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 takes an enthusiastic or excessive interest in the specialized details of a particular subject or field.

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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"

"After spending two solid days and nights on the computer researching electric vehicle charging, and finding the rabbit hole getting bigger and bigger, I ran across your website. After an unsuccessful attempt at getting to sleep, I got up, and starting delving into more of my EV questions. It's 3:54 am, and when I found your articles and saw the meaning of the word "wonk" on your homepage, I was hooked! Your articles on EV chargers gave me an even bigger picture of what lays ahead for us in the EV world for condos. As President of our HOA's 12-unit condo building, please accept my heartfelt thank you for putting this site together!"
Kathleen H.
HOA Condo President
doris goldstein condo 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, wrote and lectured about homeowners’ associations 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 to a condo in one of Los Angeles’s great walkable neighborhoods and eventually became president of the HOA. I thought it would be easy, but I was faced with all kinds of tough questions. The internet had no answers. This frustration became the driving force behind CondoWonk.

While my years as an attorney naturally shape my thinking, CondoWonk is 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, gathering information and sharing what I’ve learned.

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