Ken Harney: FHA policy shift leaves many condos ineligible for financing

Is FHA intentionally targeting condominiums, trying to exclude hundreds or thousands of them around the country from qualifying for financing under its mortgage insurance program? ...

Only you can prevent potting soil fires

Potted plants are a great way to improve outdoor space and add color to a balcony or patio. However, many people do not realize the ...

The Fair Housing Act – The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same

We’ve written many times about the Fair Housing Act and assistance animals, most recently on April 29, 2013. Little did I know then that, just ...

Employee or Independent Contractor-Why It Matters

The determination of whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor is important to associations in at least three areas: (1) Federal income ...

HOAs Driving Toward Residential Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

As many homeowners around the country turn toward more eco-friendly forms of transportation, homeowner and condominium associations are finding themselves more and more interested in ...

Underfunded Reserves: A Community’s Nightmare

The primary purpose of a capital reserve funding analysis is to offer recommendations as to the amount of monies an association or other form of ...

Is Your Condo Covered? Homeowner Association vs. Owner Insurance: Know what’s Covered Before You Buy!

I’ve seen a number of critical errors homeowners make when buying a condominium. In some cases, owners had NO insurance when a major water loss ...

HOA serves crepes plus food for thought

Sky Ranch Estates is one of dozens of housing tracts that replaced citrus in South Corona over the past 20 years. And like many of ...

Reasonable Accommodations Under Disability Law

A recent case out of Florida highlights the tension between federal disability laws and their practical application for community associations. The case, Bhogaita v. Altamonte ...

Yea or Nay to Dogs in the HOA?

I was recently condo hunting in a nearby city. I found an awesome high-rise. It was a converted grain elevator with exposed concrete ceilings soaring ...

Association restrictions a welcome relief from ineffective city ordinances?

Last Christmas I took my young niece and nephew to visit a house in western Broward County that is very celebrated for its holiday display. ...

Dog Poop!

There. That title alone should be enough to tell you the extent of my displeasure. As a child, I was NOT allowed to use the ...

Condo associations gain victory over banking lobby (Florida)

For the second year in a row, Florida’s condominium associations dodged a financial bullet when legislators opted to favor voters rather than the powerful banking ...

Condominium and homeowners bills enacted by the 2013 Florida legislature

Summary of legislation enacted adopted during the most recent session of the state legislature. Read More……

Maryland Governor Signs Bill Requiring Liens To Be Based Only Delinquent Assessments And Not Other Charges Such As Fines

Governor O’Malley has signed into law legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly that amends the Maryland Contract Lien Act as it relates to the ...

NC: Pending bills would regulate homeowners associations

Charlotte residents would be better protected from homeowners associations if the General Assembly passes several key pieces of legislation, lawmakers said last week. Read More……

Condo laws in need of a digital upgrade

When the Illinois Condominium Property Act was written decades ago, computers barely existed. Today they are almost essential for conducting business and personal matters. Community ...

How should a strata deal with the owner from hell? – part 3

In my January 2012 and July 2012 blog posts, I discussed the ongoing saga of the Jordisons, arguably the epitome of strata owners from hell. ...

Scoggins v. Lee’s Crossing Homeowners Assoc. (Virginia)

Plaintiffs and their son appealed the district court’s summary judgment holding that they were not entitled under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, 42 ...

Maryland Governor Signs Legislation Permitting Closed Condominium Board Meetings To Discuss Business Transactions

Governor Martin O’Mally has signed legislation passed by the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates that permits closed condominium board meetings for the purpose of ...

Canada: Condo cost rulings tilting away from generous awards

Several court decisions dealing with cost recovery have emanated out of condo land lately. While the ratios vary, the scattering takes on a distinct shape ...

TX: Xeriscaping bill passes House preventing HOA’s from restricting drought-resistant landscaping

The House on Friday approved a bill that would prevent homeowner’s associations from restricting drought-resistant landscaping, also known as xeriscaping Read More……

Indiana Legal Update:

Effective March 1st, a series of new Marion County Small Claims Court rules went into effect. Many of these will impact the association’s rights and ...

Pennsylvania Legal Update:

On March 6, 2013, the Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee of CAI presented a legal symposium in King of Prussia called “Hot Cases and Trends in ...

FL: Condo Owner vs. Condo Lawyer
There are many folks out there who refuse to purchase property that has a homeowner association attached to it. It has to do with money to some degree, but also due to the fact that stories of HOA boards run by abusive, power-hungry, angry people living that quiet desperation thing are rife. […]
AZ: Fencing & finger pointing: Cattle controversy invades Tucson neighborhood
Sycamore Park’s normally a pleasant, pretty peaceful place, but the Tucson neighborhood is the site of an invasion. Stick around long enough and you’ll see, hear and smell them. They’re cows -- caught up in a controversy of fence cutting, finger pointing and frustrated neighbors. 9 On Your Side investigates the bovine bind. […]
NV: Benzer Links Cortez-Masto To HOA Case
In court papers filed in the HOA scandal case, central figure Leon Benzer claimed his business plans to handle construction defect lawsuits was OK’d by Catherine Cortez- Masto, the state Attorney General. […]
TX: Homeowner allegedly taps into community sprinkler system
Members of the Autumn Creek Estates Homeowners Association have told Friendswood Police they intend to file theft charges against one of the neighborhood’s residents. […]
TX: Fire wasn't the first for Dallas condo complex tied up in bankruptcy
The Hearthwood North Condominiums have seen more than their share of problems. A fire that killed a Dallas firefighter early Monday is the latest and most tragic. […]
TX: Dallas suburb solar panel fight exposes problems
A legal battle between a suburban Dallas neighborhood association and a homeowner seeking to install solar panels on his house exposed problems with a 2011 Texas law. […]
FL: Help Me Howard: Rejected, No Excuse
He bought a new townhome, the loan approved, the deal signed, and he was ready to move in. But the homeowner's association won't let him, and won't tell him why, so he called Howard and Patrick Fraser for help. […]
TX; Vet protests HOA restriction with upside down flag display
According to the lawsuit, Martin’s flag violates the community’s bylaws because the flag pole rests on common grounds owned by the HOA. […]
TX: For John Carona, Conflicts and Interests
The Brookfield subdivision in Pflugerville, north of Austin, lies two miles from Interstate 35 in a bland patch of suburban sprawl, the kind that sprouts like clover on the edge of cities. […]
Tight vise closes even tighter on players in HOA indictments
Blink and you might have missed it. But the stakes were raised this past week in the burgeoning investigation of corruption inside local homeowners associations and the construction defect racket. […]

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