PROTECTING YOURSELF and TAKING ACTION: Have you looked at the value of your condominium lately? Call one of the Real Estate Agents who like to sell these condominiums and advertise in your monthly newsletter and get a FREE Market Value assessment of your unit. These condominiums are undervalued. They sit on the market for months and months then the Realtor lowers the list price, what else can you do?  A large 2 bedroom and 2 full bath corner unit on the top floor likely won't sell for more than a mere $270,000 without a complete renovation. After owning her condominium for nearly 10+ years, my aunt is going to lose 10s of thousands of dollars at the sale of her condominium that she bought for my grandmother. Now is the time to make the changes.

How is this happening when these condos are in McLean and less than a mile to the metro and next to Tysons Corner? Have you see the price of homes escalating in Pimmit Hills despite the high crime in the area, gangs and problems at Marshall High School? Here are a few things to consider: 1. The condo fees are OUTRAGEOUS and just this year they raised them AGAIN! 2. The Realtors are underselling the condos for people who have owned for years and have close to or NO MORTGAGE 3. The way the Colonies of McLean is managed by a full staff of employees is NOT COST EFFECTIVE and doesn't work for the owners. Owners who have been paying attention are very aware of this. Lastly, the fact that it is a gated community with TWO 24 hour security guards doesn't do any good. Cars get stolen people are still vandalizing and stealing out of cars and ANYONE IS ALLOWED TO WALK ON AND OFF THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME OF DAY without checking in with the Security guard at the front entrance. What is the point of closing the back entrance after 10pm?  Also, the wire around the property is a JOKE, any physically healthy person could get through or over it. With the video camera installations why is it necessary to have excess security manning the property? Have you noticed a NEW Security car?  Most of the time they are sleeping or watching TV in the clubhouse at night anyway. Just call the POLICE!

The Colonies is like its own planet, they are living in the dark ages and harming every owner by UNCHANGING. It is an unhealthy and powerful association and they are making decisions about your money.  The end result is you lose and your family is constantly in danger despite their efforts to maintain a "gated community with 24 hour security".  The Colonies needs some young, hip new owners to turn things around!

Isn't it time to protect your investment that you have worked so hard for? In my opinion, it's a terrible investment for anyone to make now and if you are an owner and suffering because you can't leave due to the fact that you would have a "Short Sale" upon trying to get out of the Colonies then I suggest you really do something that matters and get involved in making changes NOW. First and foremost, get the women working in the office that are also on the Board off the Board! Many Colonies Owners/Residents are aware of the Board elections being rigged. More intelligent young owners must take the time to get elected on The Board! And hey! shouldn't there be a 2 term limit to serving on The Board? Where is the CHECKS AND BALANCES? The RENOVATION (OR DEMOLITION) of the ENTIRE BOARD AND OFFICE MANAGEMENT IS A NECESSITY. The Management and Board needs a COMPLETE MAKEOVER! Why would anyone give Kathleen, Jill and Carol money at Christmas time, have you seen how much they get paid and have you done your research on past tampering with the funds?

Why isn't there an ON LINE VOTING SYSTEM IN PLACE? Why aren't the monthly board meetings available to watch on line, make a YouTube channel then let people vote online and respond. There should be a way to get owners involved from wherever they are. Start using Technology to your advantage. My best advice is to start paying attention now and get involved before you lose 10s of thousands of dollars. Your money matters, your kids matter - do you really want them growing up in a community with Bryan Devine and his friends and people like Amy Devine, a completely unstable and mentally corrupt and whacked out woman as your neighbors? Please take the time now to stand up to The COLONIES BOARD AND MANAGEMENT before you lose. I wish you all the best. 

SELLING YOUR CONDO NOW:  If you must sell your unit now and would like help with some of your loss, you can sell it for a 3.5%, 4% or 4.5% percent total Agent/Broker commission.  If you need help now or in the future, send an email to communitysharingandcaring@gmail.com with "LIST MY CONDO REFERRAL" in the Subject Line and include your name phone number and property address and unit number in the email message.  (Please be sure to email communitySHARINGandCaring@gmail  Be cautious not to email communityCARINGandSharing@gmail.com that user is UNKNOWN and unrelated to this Blog Post.)