An unexpected happy ending

Sometimes the ends justify the means. That certainly seems to be the

case with Huntington Beach’s pursuit of hundreds of thousands of

dollars in fees lost on the sale of condos that were not converted

from apartments properly.

It is an end, too, that is unexpectedly happy. When reports first

surfaced in April that more than 100 residents were living in the

suspect condos, the story had the makings of yet another Huntington

Beach scandal, with a city councilwoman and a planning commissioner

caught in the fray. Both since have resigned.

Even worse, it appeared that those residents were going to be

punished for mistakes they did not make. But in the deal made last

week, title companies Stewart Title, First American Title, Fidelity

Title, Land America/Commonwealth Title and United Title agreed to pay

$10,000 in application and affordable housing fees to the city on

behalf of the insured condo owners.

If a condo owner does not have title insurance, the $10,000 will

be levied as a lien against the property if the owner wishes. The

third option for any condo owner not interested in taking part in the

agreement is to pay a $17,900 fee to the city to clear up their

title. Those are unfortunate, but necessary, charges.

When the city first considered charging condo owners $17,900 it

seemed the height of insensitivity. But with title companies now

forking over more than half of that, it all seems logical.

Seeing the city going to bat and picking up a win for residents

and city coffers is heartening.

Hopefully the months-long agonizing battle now is nearly over for

condo owners.

We are quick to take city leaders to task when it seems they are

going down the wrong path. Likewise we should be quick to offer them

congratulations. And that is what city leaders deserve for brokering

a deal with title companies to regain the missing money.