Lake Conroe homeowners, HOA spar over pink home

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- A Montgomery County couple is suing their homeowners' association to keep their home pink.

The house is located in the Bella Vita subdivision on Lake Conroe.

"We love it! And a lot of the neighbors like it," said homeowner Frank Manzo.

He and his wife Anna built it to be the home of their dreams.

Their builder says he got HOA approval for a basic beige color, admitting the Manzos changed it to "desert rose," a pink color. Even the Manzos admit they painted without resubmitting the pink for approval, as is required by the neighborhood deed restrictions.

According to court documents, neighbors were "not fond" of the color. Mike Adalis says changing colors after approval was never an issue for the 7 other homes he's built in the neighborhood.

"It doesn't make any sense. It is personal targeting against me and my clients," said Mike Adalis with Champion Customer Home Builders.

The Manzos suggest the HOA is discriminating against them because of their race, a claim the HOA denies.

The association says the Manzos ignored a request for a color change and multiple letters and then refused mediation. Bella Vita Board President Steve Ratcliff says they had no choice but to file a non-compliance claim against the Manzos in court.

"This is just a simple deed restriction violation," he said.

The Manzos aren't giving in.

"The only recourse we had left was to try to defend ourselves with a lawsuit," said Frank Manzo.

The association has now filed a counter-suit against the Manzos.

Even though tax records show this house is valued at well over $600,000, a friend has set up a GoFundMe account to help the Manzos pay legal fees.