Berkeley residents could start selling their accessory dwelling units as condominiums within the next year, as the City Council becomes one of the first in California to embrace such a change.  Assembly Bill 1033, a law authored by Assembly Member Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, took effect at the beginning of this year and allows cities to let residents sell ADUs as condos separate from their primary home.   Read the article…………………………….

There is finger-pointing in a North Natomas neighborhood about who is responsible for making mailboxes safer after years of mail thefts.  The residents of Rockmont Circle are gathering signatures for a petition demanding the HOA replace older cluster boxes with sturdier ones.  Kelly Obrecht said since she works at home, she’s turned into the neighborhood watch over mailboxes.   Read the article…………………………….

Kelly,  If the board decides to change any rules shouldn’t those rule changes be placed on the open general session board meeting agenda for discussion and vote of the board members before being sent out for the 28-day comment period? Is it a violation to make this decision in executive session, without first putting it on the open general session agenda?    Read the Q&A………………………………..

Homeowners in the Eucalyptus Hill Improvement Association (EHIA) have brought in a herd of goats to begin reducing the fire dangers in a canyon that could be explosive in a wildland fire.  The EHIA said its 700 members want to get ahead of the wildfire dangers this year as they have before, in this very rugged area. If humans were in there, they would have to contend with poison oak and steep hills to remove the weeds and brush.    Read the article…………………………….

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…………………………….

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…………………………….

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 and huge levels of HOA delinquency.   Read the article…………………………….

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…………………………….

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………………………………..

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…………………………….

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………………………………..

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…………………………….

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 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…………………………….

Most people never hear about the California FAIR Plan until their homeowner’s insurance gets canceled.  “It’s not a normal home insurance policy,” said Amy Bach, executive director of the nonprofit United Policyholders. “It only covers fire, lightning, internal explosion. It doesn’t cover water damage, leaks, your toilet overflows.”    Read the article…………………………….

Mail theft has been an ongoing issue in her Arden Arcade condominium community, Woodside Homeowners Association, over the past few years, she said.  Braden filed a report with the inspection service to help her recover her stolen credit card in February.  “You’ll receive an email response in 1-3 days,” the confirmation said.  She never heard from them.   Read the article…………………………….

The owner of a double-tower housing complex in downtown San Jose has won a court order to temporarily halt a foreclosure proceeding to seize control of several condos in the high-rises.  China-based Z&L Properties faces a foreclosure attempt due to delinquencies that have arisen from unpaid dues to the homeowners association for unsold condos in the western tower, county real estate records show.    Read the article…………………………….

Hello Kelly, I came across an article in which you answered a question about election by acclamation. There is a lot of information on the internet about acclamation, but one item does not seem to be answered. Perhaps you can assist. Once a board determines/votes to elect candidates by acclamation at an open board meeting, when do the candidates assume their new role?   Read the Q&A………………………………..

The sign in front of the Oceana condominium complex perfectly explains the problem: Unstable cliffs. Danger. Stay back. But what does that mean for owners of the 13 units? Every time water washes up on the rocks at the base of the cliff, the owners are hit with a wave of concern.  “The fear is that our building is going to fall into the ocean,” said condo owner Russ Rasmussen.    Read the article…………………………….

Residents didn’t grasp the scale of the alleged problems until last year — when a Los Angeles County grand jury handed down a 119-count indictment accusing both Spahis, now-former Ocean Towers Housing Corp. President Joseph Orlando and his wife, Dorothy, of grand theft, identity theft and money laundering.   Read the article…………………………….

San Diego is known for its million-dollar views of the Pacific Ocean, and while it’s pretty to look, at some Ocean Beach residents say they’re worried coastal erosion could seriously impact their condo complex.  “When I moved in, the bluff was eroding right in front of our complex,” said Russ Rasmussen, a resident of Oceanus in OB.   Read the article…………………………….

After months of scary incidents and vandalism, some residents of a Long Beach condo complex say they’re tired of living in fear of a neighbor.  Multiple people who live in the Gladys Avenue condo complex spoke with KTLA 5’s Sara Welch, saying that a man has threatened them and broken several windows of the homes in the building. Neighbors are afraid of what he will do next.    Read the article…………………………….

Filling open HOA board seats is a vexing and discouraging problem for some associations.  There may be reasons why neighbors are not interested in serving.  Could any of the below characteristics describe your association?  Do directors spend many hours each week on HOA business, inspecting the property, observing vendors, and otherwise dealing with the HOA’s daily matters?     Read the article…………………………….

Days after a massive fire ripped through a Lomita condominium building, dozens of displaced residents are looking for a new place to call home.  Thankfully, their neighbors have quickly stepped in to help.   Read the article…………………………….

The building that houses the Gregangelo Museum is, obviously, far more than a residence. But the homes that surround it are filled with people who didn’t sign up for this. Many of them are members of the local homeowners association, the Balboa Terrace Homes Association. These members are elected, in part, to safeguard Balboa Terrace’s upscale character—the median sale price of a home in the neighborhood is $1.7 million—and defend their turf against anyone who threatens it.    Read the article…………………………….

Authorities said it was a kitchen fire in one of the units that ignited much of the building in the 2100 block of Palos Verdes Drive North, the heat so intense that a portion of the condo building’s second floor collapsed.  “It’s horrible, like what happened? How is it from here to the very end? It torched the whole thing,” neighbor Rose Pskus told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “It’s just crazy.”    Read the article…………………………….

Firefighters were dispatched to battle the fire, located at the Vista Verde Condominium complex in the 2000 bock of Palos Verdes Drive, at around 6:40 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. In all, they say there are around 150 firefighters engaged with the blaze.   Read the article…………………………….

A new fence, installed by a nonprofit organization, was installed in San Franciscos Tenderloin on Wednesday. Its purpose is to deter open drug dealing that has overwhelmed the area in recent years, even by Tenderloin standards. Some neighbors say the fence at McAllister and Leavenworth streets is a step in the right direction. The nonprofit says they received a permit to install the fence, but city officials are not commenting.   Read the article…………………………….

Last October, the city of Oakland announced it would soon be installing 300 automated license plate readers—cameras that monitor public streets and instantly scan vehicle license plates, running them against “hot lists” for stolen cars or vehicles associated with crimes.  But the rollout of Oakland’s big new vehicle surveillance system has gotten bogged down as officials from the city and California Highway Patrol try to figure out how to pay for and operate the cameras.  Meanwhile, private communities in Oakland are speeding ahead with plans to install similar—albeit smaller—surveillance systems to watch public roads. At least one homeowner group already has cameras up and running and is sharing data with law enforcement agencies.     Read the article…………………………….

California residents have seen several insurers end homeowner insurance policies as the state grapples with wildfires and natural disasters, but a new proposal seeks to solve the insurance crisis once and for all.  In March, Ricardo Lara, California’s insurance commissioner, unveiled his new plan to let insurance companies use specific models around future catastrophes to implement higher rates on homeowners.     Read the article…………………………….

State Farm General Insurance Company has announced that it will non-renew approximately 30,000 California homeowners, rental dwelling, and other property insurance policies.  If you recall, last May, the insurer halted new homeowners policies being issued in the state, citing exposure related issues and a challenging reinsurance market environment.   Read the article…………………………….  

Are you wondering about the balconies in your community? Well if you missed the presentation by ADAMS | STIRLING PLC regarding HOA balcony repairs and updates, here’s a follow-up Q&A by the Davis-Stirling.com Newsletter that may help.     Read the Q&A………………………………..

Dear Kelly,  Is it legal for the board of a community to host a meeting without including representation from the HOA’s management?    Read the Q&A………………………………..

In the summer of 2019, the Casa Mira Homeowners Association sought to armor a stretch of coastline near a condominium complex, apartment building, sewage line and California Coastal Trail segment but were only authorized by the Coastal Commission to build 50 feet of seawall to protect the apartments.  The association filed a lawsuit against the Coastal Commission, arguing that homeowners had a right to protect their property under the 1976 California Coastal Act, which allows for the protection of “existing structures.”    Read the Q&A………………………………..

She also blames neighbors for causing issues. At least three neighbors have filed restraining orders against Golden over the years, accusing her of harassment.  Also in the courtroom Tuesday, an attorney for the bank that Golden has a mortgage with, as well as an attorney for the homeowner’s association where she lives.     Read the article…………………………….

The Great Rio del Mar Walkway Standoff has made national news.  The battle pits 27 property owners against the power of the state Coastal Commission, a headline-churning conflict that either shows the defiant spirit of the citizenry against a cumbersome state bureaucracy, or is yet another example of how wealthy people believe they can make their own rules.     Read the article…………………………….

Q: My question is whether it is legal to raise one’s HOA fees without a prior notification of proposed increase. I am aware that the board has the authority to raise fees, but I’d like to know if it is legal to raise the without prior notification.   Read the Q&A………………………………..

After the California Coastal Commission slapped a Rio Del Mar homeowners association with a fine nearing $5 million in December for turning a public walkway along Seacliff State Beach into private patios, the homeowners association decided to take it a step further.   Read the article…………………………….

Hello, dear readers, and welcome to the Real Estate Whisperer, where I tackle the ins and outs of 92101 living with a pinch of humor and a dash of reality. Today’s hot topic? The ever-dreaded HOA assessment increases. Yes, I can almost hear the collective groans from here. But before we hoist the pitchforks and light the torches, let’s dive a little deeper into what’s really going on behind those notices that make our wallets tremble.   Read the article…………………………….

Canyon Lake Property Owners Association (CLPOA) employee Harmony McNaughton received the prestigious 2024 California Association of Community Managers (CACM) Innovator Vision Award on Thursday, February 27, during the CACM Law Seminar & Expo at the Disneyland Hotel and Convention Center.  Read the article…………………………….

In Colyear v. Rolling Hills Community Assn. of Rancho Palos Verdes, Case No. B308382 (2d Dist., Div. 4 Mar. 1, 2024) (partially published; fee discussion not published), plaintiff homeowner won a declaratory relief action based on a dispute over tree-trimming covenants in certain recorded Declarations, with the lower court awarding plaintiff over $1.328 million in attorney’s fees  Read the article…………………………….

A Corona woman was sentenced Friday to four years and nine months in federal prison for embezzling nearly $1 million from her employer.  Jenev Boyd, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes, who also ordered her to pay $780,810 in restitution.  Boyd was a long-time employee and director of accounting for Corona-based Encore Property Management, which provides property management services to its homeowner association clients — primarily in the Inland Empire.   Read the article…………………………….

Thousands of California homeowners will be out of luck as American National Group stops offering the state coverage.  American National Group, which was purchased by Brookfield Asset Management Reinsurance Partners for $5.1 billion around two years ago, is yet another insurance agency to leave the state as home repair prices surge amid wildfires and heightened HOA costs.     Read the article…………………………….

Dear Kelly, I have been a member of a small condo for over two years. There are no board members and the HOA doesn’t meet either in person or virtually. All communication is via email for voting. One owner acts as an accountant, quasi-treasurer, just paying bills and preparing quarterly statements. People have given her more authority than sometimes I think is warranted. If there are no directors, what does that mean when it comes to the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Developments Act requirements?   Read the Q&A………………………………..

The overarching story they all tell is that over the course of the last year-plus, leadership changes in the HOA – which has a board of four residents and one seat for a representative from a developer – combined with a new company managing the HOA, …… have turned what was once a peaceful, neighborly community into what they view as a de facto authoritarian state with few checks on its power.     Read the article…………………………….

Dear Mr. Richardson: Can you address AB1572 which will have a huge effect financially on our HOA?  Read the Q&A………………………………..

What’s in a fence? For a Rio Del Mar homeowners association, state regulators and local residents, a brand-new barrier blocking the public from a beachside walkway represents the latest turn in a winding, yearslong battle around public access and private property rights.   Read the article…………………………….

As part of a pilot program approved last June by the Newport Beach City Council, private security cameras are now up and running in the public right-of-way at the entrances to the Spyglass Hill neighborhood.  Eight cameras were deployed on Monday and Tuesday, with two at each of the four main thoroughfares to Spy Glass Hill Road. The cameras went online and were fully tested Wednesday, according to Spyglass Hill Community Assn. President Bruce Horn.   Read the article…………………………….

Q: I am hoping you could help me with my HOA that’s trying to remove my daughter’s support dog because of its weight and breed. They are threatening to come and have her removed because she got too big. Can they do this? It would devastate my daughter if they took her dog  Read the Q&A………………………………..

A fire damaged a condo in Venice Wednesday, but firefighters were able to stop it from spreading to nearby units.   Read the article…………………………….