Scottsdale HOA says manager stole $1.6M (AZ)

Scottsdale House board members wish they had been more attentive a few years ago.  After failing to do a background check on a twice-sued manager who ran the HOA for years, the board started discovering money was disappearing from funds targeted for repairs and upgrades.  The deeper into the books they dug, board members found […]

Green Valley HOAs get Firewise ball rolling (AZ)

Three communities in Green Valley have become designated Firewise USA sites, and are encouraging homeowners associations to do the same to help protect Green Valley from wildfires.  The Firewise USA award is given to communities that have put in a lot of time, effort and planning to educate homeowners in wildfire safety and mitigate the […]

Median beautification: HOA project benefits community (AZ)

When we first purchased our home on West Esperanza Boulevard in November 2021, we noticed the median in front, like many in Pima County that year following the third wettest Monsoon on record, was overgrown with weeds.  In January 2022, I brought the subject up at the annual HOA meeting for our small, 52-homeowner group […]

‘Repulsive’ golf course pond lands Glendale country club in legal trouble (AZ)

A country club in Glendale finds itself in hot water over a pervasive and repugnant stench coming from one of its golf course ponds that has frustrated nearby residents of the Arrowhead Ranch subdivision.  Stephen Kyle Bais, the golf course superintendent for Arrowhead Country Club, is suspected of violating a city code related to odors […]

Residents at Phoenix condo complex fed up with growing sinkhole (AZ)

“It’s just a nightmare,” said Samuel Ybarra. He has been a homeowner in the Parkside Condominiums in Phoenix on Bell and Cave Creek Roads since 2019. Ybarra said a small crack in 2022 led to a sinkhole in the middle of the street just feet away from his condo.  He said property managers informed the […]

If there’s no homeowner association, who enforces the neighborhood’s CC&Rs?

Question: In our East Valley subdivision, we have never had a homeowner association. The result is that our covenants, conditions and restrictions requiring homeowner association approval of sports courts have never been enforced, especially in relation to the recent construction of three pickleball courts. One pickleball court is next to our primary bedroom. Who is […]

Virtual HOA/condo academy coming to Surprise (AZ)

A virtual HOA/condo academy and upcoming in-person HOA summit is designed for all homeowners association or condominium board member, owner or property manager in Surprise.    Read the article……………………………..

Court of Appeals rejects Village of Oak Creek STR ban (AZ)

The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled that the Village of Oakcreek Association cannot retroactively impose its 2016 ban on short-term rentals on property owners who acquired title to their property prior to the ban, reaffirming an earlier decision that defined STRs as a residential rather than a business use.    Read the article…………………………

Foothills HOA paying thousands for water leaks, struggling to get grant (AZ)

Lately when Riyon Harding steps into her backyard, she has to clean up the bufelgrass by herself to avoid her yard catching on fire. With a broken wrist, raking can be hard.  Since it’s flammable, she does it often, but normally her HOA would have paid to have it done through her HOA fees.    Read the […]

New Arizona law gets rid of certain parking rules in HOA communities

A new bill recently passed by the state Legislature requires ungated communities with a homeowners association to decide whether to keep their existing parking restrictions. The new bill only applies to parking rules that were established before January 2015.    Read the article…………………………………

Arizona laws affecting HOA’s going into effect

HOA parking controls Ungated communities with a homeowner’s association have until June 30, 2025, to decide whether to keep their existing parking restrictions.  If the HOA opts to ditch the restrictions, parking oversight falls to the city in which the community is located.  The bill, sponsored by Rep. Neal Carter, R-San Tan Valley, applies only […]

Rising HOA fees, rules can be an extra burden on older adults in Arizona

Many older adults live in communities with monthly or quarterly homeowners association fees. These HOA dues are typically used for the maintenance of a community — things like landscaping or upkeep of the pool. But seniors on fixed incomes could run into trouble if they can’t pay their mandatory dues.   Read the article………………………..

Sun City group home should be questioned by SCHOA

This letter is in response to the recent article in the Independent that was submitted by Lisa Gray, Sun City Home Owners Association general manager.  The issue Ms. Gray was addressing was the construction of a group home that is in the process of being constructed along West Cherry Tree Lane in Sun City.   Read […]

Lawyer: HOAs could probably block casitas (AZ)

With Phoenix City Council preparing to take up two controversial zoning code amendments next Wednesday, Sept. 6, an Ahwatukee expert on real estate law has shed some light on a big question involving the measure permitting casitas in the backyards of single-family homes.   Read the article………………………..

Couple forced from condominium taking fight to court (AZ)

Jie Cao and Haining “Frazer” Xia did not want to leave their home. But after an investment company bought the majority of the units in the couple’s condominium complex and voted to sell the unwilling remaining residents’ units to themselves, Cao and Xia were forced out.    Read the article………………………..

Village of Oak Creek HOA earns a ‘Firewise’ title (AZ)

The La Barranca II Homeowners Association in the Village of Oak Creek received its Firewise certification and accompanying signage at its entrance at the intersection of Jacks Canyon Road and La Barranca Drive on the morning of Wednesday, July 26.   Read the article………………………..

HOA files claim against town over apartment plan (AZ)

The 307-home Vintage Ranch Homeowners Association says it was deprived of its ability to weigh in on a 352-unit apartment that Gilbert Town Council eventually approved.  The association has filed a claim alleging the town failed to ensure that the project applicant adequately notified Vintage Ranch of the Stillwater Rivulon apartments  Read the article………………………..

Las Sendas neighbors split on overgrowth (AZ)

Overgrown mesquite trees and other desert shrubs and bushes are blocking city light views for Las Sendas residents who paid a premium for their lots.  Read the article………………………..

Surprise residents can get rebates for water conservation (AZ)

Financial rebates will be offered to Surprise water customers as a way to encourage water conservation.  Through May 1, 2024, city-serviced residential and business customers can make the most of the water conservation rebate programs, according to a news release.   Read the article………………………..

Fire damages five condos (AZ)

Firefighters found the fire in the bathroom and attic space in a unit at Villa Viejo Condominiums and believe the fire originated from one of the unit’s bathroom ventilation fans.  According to YFD, the fire spread throughout a common attic and ended up affecting four units with significant fire damage and another unit with a […]

Lawsuit pits Ahwatukee HOA against its parent (AZ)

Battle lines have formed in Maricopa County Superior Court between a homeowners association and a related sub-association in far west Ahwatukee.  The lawsuit filed by the Foothills Reserve Parcels A-1 & A-2 Owners Sub-Association against the Foothills Reserve Master Owners Association partly involves allegations of improper and unauthorized expenditures from a $6.5 million partial settlement […]

Our HOA sued a homebuyer and won. Can we recover legal fees? (AZ)

Question: We live in a beautiful community of about two dozen homes. Our community’s covenants, conditions and restrictions require any amendment of these rules to have the approval of the majority of the homeowners. Everyone in our community has always been opposed to short-term rentals.   Read the Q&A……………………………..

HOA reverses itself on hummingbird feeder ban (AZ)

Rancho Resort residents Jim Gyovai and Sandra Hartman can be found every day sitting on his porch, watching hummingbirds perch on their feeders.  But when HOA management company Associa Arizona banned all bird feeders in the Rancho Resort retirement community in early May, Gyovai and Hartman weren’t happy. And they weren’t alone.   Read the article………………………..

Hobbs Signs Bill To Protect Property Owners From HOAs (AZ)

Property owners scored a win this week when Governor Katies Hobbs put down her veto stamp temporarily to sign a bill that empowers homeowners to hold non-compliant homeowner association boards more accountable. HB 2607, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Parker, passed on a bipartisan vote.   Read the article………………………..

HOA becomes first Firewise USA site in Green Valley (AZ)

One Green Valley neighborhood is making history as the first local homeowners association to become a certified Firewise USA site.  Bill Hollingsworth, a board member with Solar Del Viejo HOA, accepted the award Wednesday on behalf of his community alongside representatives from the Green Valley Fire District and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire […]

Club West course suit could linger for another year (AZ)

The Club West Conservancy has told a judge it will be ready for a March 2024 trial in its suit against golf course owner The Edge and Shea Homes.  The Edge and the Conservancy last month also told Superior Court Judge Timothy Thomason they remain at an impasse in litigation over the course’s future.   Read […]

HOA residents may soon be able to fly the Betsy Ross flag (AZ)

State lawmakers have decided that some flags matter more than others.  On a party-line vote Thursday, the House agreed to allow residents who live in communities governed by homeowners’ associations to fly the Betsy Ross flag, regardless of existing rules. That’s the flag that existed at the time of the American Revolution, with 13 stars […]

Anthem homeowners trying to stop HOA from turning park into soccer field (AZ)

Anthem is one of the Valley’s most beloved communities, and some longtime homeowners want it to stay that way. Kelly Graves and her neighbors are trying to stop the Anthem Community Council from moving forward with plans to convert an open space park into a multi-use sport space with several soccer fields.   Read the article………………………..

2023 Legislative Update (AZ)

The Arizona Legislature began the 2023 session on January 9, 2023 and is considering numerous bills. While the legislature is in session, our firm periodically prepares and posts an updated summary of these proposed bills.   Read the article………………………..

Free roofs putting a tiny Ahwatukee RT-2 HOA on a ledge (AZ)

It was a no-brainer for a homebuyer nearly half a century ago in a little-known area of Phoenix called Ahwatukee.  Back then, a small enclave of homes off 48th Street had been organized into a homeowners association with the not very appealing name of RT-2 but a very appealing feature built right into its covenants, […]