HOA President Lists Black Man’s Home for Sale Online—But He’s a Real Estate Lawyer Who Fights Back

Plano, TX — Adrian Layton never expected to see his own home listed for sale online—especially not by someone else. But that’s exactly what happened one Saturday morning when the 43-year-old real estate attorney opened his laptop and discovered his two-story white brick home, complete with basketball hoop and backyard patio, splashed across Facebook Marketplace under the headline: “For Sale by Owner, Motivated Seller.”

The listing wasn’t an accident. The contact email led directly to Colleen Ashford, the president of Layton’s homeowners association—a woman known in the neighborhood for her strict enforcement of HOA rules and, according to some, her personal vendettas.

Layton’s disbelief quickly turned to outrage. Not only had Ashford posted recent photos of his property, but she’d included his exact address and even shots taken through the fence. “This is my house. Somebody is trying to sell my damn house,” Layton muttered, documenting everything with screenshots and timestamps before calling his neighbor, Luis Romero.

Romero confirmed the listing. “She didn’t even hide it,” he said. “That woman has gone too far.”

A Pattern of Harassment

For years, Layton had received letters from Ashford about everything from grass length to parking violations. “She watches your house more than she watches her own,” Romero remarked. But this was different. This was personal—and potentially illegal.

Layton, a seasoned real estate lawyer, knew exactly how serious Ashford’s actions were. Posting someone’s home for sale without consent is not just harassment—it’s fraud. And this time, Layton was ready to fight back.

He showed the listing to his wife Cheryl, who was horrified. “She can’t do that,” Cheryl said. But Ashford had. And she’d picked the wrong homeowner to target.

The Confrontation

Layton decided to confront Ashford directly. He walked two streets over to her meticulously manicured house and knocked on the door. When she answered, Layton held up his phone. “You put my house up for sale?”

Ashford didn’t deny it. “Maybe now you’ll take the HOA guidelines seriously,” she replied, listing grievances about trucks in driveways and basketball hoops left out.

Layton stared at her, incredulous. “You think pretending to sell my house is enforcement? You’ve committed fraud, Colleen.”

She crossed her arms. “Don’t lecture me. I’m protecting the neighborhood. People like you don’t understand how quickly things can fall apart.”

Layton’s voice sharpened. “No, that’s not all you meant. You think you’re untouchable because you run this HOA. I’m not just a homeowner—I’m a real estate attorney. I know exactly how wrong this is, and I know exactly how to handle it.”

For the first time, Ashford’s confidence faltered. “Do what you have to do,” she said, closing the door.

The Neighborhood Divides

By Sunday morning, word of the listing had spread. Some neighbors were shocked, others quietly supportive of Ashford’s “dedication.” But Layton wasn’t backing down. He called Romero again, this time bringing him as a witness to record Ashford’s justification on camera.

Ashford doubled down, calling the listing “symbolic.” But Layton explained, “You listed my legal address with photos of my property. That’s not symbolic—that’s false advertisement and misrepresentation. I could file both civil and criminal complaints.”

Ashford snapped, “You’re not the victim here, Adrian. You’ve always been the problem.”

Layton replied, “You’ve harassed me for years. Now you’ve jeopardized my family’s sense of safety in our own home. You’re going to answer for this.”

The Smear Campaign

Ashford began telling neighbors that Layton was dangerous and aggressive, twisting the confrontation to paint herself as the victim. The board sent Layton an unsigned notice accusing him of “aggressive behavior,” threatening fines and legal referral.

Layton gathered his allies—Romero and Denise Harper, another neighbor targeted by Ashford. They urged him to go public with the evidence. “You need to show everyone what she did—the listing, the video, everything. Let people see the truth,” Denise said.

Layton was methodical. He compiled screenshots, letters, and witness statements. “She thinks she can scare me into silence, but she’s forgetting one thing: I make a living untangling lies in courtrooms.”

The HOA Meeting Erupts

The HOA called a special meeting to address “recent conflicts.” The community center was packed—some neighbors supportive, others wary. Ashford accused Layton of hostility and claimed the listing was “symbolic.” Layton presented proof, including the video of Ashford admitting to the post.

Neighbors were divided. Some, like Mark Donnelly, defended Ashford’s rule enforcement. Others, like Denise and Romero, backed Layton. The tension was palpable.

Layton announced, “This isn’t a popularity contest—it’s law. And in law, evidence outweighs gossip. I’m filing suit tonight.”

Courtroom Showdown

The lawsuit hit the subdivision like a thunderclap. Ashford began a door-to-door campaign, painting Layton as a troublemaker. Police were called to Layton’s home on a false report of a disturbance, an intimidation tactic that Layton immediately documented.

The case landed in court. Layton presented his evidence—screenshots, video, years of harassment. Ashford’s attorney argued the listing was a protest, not malicious. The judge was unmoved. “Intent doesn’t erase impact,” Layton said. “Fraud doesn’t require profit—it requires misrepresentation.”

After hearing witnesses and reviewing the evidence, Judge Mason Carrington ruled in favor of Layton. Ashford was ordered to resign as HOA president, cease contact with Layton’s family, and pay $25,000 in damages for harassment and emotional distress.

Aftermath and Lessons Learned

Ashford’s reign ended, but the subdivision remained divided. Some neighbors celebrated the verdict; others feared property values would drop. Layton, however, felt relief more than triumph.

“You changed things, Adrian,” Denise told him. “People know now they don’t have to just put up with her.”

Layton reflected, “When someone tries to take your home, your sanctuary, you don’t have a choice. You fight.”

The neighborhood slowly healed. Children played freely again, and board meetings became civil. Layton declined to run for office, choosing instead to be a good neighbor.

Ashford, forced out of power, became a cautionary tale. The lesson was clear: abuse of authority lasts only as long as good people stay silent.