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.

[DelaWhere]

I plan to FREEP this one - anyone else? To contact the office:Tuesday to Saturday 7:30 AM to 4 PM Primary Business Address; 920 Black Creek Drive Copperopolis CA 95228 Phone: 209-785-2688 Fax: 209-785-2698 Email: ccltoa@caltel.com

[Malacoda]

So, a $120 charge turned into damn near $2,000, and the HOA isn't "really" an HOA, but a loose association of their neighbors?

Frankly, I'd rather live next door tot he Mengeles. They'd probably be more neighborly.

ANd I'm waiting to see what the HOA defenders have to say on this one.

You'd have to be NUTS to live in a development with an HOA.

[Pern]

and now they have lost their home less than a year after failing to pay $120 in annual dues.

I don't care what the reason, if anybody tried to take away my home, they'd be looking at the wrong end of my .45 ACP!

[Lazamataz]

Some HOA's are benign.

But I won't take that chance.

[sauropod]

This is unbelievable. I know some on this forum will say that the Radcliffs entered into a "voluntary contract" and hence deserve no special consideration.

Myself, I vote for common sense. I think the HOA should be sued for financial terrorism.

[Lazamataz]

I don't care what the reason, if anybody tried to take away my home, they'd be looking at the wrong end of my .45 ACP!

The problem is, they'd be looking at the wrong end of a .45 ACP -- but you'd be looking at the wrong ends of about 30 M16's and about 10 Remington 700's.

[the invisib1e hand]

reminds me of a true story about a rich man who was in charge of the owner's committee at an exclusive Park Ave place.

one of the owners was having a little bit of difficulty paying his maintenance -- I believe it was six figures. the committee man offered to give the owner time to get his affairs in order.

and these lowlifes wanna ruin someone's life for 120 measly dollars? that's just plain evil.

[Leroy S. Mort]

The Radcliffs can receive about $60,000 from the sale of their house after paying off the homeowners association and a lien for past-due income taxes.

Sounds like forgetting to pay their association dues wasn't the ONLY problem this couple had.

[sauropod]

There is also an allusion to a tax lien on the property.

More to the story here. Maybe the Radcliffs have Alzheimer's or something?

[ovrtaxt]

"One of the unfortunate things about people is when you get a little power, it goes to their heads," said Anita Radcliff, 61.

Welcome to the planet, Anita. If you ever vote for a proponent of big government again, you haven't learned your lesson.

[buffyt]

A friend of mine who lives a couple of blocks to the south of me is a very active person in the Republican party. She has held fund raisers for the Bushes, Tom DeLay, Ron Paul, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, etc. in her home. She told me the other day that her HOA doesn't allow campaign signs in the front yard in her neighborhood! I told her I would not put up with that, also being active in the Rep. party. She said "We decided to do that!" I can't believe anyone would want to live on her street and be unable to have a campaign sign in the yard once every four years. We have deed restrictions that call for a garage, brick homes, home a certain size... but no HOA.

[Lazamataz]

and these lowlifes wanna ruin someone's life for 120 measly dollars? that's just plain evil.

Could this foreclosure be reversed somehow? I sure would like to see this couple be able to simply pay the 120 and be done with it.

[ovrtaxt]

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

[sauropod]

"The Radcliffs can receive about $60,000 from the sale of their house after paying off the homeowners association and a lien for past-due income taxes. All expect the home's current owner to demand much more than the $70,000 he paid for the house to sell it back to the Rad-cliffs."

"I doubt if that would be a viable option. He's going to look for profit," said Don Morger, the senior vice president of Coast Assessment Service."

"The new owner could not be reached for comment."

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

[Pern]

but you'd be looking at the wrong ends of about 30 M16's and about 10 Remington 700's.

Oh, it's a given that the SWAT team Rambo wannabes would be on me like a pack of wolves, but they'd have to kill me first.

[sauropod]

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.

[Lazamataz]

Oh, it's a given that the SWAT team Rambo wannabes would be on me like a pack of wolves, but they'd have to kill me first.

See, I don't intend to go out like that.

I'd rather be an irritant for the next 20 years. Lawsuits, injunctions, discovery, investigation, et. al. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year.

Like rain wearing away a mountain.