A Myrtle Beach resident is facing nearly $1,000 in homeowners’ association fines after getting picked up for work in a commercial vehicle. Marcos Andrade has lived in the Burcale Commons community for nearly three years and said he was picked up for work every day. Read the article………………………..
Multiple fire agencies respond to fire at North Myrtle Beach condos (SC)
North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue and Horry County Fire Rescue responded to a fire at a condo complex in North Myrtle Beach. Read the article…………………………..
Man accused of stealing $700k from HOA funds in Greenville Co., deputies say (SC)
A former Upstate property manager turned himself in Wednesday after being accused of stealing more $700,000 from various homeowners associations. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office started an investigation on October 1 after the Stonehaven housing community reported money was missing from HOA funds, according to the sheriff’s office. Read the article………………………
Neighborhood Watch: Becoming an HOA watchdog (SC)
Homeowners associations can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, they give structure to a community and help set and monitor community standards to protect property values, as well as the safety and security of everyone. On the other hand, they can be overreaching in exercising authority like what color your […]
Fire damages building at condo complex (SC)
Units from the Columbia Fire Department, with the Irmo Fire District, were on the scene of a two-alarm fire just before 7 a.m. at Briargate Condominiums, Monday morning. The condos are off of Broad River Road. The fire damaged multiple units in one building. More than 40 personnel responded to the blaze.
Property manager says ‘cooperating fully’ in Greenville Sheriff’s HOA funds investigation (SC)
Doors were locked and the lights were out on Wednesday afternoon at the offices to the property management company that is under investigation by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office amid allegations of mishandled HOA funds. Notes labeled for “Nick” were posted to the door. One of them, in all capital letters with a thick, black […]
Money missing from Simpsonville neighborhoods, HOA president says (SC)
The president of a Simpsonville homeowners association tells 7News that three subdivisions are missing money after the property management company that previously managed them resigned last week. Read the article…………………….
One HOA rule requires real estate agents to break state law (SC)
Frustration and confusion are just a few of the feelings realtor Rod Smith feels as he stands in a room filled with ‘for sale’ signs. All the signs are individually customized for different homeowners associations. Read the article…………………………
Homeowners association issues continue despite S.C. law passing
Beyond Horry County’s manicured lawns and subdivision welcome signs are rules and complex laws governing how homeowners live. Homeowners associations aim to protect communities but many residents say they don’t always hit their mark. For years, these associations operated with little oversight and left property owners without tools to fight back. Read the article………………………
‘You’re not fooling anybody’: Carolina Forest residents oppose Wizard golf course redevelopment (SC)
Dozens of Carolina Forest residents are upset that a developer is looking to turn one golf course into hundreds of homes. They were not afraid to show their feelings Wednesday to developers looking to convert The Wizard Golf Course into 701 single-family homes. Read the article………………………
James Island condo owners displaced by termite damage sue after being billed $60,000 each (SC)
Residents of the Pelican Pointe Villas condominiums on Folly Road faced a huge inconvenience when they were ordered to evacuate their homes in 2018 due to termite damage. But worse news was yet to come. Read the article……………………….
Multiple condos damaged in early morning fire in Mount Pleasant (SC)
Flames shot through portions of multiple Mount Pleasant condos along Sandlake Road early Tuesday morning. Mount Pleasant Fire Department was called to Waterford Condominiums at 2:25 a.m., according to Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch. Read the article……………………..
“Let’s not do it this way”: Hilton Head HOA removes items from memorial of 11-year-old girl (SC)
A Hilton Head man says his homeowners association wants the items placed on his deceased daughter’s memorial area taken down. Brian Bobinchuck says when he came home Tuesday, he saw a trash bag filled with items that were once on a memorial bench for his daughter. Read the article………………
WMBF INVESTIGATES: HOA lawsuit complicates condo sales (SC)
For three decades, North Myrtle Beach vacationers have enjoyed the pristine location and community at Tilghman Beach and Racquet Club. The 12 buildings of condominiums sit a block off the ocean and two blocks from Main Street. While the location is ideal for a beach vacation, it doesn’t pair well with wooden buildings. Read […]
Carolina Forest HOA says they’ve paid $1.3 million to rent Santee Cooper light poles (SC)
More than a dozen homeowners associations from around Horry County showed up for a meeting Thursday night to find out if they’re spending thousands of dollars to rent light poles. Read the article……………………..
Orangeburg County won’t haul debris after storms; resident thinks tax could help with cleanups (SC)
Orangeburg County won’t be hauling off debris from The Landing subdivision and other areas hit hard by last month’s thunderstorms. But the president of The Landing’s homeowners association thinks such problems are only going to continue because of global warming. She thinks the county should consider an additional tax to clean up such damage. Read the […]
“Read the rules”: Myrtle Beach real estate expert weighs in on neighborhood landscaping disputes (SC)
A real estate expert says it’s common for homeowners to deal with their neighbors crossing onto their property to cut trees or plants that aren’t theirs. Two Horry County neighbors are currently dealing with this type of situation, and News13 spoke with real estate expert Blake Sloan with Sloan Realty Group to discover how homeowners […]
3-alarm condo fire breaks out in Little River complex (SC)
Fire and rescue crews responded to a 3-alarm fire in Little River on Monday morning. According to officials, the fire happened at the Cyprus Bay Condos at 4254 Pinehurst Circle shortly before 8 a.m. One person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Read the article……………………….
Mount Pleasant Waterworks faces class-action lawsuit for allegedly overcharging businesses (SC)
In a legal blow to the East Cooper area’s water and sewer utility, a lawsuit claiming Mount Pleasant Waterworks overcharged commercial customers including homeowner associations has been approved as a class-action case. That means MPW is expected to face claims from more than 400 large ratepayers in a single lawsuit. Read the article…………………..
Rising water levels concern Lake Wateree residents (SC)
Homeowners living along Lake Wateree say they are concerned by the recent rise in lake levels. The National Weather Service in Columbia issued a flood warning for Wateree and Congaree rivers on Tuesday. That’s due to heavy rainfall over the past week. Read the article……………………
Polo Farms residents upset over possible mine operation coming to area (SC)
A mine could be coming to the Polo Farms area of Highway 905. Professional Engineer, Steve Powell with Venture Engineering says his clients are looking to mine sand and create a lake behind the community. Powell explained the project will be 55 acres. He believes the lake could act as a flood mitigation basin, but […]
Special exception in SC law could save 17 beach houses, but at what cost?
DeBordieu Colony, a wealthy, gated beach community, was the benefactor of targeted legislation in the Statehouse this week that would protect a stretch of beachfront houses. That’s if Gov. Henry McMaster signs it into law. Lawmakers adopted a bill in the final week of the 2019 session that would allow the tony retreat to rebuild […]
Failing septic systems foul SC homes and waterways, but solutions are costly (SC)
Failing septic systems pollute Lowcountry waters with raw sewage and leave some residents with fouled yards and homes, but the cost of modern sewer connections and questions about government mandates have made the problem tricky to solve Read the article……………………..
Charleston property manager gets prison for defrauding communities of more than $700K (SC)
A former property manager has been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding numerous homeowner associations in the Charleston area of more than $700,000. Karen Colie, 46, who owned Marshland Communities on Johns Island, was sentenced Tuesday to 2½ years in prison after she pleaded guilty last fall to one count of wire fraud. Read the […]
40 Charleston area condo and apartment buildings involved in lawsuits over defects (SC)
Scaffolding is rising once again around a Charleston building where water intrusion required some tenants to move as construction crews tear down and replace sections of the relatively new exterior. The scene at East Central Lofts on Huger Street is not unique. Similar work is in progress on multi-family buildings in Mount Pleasant at East […]
HOA legal dispute: SC homeowner claims Simpsonville association making ‘life unbearable’ (NC)
A Simpsonville man said he’s done everything that his homeowners association has required him to do. He even paid $3,641.74 in attorney fees to resolve a long-running court dispute. But Melchior Julien said in an email that the Holly Tree Plantation Homeowners Association is still trying to get him out of the neighborhood. He called […]
Charleston’s Longborough Park battle over docks nearing a close — 13 years after it started (SC)
Thirteen years after a local homeowners association filed a lawsuit against its developer and fought Charleston officials over who gets access to Longborough Park, the city is close to putting the controversy to rest. The city plans to acquire the roughly 0.62-acre spit that juts into the marsh off Mary Ellen Drive and build a […]
HOA complaints in SC: These counties have the most, report says
For the first time ever, the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs released a South Carolina Homeowner’s Association Report. The Department of Consumer Affairs released the report as a result of changes made to the state’s Homeowner Association’s law, which now requires that data from complaints involving HOAs be collected and reported to the governor, General […]
No deal reached between Indian Wells developers, HOA over golf course land (SC)
A compromise on what to do with nearly 154 acres that make up Indian Wells golf course has not been reached between homeowners and the devloper. Many, including those on the Horry County Planning Commission, told WMBF News they hoped a deal could be reached between developers and the Indian Wells Homeowners Association prior to […]
Greenville HOA says lawsuits could bankrupt community (SC)
A Greenville neighborhood has racked up more than $50,000 in legal bills that could put the homeowners association in financial trouble in the wake of multiple lawsuits and complaints by one resident. Lawsuits against the 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Woodington Homeowners Association’s board of directors have been filed by homeowner Raymond Wedlake, according to […]
‘I will defeat you at the end’: Timeline of conflict between Simpsonville man and his HOA (SC)
The conflict between a Simpsonville man and the Holly Tree Plantation Homeowners Association landed in court in 2017 and has continued into 2019. On March 22, the dispute could lead to jail time for him. Here’s a detailed recap at how the situation escalated, according to documents filed with the Greenville County Court of Common […]
Greenville County court issues bench warrant for arrest of Simpsonville man in HOA dispute (SC)
A bench warrant has been issued for a Simpsonville homeowner embroiled in a two-year court battle with his homeowner’s association. Melchior Julien, who lives in Holly Tree Plantation, said he has had several disputes with the Holly Tree Plantation Homeowners Association over the years. His problems escalated to legal action in 2017. Read the […]
Woodside HOA to pursue permits for deer culling in neighborhood (SC)
Oh, deer. Tensions are running high among residents in Woodside Plantation over how to handle issues with the local wildlife. It has been estimated that around 600 deer are living in the gated community. A recent vote was held by the Woodside Plantation Property Owners Association (WPPOA) to determine how to handle the perceived overpopulation. Read […]
Sex offenders living near Summerville neighborhood have residents worried (SC)
People living in the White Gables neighborhood in Summerville are frustrated and concerned after discovering several sex offenders live nearby. Within two miles of that address, there are 61 sex offenders. Neighbors involved in the HOA board said the community is having a meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday night inside the clubhouse. Read the […]
Simpsonville homeowner seeks $1 million from HOA, dismissal of court case (SC)
A Simpsonville homeowner is asking for $1 million in damages from his homeowners association if its case against him is dismissed. The request is part of a motion to dismiss and motion of discovery that Melchior Julien filed in the Greenville County Court of Common Pleas on Feb. 13. Julien has been in a two-year […]
Deadline passes but jail time still possible for Simpsonville man fighting his HOA (SC)
A Simpsonville man continues to haggle in court with his homeowners association which says he has violated the covenants of Holly Tree Plantation. In January, Circuit Court Judge Robin Stilwell ordered Melchior Julien to pay more than $3,600 in attorney fees by Feb. 1 or the court could issue a bench warrant for his arrest, […]
Waterfront? Homeowners with retention pond see property value spike (SC)
Mecklenburg County officials call homes with retention ponds in its backyard “waterfront property,” making home values skyrocket. With a higher value, they will have to pay more taxes. Read the article………………….
Greenville County complaints about homeowner associations among highest in South Carolina
Homeowners in Greenville complained about their homeowners associations last year more than almost every county in South Carolina, according to the inaugural Homeowners Association Complaint Report released Wednesday. Richland County homeowners generated the most complaints with 53.2 percent of the total, according to the report released by the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. The […]
Simpsonville man’s dispute with HOA may lead to jail time (SC)
A homeowner in Simpsonville is facing potential jail time after haggling with his homeowners association about a shed on his property and related court fees for nearly two years. How Melchior Julien’s dispute with his HOA got to this point is a complicated story that touches on the nature of HOAs, how neighborhood covenants are […]
Woodlands floor collapse victims pursue legal action during recovery (SC)
The Greenville resident and University of South Carolina junior was on fall break and visiting friends in Clemson. She decided to join them at a party for Clemson’s Homecoming weekend. The next morning, that party had become national news. The floor at the clubhouse of the Woodlands condo complex, where the party was hosted, fell […]
Greenville residents battle developer over century-old cedar trees near Mills Mill (SC)
Former U.S. President and conservationist Theodore Roosevelt once said, “To exist as a nation, to prosper as a state, to live as a people, we must have trees.” It’s a quote that rings true for Greenville resident Eric Brown, who is spearheading opposition to a developer’s plan to cut down a grove of century-old cedar […]
New HOA law in effect in South Carolina
A new Homeowners Association law is now in effect throughout South Carolina. The law, first introduced in March 2017 and passed in May 2018, requires HOAs to be more transparent and gives neighbors a new way to report problems with their HOA. Some of the new requirements for HOA’s include documenting meetings and putting any […]
Shutdown: With no owner in sight, Hunter’s Creek golf courses lie fallow (SC)
On a pleasant Friday afternoon, Greenwood Country Club golfers took to the course, their carts and bags visible through breaks in a tree line along Mathis Road. With temperatures expected to dip into the 20s over the weekend, Friday might have been the last chance for players to get in a round this week. Read […]
This Seabrook woman’s garden was taken away after 14 years. Now she’s getting it back. (SC)
A longtime Seabrook Island gardener is getting her plot back. Mary Johnson, who had tended a space at the island’s community garden for 14 years, lost that privilege in October when a change in policy barred all non-property owners from using the amenity. But on Monday, the island’s Property Owners Association board unanimously voted to […]
Deadline nears for HOA transparency rules, meant to aid SC home buyers (SC)
A Thursday deadline is fast approaching for homeowners associations across South Carolina to have all their rules and regulations recorded in county deed offices, or else those rules become unenforceable Read the article………………………
New HOA law in effect in South Carolina
A new Homeowners Association law is now in effect throughout South Carolina. The law, first introduced in March 2017 and passed in May 2018, requires HOAs to be more transparent and gives neighbors a new way to report problems with their HOA. Some of the new requirements for HOA’s include documenting meetings and putting any […]
James Island condo tenants scramble after unsafe floors force them out for Christmas (SC)
Construction crews told ABC News4 that 16 workers are at the Peninsula Condominiums trying to shore up these structures. Sources say the problem is affecting the floors. We were invited to one of the condos to check out the damage. Renter Jessica Matthews showed us where her floor dipped and slanted. Read the article…………………
Units at James Island condominium complex ordered to vacate (SC)
Authorities have ordered 19 units at a James Island condominium complex to vacate. Officials with the City of Charleston say it’s because there’s are structural problems with the floors in affected units at “The Peninsula on James Island.” Read the article………………….
A beloved Seabrook gardener loses her plot, and a controversy sprouts (SC)
Mary Johnson’s garden has seen better days. Her plot, No. 23 in this island’s community garden, was just this summer bursting with herbs, flowers and tomatoes of all varieties. Now, it’s riddled with dollarweed. Tomato stakes lie across an empty planting bed, and moss grows on the wood and chicken wire gate. Next year, “when […]