Court sides with homeowners in NC ski country who want short-term rentals

After a homeowners association in the North Carolina High Country tried to block short-term rentals during ski season, a court has ruled against the HOA.  The Reserve II sits feet from the slopes on the top of Sugar Mountain in Avery County. Jeff and Martha Wells have had their home there for more than 10 […]

Jim Slaughter presented with the Don Buck Lifetime Contribution Award as a legal trailblazer and thought leader shaping the future of community association law.

Jim Slaughter, president of Law Firm Carolinas’ six offices, has been honored with the Don Buck Lifetime Contribution Award at the Community Association Law Seminar in Las Vegas. The award, presented by Community Associations Institute’s College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL), recognizes attorneys who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the community association industry.   Read the article…………………………….

A Mooresville couple tried to paint their home. They were hit with a $1,000 fine from their HOA (NC)

Living in a neighborhood run by a homeowners association has its advantages, like maintaining uniformity with the exterior colors of the homes.  But after discovering some of their HOA’s “approved” colors didn’t even exist anymore, a Mooresville family found themselves asking, “Where’s the money?”  The family picked a color they liked, only to be hit […]

NC Community Association Legislative Update – February 28, 2024

Today (Wednesday, February 28) was the fourth and final meeting of the NC House Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations. As a reminder, this Committee was created by House Bill 311 (see NC Community Association Legislative Update – May 9, 2023) and tasked with examining planned communities and condominium associations,    Read the article…………………………….

NC House panel okays recommendations limiting power of HOAs

A state House panel Wednesday gave the final okay to recommendations they say would help curb abuses of power by community and homeowners’ associations in North Carolina.  “We can’t make as many changes probably as some would like to see happen, but we do have a few suggestions in the way of this committee report,” […]

Homeowner association regulations proposal expected in short session (NC)

Proposed changes to how North Carolina regulates homeowners’ associations expected to be introduced as a bill in the short session was reviewed by lawmakers on Tuesday.  Staff with the General Assembly’s Legislative Analysis Division outlined five recommendations from the Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations in the House of Representatives following several hearings on a variety […]

Five recommendations North Carolina lawmakers may consider to tackle HOA disputes

Members of the House Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations are moving closer to advancing a draft bill designed to level the playing field between homeowners and their HOAs.  Following two public hearings in January, five recommendations were presented Tuesday to the committee by legislative staff.    Read the article…………………………….

Homeowner association regulations proposal expected in short session (NC)

Proposed changes to how North Carolina regulates homeowners’ associations expected to be introduced as a bill in the short session was reviewed by lawmakers on Tuesday.  Staff with the General Assembly’s Legislative Analysis Division outlined five recommendations from the Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations in the House of Representatives following several hearings on a variety […]

Homeowner association regulations proposal expected in short session (NC)

Proposed changes to how North Carolina regulates homeowners’ associations expected to be introduced as a bill in the short session was reviewed by lawmakers on Tuesday.  Staff with the General Assembly’s Legislative Analysis Division outlined five recommendations from the Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations in the House of Representatives following several hearings on a variety […]

North Carolina HOAs could face new hurdles to foreclosures

North Carolina homeowners’ associations could soon face new hurdles to approving larger budgets and seizing property as a means to enforce their rules. The House Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations have been meeting this year to address voter claims that HOAs have abused their power in the state. Committee members have welcomed input from homeowners […]

Judge says Cabarrus County HOA didn’t maintain sidewalks it was required to (MD)

A judge said a Cabarrus County homeowners association has a duty to maintain the sidewalks and didn’t.  Robert Beirne lives in the Skybrook subdivision. When tree roots started pushing up the sidewalk in front of his house, his HOA told him it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to fix.  Beirne told Action 9?s Jason Stoogenke he did […]

Happy homeowners: Speak up before laws are reformed

A legislative committee in North Carolina has been examining the need for potential reform to community association laws. The committee has done an admirable job collecting input from all involved stakeholders—homeowners, board members, community association managers, attorneys, and others who could be impacted by updates to state laws. Read the article…………………………….

HOA/Condo Op-Ed Article Published Today (NC)

I was asked by The Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer to respond to recent reporting looking at changing North Carolina’s HOA/condo laws. My article, “Caution: When NC HOA Laws Change, Property Values and More Are at Stake,” appears in both newspapers today    Read the article…………………………..

Townhomes accuse city of causing pipes to burst (NC)

Some residents in the Park Place Townhomes in south Charlotte said they’ve been out of water off and on since the middle of November and they’re the ones who might have to pay to fix it.  Read the article………………………….

Marion City Council hears about Westwood Chateau situation (NC)

In early 2019, officials with McDowell County Emergency Management, the city of Marion, McDowell County and other local agencies notified the residents at the 32-unit condo complex, located behind the Lady Marian Plaza shopping center, of a voluntary evacuation order. It was issued for the Westwood Chateau residents because of “possible sinkhole formation under the […]

Residents of Fairfield Harbour ask for voices to be heard as property owner’s association mulls over selling portion of 385-acre property (NC)

On Tuesday, the POA held a board meeting at The Pointe Restaurant, with almost 100 residents attending. The Sun Journal and several other local media members attempted to attend the meeting but were told the board was not allowing media inside. Almost a dozen attendees were also escorted out of the meeting before it ended.  […]

‘What have they done with the money?’ | Settlement money paid to HOA following 2016 tornado damage still sits in general fund (NC)

Homeowners in Avenues at Ayrsley’s phase one neighborhood said their homeowners association received payments in 2021 and 2022 related to a tornado, and claim the money is still sitting in the HOA’s general fund, which is currently tapped for the entire community, not just the homes that were affected.     Read the article………………………………

As residents push for answers, Brunswick HOA addresses financial concerns (NC)

Some homeowners in the Westport development in Winnabow are facing 50 to 60 percent increases in their homeowner association dues next year.  The rate hike has many in the community questioning actions of the development’s community association manager, GOProperty Management, and the Westport Homeowner Association Board of Directors. Some of their concerns include the association’s […]

Register of Deeds seeks help to catalog racially restrictive covenants (NC)

The Wake County Register of Deeds Office is putting out the call for volunteers to help dive into its archives and uncover historic insights into our community’s past. The historical evidence is hidden within the “restrictive covenants” of perhaps hundreds of properties and homeowner association clauses throughout the county.   Read the article…………………………….

Homeowner facing lien and more than $12,000 in fines sues HOA and has been winning (NC)

A woman facing thousands in fines from her Homeowners Association (HOA) sued the board and has been winning.  Sherry Loeffler’s windows are white. Her neighbors’ windows are beige. But it’s not about the color. Both sides say the HOA plans to paint them. It’s about the number of windows.    Read the article………………………………..

Another resident hit with flag violation in Union County neighborhood (NC)

Another flag controversy is unfolding in a Union County neighborhood.  Earlier this week, WBTV talked to a man in the Holly Park neighborhood in Indian Trail who said his homeowners association told him the Pride flag he has been flying freely outside his home for nearly 20 years violated HOA rules.  The fine print in […]

Neighborhood HOA asks man to take down Pride flag in Union County (NC)

Nick Crowley has lived along Council Fire Circle in the Holly Park neighborhood in Indian Trail, flying his Pride flag outside for nearly 20 years. He was surprised to receive a violation from the HOA on Monday stating that he cannot have the flag on his property.   Read the article…………………………………….

Ask SAM: How can our subdivision get speed bumps? (NC)

Q:We live in the Peppertree development just outside Clemmons. There are 25 mph speed limit signs posted within our development. However, cars are constantly speeding through the neighborhood, creating serious safety problems. Several neighbors are now interested in having speed bumps installed. Who would we contact to see if this is a feasible project?    Read […]

Fight with Brunswick condo association leads man to push for state reform

Hinds explained the issues at Ocean Walk arose when he noticed a significant amount of money — $182,057— had been moved out of the association’s reserve fund and into a working account. He explained this concerned some of the condo owners because they worried how this could impact the condos in the event of a […]

Hampstead neighborhood and yacht club reach agreement on boating access (NC)

Harbour Village Yacht Club (HVYC), a private organization, was restricting Olde Point lot owners from using an area for boat landing and recreation purposes. According to a GoFundMe page created in January to raise legal expenses, many homeowners had deeded rights. The creator, Ferrell Drewry, said he was unaware of the conflict when he was […]

South Charlotte HOA chops down tree, now protected by UDO (NC)

There are questions about Charlotte’s new zoning rules after neighbors in south Charlotte came to WCNC Charlotte about their HOA planning to remove some trees. All of this happened after the UDO and Charlotte’s Tree Ordinance went into effect last month.    Read the article………………………..