Read it on Flipboard The Google Earth image above is a hovering shot from above a Minnesota State common interest development (aka HOA) that may be the site of a most unusual story, archived below: ▶ http://flip.it/uQ1I4o   As we archive this Trilogy of HOA stories, our lead item is a fascinating account from  15830 Andrie St NW, a house in a Ramsey, MN 55303 HOA ▶  This 3,227 square foot house features 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms ▶  This property was built in 1992 ▶   Located in central Minnestoa, Northfork is a 1,250 acre planned community located on the far western side of the the City of Ramsey, and eastern border of Elk River ▶  Northfork  has an active Homeowners Association committed to keeping this a great community in which to live ▶  The Homeowners Association owns approximately 300 acres of open space, trails and lake accesses for use and enjoyment by  Northfork  residents ▶ Read it on...

The play, passion, purpose of the constant change of 'social current see' from, for, and by the curator #ALTALOMAN .  Millions of homeowners have this in common: They live in and live with the restrictions, rules, and conditions of common interest developments, aka homeowner associations (HOAs).  This and other content on this blog (and related sites ... see links below) deal with the homeowner perspective on such matters. Flip②▶  STORIFY  ♥  FLIPBOARD  ★  BLOGGER ▲ ALTACITIES  ® ▶  WEEBLY See more in the 'social current see' with   3,700+ followers  on  FLIPBOARD   and the other media links noted above [ View the story "The 'social current see' of Altacities?" on Storify ]

The broad legislative power given to HOAs in California and beyond is an open debate.  Usually, serious homeowner disputes with a local HOA may only be resolved through mediation or court challenges and not by seeking "higher" governmental ruling, say from a state legislator.  In general, state lawmakers are "hands-off" when it comes to HOA governance. In one specific area, however, that ambivalence and lack of oversight may be shifting... Flip②▶ STORIFY ♥ FLIPBOARD ★ BLOGGER ▲ ALTACITIES ® 1100+ followers on FLIPBOARD [ View the story "One way CA drought trims HOA hubris" on Storify ] "If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realit... #dailyqotd #qotd http://t.co/fq1zI7UyVq — Mike Foxworth (@ALTALOMAN) June 23, 2015

Generally speaking, homeowner associations (HOA) are particular about landscaping and architectural amenities.  For that reason, many of the homeowners in our HOA are more than a little peeved about the state of despair that is displayed by one of the primary lakes in the center of our community.  While the well-publicized California drought might seem to be the cause of this dry lake bed, that is really not the problem at all.  It has to do with a legal conflict over the CC&Rs for the lake curator, the golf course that resides within our community. Flip②▶ STORIFY ♥ FLIPBOARD ★ BLOGGER ▲ ALTACITIES ® 1000+ followers on FLIPBOARD [ View the story "Life in drought: Sustenance with little H2O" on Storify ] "If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realit... #dailyqotd #qotd http://t.co/fq1zI7UyVq — Mike Foxworth (@ALTALOMAN) June 23, 2015

Should you live in a normal neighborhood as in a non-HOA community, you know how common is the presence of children and teenagers playing in the streets. However, those who live in HOAs and common interest developments know that such activities may be prohibited or restricted. Often, the inevitable conflict that arises about the usage of streets and common areas for children's play will become an issue, as it has in some of the 'social current see' items cited below. Flip②▶ STORIFY ♥ FLIPBOARD ★ BLOGGER ▲ ALTACITIES ® [ View the story "CA HOA won't be a good sport about kids" on Storify ] "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." ~Wayne Gretzky #dailyqotd #qotd http://t.co/fq1zI7UyVq — Mike Foxworth (@ALTALOMAN) June 6, 2015

Common interest developments (CIDs and HOAs) are fast becoming the dominate housing type within the United States and growth of these self-government models is continuing to raise jurisdictional and legal issues for state lawmakers across the land. The 'social current see' that follows cites a Florida ruling that declared that HOA rules trump state law in a specific area. And now that California government is about to limit HOA restrictions on controlling homeowner choice about landscaping and lawn maintenance, other court rulings are surely coming to sort out future conflicts? Flip②▶ STORIFY ♥ FLIPBOARD ★ BLOGGER ▲ ALTACITIES ® [ View the story "HOA rules trump state law, always?" on Storify ] "Don't worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don't ... #dailyqotd #qotd http://t.co/fq1zI7CY3S — Mike Foxworth (@ALTALOMAN) May 29, 2015

Back in August 2012, our first experience to attend an HOA open forum when the HOA legal counsel was invited to address homeowners for the Board did not go so well. That is, an attorney representing the long-time counsel for the HOA came to the meeting solely to help put disgruntled homeowners in this place after the board had made a controversial, unpopular decision. Essentially (I paraphrase), the attorney explained: "The HOA is not a democracy and there was nothing that homeowners could do to override the board decision." As it turns out, something was done about 18 months later when, after mediation, the decision was reversed and homeowner democracy prevailed. Another area in which democracy is prevalent in HOAs has to do with committee work. If these volunteer groups did not follow a democratic model, why would a homeowner volunteer for the role? [ View the story "R&RC has pivotal HOA role" on Storify ]

Flip②▶ STORIFY   ▶ If you live in an HOA, how many pages are included in your CC&Rs and other governing documents?  Did you thoroughly read these documents before your purchase of the home, condo, townhouse?  Probably not, right!  Even if you read the hundreds or pages, did you understand everything?  Seems like too much bother, also right?  Well, even for the experts in such matters, you can count on surprises, including a fact that is included in this 'social current see' about condo conundrums. [ View the story "#ALTACITIES ▶ Condo Conundrums" on Storify ]