Taming Medusa: The Shocking Truth About California Condominium, Cooperative and Homeowner Associations

Taming Medusa reveals a shocking truth: most of the problems in California homeowner associations (HOAs) are caused by a failure to understand and implement the correct model for organization and operation. The correct model is a business approach, not a government approach. Taming Medusa explains why HOAs are not neighborhood private governments, but medium to large private businesses, instead. The California Legislature established common interest developments and mutual benefit corporations to protect, preserve and promote property values, and to provide goods and services to association members. These goals are in the interests of everyone, including: homeowners, mortgage holders and municipalities. They are achieved by running HOAs as the private businesses they are and enforcing use restrictions and architectural standards that protect private property and commonly owned assets from the Tragedy of the Commons. Taming Medusa reveals the pitfalls of running HOAs as if they were municipalities. It also shows people how to set up and operate an HOA so the returns on their investments (i.e., their homes) can be maximized.