What is CondoWonk?
CondoWonk is a guide to California condominium life, featuring human stories and creative problem-solving. From angry homeowners to electric vehicle charging and organics recycling, CondoWonk does the research and talks to experts (see: *wonk) to find practical “how-to” details you won’t find anywhere else on the web.
CondoWonk is for HOA presidents and board members, residents, managers, policymakers and anyone else who wants insight into the real issues condominiums confront.
*WONK (noun): A person who take an enthusiastic or excessive interest in the specialized details of a particular subject or field.
Featured Articles
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Moratorium on Insurance Cancellations: Are Condos Residential Enough?
Condominium association policies are classified as commercial, not residential. That means condo associations are not guaranteed the consumer protections provided to single-family homes—including a moratorium on cancellations in areas near Los Angeles burn areas.
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Figuring Out Electrical Vehicle Charging in a Condominium
California law requires HOAs to allow owners to install EV chargers, even in aging buildings with limited electrical capacity. After a bad installation caused a fire in the electrical room, this board took time to set goals and explore all the options, including third-party charging stations, Level 1 “trickle charging” and Level 2 chargers with…
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The Secret Rate that May Lower Your Common Area Electric Bill
Condominium HOAs in Los Angeles may be eligible for significant savings on electricity bills by switching from the default residential rate to LADWP's little-known A1A commercial rate. The option is not documented on LADWP’s website but for certain buildings, it can result in substantial cost reductions.
CondoWonk is not just a website, it’s an information-sharing network of condominium boards, owners, managers and others, trying to make our communities run better. Share your questions, what worked and what didn’t.
You Had Me At "Wonk"
Doris Sussman Goldstein
I’m Doris Sussman Goldstein, a writer and Harvard Law School graduate who practiced real estate law in Florida for many years before relocating to Los Angeles. My legal work focused on the development of Seaside and other walkable, mixed-use communities (sometimes called New Urban development) across Florida and other parts of the country. As an attorney, I authored condominium declarations and various real estate documents, lectured extensively on homeowners’ associations, co-authored a book on the subject, and gained a deep appreciation for urban planning and how well-designed multifamily housing is crucial for supporting transit and local retail in walkable neighborhoods.
At the end of 2015, I moved from suburban Florida into a condo situated in one of Los Angeles’s great walkable neighborhoods. Taking on the role of HOA president there provided a challenging education, presenting me with difficult tasks for which readily available guidance was scarce. This frustrating experience, navigating complex issues with limited resources, became the driving force behind the creation of CondoWonk.
While my years as an attorney naturally shape my thinking, CondoWonk is explicitly not a legal blog. I am not licensed to practice law in California and am not providing legal advice. Instead, the website reflects my earlier career path as a newspaper reporter prior to law school, focusing on sharing valuable, hard-earned information gathered through my own fact-finding efforts.