Re: Illinois Condo Association Election Question

"Vivian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> There is so much bullshit with these condo associations I don't even know
> why I bother.  Before you decide on getting involved think long and
> hard--you will be assaulted with complaints, meetings, telephone calls,
> pranks, paper, politics, legal jargon, arguments, threats of violence,
> threats of death, meaningless clammy handshakes and notetaking.
>
> I want to sell my unit as fast as I can and move into a homeowner
> association free detached home.  I can't take it anymore.

I sure agree with that.  Getting involved has really made what would
otherwise be a great place to live awful.  When I wasn't involved, I was
much happier.  Once you see what is going on, what has been overlooked, what
has happened that no one was watching, and the shenanigans of the management
companies, who want nothing else but to collect their money while giving
nothing more than the facade of management or service, you feel like you
have to stay involved -- because God only knows what you'll end up with down
the line.  But if you ARE involved, you have all the problems above.  To me,
the management companies are the absolute worst part of it.   You can't
trust most of them without watching over them very very closely.  I get so
sick of homeowners blaming the (volunteer) board for everything that goes
wrong, when it is the management company that is getting paid, that deals
with the vendors, that deals with the repairs and the services.   Bad
situation.  I won't buy into one again.

On the plus side, I have equity that I would never have had renting -- and I
personally find it better than renting from a livability standpoint -- and I
don't have a landlord that can raise my monthly rent without limit.  It was
the best I could do when I bought, SFH out of associations were too much of
a financial stretch -- but next time, it will be a purchase in a non-HOA
home, even if I have to go much older to do it.