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Our Motto HOA Abuse Must Stop |
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Protect our Homestead! |
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The homestead of a family, or of a single adult person, shall be, and is hereby protected from forced sale, for the payment of all debts.... Article 16, Section 50 of The Texas Constitution. |
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TEXAS HOMEOWNERS FOR HOA REFORM, Inc. |
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Directory of Website Links |
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Since the 1987 Texas Supreme Court decision in Inwood North vs. Harris and the 1995 passage of Texas Property Code Chapter 204, Homeowners Associations (HOAs) have filed thousands of legal actions against homeowners in the Houston area, generally with threat of foreclosure, causing many to lose their homes and causing others financial hardship. This website summarizes a research database of over 15,000 court filings by HOAs in the Houston area (mainly Harris County) from 1985 through 2001. In response to a proposal to transform her decades-old civic association from a voluntary dues association to an HOA, Beanie Adolph began to study HOAs. She soon discovered that the Texas Legislature had recently empowered HOAs in Harris County (but not elsewhere in Texas) to assess mandatory dues and fines, and that many Harris County HOAs were abusing their powers, especially by filing for foreclosure of homes over trivial fees. At this same time, the celebrated case of Wenonah Blevins (a widow evicted from her home over a pittance) and a few other HOA cases were in the news. In each case, the HOAs played down the foreclosure problem and the accompanying adverse publicity by claiming that foreclosure cases were rare. Beanie realized that what was lacking was any documentation to determine whether the HOA claim was true or false. From court records, the Adolph family compiled extensive evidence. The findings are on the website HOAdata.org. The complete, electronic database was formally analyzed and the results available on the site. |
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Click on the yellow spot to leave this website and go to www.hoadata.org It's a big yellow spot to symbolize the sun that shines its light everywhere, just as the hoadata website shines light on the activities of HOA attorneys and management companies. |
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To contact us |
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Bill of Rights for Homeowners in Associations A Publication by The AARP Public Policy Institute |
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Abuse from homeowner associations is a national problem, not just in Texas. A few states are experiencing more problems than others. These states have organizations or websites much like this website. You'll find abuse stories, comments and blogs, legislation updates and more on these websites. Below are links. Just click on the state and it will take you to the website listed below the state. |
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Florida: Cyber Citizens for Justice |
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California: American Homeowners Resource Center |
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Arizona: Citizens for Constitutional Local Government |
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Virginia: On The Commons |
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Visit http://prestonwoodforest.net/, the Prestonwood Forest Homeowners Organization -- the unofficial voice of Prestonwood Forest homeowners. Below are links to website addresses of official Texas government agencies where you can find information relating to homeowner associations. When you click on the yellow text you'll leave this website. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Find out who represents you in the Texas Legislature Texas Property Codes Chapter 201 through 211 Texas Government Codes Chapter 551 The Open Meetings Act and Chapter 552 The Open Records Act Texas House of Representatives Grievance Information Hotline (1-800-932-1900) Texas State Bar Association Texas State Bar Association Disciplinary Rules Texas State Bar Association CAAP Program Client-Attorney Assistance Program CAAP is a statewide dispute resolution program and service of the State Bar of Texas. It is available to the public and the State Bar members (attorneys). The program was launched on Sept. 27, 1999. CAAP may be reached from anywhere in the United States by calling (800) 932-1900. The objectives of CAAP are to: Assist clients and attorneys in resolving minor problems affecting their relationships when the issues do not involve misconduct under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. Texas Office of Attorney General Office of the Attorney General PO Box 12548 Austin, TX 78711-2548 Office of the Attorney General 300 W. 15th Street Austin, TX 78701 Attorney General; Cumulative Subject Master Index AG Opinions 1990-Present Attorney General Opinion #GA-279 Homestead A property owner may encumber the property with a covenant running with the land, which, depending on the particular instruments and circumstances involved, may be enforced by foreclosure without violating subsequent purchasers' constitutional…. Attorney General Opinions; PUBLIC INFORMATION, ACCESS AND RECORD RETENTION |