Privatopia: Homeowner Associations and the Rise of Residential Private Government

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Summary: The definitive history of CID housing in the U.S.
Review: "Privatopia" is the definitive history of common interest development-based housing in the United States, chronicling its rise from a modest number of exclusive developments at the turn of the century to what has become the fastest growing form of housing development and local government in the U.S. today, serving as the new town hall for some 40 million Americans in 200,000+ communities.

Privatopia puts in perspective the rapid growth of mass market CID housing, beginning as "homes associations" in the 1960s under the tutelage of the Federal Housing Administration and the Urban Land Institute. A professor of political science, McKenzie ably outlines the political and economic factors behind this trend and explains how policies adopted by state legislatures and local governments have quietly fostered the privatization of residential government into a multi-billion dollar industry.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand this quiet revolution in local government and a controversial subject that could be tomorrow's headlines.

Rating:
Summary: Mediocre at best.
Review: This book was difficult to get through. It had some good information but nothing that we didn't know alreayd and for the most part it was so dry.

We did read a book recently called "Villa Appalling! Destroying the Myth of Affordable Community Living". Not only was it easier to read but it actually had guidelines and helpful advice on how to live in homeowner associations and how to protect your money.

That is what is important to us, how to protect our money.

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Summary: Why CID's Exist (...and it is NOT to benefit homeowners)
Review: This well-written and thoroughly researched book outlines the history of CID's (Common Interest Developments, often known as Homeowner's Associations in one of their various forms) and shows why they exist and continue to proliferate. Touted as a selling point to potential buyers by realtors and builders, CID's exist--as McKenzie cogently points out--primarily as a means for developers to mitigate the rising cost of property by squeezing more dwellings on to less land and bypassing local zoning restrictions and ordinances. The author not only examines the resultant effect upon the individual homeowner, but the long-term sociological and political ramifications as well. Like many who buy a home located in a CID, I was largely naive regarding the freedoms ceded by the purchaser as well as the broad and unfettered authority wielded by the "association". "Privatopia" contains some of the horror stories experienced within the CID scenario. Some of the issues causing disputes are so trivial as to be laughable, except for the severe penalties incurred by violators, including huge fines and legal fees, or even loss of one's home in certain situations. (My own "horror" story includes being assessed thousands of dollars in fines and legal fees over an orginal debt of $500.00 in association dues) As McKenzie points out, all too often the amateurs (who are typically homeowners within the subdivision) comprising the "board of directors" that administers the bylaws of the association, take a rigid stance when it comes to enforcement, or--worse yet--simply turn everything over to professional management companies and/or lawyers. Ostensibly, of course, the reason for all of the bylaws is the maintenance of property values. (Many of the trivial rules go way beyond that premise, and most CID's require a 3/4 majority of owners to unseat board members or amend bylaws, thus virtually ensuring a de facto dictatorship) Additionally, as the author explains, the real motivation for keeping property values high is so that the lenders courted by the developers will be confident that their investment is secure. (Again, the HOMEOWNER'S interests are irrelevant) Of course, not everyone living in a CID has a negative experience, but I think it's safe to say that most buyers have little idea of what they're getting into when they purchase a dwelling in a development run by an association. This book should be required reading for anyone currently living in or considering the purchase of a home located within a CID, and will be a real eye-opener to many.