Congress in 2021 enacted the Corporate Transparency Act, a law designed to help law enforcement and intelligence agencies catch money launderers and international criminals. All registered corporations outside of 23 exempt categories must file with the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and identify their “beneficial owners.” Read the Q&A………………………………..
Canyon Lake POA restricts service provider access on Halloween (CA)
In an effort to ensure the safety and enjoyment of its residents during Halloween festivities, the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association has announced that service providers will not be permitted gate access into the community on October 31. Read the article…………………………….
One million gallons a day pumped into ocean to stabilize Rancho Palos Verdes slide neighborhoods (CA)
The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council unanimously approved a $5 million emergency financial relief program, at its Tuesday, October 1 meeting, to assist residents impacted by the Portuguese Bend landslide and the resulting utility shutoffs. The funds, provided through Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office, will offer up to $10,000 per affected homeowner for […]
Rancho Palos Verdes residents affected by land movement to receive emergency funds (CA)
The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council approved $2.8 million in landslide relief funds to some 280 homeowners affected, if not devastated. by recent land movement and utility shutoffs. The affected area on the Palos Verdes Peninsula has been part of a decades-long, slow-moving landslide. Last year’s spring rains greatly accelerated land movement, leaving homes and […]
La Habra Sinkhole Follow-Up (CA)
In 2019, heavy rainstorms caused a 100-foot-long sinkhole to form between two rows of homes in a complex, disrupting residents’ lives and posing a safety risk. Subsequent storms expanded the sinkhole, increasing the threat to nearby homes and adding to the inconvenience and expense for homeowners. Read the article…………………………….
Agoura Hills Lake Lindero HOA loses $15.6-million judgment (CA)
A Van Nuys Superior Court judge ordered the Lake Lindero Homeowners Association in Agoura Hills to pay a $15.6-million judgment to the club’s former management company, Golf Projects Lindero, for the 2018 wrongful termination of GPL’s contract with the HOA. Read the article…………………………….
Senate Bill 900 is a bonanza for insurance companies and a blow to housing affordability (CA)
Legislation now on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk proposes a transfer of vast wealth from California homeowners to California utility companies. Senate Bill 900 would force homeowners to maintain and repair the pipelines delivering gas, water, and electricity to the millions of townhomes, condos, co-ops, and planned developments in the state. Read the article…………………………….
Castlewood at crossroads: Association mulls options after county hits homeowners with 172% water rate hike (CA)
The bad news from the Castlewood Property Owners Association board on Sept. 17 was blunt — there’s nothing that can be done about the 2024-25 property tax bill that will be hitting mailboxes soon. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors already approved it, with local supervisors Nate Miley and David Haubert supporting it with the […]
Fire at an Arden-Arcade condo complex leaves eight occupants displaced (CA)
Sacramento Metropolitan fire crews extinguished a fire that burned multiple condos in a neighborhood in Arden-Arcade on Saturday. Three condos on Oak Terrace Court sustained extensive fire damage. Metro Fire said no injuries were sustained as all occupants were able to safely get out of the condos before firefighters arrived. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront: What is board quorum and is board immunity unlimited? (CA)
Dear Kelly, My HOA bylaws authorize a board of seven directors, but only three members attended a recent board meeting because there were four vacancies. At one meeting, only two directors attended, and approved significant actions. The board contended that since it had only three members, two of three fulfilled its quorum- “majority”. Read the […]
Insurance companies prohibited from dropping customers in SoCal fire zones for 1 year
For years, Southern Californians have complained about being dropped by their insurance companies, for seemingly no other reason than because they live in areas prone to wildfires. But it’s something that around 750,000 people who live in the areas affected by the recent Airport, Bridge and Line fires won’t have to worry about for another […]
‘Don’t leave us hanging’: Much needed pothole repair may finally get attention (CA)
Determining who the road belongs to and who is responsible to maintain it has turned out to be complicated; the City will continue to look into the surveyor’s records to determine why this pothole is located in a ‘no man’s land.’ “Our City Surveyor has done some prior research and determined that it appeared to […]
HOA Homefront: Are we properly insured? (CA)
Q: What is the correct way to look up condo or PUD while trying to get an insurance policy? We looked at the CC&Rs and the HOA’s insurance summary mentions PUD. Also, my mother’s condominium just updated their CCR’s and is releasing responsibility of 16 items, which I believe makes her property a PUD now. […]
California Association of Community Managers (CACM) Launches The HOA Life Podcast
The California Association of Community Managers (CACM) is excited to announce the launch of their podcast “CACM Chat: The HOA Life.” The first episode was released today and is now available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The weekly podcast is geared toward anyone interested or involved in community associations, also known as HOAs. California is […]
May an HOA trim trees on a parcel within the HOA when its CC&Rs do not include a tree-cutting provision while other parcels do have a provision? (CA)
Facts: A homeowners’ association (HOA) wants to trim trees on a parcel within the HOA to protect the view of other parcels. The covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) on the parcel do not contain a tree-trimming provision for protecting the scenic views of other parcels in the HOA. Another parcel in the HOA with a […]
Political sign thefts under investigation; Sun City neighbors call for accountability (CA)
Neighbors in Sun City Palm Desert are telling News Channel 3 an investigation is underway after they say a number of political sign were stolen. Neighbors are now calling for accountability after the string of alleged thefts left several dozen homeowners without their Harris-Walz signage. Read the article…………………………….
Governor Newsom Declares State Of Emergency In Rancho Palos Verdes (CA)
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Rancho Palos Verdes on Tuesday due to the impacts of accelerated land movement on the provision of basic utility services. Over Labor Day weekend, residents in the Portuguese Bend neighborhood had their electricity cut indefinitely and were evacuated from their homes. SoCalGas shut off gas […]
SoCal Edison turning off power to an additional block of homes in Rancho Palos Verdes (CA)
SoCal Edison has announced plans to cut off power at more homes in Rancho Palos Verdes this week, just hours after the utility company indefinitely ended their service for 140 homes on Sunday. Company officials say that the decision again comes for “safety reasons,” and will go into effect at 7 p.m. on Monday for […]
Californians will soon say goodbye to wood fences, plants near fire-prone homes
California is chipping away at developing new statewide rules to remove plants, mulch and other flammable materials within 5 feet of buildings and structures in fire-prone areas, the Board of Forestry confirmed this month. This proposed set of guidelines would also forbid that ubiquitous backyard feature — a wooden privacy fence. This rule lumps existing […]
Power to be shut off in Rancho Palos Verdes neighborhood amid land movement worries (CA)
Southern California Edison will cut off power Sunday at noon to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend Community Association neighborhood of Rancho Palos Verdes, weeks after gas service was shut down in the area amid enduring land-movement worries. In July, Southern California Gas Company abruptly shut off service to 135 homes in the area. Read […]
HOA Homefront: Can we use acclamation, voting boxes and board-signed envelopes? (CA)
Q: How many consecutive elections by acclamation? Our HOA board with management approval held a 3rd consecutive acclimation year. What does Civil Code allow? When must an election be held even though open seats same as those applying? Thank you for your most helpful informative newsletters. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Allstate increases California home insurance rates by 34 percent
Homeowners in California insured by Allstate are facing a rate increase. Allstate was recently approved for an insurance rate hike by the California Department of Insurance, the insurance company said in a statement to KRON4. The rate hike is set to be an average of 34.1% for more than 350,000 homeowners across California. Allstate is […]
Residents evacuated as fire burns condominium building in Nipomo’s Blacklake community (CA)
Cal Fire responded to a residential structure fire at a condominium building in Nipomo on Thursday morning. According to emergency services app PulsePoint, at around 10:48 a.m., Cal Fire received reports of a multi-story structure fire threatening at least four units in the 1400 block of Golf Course Lane in the Blacklake community. Read the […]
17,000 Liberty Mutual customers in CA to lose fire insurance policy: Here’s what you need to know
It’s another blow to homeowners across the state. Liberty Mutual fire insurance company is the latest company ending fire insurance in California. About 17,000 California policy holders will not have their “dwelling fire insurance” renewed. Those changes started last fall and will run thru November. Read the article…………………………….
San Diego Country Estates homeowners are not ‘customers’ (CA)
The San Diego Country Estates HOA board recently voted to eliminate quarterly guest passes and 10% food discounts. While distressing, it is not unexpected. This board doesn’t seem to understand the nature of our HOA. As homeowners in the Estates, we OWN all the facilities. Some have mistakenly called them “businesses.” They are not. They […]
Rancho Palos Verdes faces ‘unprecedented new scenario’ over landslide danger (CA)
The forces behind the relentless land movement plaguing Rancho Palos Verdes appear to be more complicated, and possibly more widespread, than originally thought — forcing the city to once again rethink how it can limit some the mounting damage. Officials confirmed a very deep and active landslide plane — previously considered dormant — during exploratory […]
Palos Verdes Residents Sue City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, L.A. County and Others Alleging Inverse Condemnation, Negligence, Dangerous Condition and More (CA)
Attorneys from ACTS LAW filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging inverse condemnation, negligence and other failures from utilities, contractors and several municipalities led to the landslides that have continually plagued residents over the last two years. Several residents in Palos Verdes who are directly impacted by the well-publicized landslides filed the lawsuit […]
HOA Homefront: How do we face the accuser in disciplinary hearings? (CA)
Q: We have a small HOA. Currently, we are conducting both membership and board meetings in person or by Zoom. There is one owner that generally attends all meetings and is allowed to discuss items on the agenda. That owner also refuses to pay late fees on their monthly HOA fees, so technically they are […]
Glen Cove celebrating its Firewise USA designation (CA)
“Glen Cove residents teamed up with Solano Resource Conservation District and staff from Wildland Res Mgt. to conduct a comprehensive survey of all 2,443 buildings in the community. Those results – covering features like construction materials, vegetation clearance around structures, and open space features – were then incorporated into a Community Action Plan outlining the […]
ADUs as Condos: What Does it Mean for Homeownership? (CA)
A California law may soon make homeownership more attainable for some Americans. AB-1033 permits California property owners to build and sell Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as separate entities, much like condos, independent of the main house. This law offers homeowners more flexibility in developing their properties and creates much-needed housing in urban areas. San Jose […]
Person hospitalized, dog killed in Antioch condominium fire (CA)
Firefighters worked to contain a fire on Wednesday at a condominium in Antioch, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said. All residents of the building were evacuated. One person was taken to the hospital, according to Con Fire. Their condition is unknown at this time. Firefighters were able to rescue one dog, but another […]
Huge sinkhole in middle of O.C. condo complex to be permanently repaired (CA)
It was in January 2019 when residents of the Coyote Village condominiums in La Habra first had to be evacuated after ground their complex occupied opened up following torrential rains, creating a 120-by-40-foot hole. One resident who had lived at the property for 20 years told the L.A. Times it felt like a small earthquake […]
Lodi homeowner complies with HOA, removes 2 of 3 Trump 2024 signs posted (CA)
There is a banner debate in Lodi with the Sunwest Homeowners Association responding to CBS13 after it initially reported how it was requiring a resident to remove his Donald Trump 2024 signs and banners. Read the article…………………………….
12 arrested in Santa Clara mail theft investigation (CA)
What started as a mail theft investigation at a condominium complex in Santa Clara has resulted in 12 arrests. Santa Clara police say their investigation led them to bust a major fraud and theft ring. On August 5, a person using a postal service key was captured on security video opening all 130 mailboxes at […]
Lodi homeowner keeping Trump 2024 signs posted on porch despite HOA pushback (CA)
There is a debate over banners posted on one Lodi resident’s house after their homeowner’s association sent a letter that said he had to remove the signs he had posted out in front that support Donald Trump. Read the article…………………………….
Millennium Tower owners could face $10k fine for open windows (CA)
Owners of the troubled Millennium Tower could soon face hefty fines — simply for leaving their windows open at the wrong time. The tower, notorious for its leaning and sinking, has been dealing with separate window problems dating back to before February 2020. That’s when an open window broke free in high winds and plunged […]
More default notices jolt troubled San Jose residential highrise (CA)
New defaults for delinquent homeowners association dues have engulfed a troubled downtown San Jose housing tower that faces multiple legal entanglements. Litigation and real estate woes have engulfed the western high-rise of a two-tower residential complex at 188 West St. James Street — an eye-catching addition to the San Jose skyline that commands a prime […]
Urban condo owners are “counting pennies” as home insurance soars (CA)
The wildfire risk in Diann Dumas’ neighborhood is very low. And yet it’s making her bills more and more difficult to pay. She lives in Village Green, a park-like condo complex in the middle of the busy, concrete neighborhoods of South Los Angeles. The hundreds of 1940s townhomes and bungalows encircle a manicured green space. […]
5 years later, massive sinkhole at La Habra condo complex is getting repaired (CA)
A massive sinkhole at a La Habra condominium complex will soon be no more, local leaders declared Thursday, Aug. 15, by lifting the first dirt into the wide trench, signaling the start of construction that will repair the collapse from five years ago. A storm channel running underneath a grassy area between two rows of […]
HOA Homefront: Where can I put my EV charger? (CA)
With electric vehicles increasing in popularity, many HOA members wonder where they’ll charge their vehicles. California at the end of 2023 had 1,178,948 electric passenger vehicles registered, per the US Department of Energy. In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered that no fossil fuel vehicles shall be sold in the state starting in 2035. In 2017, […]
Thief Raids Santa Clara Condo Complex’s Mail Room (CA)
Police are still searching for a ring of thieves who stole a master key to plunder mailboxes at a Santa Clara condo complex. Around 3:30 a.m. Aug. 5, video footage shows a masked thief entering the mailroom at Boulevard Condominium complex in Santa Clara, near El Camino Real and Scott Boulevard. Armed with a postal […]
Condo prices at beleaguered Millennium Tower drop to as low as $649,000 (CA)
One of San Francisco’s most infamous pieces of real estate is suddenly much, much cheaper. At the beleaguered Millennium Tower, which has made headlines across the country ever since the public found out it was sinking in 2016, a condominium was recently listed for $649,000 — a precipitous 41% drop from its $1.1 million sale […]
Canyon Lake POA halts gas, propane sales amid insurance challenges (CA)
Due to the challenges in the California insurance market, the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association (POA) has halted gas and propane sales at Happy Camp. As of midnight tonight, all current insurance policies held by the POA will expire, and the POA is facing significant rate increases due to the impact of California wildfires and […]
Outraged San Francisco condo residents are being kept awake at night by parking lot full of driverless cars that constantly beep at each other (CA)
Furious San Francisco neighbors say they are losing sleep over a parking lot full of driverless cars that continually honk at each other. California residents near 2nd Street and Harrison Street in the South of Market neighborhood have recorded Waymo vehicles honking in a nearby parking lot throughout all hours of the day. Read the […]
More default notices jolt troubled San Jose residential highrise (CA)
New defaults for delinquent homeowners association dues have engulfed a troubled downtown San Jose housing tower that faces multiple legal entanglements. Litigation and real estate woes have engulfed the western high-rise of a two-tower residential complex at 188 West St. James Street — an eye-catching addition to the San Jose skyline that commands a prime […]
Forest Ranch community finds way to support each other after Park Fire (CA)
Dozens of people gathered in Forest Ranch Thursday evening for the annual ice cream social, but many are dealing with the aftermath of the Park fire. “Our goal again is to help keep this community strong,” the president of the Forest Ranch Community Association, Marlene Fune, said. Read the article…………………………….
An Injustice to Condo Owners (CA)
Back when Nick Welsh wrote a column urging downtown businesses to buy in to the proposed Santa Barbara Community Benefit Improvement District (CBID), he clearly did not give much thought to its implications for the homeowners in the area. As noncommercial property owners, we have little or nothing to gain from the “services” that are […]
Thief hits all 130 mailboxes at Santa Clara complex (CA)
Thieves have been using stolen master keys from the U.S. Postal Service to steal mail from apartment complexes, a crime that is becoming alarmingly common. A recent incident at the Boulevard Condominium complex in Santa Clara, near El Camino Real and Scott Boulevard, where all 130 mailboxes were burglarized. Read the article…………………………….
Fire Damages Woodland Hills Condominium Building (CA)
More than 50 firefighters responded around noon to the blaze at the two-story, four-unit building in the 22100 block of West Burbank Boulevard, where crews found fire burning within the walls, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Read the article…………………………….
Downtown Santa Barbara Condo Owner ‘Shocked’ to Be Included in Assessment District (CA)
Better luck next year. That’s what the City of Santa Barbara is telling about 25 condominium homeowners who were ensnared in the recent approval of the Community Benefit Improvement District. Marilynn Brewer has been trying to fight City Hall for the past few weeks over what she and her neighbors believe is an unfair inclusion […]