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 […]
Buckhead Condo Residents Riled Up Over Developer’s Plans (GA)
A group of residents living in a historic Buckhead condo complex are concerned about an apartment developer’s possible changes to the property after it bought nearly two-thirds of the units, but the company’s leader says it has no plans to demolish the buildings there. The condo complex, Huntington Arms, is a set of brick buildings […]
Fact Finders: What’s the legality of neighborhood security cameras? (MO)
Neighborhoods from Baltimore to Oklahoma City to Oakland are making news this year for installing security cameras that can read license plate numbers. And now we’re getting a question from a local viewer. Mary Ann wants to know: Is it legal for a neighborhood association to install speed limit signage with cameras that record vehicles […]
Bill Seeks to Clarify Rules Regarding Colorado Metro District and HOA Foreclosures
State law gives metro districts the power to levy fines, fees, and taxes to pay for various construction projects within their territory. However, there is no requirement for metro districts to have a process for residents to dispute the fines levied. Moreover, a metro district could foreclose on a resident’s property if they fail to […]
$50 million assessment at Mountain Green to hit condo owners in July (VT)
Mountain Green condo owners voted in favor of a $50 million assessment to bring the building into the 21st Century, but some longtime owners said their quarterly payments will be so high they can’t afford it and they will be forced out. An $18 million assessment was approved in 2022, and another $29 million was […]
Riviera Beach residents told not to touch debris washed up from Key Bridge collapse (MD)
Debris, including large pieces of wood, has washed up on the shores of a riverfront neighborhood in Anne Arundel County following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Members of the Riviera Beach Community Association say they are concerned and are looking for guidance. Read the article…………………………….
HOAs are blocking solar panels and native lawns. Here’s how to fight back.
More Americans than ever are running afoul of their HOAs for updating their homes in ways that benefit the environment, adding solar panels, native lawns, EV chargers, clotheslines or gardens. Once a rarity, 84 percent of newly built, single-family homes sold in 2022 were part of HOAs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Read the […]
Security firm paying $230K to settle wage-theft case at Chelsea condo (NY)
New York Attorney General Letitia James and city Comptroller Brad Lander on Monday announced a nearly $230,000 settlement with the managers of a Manhattan condo building and a private security firm for underpaying its workers. A joint city and state investigation found that Allied Universal Security Services had for years been underpaying its security guards […]
Court asked accelerate to unusual condo-vs-condo case in Key Biscayne (FL)
A Miami judge is being asked to put a quick end to a bizarre dispute in which two luxury Key Biscayne condominium associations are suing each other. The question? Who pays maintenance fees when an individual property owner falls behind on payments. A hearing in the year-long lawsuit has been set for April 23 before […]
Watershed ruling changes condo buyout landscape (FL)
Many condo terminations “just won’t work” following a recent appeals court ruling in Florida. The ones that we have reported on over the past year or so are all likely in some sort of limbo, or dead in the water, sources tell me. Condo buyouts, the precursor to developers terminating associations to eventually develop new […]
Massive fire rips through condo complex in Lomita (CA)
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…………………………….
Sisters sue a luxury townhome community’s HOA in effort to save a historic Black cemetery (GA)
The cemetery is at the center of a lawsuit brought by descendants of people buried there against the homeowners association that owns the property. The lawsuit alleges the luxury townhomes’ HOA has failed to maintain the property as required, allowing nature to envelop the site and render it almost unrecognizable. Read the article…………………………….
Who Was Robert and Why Do his Rules Rule?
As an attorney and professional parliamentarian, I’m sometimes asked, “Who was Robert and why do his rules rule?” It’s a timely question. Henry Martyn Robert, the original author of Robert’ Rule of Order, died 100 years ago on May 11, 1923. Since that time, versions of his parliamentary manual have come to dominate meetings. Read […]
More than 80 condo buildings due for milestone inspections in Volusia County (FL)
In Volusia, county officials are preparing to implement and review milestone inspections for 86 buildings following a new state law. Senate Bill 4–D was created in response to the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida in 2021. The bill established milestone inspections, which assess the structural integrity of aging condominiums. Milestone inspections are […]
Associations argue for tossing of PPP lawsuit (CO)
Lawyers for condominium associations based in Aspen, Snowmass Village and resort towns elsewhere in Colorado recently introduced court pleadings arguing for the dismissal of a civil-fraud lawsuit that alleges the organizations fraudulently obtained funds from the Paycheck Protection Program. Read the article…………………………….
Oakland HOAs are quietly installing surveillance cameras to watch public roads (CA)
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 […]
Miami Beach looks to hire a condo ombudsman (FL)
A call to find city funds to hire a condominium ombudsperson has been referred to Miami Beach’s Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee. “In order to properly implement the Condominium Assistance Charter Amendment,” the resolution that city commissioners referred says, “the city should create a position for a professional with relevant experience assisting condominium and/or co-op […]
Employee accused of stealing over $200,000 from HOA in Anderson Co. (SC)
An employee is accused of stealing over $200,000 from a homeowners association in Anderson County. According to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, detectives met with the Overlook Homeowners Association President after he noticed a large amount of money was missing from the association’s account. Read the article…………………………….
Former Seminole County HOA manager accused of stealing $437K from HOA
Tammi Morrison, a former President of the Ashford Park Homeowners Association, was arrested by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office after investigators say she stole $437,000 from the community association when her business managed the neighborhood. Read the article…………………………….
Longtime Carrollwood Village HOA president reflects on legacy to community
“The job of the president of the homeowner’s association is to lead the board and get a decision made on a topic or an issue or opportunity — the object is to get the discussion going and they make the decision. “All you can do is identify the opportunities and options, get to a consensus […]
Bills to reform Colorado’s construction defects law advance in Legislature
Two bills aimed at reforming Colorado’s construction defect law advanced through the Legislature this week, one to spur more condo development by lowering insurance costs and another to give homeowners more protection against shoddy construction. They both have to do with the state’s Construction Defect Action Reform Act, which sets up a process for homeowners […]
New Laws Protect Bird-Friendly Yards From Neighborhood Rules
Even as her yard blossomed with black-eyed Susans and milkweed, Melinda Soltys didn’t consider herself a gardener; she just wanted to see more wildlife. After learning how native vegetation improves habitat for the animals she hoped to attract, Soltys grew a haven for birds and butterflies in her front yard. “As soon as you start […]
National Puppy Day: Exploring Assistance Animal Laws in Community Associations
This Saturday, March 23 is National Puppy Day, where dog owners and lovers come together over their shared appreciation for our four-legged companions. National Puppy Day is meant to raise awareness of the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year and help prospective pet owners consider adoption. Community association residents should know […]
$15M settlement for man who fell through N.J. condo’s pool stairs
ABergen County man severely injured when he fell through a wooden stairway while working at a condominium swimming pool has agreed to settle his lawsuit for $15 million. James Visconti, 59, of Saddle Brook, was servicing the pool at Harmon Cove IV community pool in Secaucus on Sept. 6, 2018, when wooden steps collapsed beneath […]
Nebraska bill seeks to prohibit homeowners associations from banning political signs
Nebraska homeowners would be allowed to display political signs on their property during election season without restriction from their homeowners association, under a new bill in consideration in the Legislature. Read the article…………………………….
Oro Valley tests no streetlights along Rancho Vistoso Boulevard (AZ)
Monday, March 18, might live in lore as the night the lights went out along two sections of Rancho Vistoso Boulevard in Oro Valley. The Vistoso Community Association turned off the 226 streetlights it owns and operates along the major roadway. It wants residents to express whether they’re fine with being in the dark, or […]
Review or Audit the Books – always do one of these………
…..because if money disappears while you’re on the board, you might as well move, as your neighbors will blame you just as much as the crook. Over the last month or so, we’ve seen another boost in cases of fraud and embezzlements in HOA’s and condo’s. I imagine this occurs after the beginning of the […]
Study: Homeowners Associations Are Booming
About 75.5 million Americans reside in a community that’s governed by a homeowners association, representing more than 30% of the U.S. housing stock, according to the Foundation for Community Association Research. And that number is expected to spike, as the foundation expects more than 3,000 new HOAs to form in 2024 alone. Read the article…………………………….
NE Miami-Dade condo community deemed unsafe after failing 50-year recertification (FL)
Residents at a northeast Miami-Dade condo community are concerned after the county’s Unsafe Structures Unit declared the buildings “unsafe” for failing its 50-year recertification. Vanessa Ortiz, a single mother of two, says she is moving out of the Jade Winds community because the conditions are too much for her to handle. Read the article…………………………….
Scottsdale HOA says manager stole $1.6M (AZ)
Scottsdale House board members wish they had been more attentive a few years ago. After failing to do a background check on a twice-sued manager who ran the HOA for years, the board started discovering money was disappearing from funds targeted for repairs and upgrades. The deeper into the books they dug, board members found […]
Texas sues Colony Ridge development for fraudulent real estate practices
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 […]
HOA’s have different rules what it means for Police and streets (WA)
The city of Liberty Lake is known for its winding paths, street trees and homeowner’s associations. Recently, however, residents of some neighborhoods have been questioning the services they receive from the city, particularly police patrols and traffic enforcement. Many neighborhoods in Liberty Lake were built by Greenstone Corporation, which set up HOA’s for each neighborhood. […]
As Home Insurance Costs Soar, 6 Million Owners Decide to Skip Coverage Altogether
As costs rise nationally, more than six million homeowners are reportedly skipping home insurance, which adds up to a total of $1.6 trillion worth of unprotected houses. A new study by the Consumer Federation of America, an association of nonprofit consumer organizations, finds that 7.4% of homeowners don’t have insurance, leaving them exposed to major […]
Massanutten Property Owners Association asks SCC to delay water rate increase as condemnation case drags on (VA)
Rockingham County is currently in a court battle with the Massanutten Public Service Corporation in an attempt to take over Massanutten Mountain’s private water system. Last April, at the request of Massanutten residents, Rockingham County Supervisors voted to file for condemnation against MPSC due to its abnormally high water rates and other service-related issues. As […]
After post-Ida lawsuit spike, lawmakers seek big changes for home insurance claims (LA)
After Hurricanes Laura and Ida, thousands of Louisiana homeowners filed lawsuits against their insurance companies, alleging the insurers were lowballing and delaying their claims as they struggled to rebuild. The crop of lawsuits, many still winding through the state’s court system, has become central to the debate over how to stem Louisiana’s property insurance crisis. […]
Site’s been under attack for over a week now
I want to apologize if your visit to this site is blocked with resources overloaded. For whatever reason, the site has been under almost continuous attack for over a week. In the last 10 days, I’ve blocked over 4,000 IP addresses, from places all over the word, but mostly from Russia, China, India, Bulgaria and […]
Dealing with Difficult Owners in an Association
Living in a community can offer many benefits, such as shared amenities and a sense of community. However, associations come with their own set of challenges, particularly when dealing with difficult owners. Whether it’s disagreements over rules and regulations, or disruptive behavior, addressing these issues requires a delicate balance of assertiveness, diplomacy, and adherence to […]
A Mooresville couple tried to paint their home. They were hit with a $1,000 fine from their HOA (NC)
Living in a neighborhood run by a homeowners association has its advantages, like maintaining uniformity with the exterior colors of the homes. But after discovering some of their HOA’s “approved” colors didn’t even exist anymore, a Mooresville family found themselves asking, “Where’s the money?” The family picked a color they liked, only to be hit […]
State lawmakers want to study HOA insurance market (CO)
When a townhome complex in Louisville lost five buildings in the 2021 Marshall Fire, the homeowners board president expected the insurance would go up. But not this much. The Wildflower townhome community’s annual insurance premium went from $65,000 in June 2022 to $437,000 in June 2023, according to board president Mark Appelfeller. He said the […]
Sky-High Condo Association Insurance Rates Upend Lives, Rattle Industries
In a dramatic turn of events that’s sending shockwaves through homeowner communities, insurance rates for condo associations have surged drastically. Across the nation, residents and HOA’s are overwhelmed with increases ranging from 50% to over 500%, with states like Hawaii and Florida facing staggering hikes due to their vulnerability to hurricanes. Read the article…………………………….
Condo owners at 443 Greenwich have been suing developer for years (NY)
Bloomberg had the story this week, and I have since traced it through court records: Since 2021, the “board of managers” (is that what folks call a condo board?) of 443 Greenwich, aka the celebrity dorm between Desbrosses and Vestry, has been in court with its sponsor owners and architect over a laundry list of […]
Cosmopolitan residents battle over Pearl District condo tower’s $31 million repair bill (OR)
For Tom Garcia, life at the posh Cosmopolitan condo tower became untenable during a heat wave last August. The Pearl District building’s troubled HVAC system failed, again, meaning no air conditioning. The glass walls of his southwest-facing unit magnified the afternoon sun. Read the article…………………………….
Residents upset HOA so negligent, Section 8 won’t let tenants live there (GA)
A homeowner’s association, or HOA, is responsible for maintaining the property values of the community under its jurisdiction. When HOAs make news, it’s often about complaints with an overzealous board fining residents for what they believe are irrational things…… However, residents at Peyton Place said the issues are piling up right now. One resident […]
HOA, condo fees rising for some Minnesotans
If you live in a condo or townhome in Minnesota, you may notice your fees are going up. One insurance expert says this is a trend he’s been seeing for the last several months. Helen Mitchell recently found out it will be more expensive to live in the Coon Rapids townhome she’s called home for […]
Marysville homeowners remain stuck behind washed out road as search for solution continues (WA)
Steve Hall, who heads up the homeowners’ association, met with us Monday. He said seven homes and nearly two dozen people are impacted. At that time, Hall said beaver dams burst and clogged the culvert, causing the road to crumble. He said a fix is complex due to layers of land ownership in the area. […]
What homeowners, renters and neighbors are saying about Rio Del Mar HOA’s new coastal barrier (CA)
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…………………………….
New videos released as officials give update on Surfside condo collapse investigation
Engineers studying the June 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside are releasing portions of video that confirm the sequence of visible events, but still cannot say whether the failure that triggered the collapse – what they call the “initiating event” – occurred out of sight, including in the pool deck, […]
The FCC Wants to Ban HOAs & Apartments from Forcing People to Pay for Cable TV Internet
One of the last things saving cable TV right now are the millions of people forced to pay for cable TV and Internet through cable companies because they live in an apartment or condo that has a homeowners association (HOA). The FCC has proposed new rules that will make it illegal for HOAs and apartment […]
Family of alligator attack victim sue (HOA) for $7 million (FL)
Following a deadly alligator attack in July of 2022, the family of the 80-year-old victim – Rose Marie Wiegand – is taking legal action against the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club. Her family is now seeking $7 million in damages from the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club’s homeowner’s association, who they claim to […]