A two-alarm fire was hard to access for Long Beach Fire. The residents started evacuating, taking the provided hose lines off the wall, and fighting the fire until the fire department arrived. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront: What to do with outdated election rules and candidate statements (CA)
Q: Our HOA ballot package for the board election included 3 candidate statements that endorsed themselves as a slate, one of whom also criticized their opponent. In the past, candidate statements included bios, qualifications, and what they had done or will do, but did not mention opponents or endorse other candidates. The nomination forms asked […]
Aliso Viejo residents claim herbicide spraying near their homes is making them sick (CA)
Back home after the walk, McCuan emailed Mission Landscape, under contract by the Aliso Viejo Community Association (AVCA), asking what was being sprayed at Canyon View Park. The following day, after McCuan had spent six hours in her backyard digging up roots and planting native plants for Monarch butterflies, a reply arrived from Mission’s vice […]
Bay Area condo war widens after $1 million units sell for just $32,000 (CA)
The auctioning of several downtown San Jose condominiums has spawned a widening legal war now that a troubled China-based real estate firm has filed a new lawsuit in the increasingly tangled case. China-based Z&L Properties has filed a lawsuit against winning bidders in an auction last week of the downtown San Jose condos, as well […]
Z&L Properties sues over sale of “$1M” San Jose condos for $32K (CA)
Z&L Properties has sued bidders who violated a court restraining order to buy 10 condominiums auctioned at cut-rate prices in Downtown San Jose. The China-based developer filed the lawsuit against two buyers as well as San Diego-based Nationwide Reconveyance, a trustee for a homeowners association at a 320-unit condo tower Read the article…………………………….
More homeowners forced into California Fair Plan coverage
Most people never hear about the California FAIR Plan until their homeowner’s insurance gets canceled. “It’s not a normal home insurance policy,” said Amy Bach, executive director of the nonprofit United Policyholders. “It only covers fire, lightning, internal explosion. It doesn’t cover water damage, leaks, your toilet overflows.” Read the article…………………………….
Someone stole a master mailbox key in Sacramento. What’s being done to stop break-ins? (CA)
Mail theft has been an ongoing issue in her Arden Arcade condominium community, Woodside Homeowners Association, over the past few years, she said. Braden filed a report with the inspection service to help her recover her stolen credit card in February. “You’ll receive an email response in 1-3 days,” the confirmation said. She never heard […]
San Jose towers owner gets court to order delay for condo foreclosures (CA)
The owner of a double-tower housing complex in downtown San Jose has won a court order to temporarily halt a foreclosure proceeding to seize control of several condos in the high-rises. China-based Z&L Properties faces a foreclosure attempt due to delinquencies that have arisen from unpaid dues to the homeowners association for unsold condos in […]
HOA Homefront – Reader Questions – Election By Acclamation (CA)
Hello Kelly, I came across an article in which you answered a question about election by acclamation. There is a lot of information on the internet about acclamation, but one item does not seem to be answered. Perhaps you can assist. Once a board determines/votes to elect candidates by acclamation at an open board meeting, […]
Ocean Beach condo owners fear their homes will fall in the ocean (CA)
The sign in front of the Oceana condominium complex perfectly explains the problem: Unstable cliffs. Danger. Stay back. But what does that mean for owners of the 13 units? Every time water washes up on the rocks at the base of the cliff, the owners are hit with a wave of concern. “The fear is […]
Santa Monica luxury towers, HOA fees, alleged theft: Where did the millions go? (CA)
Residents didn’t grasp the scale of the alleged problems until last year — when a Los Angeles County grand jury handed down a 119-count indictment accusing both Spahis, now-former Ocean Towers Housing Corp. President Joseph Orlando and his wife, Dorothy, of grand theft, identity theft and money laundering. Read the article…………………………….
Ocean Beach condo complex owners say property is threatened by coastal erosion (CA)
San Diego is known for its million-dollar views of the Pacific Ocean, and while it’s pretty to look, at some Ocean Beach residents say they’re worried coastal erosion could seriously impact their condo complex. “When I moved in, the bluff was eroding right in front of our complex,” said Russ Rasmussen, a resident of Oceanus […]
Residents of Southern California condo complex living in fear of neighbor
After months of scary incidents and vandalism, some residents of a Long Beach condo complex say they’re tired of living in fear of a neighbor. Multiple people who live in the Gladys Avenue condo complex spoke with KTLA 5’s Sara Welch, saying that a man has threatened them and broken several windows of the homes […]
HOA Homefront: Why members won’t volunteer (CA)
Filling open HOA board seats is a vexing and discouraging problem for some associations. There may be reasons why neighbors are not interested in serving. Could any of the below characteristics describe your association? Do directors spend many hours each week on HOA business, inspecting the property, observing vendors, and otherwise dealing with the HOA’s […]
Community rallies to help residents displaced by massive condo building fire in Lomita (CA)
Days after a massive fire ripped through a Lomita condominium building, dozens of displaced residents are looking for a new place to call home. Thankfully, their neighbors have quickly stepped in to help. Read the article…………………………….
The battle of Balboa Terrace: It’s artists vs. homeowners in a feud over one man’s museum (CA)
The building that houses the Gregangelo Museum is, obviously, far more than a residence. But the homes that surround it are filled with people who didn’t sign up for this. Many of them are members of the local homeowners association, the Balboa Terrace Homes Association. These members are elected, in part, to safeguard Balboa Terrace’s […]
Residents salvage what they can after blaze at Lomita condo building (CA)
Authorities said it was a kitchen fire in one of the units that ignited much of the building in the 2100 block of Palos Verdes Drive North, the heat so intense that a portion of the condo building’s second floor collapsed. “It’s horrible, like what happened? How is it from here to the very end? […]
Massive fire rips through condo complex in Lomita (CA)
Firefighters were dispatched to battle the fire, located at the Vista Verde Condominium complex in the 2000 bock of Palos Verdes Drive, at around 6:40 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. In all, they say there are around 150 firefighters engaged with the blaze. Read the article…………………………….
San Francisco Tenderloin condo building gets fence to keep drug market out (CA)
A new fence, installed by a nonprofit organization, was installed in San Franciscos Tenderloin on Wednesday. Its purpose is to deter open drug dealing that has overwhelmed the area in recent years, even by Tenderloin standards. Some neighbors say the fence at McAllister and Leavenworth streets is a step in the right direction. The nonprofit […]
Oakland HOAs are quietly installing surveillance cameras to watch public roads (CA)
Last October, the city of Oakland announced it would soon be installing 300 automated license plate readers—cameras that monitor public streets and instantly scan vehicle license plates, running them against “hot lists” for stolen cars or vehicles associated with crimes. But the rollout of Oakland’s big new vehicle surveillance system has gotten bogged down as […]
California’s New Plans to Solve Home Insurance Crisis
California residents have seen several insurers end homeowner insurance policies as the state grapples with wildfires and natural disasters, but a new proposal seeks to solve the insurance crisis once and for all. In March, Ricardo Lara, California’s insurance commissioner, unveiled his new plan to let insurance companies use specific models around future catastrophes to […]
State Farm to pull out of 72,000 California insurance policies
State Farm General Insurance Company has announced that it will non-renew approximately 30,000 California homeowners, rental dwelling, and other property insurance policies. If you recall, last May, the insurer halted new homeowners policies being issued in the state, citing exposure related issues and a challenging reinsurance market environment. Read the article…………………………….
Q&A: HOA Balcony Repairs and Updates (CA)
Are you wondering about the balconies in your community? Well if you missed the presentation by ADAMS | STIRLING PLC regarding HOA balcony repairs and updates, here’s a follow-up Q&A by the Davis-Stirling.com Newsletter that may help. Read the Q&A………………………………..
HOA Homefront: Must our manager attend the board meeting? (CA)
Dear Kelly, Is it legal for the board of a community to host a meeting without including representation from the HOA’s management? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Eroding bluffs could send California homes tumbling into the ocean. What can be done?
In the summer of 2019, the Casa Mira Homeowners Association sought to armor a stretch of coastline near a condominium complex, apartment building, sewage line and California Coastal Trail segment but were only authorized by the Coastal Commission to build 50 feet of seawall to protect the apartments. The association filed a lawsuit against the […]
Judge orders inspection of hoarder house in Ocean View Hills (CA)
She also blames neighbors for causing issues. At least three neighbors have filed restraining orders against Golden over the years, accusing her of harassment. Also in the courtroom Tuesday, an attorney for the bank that Golden has a mortgage with, as well as an attorney for the homeowner’s association where she lives. Read the […]
Editorial | Rio del Mar walkway battle: ‘To the barricades’ (CA)
The Great Rio del Mar Walkway Standoff has made national news. The battle pits 27 property owners against the power of the state Coastal Commission, a headline-churning conflict that either shows the defiant spirit of the citizenry against a cumbersome state bureaucracy, or is yet another example of how wealthy people believe they can make […]
Is my HOA supposed to notify us in advance? (CA)
Q: My question is whether it is legal to raise one’s HOA fees without a prior notification of proposed increase. I am aware that the board has the authority to raise fees, but I’d like to know if it is legal to raise the without prior notification. Read the Q&A………………………………..
What homeowners, renters and neighbors are saying about Rio Del Mar HOA’s new coastal barrier (CA)
After the California Coastal Commission slapped a Rio Del Mar homeowners association with a fine nearing $5 million in December for turning a public walkway along Seacliff State Beach into private patios, the homeowners association decided to take it a step further. Read the article…………………………….
The delicate balance of HOA assessments
Hello, dear readers, and welcome to the Real Estate Whisperer, where I tackle the ins and outs of 92101 living with a pinch of humor and a dash of reality. Today’s hot topic? The ever-dreaded HOA assessment increases. Yes, I can almost hear the collective groans from here. But before we hoist the pitchforks and […]
Canyon Lake POA employee receives prestigious industry award (CA)
Canyon Lake Property Owners Association (CLPOA) employee Harmony McNaughton received the prestigious 2024 California Association of Community Managers (CACM) Innovator Vision Award on Thursday, February 27, during the CACM Law Seminar & Expo at the Disneyland Hotel and Convention Center. Read the article…………………………….
Homeowner Associations: Attorney’s Fees Are Not Fiduciary Duty Breach Tort Damages And $1.328 Million Fee Award Against Individual Directors Under Civil Code Section 5975 Reversed As A Matter Of Law. (CA)
In Colyear v. Rolling Hills Community Assn. of Rancho Palos Verdes, Case No. B308382 (2d Dist., Div. 4 Mar. 1, 2024) (partially published; fee discussion not published), plaintiff homeowner won a declaratory relief action based on a dispute over tree-trimming covenants in certain recorded Declarations, with the lower court awarding plaintiff over $1.328 million in […]
Corona Woman Sentenced In Federal Embezzlement Case (CA)
A Corona woman was sentenced Friday to four years and nine months in federal prison for embezzling nearly $1 million from her employer. Jenev Boyd, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes, who also ordered her to pay $780,810 in restitution. Boyd was a long-time employee and director of accounting for Corona-based […]
Thousands of California Homeowners to Lose Their Insurance
Thousands of California homeowners will be out of luck as American National Group stops offering the state coverage. American National Group, which was purchased by Brookfield Asset Management Reinsurance Partners for $5.1 billion around two years ago, is yet another insurance agency to leave the state as home repair prices surge amid wildfires and heightened […]
HOA Homefront – Reader Question – Our HOA Has No Board (CA)
Dear Kelly, I have been a member of a small condo for over two years. There are no board members and the HOA doesn’t meet either in person or virtually. All communication is via email for voting. One owner acts as an accountant, quasi-treasurer, just paying bills and preparing quarterly statements. People have given her […]
For some residents of East Garrison, their dream home has become a nightmare. (CA)
The overarching story they all tell is that over the course of the last year-plus, leadership changes in the HOA – which has a board of four residents and one seat for a representative from a developer – combined with a new company managing the HOA, …… have turned what was once a peaceful, neighborly […]
HOA Homefront: New Law Restricting Watering of HOA “Nonfunctional Turf” (CA)
Dear Mr. Richardson: Can you address AB1572 which will have a huge effect financially on our HOA? Read the Q&A………………………………..
In the face of $4.8 million fine, Rio Del Mar HOA doubles down and erects a new coastal fence (CA)
What’s in a fence? For a Rio Del Mar homeowners association, state regulators and local residents, a brand-new barrier blocking the public from a beachside walkway represents the latest turn in a winding, yearslong battle around public access and private property rights. Read the article…………………………….
New security cameras now operating in Spyglass Hill as part of pilot program (CA)
As part of a pilot program approved last June by the Newport Beach City Council, private security cameras are now up and running in the public right-of-way at the entrances to the Spyglass Hill neighborhood. Eight cameras were deployed on Monday and Tuesday, with two at each of the four main thoroughfares to Spy Glass […]
HOA Homefront: Reader wants to know, ‘Is my dog allowed?’ (CA)
Q: I am hoping you could help me with my HOA that’s trying to remove my daughter’s support dog because of its weight and breed. They are threatening to come and have her removed because she got too big. Can they do this? It would devastate my daughter if they took her dog Read the Q&A………………………………..
Fire Damages Condo Complex In Venice (CA)
A fire damaged a condo in Venice Wednesday, but firefighters were able to stop it from spreading to nearby units. Read the article…………………………….
Firefighters battle large blaze at Long Beach condo complex, rescue severely injured dog (CA)
More than two dozen Fire Department vehicles rushed to the scene of a blaze burning at a condo complex at Pacific Coast Highway and Bellflower Boulevard in East Long Beach on Monday evening Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront – Reader Questions – Do Our Balconies Require Inspection? (CA)
Kelly, I am on the board for our HOA, which is comprised of single family residences. Does the new balcony law pertain to our situation? Quite a few of our homes have decks on the rear for a better view, all going through an architectural application to the architectural committee. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Rohnert Park condominium fire displaces two families; ashes left on balcony likely cause (CA)
Fireplace ashes left on a balcony likely caused a Rohnert Park condominium fire that displaced two families Thursday afternoon, investigators said. Read the article………………………..
Displaced families struggle to find housing after condominium fire in Oxnard (CA)
The department was able to get utilities turned back on for some units and the residents were able to go home, but two units were red-tagged, meaning those homes were unsafe to occupy and needed extensive repairs, according to Hamilton. Rivera’s home was one of them. Read the article………………………………
7 displaced, firefighter injured in Saratoga condominium complex fire (CA)
Crews responded to a fire at a condominium complex in Saratoga on Friday, the Santa Clara County Fire Department announced on X. Around 11:58 a.m., multiple condominium units in the area of Stoneridge Drive had been affected by the blaze. Read the article……………………………
HOA Homefront: Reader Questions – Who Insures What in the Planned Development? (CA)
Kelly: Can a Planned Unit Development purchase “Bare Walls” fire insurance for residences since the HOA does not own them? Read the article………………………….
Coastal Commission weighs $4.7M fine for Rio Del Mar homeowners (CA)
The homeowners association governing most of those townhomes believes the path is private, and a Santa Cruz County judge agreed last year. The California Coastal Commission, the über-powerful agency that oversees land use along the state’s coast, has long argued that the path is public. Now, the commission is threatening penalties unprecedented in Santa Cruz […]
Santa Cruz County homeowners face $4.7 million in fines for blocking public access to beach walkway (CA)
Citing violations as far back as 1982, the commission will weigh a staff recommendation to fine the Rio Del Mar Beach Island Homeowners Association – and its estimated 27-home membership, most of which are vacation rentals – more than $4.7 million. Allegations include blocking the public’s access to a 37-foot-wide, almost quarter-mile long stretch of […]
HOA stuns community after setting unprecedented standards for landscaping: ‘We have to do this’ (CA)
One homeowners association in Bakersfield, California, broke the mold this year by removing grass lawns and installing “water-wise” landscaping, 23ABC reported. Read the article…………………………..