California

California Condo & HOA News

Californians are Protecting Themselves from Wildfire. Why is there still an Insurance Crisis?
Fire officials, lawmakers, insurance agents and others are asking homeowners to help lower the risk of devastating wildfires by making improvements to their properties — in some cases at great expense — and often in the context of trying to hang on to their insurance policies. The state has spent about $3.7 billion on forest management in the past seven years. Communities, fire districts and others are doing their part, too. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront: Is it our manager or is it us?
Many associations struggle with a poor manager relationship, resulting in frustration for both sides. However, such struggles are sometimes created by the board and not the manager. Therefore, these can be resolved by a change in board practices. Truly, some managers are simply not cut out for the job. The need for excellent HOA managers increases along with the growing number of community associations. Read the article…………………………….
Solano Real Estate Scene: Condo crisis in California
When a person buys a condo and needs a loan, the buyer must qualify, the condo must be appraised, and the condo project and HOA must be analyzed and approved by the lender. The last time the condo market experienced a crisis was after the crash of 2008 when an estimated 10,000 condo owners across California stopped making their house payments and many stopped paying the HOA dues. By 2010, condo projects all over California were loaded with bank-owned foreclosures ...
Judge declares Tahoe poison test illegal (CA)
The state water board in charge of Lake Tahoe broke California laws and its own regulations by allowing a homeowners association to put poison into the lake water, per a ruling by an El Dorado County Superior Court Judge. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront: Officers, who does what? (CA)
Kelly, I am a sitting board member for our HOA and we are coming up next week with our annual board election and a possible change of president (which is badly needed). As of right now, we have only three board members present out of five due to one moving away and another just resigned. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Two-Alarm Fire at Condo Complex in Long Beach (CA)
A two-alarm fire was hard to access for Long Beach Fire. The residents started evacuating, taking the provided hose lines off the wall, and fighting the fire until the fire department arrived. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront: What to do with outdated election rules and candidate statements (CA)
Q: Our HOA ballot package for the board election included 3 candidate statements that endorsed themselves as a slate, one of whom also criticized their opponent. In the past, candidate statements included bios, qualifications, and what they had done or will do, but did not mention opponents or endorse other candidates. The nomination forms asked for candidate statements of qualifications. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Aliso Viejo residents claim herbicide spraying near their homes is making them sick (CA)
Back home after the walk, McCuan emailed Mission Landscape, under contract by the Aliso Viejo Community Association (AVCA), asking what was being sprayed at Canyon View Park. The following day, after McCuan had spent six hours in her backyard digging up roots and planting native plants for Monarch butterflies, a reply arrived from Mission’s vice president of operations, Jon Cernok. He identified the spray as the weed killer Cheetah Pro. Read the article…………………………….
Bay Area condo war widens after $1 million units sell for just $32,000 (CA)
The auctioning of several downtown San Jose condominiums has spawned a widening legal war now that a troubled China-based real estate firm has filed a new lawsuit in the increasingly tangled case. China-based Z&L Properties has filed a lawsuit against winning bidders in an auction last week of the downtown San Jose condos, as well as the trustee that conducted the proceeding, Santa Clara County Court records show. Read the article…………………………….
Z&L Properties sues over sale of “$1M” San Jose condos for $32K (CA)
Z&L Properties has sued bidders who violated a court restraining order to buy 10 condominiums auctioned at cut-rate prices in Downtown San Jose. The China-based developer filed the lawsuit against two buyers as well as San Diego-based Nationwide Reconveyance, a trustee for a homeowners association at a 320-unit condo tower Read the article…………………………….

California News Archives

California Condo & HOA Articles

How Past Discriminatory Real Estate Practices Have Impacted Coronado (CA)
“What happened is a darker chapter in American history that occurred from the 1920s to the 1960s which involved racially restrictive practices in real estate,” said Ashley. “Coronado was not immune.” Read the article…………………………….
Reduced Quorum for Elections (CA)
QUESTION. If our 50% quorum is not achieved, is there a requirement that another vote take place but with a 20% quorum requirement? If so, how quickly does this need to take place? Read the Q&A………………………………..
HOA Board Governance: Roles, Responsibilities, and Ethics
Homeowners’ Associations play a pivotal role in shaping the communities they oversee. At the heart of every HOA is its board of directors, a group of individuals entrusted with the responsibility of making decisions that affect the entire community. However, being an HOA board member is not merely a title; it comes with a set of duties, responsibilities, and ethical considerations that require careful attention and dedication. Read the article…………………………….
Accusing Neighbor of Racism Is Not of Public Interest (CA)
Div. Eight of this district’s Court of Appeal held Friday that repeated accusations by owners of a condominium in a six-unit complex of racism and malfeasance on the part of another owner in emails to the homeowners association, an insurance company, neighbors and others, implicates too small and specific of an audience to qualify as a matter of public interest. Read the article…………………………….
California HOA Condos and Homes: Unveiling the Top 10 Pitfalls of Faulty Gutter & Fascia Installations
A common oversight with potentially significant financial impacts is the quality and installation of gutters and fascia. At Naumann Law Firm, we’ve seen firsthand how these defects can lead to extensive property damage and financial strain. In our most recent blog, we delve in a bit closer the top 10 construction defects resulting from poorly installed gutters and fascia in California HOA condos and homes. Read the article…………………………….
Do E-mail Exchanges Constitute A Meeting Of The Board? (CA)
In LNSU#1, LLC v. Alta Del Mar Coastal Collection Community Association,94 Cal. App. 5th 1050, 312 Cal. Rptr. 3d 707 (2023), two homeowners in a common interest development argued that their homeowners’ association violated state law governing open meetings when certain directors discussed items of association business by e-mails without giving all association members notice and opportunity to participate in the discussions and without preparing related minutes. Read the article…………………………….
Virtual Board and Member Meetings (CA)
Good news for directors and managers who hold virtual meetings but hate the hassles that come with hybrid meetings: you can legally hold solely virtual meetings! Read on for details. Associations have been using virtual video communications platforms like Zoom, GoTo Meetings, and Microsoft Teams for the last few years to hold board and member meetings. This was borne out of necessity as a result of the stay away orders of the COVID-19 pandemic. Boards continued to hold virtual meetings ...
Harnessing Sustainability: HOA Community Composting and Rainwater Harvesting Programs (CA)
In the global pursuit of sustainability, homeowners associations (HOAs) are taking the lead by adopting innovative practices to make their communities greener. Two key initiatives, community composting, and rainwater harvesting programs, are gaining traction worldwide. These eco-friendly practices not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also foster a sense of community and shared responsibility among residents. Let’s explore the global significance of these programs and how they are revolutionizing HOAs. Read the article…………………………….

California Article Archives

California Laws

Common Interest Development Act (Davis-Stirling)

Other Laws

Health & Saf. Code §122318. Health Care Practitioner Criteria for Emotional Support Dog Documentation

Health & Saf. Code §122319.5. Emotional Support Animal/Dog & Service Dog Definitions

Govt. Code §12956.3. County Recorder Restrictive Covenant Program

California Condo & HOA Resources

Living in a California Common Interest Development

CACM Home Page – California Association of Community Managers

ECHO Homepage – Educational Community for Homeowners

Community Associations Institute

Bay Area and Central California Chapter The Bay Area, San Francisco, Stockton, and Central California
California North Chapter Sacramento and Northern California
Channel Islands Chapter San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern County and vicinity
Coachella Valley Chapter Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley
Greater Los Angeles Chapter Los Angeles and vicinity
Greater Inland Empire Chapter San Bernardino and Riverside Counties
Orange County Chapter Orange County
San Diego Chapter San Diego and vicinity

Center for California Homeowner Association Law

Summary of the homeowners associations complaints that fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Attorney General

Reserve Study Guidelines for Homeowner Associations (CA Dept of Real Estate)

California Association of Homeowners Associations

Condo Management Online: The Premier Resource for Community Associations

The Condominium Bluebook Home Page

California Homeowner Association HOA and Condo Regulations Summary Guide for 2020