A Jackson woman pleaded no contest Friday to embezzling more than $60,000 from a senior-centric condominium. Regina Brewer, 52, offered her plea Sept. 2 to a charge of embezzlement of more than $50,000 from Fayette Arms Condominiums in Jackson, were she serves as treasurer. Read the article………………………..
Plan ahead for assessments, contingencies (MI)
Q: I’m considering buying a condominium unit. Are my monthly assessments the only thing I have to worry about paying in addition to my mortgage? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Controversy on Middle Straits Lake (MI)
The letter requests that the board “inform itself about and take appropriate actions to resolve the controversy and allegations from the Township targeting the Westacres community. The controversy was created by a few lakefront property owners that want to reduce the overall number of boats on Middle Straits Lake for their personal benefit at the […]
Dealing with a new condo association board
Q: Our condo association board of directors was doing a good job, but there were a few people that challenged them on everything. At times, these gadflies crossed the line, and our lawyer had to write them a letter. Read the Q&A……………………………….
Lakefront neighborhood campaigns for SADs (MI)
“(Road builders) gave us about a 15-year life expectancy for it, and we’ve far surpassed that up to 30, 35 years,” Dean Parent, Huron Pointe Homeowner’s Association vice president, said. “The roads are definitely in need of being taken care of.” Believing the work must be done, the eastern Harrison Township group of homeowners is […]
Dealing with disruptive association members (MI)
Q: We have an unruly co-owner in our condominium association who is always disruptive at the annual meeting of members. There is time allowed for individuals to address the membership, and we have set a 3-minute limit for each speaker, but he always goes over time and interrupts other speakers, including board members. What can […]
This sprawling subdivision wanted its roads fixed, so owners are paying it themselves (MI)
Keith Ledbetter was a state road lobbyist for six years, but he had no idea he would have to lobby a few hundred of his own Lyon Township neighbors to fix their subdivision streets. Read the article………………………..
Township prepares legal action against association (MI)
Fenton Township is taking legal action against the Fenton Orchards Condominium Association due to the association allegedly interfering in the sale of numerous tax reverted properties for $420,000. Read the article………………………
Pictures, video show devastation from condo fire in Saginaw area that displaced dozens (MI)
With the smell of smoke still lingering in the air, a condo building located at 9035 Greenway Boulevard in Shields is no longer on fire, but heavily damaged. Saginaw County firefighters fought throughout the night Thursday, July 7 and into the morning battling the blaze. They arrived around 5 p.m. Read the article………………………….
Residents evacuated after large fire breaks at a Thomas Township condo complex (MI)
Fire officials are working to extinguish a large fire that broke out just before 5:00 p.m. Thursday at a Thomas Township condominium complex. Saginaw County Central Dispatch sent officials to the 9000 block of Greenway Blvd. in Thomas Township after a large fire broke at the Swan Valley Condominiums early Thursday evening. Read the article……………………
Settling conflicts with co-owners or condominium (MI)
Q: The president of our condominium association’s board of directors never wants to settle any conflicts with our co-owners. It seems we are constantly in litigation over matters that could have been resolved out of court, and the legal fees are piling up. What do you suggest? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Racist language persists in housing deeds, but Michigan bill advances making it easier to strike
“The premises covered hereby shall never be occupied by any person or persons other than the Caucasian race and Gentiles only.” That language is part of 1926 deed for a Manchester Township subdivision, according to Justice InDeed, an organization that maps the prevalence of racist housing covenants across Washtenaw County. Read the entire article……………………………….
Southfield condo residents deal with no air conditioning as temps climb (MI)
Residents at Le Chateau condos in Southfield are trying to keep cool without working air conditioner chillers. Management says a part to fix the problem has been ordered, but it is unknown when it will arrive. Watch the news report………………..
No choice in pursuing financial inconsistency
Q: I am a member of the board of directors of our condominium association. At our last meeting, we discovered some inconsistencies in our bank account and suspect our former treasurer has embezzled some of our money. What can we do? What should we do? It’s not a great deal of money ($2,500), so considering […]
Fixing the dissolution of condo association (MI)
Q: Our condominium association board recently found out that its corporation has been “dissolved.” What does that mean, and how can we fix it? Read the Q&A……………………………….
City approves $120 special assessment on downtown Grand Rapids condo owners (MI)
Condominium owners who live in Grand Rapids’ Downtown Improvement District can expect to receive a $120 bill in the mail this fall, while commercial property owners will see their assessment climb 5%. Read the entire article……………………………….
Adding a Little Free Library in a community association
Q: I love the concept of “Little Free Libraries” and would like to start my own, but I live in a community association that does not allow additional structures to be built. Do you know if they exist in community associations and how they got approved by the association board? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Downtown condo owners would pay $120 a year under proposed Grand Rapids special assessment (MI)
Condominium owners in the Grand Rapids Downtown Improvement District would be charged $120 under a proposed one-year special assessment to keep the city’s urban core clean and attractive. Read the entire article……………………………….
Macomb Township hosts homeowners association meeting (MI)
Macomb Township Hall will take on a more neighborhood feel on May 2, when officials host a homeowners association meeting. Supervisor Frank Viviano announced that the township had organized a meeting for homeowners association presidents and officers at the township hall at 6:30 p.m. on May 2.
Safety and mortgage guarantees (MI)
Q: In the wake of the tragic Florida condominium hi-rise collapse last year, I understand that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now requiring additional information about the safety and maintenance of condominium buildings before they will guarantee mortgages. Read the Q&A……………………………….
Romulus Townhouses catch fire two days in a row (MI)
Residents whose Romulus housing complex caught fire Wednesday morning were safe following the blaze that broke out at 5 a.m. It was the second fire at the complex in 24 hours after several units were left with smoke damage from a fire that broke out Tuesday. Read the entire article……………………………….
What to do about developer trying to sneak commercial business in our subdivision (MI)
Question: I found out that the developer of our subdivision recently attempted to impose some restrictions on our subdivision lots even though he doesn’t own those lots any longer. He recorded something with the county register of deeds that supposedly allows for non-residential, commercial use. Now there is a commercial enterprise that has bought one […]
Fire destroys Woodcraft Condo building (MI)
Firefighters from multiple agencies spent about four hours Sunday wrestling with a blaze that tore through a 12-unit building that is part of the Woodcraft Condominiums complex in Monroe. Read the entire article……………………………….
Assessment collection policy needs update (MI)
Q: Our community association has historically only pursued assessment collection to the point of recording a lien on the delinquent owner’s property, and no further action is taken after that. I was just elected to the board, and I’m thinking maybe we need to do more, am I right? Read the Q&A………………………………….
Township can do little about group home – attorney (MI)
Residents of Woodridge subdivision who hoped the township could shut down an adult foster care home in their neighborhood have received a letter from officials saying there is little they can do. Read the entire article……………………………….
Developer of 10-story condo complex files lawsuit against Traverse City
A Traverse City developer has not given up on a project to build a condominium complex on State Street. He has filed a lawsuit in federal court to overturn the city’s work stoppage order issued in November last year. Read the entire article……………………………….
Outdated provision about proxies is unenforceable (MI)
Q: The Bylaws of our condominium association state that proxies may only be granted to a member’s spouse. I’m going to be out of town during our annual meeting of members, but I’m not married, so does that mean I won’t be able to vote in the election of directors? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Condo owners sue Boyne over rental management dispute (MT)
Hotel-condo owners at Big Sky Resort are suing the resort’s parent company over claims its rental management company is “price gouging and cheating them out of rental revenue,” Read the entire article……………………………….
Lake Ann Homeowners Fighting For Pet Chickens (MI)
A couple in Lake Ann are fighting to keep their chickens on their property, and the issue has ruffled some feathers on the Homeowners Association board. Back in June, Rachael Brehler was at Tractor Supply Co. and on a spontaneous buy she brought home four hens – Waddles, Cheetah Bird, Ruby and Karen. Read […]
Condo directors should control budget (MI)
Q: There are some members of our condo association who want to be able to vote on the budget, any increases in annual assessments, and any additional assessments. While we believe in democracy and want to promote inclusiveness in our association, are there risks associated with allowing this? Read the Q&A……………………………………
Condo Fire Displaces Howell Township Residents (MI)
A fire earlier this week has reportedly left several families in Howell Township without a home for Christmas. Read the entire article……………………………….
The Inside Outside Guys: Homeowner associations (MI)
When America began to settle into the suburban land around cities after WWII, a new series of issues began to arise that no country had previously dealt with. Our Levittown subdivisions consisted of individually owned parcels and buildings, each dependent on the other for health, safety and value preservation. Read the entire article……………………………….
Macomb approves residential road improvement project participation policy (MI)
Macomb Township residents seeking to get subdivision roads fixed now have a means to apply to the township for assistance. On Nov. 23, the Macomb Township Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to institute a residential road improvement project participation policy. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo director inherits a tangled mess (MI)
Q: I ran and got elected to the board of directors of my condominium association because the former board members were paying themselves (the bylaws allowed it) and mismanaging the association’s finances. Now that I’ve been doing the job for a few months, I’ve discovered just what a tangled mess they left. Read the Q&A……………………..
Michigan could open the floodgates on short-term rentals, overruling local governments
Imagine buying your first home in a coastal community — or even your dream home on a lake — and creating a peaceful backyard oasis. But when warm weather rolls around, you soon discover a revolving door at the house next door. Loud music, late-night bonfires, even PA systems, beer pong and extra tents take […]
Residents Oppose Township Settlement With Tyrone Property Owners (MI)
Dean Hass lives on the lake and is a homeowner association board member. He noted their HOA doesn’t regulate building as they count on the township to do that based on existing ordinances that have been stringently enforced in the past on Runyan Lake and others. Hass said the Association depends on sightlines and the […]
Grand Rapids HOAs rated fourth best in the country (MI)
An analysis of Yelp data put Grand Rapids near the top on a list of the nation’s best homeowners’ associations. Read the entire article……………………………….
Macomb Township Home Owner Association Presidents (MI)
We are collecting names and contact information for all the subdivisions in Macomb Township. We will be inviting HOA Presidents and Officers to a meeting in the near future at Townhall to open the lines of communication with our neighborhoods. Please email your information by clicking here and filling out a short form. Link […]
Sept. 23 fire causes extensive damage at Charlevoix condo (MI)
Fire investigators and insurance companies are still working to determine the cause of a Sept. 23 fire that resulted in extensive damage to a downtown Charlevoix condominium complex. Read the entire article……………………………….
Wiggins Lake property owners help Gladwin County veterans (MI)
The Wiggins Lake POA is giving the Gladwin County Veterans Relief Fund $5,000 on Monday, to help local veterans, particularly ones who are down on their luck. Read the entire article……………………………….
Unauthorized flagpole could cause problems (MI)
Q: A co-owner in my condominium development erected a flagpole on a common element without permission of the board. There is an American flag flying on it along with a college flag. Read the Q&A………………………………….
Can residents elect co-presidents for HOA board? (MI)
Q: Our small association of nine units is interested in having co-presidents on the Homeowners Association Board. The current president would like some help, and the current vice president would be willing to serve as co-president. Can two people share the president’s role in Michigan? Nothing that I see in the bylaws specifically prevent it […]
Twice-daily siren frustrating condo owners 500 feet away (MI)
But Hill’s troubles aren’t limited to his symptoms. Another problem was right behind him, several dozen feet in the air: a siren that, since early August, has sounded every day at 12 p.m. and 10 p.m. The siren’s blares last for about 50 seconds. It reaches its peak volume after about five seconds, stays there […]
Macomb develops new approach to subdivision road improvements (MI)
Macomb Township residents living in the Chelsea Park subdivision near 22 Mile Road could see a solution to their crumbling roadways due to recent action by the Macomb Township Board of Trustees. Read the entire article……………………………….
Eight units destroyed in Indian River condo fire (MI)
Last week, multiple fire departments from around Cheboygan County and into Emmet County worked together to extinguish a blaze at a group of condominiums on Burt Lake in Indian River. Read the entire article……………………………….
President can’t remove board member (MI)
Q: I’m on the Board of my condominium association, and I’ve been asking some difficult questions of the other Board members regarding our association’s finances. The President has now threatened to remove me from the Board. Can he do that? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Fire At Indian River Condo Complex Destroys All Units, Several Cars (MI)
The Tuscarora Township Fire Department responded to a fire early Friday morning at a condo complex in Indian River. Fire crews say all eight units at Burt Views Condominiums, along with several cars, were destroyed by the fire. Read the entire article……………………………….
Crumbling condition of Canton subdivision streets ‘an embarrassment’ for residents (MI)
The streets in Essence Uke’s Canton Township neighborhood aren’t like those in war-torn Europe in the mid-1940s. In some cases, they’re probably worse. Tattooed with steady streams of patched-up craters and crumbled chunks of concrete that resemble a chewed-up checkerboard in aerial photos, Read the entire article……………………………….
Silver Creek Township votes against Little Crooked Lake Aquatic Weed Control District despite petition (MI)
Little Crooked Lake maintenance was the hot topic at Wednesday’s Silver Creek Township Board meeting at Township Hall, 32764 Dixon St., Dowagiac. Dozens of concerned residents packed the hall as the board voted 3-2 against adopting the Little Crooked Lake Aquatic Weed Control Special Assessment District. Read the entire article……………………………….
Near condo explosion, barricade causes anxiety (MI)
The recent explosion at a Warren condominium on Villa Pointe Drive has caused uneasiness to resurface among residents at the nearby Aspenwood Condominiums concerning a barricade that was erected in 1973. Read the entire article……………………………….