Episode 20

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Published on:

1st Nov 2025

When the Watchdogs Fail: A Warning for Homebuyers in HOA Communities

In this eye-opening episode, Cheryl Spangler exposes the shocking truth behind one Virginia homeowner association that failed to protect its own community. What started as a simple townhome purchase turned into a discovery of animal cruelty, sewage backup, and dangerous living conditions—while the HOA focused instead on enforcing exterior paint colors.

Cheryl dives deep into how HOAs are supposed to operate under Virginia law, where they often go wrong, and what every homeowner or buyer should do before trusting an association to safeguard their investment. This isn’t just a story about one property—it’s a warning for anyone living under the watch of an HOA.

If you’ve ever wondered who’s really protecting your neighborhood, this episode will make you think twice.

Connect with Cheryl:

📧 hello@cherylspanglerteam.com

📸 Instagram: @cherylspanglerrealestate

📘 Facebook: @liveinoldtown

💼 LinkedIn: cherylspangler

🐦 Twitter/X: @cherylshowlive

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About the Podcast

Life in Northern Virginia
The Truth Room with Cheryl Spangler
Hosted by Virginia real estate broker and community advocate Cheryl Spangler, this podcast goes beyond listings and lifestyle — it’s about truth, transparency, and what really happens behind the scenes in real estate and community living.

Behind the scenes of real estate lies a world most people never see — how deals are structured, how agents and lenders really make money, what appraisals, inspections, and disclosures leave out, and how investors quietly profit through partnerships, loopholes, and tax strategy. From the truth about landlord laws to the politics shaping property values, Cheryl takes you inside the deals, the data, and the decisions that define modern real estate — so you can protect your investment and see the full picture.

If you live in, invest in, or care about Virginia real estate, this show gives you the unfiltered insights every homeowner, buyer, and investor needs to hear.

Because life in Northern Virginia isn’t just about where you live —
it’s about what’s really going on behind those doors.

🎧 Subscribe to Life in Northern Virginia – The Truth Room with Cheryl Spangler on all major podcast platforms.
📧 hello@cherylspanglerteam.com
📸 IG: @cherylspanglerrealestate
📘 FB: @liveinoldtown
💼 LI: cherylspangler
🐦 TW: @cherylshowlive
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About your host

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Cheryl Spangler

Weekly real estate lifestyle blog and podcast focused on people, places, events and hidden treasures within Northern Virginia. Find our things you never knew existed about the community you live and work. Engage with people that could change your life. Save money, invest in yourself and find opportunities in our content. No topic off limits!