Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Houston-area developers of Colony Ridge on Thursday, accusing them of deceptive sales, marketing and lending practices that allowed their sprawling housing development to flourish.Residents of Colony Ridge filed dozens of complaints for years about the development to state agencies, but Texas had little to show for addressing those […]
Dallas Embarks on Urban Renaissance with “ForwardDallas” Plan and Digital Initiatives for Neighborhoods and Businesses (TX)
The Neighborhood Organization Map (NOM) available for viewing online, is a voluntary registry showcasing active neighborhood organizations across Dallas. PUD uses NOM to involve homeowner associations, neighborhood associations, and neighborhood coalitions more directly in urban development processes. Read the article…………………………….
City debates taking over unkempt private park from HOA (TX)
A possible lease agreement with the City of Laredo and Concord Hills Community Association was recently debated and tabled for further discussion due to conflicting ideas surrounding the area’s park.A 2.95-acre tract of land is currently unkempt in the Concord Hills subdivision off Highway 359, and the residents of the area reached out to District […]
Proposal for more oversight of homeowner associations expected in April (TX)
Deadlines for records requests, membership approval for assessment increases, and restrictions on foreclosures are among several recommended changes for homeowners’ associations up for debate come April. The Select Committee on Homeowners’ Associations in the House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously approved a report with recommendations and draft legislation for the upcoming short session to address […]
Some Houston condo owners fed up with $6000 in annual HOA fees (TX)
From broken glass and torn up sidewalks to a dilapidated children’s playground and wacky wiring, John Seckar gets frustrated every time he walks outside his southwest Houston condo. Seckar said despite paying off the two bedroom, two bath condo in full, he still pays $550 in monthly fees to his HOA. But for all that […]
Westchase residents frustrated with ongoing water main break: ‘It’s got to be thousands of gallons’ (TX)
For about a month, water has been pouring out of the ground in the Westchase area, and nothing has been done to stop it, according to nearby residents. It has become frustrating for those who live at the Westchase Forest Townhomes on Pagewood Lane near Gessner. Read the article…………………………….
Conroe’s Thunder Gun Range sued after nearby residents complain of ‘raining bullets’ hitting homes (TX)
A Conroe homeowner’s association has filed a lawsuit against Thunder Gun Range, citing multiple instances of bullets hitting homes and vehicles in the area. Read the article…………………………….
Cinco Ranch residents frustrated after mailboxes broken into again, officials call on congressman’s help (TX)
Officials say mailbox thefts are on the rise in Fort Bend County. One community is reporting their most recent incident early Friday morning. People who live in the Canyon Gate at Cinco Ranch subdivision say thieves managed to break into a cluster mailbox in their gated community and get away with countless pieces of mail. […]
North Beach residents concerned with new fire code impacting high rise buildings (TX)
There are several high rise buildings, specifically apartments and condominiums, along North Beach that are impacted by the updated code. Las Brisas Condominiums is one of them and resident, Daniel Uhlenhake says this new fire code has raised some questions for the local Homeowners Association. Read the article…………………………….
Highland Park condo lawsuit forces affiliate of prominent developer Stillwater Capital into Ch. 7 bankruptcy (TX)
A company affiliated with prominent developer Stillwater Capital filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at the tail end of a lawsuit over alleged construction defects at a high-end condo complex on the south end of Highland Park.
Colony Ridge developers faced lawsuits, complaints from Houston-area residents for over a decade (TX)
The Colony Ridge development northeast of Houston has become synonymous with scandal on a national scale — first as a source of viral anti-immigrant conspiracy theories and then as the target of a recently filed federal lawsuit alleging illegal business practices.
Texas law going into effect Jan. 1 creates new requirements for HOAs regarding fines
With the new year comes new laws. For HOA homeowners, that means a bit more transparency in how much you could be charged for violations. House Bill 614 goes into effect January 1 and experts said this creates a balance of power between HOAs and property owners. Read the article…………………………….
Former Burleson HOA faces discrimination allegations (TX)
Calvin Brown resigned from the board of his neighborhood’s homeowners association in Burleson recently after he got a series of texts from his fellow board members over whether or not a lesbian couple in the neighborhood should be fined for their yard sign. Read the article……………………….
Residents at Houston condominium outraged at Airbnb renters having sex on balcony in front of neighbors (TX)
Residents in a small upscale townhouse condominium in the Galleria area say short-term leases have them witnessing sex parties and violence. Read the article…………………………
Man’s body found under 4 feet of debris in home: ‘I could smell the foul odor’ (TX)
On Friday, there were a series of phone calls to city departments asking for help with the clutter left behind, but nothing came. So, residents had to glove and mask up to put it all back themselves. The homeowners association will likely have to foot the pricey hazmat cleanup bill, board members say. They appreciate […]
Homeowners fight rising homeowners association fees and you can too (TX)
Prices and interest rates are way up and now many San Antonio-area homeowners are discovering another cost increase: their homeowners association fees. Read the article…………………………….
Management at NW Houston condominiums unreachable after raw sewage floods family home for months (TX)
A Northwest Houston family says the apartment home they’ve been living in for several months has been flooded with raw sewage for days. What they say is making matters even worse, is the rude and unresponsive attitude from property management. Read the article……………………………….
Horseshoe Bay Resort wrestles with POA in civil lawsuit (TX)
A Llano County district court judge has ruled that the Horseshoe Bay resort and the Horseshoe Bay Property Owners Association (POA) must mediate their differences, giving them until Friday, Dec. 8, to come up with a mediator both sides will accept. (Most of the story behind saubscription paywall) Read the article…………………………
Addressing crime in Alamo Ranch: BCSO discusses safety with neighbors on NW Side (TX)
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office held crime & safety presentation Tuesday night to discuss ongoing concerns from Alamo Ranch community Read the article……………………………..
A source of neighborly debate: The boundaries of Alamo Ranch (TX)
The boundaries of Alamo Ranch, which sits just outside of Loop 1604 in west Bexar County, are unofficial. That’s as far as officials are concerned, anyway. Several neighbors we talked to wish there was something a little more concrete. Read the article…………………………..
Servicemember gets house back after almost losing it because of unpaid HOA fees (TX)
It was an I-Team investigation that angered a lot of people here in Military City USA: an active duty servicemember being evicted from his home because he fell behind on HOA fees. Read the article……………………………….
POA, HOA fee hikes make it harder to afford property for some (TX)
Property association fee hikes are putting many people in a bind trying to hold onto their investment property or home. The fee increases started around the pandemic and show no signs of ever retreating. Read the article………………………………
‘It makes me feel unwelcome in this community’ | Property association fee hikes make low-income, affordable homes difficult to keep (TX)
“At the time of closing the homeowners association payment was estimated to be about $200 a month,” Longnion said. Longnion said the fees jumped. “They increased the homeowner’s fees from $200 to $331 like within six-months time after I moved in,” Longnion said. Read the article……………………………..
San Antonio residents frustrated over USPS policy that calls for HOAs to pay for mailbox replacement and repairs (TX)
A host of mailbox issues reported by San Antonio residents has prompted Congressman Joaquin Castro to investigate the matter of determining who is responsible for replacing broken units. Read the article………………………………
Horseshoe Bay POA board addresses resort accusations, bans (TX)
The Horseshoe Bay Property Owners’ Association Board of Directors took a stand against allegations from Horseshoe Bay Resort owner Jordan Jaffe during its Oct. 18 meeting. Jaffe banned the board’s seven members from resort property, accusing them of failing to meet POA landscaping standards and obligations. The directors said they are totally within their rights and […]
Kelliwood Terrace residents victims of distract and rob scheme (TX)
According to KPRC TV, at about 6:30 p.m., two men came to the door of Elisa and James Wilson’s home, claiming to be from their homeowners association preparing for a tree trimming operation. The men asked the couple to bring them to the backyard to see their trees. Read the article…………………………..
What’s Behind the Fact-Challenged Freak-out Over Colony Ridge? (TX)
Over the past two months, this second Colony Ridge has rapidly expanded from the far-right fringe of American politics into the GOP mainstream—like an out-of-control wildfire spreading from treetop to treetop. Republican congressman Ronny Jackson, who represents a district hundreds of miles away in the Panhandle and recently threatened law enforcement officers at a rodeo, […]
Months without mail: Community battles with postal service after mailbox vandalism (TX)
Neighbors in one Southwest Side community are frustrated because they have not been able to have their mail delivered in months. Read the article…………………………..
Colony Ridge developer defends Houston-area community as state leaders vow action against it (TX)
GOP leaders claim the development markets to undocumented people and is plagued by crime. One of its owners refutes the allegations and says he’s ready to show lawmakers that Colony Ridge isn’t different than any other rural Texas community. Read the article………………………………..
Tomball homeowners fly ‘Defund the HOA’ flag after ‘petty’ notice (TX)
The couple said they’ve lived in their neighborhood for more than 20 years, and every baseball season, they fly an Astros flag without any issues. But, after the “Defund the HOA” flag went up, the Slivas said they received a violation notice on Aug. 23, instructing them to “please remove unsightly items from public view. […]
Ask Amy: New HOA laws in Texas
Neighborhood homeowner’s associations are meant to keep a community looking good and running right. But people often complain they overstep or some say their HOAs don’t do anything at all. Some of that may change. There are several new laws in Texas that impact the way HOAs are run. Read the article………………………..
Lake Hawkins property owners hold preparedness picnic (TX)
A meeting of the association of Lake Hawkins property owners held at the pavilion at Lake Hawkins park was more than just a picnic. “We’re always trying to educate homeowners on what they can do to make their home more fire resilient. Today we’re focusing on the homeowners themselves on what they can do on […]
Turtle Creek condo board won’t try to buy disputed property; removal vote still sought (TX)
Under pressure from owners, The Renaissance on Turtle Creek’s COA board surveyed support for the property purchase, and owners overwhelmingly opposed the move. Read the article………………………..
Houston fire: Residents blame lightning strike for fire that tore through condo building (TX)
Saturday’s storms created a stir in southwest Houston, residents say they’re certain lightning caused an apartment building to go up in flames. Read the article………………………..
40 year old agreement blocking Irving HOA’s path to resolution (TX)
You’re probably already familiar with the Irving canal system that flows in and out of Las Colinas and Irving. But some who live at the Villas of Cottonwood Creek claim their portion of the canal, is causing problems. Read the article………………………..
Liberty Hill neighbors worry about growing hole on their street (TX)
A neighborhood road in the Santa Rita Ranch development is sinking and cracking around a manhole cover, and there is no known reason why it’s happening. It has neighbors in the area very concerned. Read the article………………………..
North Side HOA threatened to tow vehicles for parking on public streets (TX)
The streets in and out of the Westfield neighborhood may be open and un-gated, but its homeowners’ association recently claimed those streets were not open for parking. In a July newsletter distributed to members of the Owners Association of Westfield, the HOA announced it would begin “strictly” enforcing vehicle and parking violations, including by towing […]
Developer refutes media claims about “colonia” in Liberty County (TX)
Multiple claims that a property developer is building a “colonia” and the “largest illegal alien settlement in Texas,” are false, its executives told The Center Square in an exclusive interview. Read the article………………………..
The law is on your side if your HOA demands green grass during drought (TX)
If you’re receiving letters from your HOA complaining about the current state of your yard, take a deep breath, the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) says the law is on your side. Read the article………………………..
Civil suit calls Lake Buchanan POA invalid (TX)
The property owners’ association for Donall Estates on Burnet County Road 104 on Lake Buchanan is embroiled in a civil lawsuit that could negatively affect its deed restriction powers. Read the article………………………..
If the Texas heat wave turns your front lawn brown, can your HOA punish you? (TX)
A homeowners association, if the deed restrictions say so, can require you to have a grass lawn and ornamental shrubs and to keep them green, says J. Patrick Sutton, an Austin-based real estate attorney who specializes in HOA law. Read the article………………………..
Katy now has mandatory water restrictions and those who violate may face a steep fine (TX)
As for those assigned days, if your address ends in even numbers, you can only water on Sunday and Thursday. If your address ends in odd numbers, you can water only on Saturday and Wednesday. On Tuesday and Friday, the homeowners’ association and commercial properties can water. Read the article………………………..
Improperly discarded cigarette leads to condo fire killing dog (TX)
A dog was killed after its owner thought she put out a cigarette on her balcony, but it turns out it was still lit and started a fire. Dallas Fire-Rescue officials said the smell of smoke woke up the woman, who was able to grab only two of her three dogs and get out of […]
If the Texas heat wave turns your front lawn brown, can your HOA punish you?
A homeowners association, if the deed restrictions say so, can require you to have a grass lawn and ornamental shrubs and to keep them green, says J. Patrick Sutton, an Austin-based real estate attorney who specializes in HOA law. Read the article………………………..
‘Keep this property condemned’: South Abilene HOA doubtful of potential buyer of half-built million-dollar home (TX)
The million-dollar half-built home in a South Abilene neighborhood continues to be a hot topic for the city’s monthly Board of Building Standards meetings – which still can’t decide whether or not to demolish the incomplete house. Read the article………………………..
Turtle Creek condo board to seek community input before possible million-dollar purchase (TX)
A Turtle Creek condominium owners’ association, which has angered residents with its multi-million dollar bid on a property, confirmed the potential purchase will cost each resident thousands of dollars in special assessment fees and could cause COA fees to rise about 10%. Read the article………………………..
StoryBuilt sued by investors, condo group (TX)
Angry investors and a condo community are taking legal action against StoryBuilt, shedding light on the Austin developer’s financial struggles amid a recent leadership shakeup. Read the article………………………..
After dust-up, condo association postpones board meeting for ‘informational session’ (TX)
A condominium owners association postponed its Tuesday board meeting after some residents vehemently opposed the board’s plan to purchase an adjacent property for millions of dollars. Read the article………………………..
Residents in DeSoto’s Ten Mile Creek Estates Face Uncertainty and Outrage as Hidden HOA Dues Surface After 17 Years (TX)
Residents have contacted the city, but the City of DeSoto’s hands are tied, given that the association was created outside the city’s jurisdiction. A property management company, NewRoc Services, is currently running the HOA show regarding the implementation of the mandatory HOA for residents living in Ten Mile Creek Estates. Read the article………………………..
Service member facing eviction and foreclosure over $2,500 in HOA fees (TX)
An active-duty service member, stationed overseas, learns he’s being evicted from his house for failing to pay his homeowners association fees. Read the article………………………..