section 8 living in condo community

Your home value hasn't decreased because of the Section 8 housing. It is being effected by the number of foreclosures your HOA has. Plus the high rate of rental property which limits loan offerings/increased refinance rates. The HOA has nothing to do with who an owner decides to rent to. They are a 3rd party to rental agreements. Some states may allow the limitation of rental property but not to whom one rents.

The rental situation in some ways may be helping as it reduces your foreclosure rate. Which is really a major factor in assessing Home value. Home value is based on the prices houses sell for of similar size/bedroom/bath in a few mile radius. It also includes houses in foreclosure/short sales in 6 month period. So having those homes now as rental means the foreclosure effect may be reduced as a factor.

So I don't think you can stop someone from renting to section 8. I also don't believe section 8 recipients are all bad people who lower home values. It's a bad perception. Bad people live in the richest of houses just like good people can live in the poorest of circumstance. Maybe lay off the judgement because someone needs the assistance.

I'm sorry I meant to mention in my first message that my condo value didn't just go up because of section 8 living here, a real estate agent said it's because of too many renters. Also the reason behind all the foreclosures is the fact that the contractor who built the units, filed for bankruptcy right after the 72 units were built. As for section 8 renters, I'm not saying they are all bad but the majority of the ones I live with are. I'm living in a nightmare. I don't even want to have company. When my sister comes over, she says some buildings look like the hood with people hanging outside. We've had to hire a pool monitor in the summer. We've had one guy expose himself to women leaving the pool and all kinds of people try to get into the pool. The police have had to be called because of drug activity and section 8 fighting. They threw fireworks in the trash can on new yrs eve and caught it on fire. They throw trash out where they park everyday. I've picked up bags of trash behind my condo. Who wants to live like this? My husband wont let me walk to the mailbox by myself anymore. We are also stuck here now because no condos are selling because banks won't give loans due to ratio of renters and we don't want the hassle of renting to anyone we don't know. This should explain why every condo community needs rules about 20 % or less renters. I wouldn't be in this mess. Also, their are no background checks done on the section 8 renters. Also two different homeowners have section 8 living upstairs over them and in the past two months they have let their bath tub water run over and messed up the homeowners units down stairs. They act like they are trying to run us homeowners out of this hoa, what a nightmare.

Virginia,
Thank you for the information. Our hoa management has houses and apartments all over town that he rents out in his office he has a sign that says We do not take Section 8 vouchers. I think he will soon have to take that sign down. He said his lawyer said it's not discrimination unless it's in a condo community where somebody may challenge it and it would cost the hoa legal fees. I read where when Obama was in office, he wanted low income with children to be able to live in nice houses and go to better schools. All this did was cause homeowners property value to go down and rentals to go up. He made sure section 8 tenants were given more money in their vouchers. Most of these renters drive expensive cars. The single women with 3 to 4 children to not tell anyone that their boyfriends live with them and they have extra income. It's just ashame that the system is being abused.

It sounds like the main issue in your community is a lack of rule enforcement rather than who lives there and how they're paying for it.

John c,

Why are you offended? The reason I put more comments about section 8 was because someone thought they were basically good tenants. I just wanted to share what I'm dealing with. You don't have to worry about me on here ever again.

Susan

Your choice to leave. Enjoy.

If you've already got 70% renters I think there's a good chance it's already a lost cause. Outsiders rent to earn income, whether it's Section 8 people or not, and convincing them to give up their income from those rentals is going to be a hill that's too steep to climb. Good luck.

Douglas,
You are right. Thank you for your comments and concern.

I believe these were the comments that JohnC46 saw as discriminatory and these type statements would be strong evidence of discrimination in a lawsuit.

While stereotypes may hold some truth, making assumptions about all recipients of Section 8 based on perceptions is discriminatory and more than not being politically correct. Not everyone on public assistance abuses the system.

I certainly didn't mean to sound discriminatory against any of the renters at the condo community I live in. I know that everyone doesn't abuse the system. I treat everyone here with respect. One renter asked to borrow $10.00 until they got paid, so they could buy a meal. I told her I'd give her the money so she wouldn't have to pay me back. I'm a nice person. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I live in a nice neighborhood and just wish everyone would respect their neighbors like I do, that's all.

Tim,

Thank you very much for your comments. That makes alot of sense to me.

Yes, they mean two different things but they are closely related and prejudice is often used as evidence of discrimination in court.

Susan, I hope you can put aside your anger at one or two here and focus on the good advice from the others. ENFORCEMENT.

Ben, while it's true that prejudice can lead to the actual behavior of discrimination, most people do not have the power to practice discrimination. Prejudice is an attitude, opinion, etc. Discrimination is active behavior.

Ben,
Thank you for your response. I understand now. Have a good day.

So...you're on the Board now, Susan?

Can't your board fine the owners of condos where the tenants are breaking your HOA's rules?

Susan, your PM should never have been "over" the renters in the first place. The Board and PM should have directed their out of compliance/enforcement activities to the owner from day one. We do copy the tenant when the matter involves the tenant (trash can not put away etc.) but the owner is always held responsible. If fines or other actions are implemented, they are imposed upon the owner, not the tenant. If there is a hearing, the hearing involves the owner, not the tenant.