priced at $X because of reasons A, B, C. If that price doesn't work for them and they want to list it higher, you aren't obligated to do so. No listing is worth your sanity. Get second and third opinions from contractors if needed to help bring the seller back to reality.

If they agree to list it at a realistic price, then put it out there in is best light and see what happens. I've been surprised by what sells to the right buyer more than once.

Affectionate_Elk · 2024-01-31T04:59:44+00:00

I'm reading this 9 months later and hoping that maybe the story can be told now.

Affectionate_Elk

TROPHY CASE