Helpful tip on dealing with rumors

Thanks, Shelia, this quote from it caught my eye: "As a leader, step up and shut down rumors, gossip, and misinformation. When you hear about it, confront it. Let your team know [this community] is no place for unsubstantiated discussions that can harm...."

My 200+-unit multi-story condo has 300 elevated concrete & steel balconies. They all were inspected by an architect in 2020. 31 need repair, now underway, for safety* or water intrusion problems.

The condo next door to me was on the market & went pending a few weeks ago, but the lender balked on learning of the upcoming repairs. They apparently misunderstood the newish CA requirements about balconies with any wood features/support, etc. This condo’s balcony has NO issues. The seller, who lives in a 2nd Unit here, started complaining bitterly 10 days go to neighbors including my spouse about this obstacle. She spread a rumor, magnifying the issue. A different lender, though, was easily found.

In the HOA newsletter today—as if having read Shelia’s citation!—our president in a subtitle, “Mortgage Loan Clarification,” assured owners that the lender misunderstood the new statute and also the nature of the repair work in the relevant balconies. He closed by noting that, for sellers, “We have documentation, prepared by our Association’s attorney, that can be provided to loan officers to clarify the work that has been completed or is soon to start.”

One reason I’m sharing this is that there may be Calif. HOA members here who might confront the problem of ignorant lenders, especially if they have no common area elevated structures that are partly wood. Apparently some lenders are better-educated on this topic than others.

* Our "safety" issues are NOT structural instability-related of any kind. Instead, some balconies have "unconfined edges." Balcony surfaces are 4" tiles and it is POSSIBLE that some tiles MIGHT loosen and fall off over these unconfined edges onto passersby below.

Not true. Have had people straight out lie on me. Their intentions were to benefit themselves. Believe me there was no basis for their lies except for their gain or benefit. One lie involved me committing robbery. I did not live in the neighborhood and I had formed the neighborhood watch program! Even the police were like??? Later person was forced to admit they lied ...He was a known habitual liar.

Having had a few outlandish rumors I realize most rumors have no basis except to benefit the teller.

I just quit a job due to a couple of men felt the need to make false statements to my supervisor. Luckily the boss was wise to what was up. I was only woman in the department... However, they still had to do their due diligence to address me with the latest accusations. It got to the point I just had to laugh it off and smile. Their goal was to get me fired. My goal was to get promoted. Guess who got promoted? Rumors make you look bad if you are the liar.

Many rumors can be based in fact, if you define "fact" as "one shred of real information, twisted and amplified by paranoia, conspiracy theories, misinformation, maliciousness, hidden agendas, and general all-around ignorance". Post on social media, stir briskly, and watch it go!