Dallas Real Estate News, Housing Trends, Home Prices, Home Tours, Candy Evans, DallasDirt Blog D Magazine » I hate Homeowner Associations

Nagin’s Folly

Candy Evans — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 05:29:18 +0000

So here’s the cute Frisco town home Ray Nagin is about to lose for $1500 — it’s up just north of Lebanon Parkway, a hefty stone’s throw from IKEA. The Mayor of New Orleans obviously doesn’t know that Texas has some of the strongest homestead laws in the country, which protects us from creditors, and sometimes spouses. In 1837, in fact, a property could not be sold without both the husband’s and wife’s signature! There are five ways you can lose your home in the Lone Star state: Failure to pay taxes of any kind — federal income taxes, property taxes; mechanics liens, when you fail to pay a workman who has done work on your house provided he correctly files a mechanics lien; purchase money mortgages — in other words, failure to pay your mortgage; failure to pay homeowners maintenance fees, a topic hotly debated in Austin right now; and failure to pay home equity loans borrowed against the homestead. Unlike other states, Texans may only borrow up to 80% of the equity in their homes, another reason why our market is a heck of a lot healthier than most.

Ray Nagin Must Pay Homeowners Fees On Texas Hurricane Home… Or Else

Candy Evans — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:48:28 +0000

You remember Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr., yes? The Mayor of New Orleans? Well, Ray and his wife have a townhome in Frisco built by D.R. Horton, off the Dallas North Tollway and Stone Brook Parkway, which he has referred to as a modest “second hurricane home” since his wife has family here. But seems he hasn’t paid his home association fees of $1507.14. And in Texas, we know what that means: though we are a strong homestead state, not paying HOA dues can result in foreclosure. And in fact, the Casa Bella Owners Association has filed suit against Nagin for the past due moola. If he fails to pony up, the property will be auctioned off April 7 in Collin County. Over the weekend, CBS11 reported that the Nagins plan to “sell off” the property to pay off the debt; Collin County has the property, which he and his wife bought May 31, 2007, valued at $181,968.

I’m re-thinking my stance on hating homeowners associations.

People Are Just Nuts

Candy Evans — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:56:32 +0000

So glad this West Hollywood homeowner took this down — very bad taste. Talk about weird neighbors.

Homes That Can’t Be Built in Little Forest Hills

Candy Evans — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:08:20 +0000

You may have heard the rumblings as far north as Preston and LBJ: the battle for a conservation district in Little Forest Hills. Come November, the City Plan Commission will scrutinize the plan, which goes to the City Council for a vote in December. Very hot issue. If the plan passes as proposed, here is a list of homes that can’t be built in Little Forest Hills including one we shot for our newest issue of D Home.

Why I Hate Homeowners Associations

Candy Evans — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:38:39 +0000

As punishment, those who tried to fine this man should have to tear down their houses.