Hideout’s first master developer sues the town and its planner for $100M (UT)

The original master developer of Hideout is suing the town and its planner over development rights, accusing them of causing the developer economic damages of at least $100 million by reducing the value of its holdings and acting to prevent it from developing hundreds of homes.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Man killed by police after shooting, explosion in Woodlawn had carried gun, harassed community, neighbors say (MD)

Baltimore County police said in a news release Sunday that investigators believe Brown forced his way into the home of Ismael Quintanilla, a 41-year-old neighbor, and fatally stabbed and shot him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.  Quintanilla’s wife, 37-year-old Sara Alacote, was also shot fatally by Brown, according to police. The department said […]

State is asked to intervene in Kakaako housing dispute (HI)

Owners of the most affordable homes in Kakaako’s tony Ward Village neighborhood have asked a state agency to intervene in a dispute over costs to maintain their units.  The association of homeowners in the 2-year-old Ke Kilohana condominium tower earlier this week appealed to the Hawaii Community Development Authority to help resolve claims that the […]

Charlotte firefighters battle fire at east Charlotte condo (NC)

Charlotte firefighters are investigating what caused a condo to catch on fire Sunday morning.  Firefighters responded to Village Lake Drive and Pebblestone Drive at about 3:00 a.m. Sunday. They reported a two-story condo was on fire with heavy flames coming from the roof.     Read the entire article……………………………….

Attorney represents board (IL)

Q: I am a unit owner in a condominium association. I sent the association’s lawyer a request for an opinion on an issue concerning the association. The attorney responded that she is unable to respond to owner inquiries, and that I should submit my issue to the board. As a member of the association, doesn’t […]

Rollover of excess funds normal (FL)

Q: If there is an excess in monies collected from the annual budget, must the excess be returned to owners, or can it be used to reduce maintenance fees for next year?   Read the Q&A………………………………..

Veteran in Austin takes on HOA over flying his American flag (TX)

The HOA says the larger issue with flags came up when people were putting up political flags leading up to the election – which the HOA does regulate. These Avery Ranch residents believe they have every right to fly their American flags in front of their homes no matter where it is. They point to […]

HOA Homefront: Is the HOA’s insurance coverage sufficient? (CA)

Insurance brokers are one of an HOA’s most important vendors, yet they are often ignored until claims arise. This mistake can be costly.  Insurance is a contract in which the insurer accepts a fee (“premium”) and in return agrees to pay for certain incidents of damage (property insurance) or claims of liability (casualty insurance). Because […]

Condo Board meetings are not for all (NH)

Regardless of how many units are in your association or how many members are on your board of directors, you still have to have an occasional meeting of the board. And that means you have to learn how to keep your board meetings on task and not let them devolve into chaos.    Read the entire […]

Form Association Or Face Fines? (FL)

The problem goes back to 1988, when a developer got a variance that allowed him to build 91 homes instead of 50 if he created an association to maintain the private roads and drains. But after the construction was finished, the association was dissolved in 1992.  And 29 years later, Sweetwater is telling homeowners they […]

Park Forest thirsty for irrigation water (FL)

It’s not quite a neighborhood water war, but the Englewood Water District will discuss Thursday how best to expand and fairly distribute its irrigation water in Park Forest.  The treated effluent has always been a precious commodity for irrigation — one that the Water District has measured out judiciously.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Around Town: New homeowners association president asks, what is Dunwoody? (GA)

Fiscella’s new job requires him to consider how those various points of view fit together, if they do. He’s the new president of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association, the 51-year-old, 881-member group that promotes the city’s homeowners’ interests and claims to be “one of the most powerful associations of its kind in the United States.”   Read […]

Goats Get To Work Cleaning Up Neighborhoods (SC)

When homeowners in the Retreat at Beresford subdivision off Clements Ferry Road started looking into ways to trim back brush around a creek in the neighborhood, they decided to go a more natural route.  Read the entire article……………………………….

Winds of change coming for condo group as Gomez aims to be community ‘convener’ (FL)

Armed with a promise to “look inward” and a priority list that prioritizes quality of life and condominium property values, Fausto Gomez is off and running as the new president of the Key Biscayne Condo President’s Council, an organization which has 34 of the island’s condo communities as members.    Read the entire article……………………………….

There’s a Major Shortage of This Backyard Staple & It Could Ruin Your Summer

BioLab, a leading chemical plant that manufactures pool and spa treatment products, caught fire on Aug. 27, 2020—and the chlorine shortage stems from that incident, USA Today reports. The factory, located in Westlake, Louisiana, burned for nearly three days until the fire could be put out by firefighters.    Read the entire article……………………………….

‘Massacre at Tivoli Lakes’: Mahogany trees taken out at retirement community (FL)

Tivoli Lakes has begun removing 277 mahogany trees, much to the chagrin of some residents at the west of Boynton Beach retirement community.  “You could say we are in mourning,” said Ben Kass of Noceto Way. “These trees were so beautiful. We call it ‘the chainsaw massacre at Tivoli Lakes.’”  Read the entire article……………………………….

HOA Homefront – Be ready when amending CC&Rs (CA)

Amending CC&Rs is not easy. Here are some tips to avoid making it harder. 1. Check with the members. Amending CC&Rs usually takes a supermajority (i.e., more than simply a majority of the quorum), so a good idea isn’t enough — it still needs widespread support. A great proposed amendment is meaningless if the homeowners […]

HOA changes color scheme and it’s a mess (NV)

Q: (I am) writing this after reading (your) article about homeowners associations requesting a house be painted after three years. I live in a very nice community where the HOA has drastically changed the paint schemes in our community. I have had issue with this since I found out about changes and believed them when […]

Residents show interest in license-plate recognition (AL)

Auburn neighborhoods were well-represented at a recent virtual meet-and-greet with the city’s neighborhood specialist and an officer from the Auburn Police Division.  Neighborhood residents were able to introduce themselves to Neighborhood Specialist Allison Blankenship, who wanted to foster better relationships with HOA representatives and neighborhoods in general, while seeking feedback on the best ways to […]

Kalithea fencing punted to HOA (CA)

Frustrations ran high as district representatives sought resolution at this month’s El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors meeting. Although multiple residents reiterated desires to erect fencing around Kalithea Park, ultimately the decision was punted to the neighborhood HOA to handle.   Read the entire article……………………………….

A letter from the Indian Creek HOA (ID)

As most everyone in the Valley knows, earlier this month a fire was started in the common area of the lower part of Indian Creek by the use of a device called a Rodenator. This device is commonly used by farming operations and golf courses to control rodent populations that create dens, which can cause […]

Condo questions: How to stop repeat parking offender? (FL)

Q: One of our owners continues to park his vehicle in the valet parking spaces and our rules strictly prohibit owners from using these parking spaces. When we send him a letter, he moves the car, but it always seems like the car is back in the valet parking spaces a few days later. What […]

Village HOA honored by Keep Sedona Beautiful (AZ)

KSB bestowed its award for Dark Sky Lighting to the Canyon Mesa Townhouse Association. Canyon Mesa is located in the Village of Oak Creek.  Over the course of two years, 92% of homeowners took advantage of a voluntary project to replace light polluting outdoor fixtures with Dark Sky compliant sconces.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Residents vote down measure to remove ‘plantation’ from neighborhood signs (SC)

Residents in a Lowcountry neighborhood have voted down a measure to remove the word “plantation” from their community signs.  On Monday, residents of the Belle Hall Plantation subdivision voted to keep “plantation” on community signs. The vote was 225 who approved the measure to remove the word, to 369 who disapproved of removing the word.  […]

Concord At Glen HOA Agrees To Let Beavers Be (IL)

The Concord at The Glen Homeowners Association issued a letter to residents Wednesday, April 21, saying, “the HOA Board has concluded that it will not capture and remove, or capture and relocate, the two juvenile beavers currently residing in the retention ponds.”  Earlier this month, a plan by the homeowners association to use underwater traps […]

Homeowners board recognized by court (TN)

A group of homeowners on Renegade Mountain has been declared the legitimate board of directors for the community following nearly a decade of legal wrangling and property disputes.  A meeting of the membership is to be held before Sept. 30, 2021, with back dues and current dues to be assessed and records updated.    Read the […]

Condo residents displaced by mudslide (AR)

Two buildings in a condominium complex on Lake Hamilton in south Hot Springs had to be evacuated Saturday morning after an adjacent retaining wall collapsed in a mudslide.  Hot Springs police Cpl. Patrick Langley said the collapse of the retaining wall at Catalina Cove Condominiums, at 112 Catalina Cove, occurred “most likely because of rain.”  […]

4 days after fire, Fairfield Oaks HOA holds meeting for displaced residents (LA)

It has been four days since an apartment building caught fire at the Fairfield Oaks condominiums. On Sunday afternoon, the Homeowners Association held a meeting to update residents, answer questions, give information needed for insurance claims, and to remind everyone to cut off all utilities with providers.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Condominium not obligated to mail quarterly newsletter to owners (FL)

Q:  Our condominium is planning to create a quarterly newsletter. We plan to send the newsletter out via email to the owners. We have about 100 owners that do not have email addresses.  Can we legally send out the emails when everyone is not on email?    Read the Q&A…………………………..