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You are welcome to leave your comments on the various posts on the blog. You no longer have to be registered to comment. (Even regular contributors had trouble remembering their log on passwords!)

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Welcome to All Deer Ridge Owners

Welcome to all owners of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort condos in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

My goal is to help all Deer Ridge owners to have a voice in the management and operation of your property.

Click on the TITLES of any of the following subjects to read the whole posting - and see the comments made by your co-owners. You can also type any term into the below search box, or any word or term in the search cloud.

Click the big image at the top of the page to return to the front page at any time.

Investment Analysis For A Rental Condo At Deer Ridge


Will you really lose $40,000 cash if you buy a rental condo at Deer Ridge and use Ridge Management Ltd?

Click To Download!

As an owner-occupied home, Deer Ridge is an incredible value with THE best view in the Smokies and great amenities.

However, several owners and would-be owners of Deer Ridge condos have asked me if these units are a good rental property investment or not. To help answer that question objectively, I had to analyze the real moving parts of buying and owning here.

Get my complete, detailed investment analysis based on buying a rental condo unit at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

It shows what you MUST do to make money when you buy a rental unit at Deer Ridge.

Just click the picture or click Investment Analysis

Gross Negligence – Or Is It Fraud?

Legalese On

GENERAL DISCLAIMER FOR ALL PAGES AND POSTS

Note: The following, and the information on any and all other posts and pages by me about General Manager Joe Thomas, GGRC, RML and /or the Board of Directors and its members, or any related topics, are my personal opinions based on my ongoing investigation into the actions and inactions of the GGRC and RML Board of Directors and / or Joe Thomas, General Manager.

While I believe these allegations to be true based on my objective analysis, these opinions remain as only allegations until I, or others, prove things in court.

My goal is to offer all owners all the information and evidence that I have available so that everyone can reach their own conclusions.

Legalese - And Powered Wig - Off

----------------------------

Every Dollar You Pay For Deer Ridge Is The WRONG Amount!

Please read the various posts here on this Deer Ridge Owners Blog - and see my evidence and analysis which I believe shows conclusively that EVERY dollar of HOA Fees, EVERY dollar EVERY special assessment, EVERY water bill and cable TV sent out for YEARS to ALL Deer Ridge Owners has been wrong!

In many cases at least ONE THIRD of ALL owners have been GROSSLY overcharged. My calculations show that I have been overcharged more than TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS in the past 50 months I've owned at Deer Ridge.

The Board has been WRONGLY and arbitrarily ignoring the requirements of the Master Deed and the Bylaws for YEARS.

If my analysis is correct, the Board has zero choice. They MUST abide by the Master Deed Percentages.

But they haven’t.

However, if the Board knowingly ignored the clear directives of the Master Deed and the Bylaws when allocating costs to various unit types, and overcharging certain unit types on a regular basis, my opinion is that the Board and Joe Thomas may have acted fraudulently.

If they have not been fraudulent, then they have been, at the very least, grossly negligent.

Read the various blog postings - and judge for yourself.

Please Register To Log In And Leave Your Comments

Please register first - so you can participate in the discussions by making comments that reflect YOUR opinion.

When you register, please include your unit number so we can confirm you are really an owner!

You are welcome to submit as many comments as you want on any of the topics - or even on a new topic. This is the time and the place to finally have YOUR voice heard with regard to your investment at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.

I would ask that you include your Deer Ridge unit number at the end of each of your posts so other owners get to know you - however, it is not required. I understand some owners may want anonymity for a variety of reasons - but I will need you to show me that you are an owner.

I may post non-owner comments from time to time if I believe they add to the discussion. When this happens I will note that it is a non-owner comment.

Bear in mind, any and all comments you make here can be seen by all one billion folks on the Internet, worldwide!

Thanks!

"We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. We know that in secrecy error undetected will flourish and subvert." — J. Robert Oppenheimer. This includes the Board of Directors of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.


How To Fire Joe Thomas And Save GGRC Tens Of Thousands $$$ Each Year

HOA Management Versus Rental Property Management
Since there is no legally elected Board of Directors, and hence, no legally hired General Manager at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, I have begun the quest for a competent HOA management company.
This is not to be confused with a rental property management company such as RML that worries about rentals [...]

Wonder Why Your Electric Bill At Deer Ridge Is So High?

Three Ways To Cut Your Electric Bill At Deer Ridge Mountain Resort
The cost of electricity has been going though the roof.  Yeah, I know, you heard it here first.
But, have you wondered why your electric bill at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort is so high?  Well, we’ve identified three possible reasons.
#1:  Apparent Theft Of Services
One of [...]

RML Lie Exposed: RML Actually Has Negative Cash Flow Of $152,000 Per Year

Summary:  Do you realize that HALF of all HOA fees collected each YEAR from ALL Deer Ridge Owners are illegitimately used to pay the $152,000 a year negative cash flow of RML???
No wonder we never have ANY reserves for Deer Ridge – and the illegitimate “board” tries to force all owners to fund an illegitimate $353,500 [...]

Homeowner Files $3 Million Lawsuit Against Deer Ridge Mountain Resort AKA Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club HOA And Individual Board Members

In response to their meritless, retaliatory $1 Million defamation lawsuit against me, I have now  filed a $3 Million lawsuit against Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, AKA Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club HOA and Joe Thomas, Luther Parker, Larry Ohm, Margie Duncan, David Barone and Tom Reise, all as individuals.
The lawsuit against GGRC et al is [...]

Deer Ridge Board's Latest Attack Letter - The Facts

Well, the illegitimate “board” is at it again – continuing their ongoing attempts to coerce and intimidate ANY and ALL owners who dare to object to their abuse of power and attempts to continue their illegal fiefdom by breaking both Deer Ridge Law and Tennessee State Law.
This time, it is yet another mailing to the [...]

Guest Post: Notice To Quit Using RML

The following is a Guest Post by Neil Blair regarding his notice to Quit RML.
I just told Joe Thomas and the “board” that -IF- they were planning to withhold our portion of the rental income to cover the Very Special Assessment, then we were giving our required 60 Day Notice to terminate [...]

Guest Post: Another 1 Bedroom Owner Responds To Deer Ridge Board Attack Letter

I received this email yesterday from another 1-1 Owner at Deer Ridge in response to the blatantly self-serving attack letter by Joe Thomas and the “board.”   With this Owner’s approval, I am including it here as an example of the support I am receiving from a number of other owners who are equally outraged at [...]

Did You Get A GGRC * Suspension of Membership * On Deer Ridge?

Did you get a letter in the mail from GGRC regarding your “Suspension of Membership” on Deer Ridge?
If so, don’t let them intimidate you with their threats.  Don’t let them illegally take away YOUR rights as an owner!
A LOT of owners are refusing to pay this illegitimate “special assessment.”  So, a lot of other owners [...]

Deer Ridge Attorney Charles Sexton: Response To His Letter : Suspension of Membership : Access To HOA Records

This is an open letter to Chuck Sexton, attorney representing GGRC, regarding both his letter regarding access to HOA books and records and a letter from David Barone, attempting to suspend my membership rights for GGRC.
Sent Via Email, Fax and Certified Mail
Chuck,
I received your letter dated March 15, 2010 regarding my rights to review the [...]

Guest Post: Neil Blair: Compare Deer Ridge Operation and Politics To This Property

The following is also a comment left by Neil, C-208, about another property he owns.  This was an email he sent tonight to the entire “board” and Joey.”
Judge for yourself:  Which property is operated better?
Please bear with me… And Yes, WAY, WAY Down the Thread, after my Rant,
[...]

Many Owners Not Paying Asinine Assessment At Deer Ridge

We have been told by several owners at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort that they are NOT going to make the March 1, 2010 assessment payment in light of the written legal opinion by Howard and Howard which states among other things, that the assessment if invalid for multiple reasons.
It’s Up To You
Your decision to pay [...]

Independent Legal Opinion: GGRC Board Guilty Of Numerous Violations / $353,500 Assessment Is Null And Void

Independent Legal Opinion:   GGRC “Board” Guilty Of Numerous Violations / $353,500 Assessment Is Null And Void
The following is a copy of an email sent to Luther Parker, other “board” members and Joe Thomas on February 18, 2010 describing the legal findings of a real estate law firm concerning Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club – GGRC [...]

Audits At Deer Ridge - The Fallacy and Joe Thomas - The Deer Ridge $10 Million Man

Joe Thomas and the board make a big deal out of the fact that we have audited financial statements for GGRC and RML – and that, because of this, owners don’t have any need for copies of the books and records.
They make out that this “comprehensive oversight by an outside accounting firm” should give all [...]

Deer Ridge: RML Minutes, Bylaws and Stock Certificate - And Smoking Gun

RML Illegally Formed – Board Decision Only – No Owner Vote!

If you click RML Minutes and Bylaws, you can finally have a copy of this important document that you probably have never been able to get from Joe Thomas. It even shows a stock certificate for the company.
These documents, which include the [...]

Deer Ridge History 1987-2006 - New Downloadable Document For All Owners

We have a new, major document you can download from the “Documents You Can Download” Section in the left column of this blog – or by clicking Deer Ridge History 1987-2006.
This document is a complete scan of one Deer Ridge owner’s notebook of all his documents related to GGRC and RML from 1987 through 2006.
This [...]

Deer Ridge History - Historical Documents And Smoking Guns - Coming Soon

We have just been presented with two massive notebooks of historical documents on Deer Ridge that date back to about the time the property was built!
This 11″ stack of papers make absolutely fascinating reading – board minutes, incorporation papers for RML, annual meeting presentations, promises, excuses, provisional hiring, political force outs, side deals – the [...]

Knoxville Law Firm Hired - Retainer Paid

We have just hired an established real estate-focused law firm in Knoxville to begin our legal pursuits against GGRC, Joe Thomas and the current Board of Directors of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.
We have already paid the necessary retainer – so watch this blog closely for upcoming developments.
Do YOU believe that ALL owners of Deer Ridge [...]

Investment Analysis For A Single Rental Condo Unit At Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Will you really lose $40,000 cash if you buy a rental condo at Deer Ridge and use Ridge Management Ltd?
As an owner-occupied home, Deer Ridge is an incredible value with THE best view in the Smokies and great amenities.
However, several owners and would-be owners of Deer Ridge condos have asked me if these [...]

Deer Ridge Rentals - How Well Did YOUR Condo Unit Rent in 2009 Using RML?

Did you rent your Deer Ridge Mountain Resort unit through Ridge Management Ltd., RML, for all of 2009?
Wonder how your unit’s performance stacked up against the other units for rental?  Well, here’s a chance to find out.
An owner of one of the 2-2 units at Deer Ridge provided me a copy of their year end [...]

My Response To The Board's Attack Letter

Thank You!
I want to thank the growing number of owners at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort who are supporting this blog and its primary goals. Those goals include making GGRC and RML transparent, accountable and compliant with the controlling documents of our property: The Master Deed and Bylaws.
These documents are the “law of the land” for [...]

Deer Ridge Mountain Resort: Who IS Responsible For Multiple Violations of Article XII of the Master Deed?

The following was part of my December 4th email I sent in response to Joe Thomas‘ email at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.  The brackets from this comment are so clear on this point, I thought it deserved its own posting.
Joe,
With the long running untrustworthy track record of you and the board when it comes to [...]

File A Complaint Against Joe Thomas With Tennessee Real Estate Commission

All Owners Are Negatively Impacted By Joe Thomas’ Actions As Principal Broker At Deer Ridge
Joe Thomas serves as General Manager of both Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club HOA (GGRC) and Ridge Management Limited, Inc. (RML) property management company and as Principal Broker of Ridge Resort Realty, another affiliated company of RML – creating a HUGE [...]

Deer Ridge Problems - The Mind Map

Deer Ridge – The Mind Map
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea.  I use these all the time to work with my clients as a way to convey complex planning ideas.
I decided to use [...]

FBI - Official Request Made to Investigate Alleged Criminal Activity By Deer Ridge Manager And Board

Today, I officially filed the following complaint and request for criminal investigation with the FBI regarding Deer Ridge Mountain Resort and the GGRC HOA.
After the last “board” meeting, I, along with several other owners, are totally fed up with the board not providing copies of all books and records that we all deserve.  Based on [...]

Deer Ridge 2010 Budgets BOD Minutes Etc - Hot Off The Press

The JUST released Deer Ridge Mountain Resort 2010 Budgets and Board of Directors Minutes are now available as a Document You Can Download.  Please click CROCK to download your own copy of this very special document.
At least, I assume these are supposed to be the minutes of Deer Ridge AKA Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club, [...]

Owners Beware: Your Trash Is Being Read By RML Personnel At Deer Ridge?

It has just come to our attention that our trash is actually being opened and READ by RML personnel.   We are investigating whether this goes all the way to the top or not.
We have heard unsubstantiated reports that Joe Thomas has special software to intercept and read what is being sent and received on the [...]

Documents You Can Download: Deer Ridge Monthly Newsletters - October 2005 to August 2009

I just added a new Deer Ridge document that you can download:  The Monthly Newsletter for Deer Ridge Mountain Resort Home Owners’ Association between October 2005 to August 2009. 
There are a few missing newsletter but most of them are there.  If anyone has any that are missing or predate our ownership, they can mail [...]

Open Letter To Luther Parker and Board: Joe Thomas Accosts Owner In Laundry Room

At approximately 3:45 PM on Friday October 16, 2009, Employee,  and General Manager of GGRC, Joe Thomas accosted my wife Janet in the laundry room of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.
Janet had been talking with Janice, head of housekeeping, while she did laundry.  A few minutes after Janice left, while Janet was alone in the laundry [...]

August 2009 Ridge Report - RML Results

I don’t know about you but “The Deer Ridge Mountain Resort website, www.deerridge.com. performed extremely well during the month of August” doesn’t seem to jive with

41% decrease over last year’s Room Revenue for August
Nor with the 43% drop in Room Nights.

This is especially true when you remember how much of a drop there was [...]