Couple lose their home over $120 debt

The Sacramento Bee ^ | January 24, 2004 | Michael Kolber -- Bee Staff Writer

[DelaWhere]

Couple lose their home over $120 debt By Michael Kolber -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 a.m. PST Saturday, January 24, 2004 Get weekday updates of Sacramento Bee headlines and breaking news. Sign up here.

COPPEROPOLIS -- A retired couple's dispute with their homeowners association has spiraled out of control in this Calaveras County community -- and now they have lost their home less than a year after failing to pay $120 in annual dues.

[baltodog]

There has to be more to this than what we are being told.

If not, this story just added to my lack of faith in the human race....

The guy that bought the house knew exactly what he was getting into...I wouldn't be suprised if he was someone's relative.

He's just as much a culprit as anyone else.

[nwrep]

So what's the higher authority, the first amendment, or the bylaws?

The first amendment is a right. It says nothing about consequences. Only the govt. is prevented from abridging that right, not private entities. If you work for a corporation, you have no freedom of speech at work, but you still have your first amendment right.

[Lazamataz]

The new owner is a prick. He should be sued also. Bet he's a 'Rat.

Sued. And sued. And sued. Then contact the press. And contact them. And contact them. Take out paid advertising. Erect websites. Start a cause.

What happens at CPAC stays at CPAC.

The first rule of Fight Club, is nobody talks about Fight Club.

[Orangedog]

Courts have held in this country that it is the bylaws. Severe damage to freedom has occurred and most folks don't even know it.

Or even care when they do find out about it.

[KC Burke]

Some states have some laws set up to protect the ignorant from such foreclosures. In this case, they ignored the process for a year and failed to make arrangements for the debt they agreed to secured by their property. As it appears they have other liens and debts ignored, they probably have some issue going on with either outright inablility to handle their affairs or outright unwillingness to be in the land of human interaction.

HOAs are always in the closing papers, you can buy elsewhere. We have a modest HOA which covers a community pool and some common area landscaping maintainace. But we also have those who didn't pay, used the pool for two years when the subdivision was new, sold their homes last year and walked away leaving the other responsible Owners stuck with their share.

We have the power to delay dues or allow a homeowner to put it against the property value, but we have now added a lien procedure to use when someone just ignores obligations that they have agreed to upfront.

[Riley]

HOAs can go pound sand. Bunch of unelected, unaccountable nobodies who have suddenly gained a little power, and mean to use it. I will *never* live somewhere where I have to deal with them. My ideal circumstances are a decent house out in the woods somewhere, with a lot of land around me so I don't have to look at or listen to anyone else.

I don't really do anything that would normally attract their ire, but paying them money to constantly send their petty little 'thou shalt not' edicts into my mailbox is more than I can stomach.

[RossA]

The Mengeles might give you some lamp shades as an Xmax present.

[AppyPappy]

I'm lost. Why didn't they pay the $120?

[SandRat]

That's a Colt way to greet liberals and lawyers!

[ovrtaxt]

We are approaching a point where the courts and the constitution are diametrically opposed. When critical mass is reached, probably through some seminal event, bigger and more intrusive than Waco or Elian Gonzalez, the words of the Founding Fathers will carry more weight.

I know nobody wants to seriously discuss armed resistance right now, (despite some of the posts here), but I can see it coming. Regardless of who gets elected.

[alisasny]

his three sons are carpenters and painters

The sons couldnt find 120 bucks between themselves to bail out MOM and DAD.....I have issue with this more than anything....

[Johnny_Cipher]

The unhappy couple wrote a letter to their Congresscritter, Barbara Boxer, about this.

[Orangedog]

The guy that bought the house knew exactly what he was getting into...I wouldn't be suprised if he was someone's relative.

He's just as much a culprit as anyone else.

All that guy would get from me would be a burnt-out shell with a toxic waste problem in the back yard if I was 64 and just lost my home over $120.

[verity]

"but they'd have to kill me first"

With that attitude, one must conclude that you are dissatisfied with your life. OR, talk is cheap!

[ovrtaxt]

But the courts uphold entities and theie rules over the individual's right to property. Am I off base here? Seems to me the right to life, liberty and property trumps EVERYTHING else.

[Lazamataz]

With that attitude, one must conclude that you are dissatisfied with your life. OR, talk is cheap!

Nah. It's just that some people have a line in the sand. This must be his.