Tax dispute pauses restoration of four flooded dams in Midland and Gladwin counties (MI)

In a complaint filed in Midland County Circuit Court late last month, lawyers for the Heron Cove Association of property owners said the assessments are “grossly disproportionate” to any expected increase in the properties’ market value and amount to an unconstitutional taking of property without due process or just compensation.   Read the article…………………………….

Collier, Lee condo fraud: Owners of management company indicted on federal fraud charges (FL)

The owners of American Property Management Services, who allegedly stole millions from dozens of Southwest Florida community associations, have been indicted by a federal grand jury.  The 17-count indictment, filed in January, charges Orlando Miserando Ortiz and his wife Lina Munoz Posada with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and failure to file income […]

Homebuilders work to stop bill to give earlier control of HOAs to homeowners (ID)

A bill aiming to give residents a say in their homeowners associations once most of the development is finished isn’t moving forward, for now.  On Thursday, Rep. Jon Weber, R-Rexburg, brought HB 657 before the House Business Committee in the hopes of giving homeowners in developments with HOAs earlier control over the boards governing their […]

Regulation driving high cost of new condos in Hawai?i, according to UHERO report

Regulatory costs account for more than half (58%) of the price of a new condo in Hawai?i and are the major contributing factor to the highest housing costs in the country, according to a new report by the University of Hawai?i Economic Research Organization (UHERO) released on March 4.   Read the article…………………………….

Breaking News: Federal Court Ruled Corporate Transparency Act Unconstitutional – Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting on Hold

In a surprise decision Friday night, a federal district court ruled that the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) is unconstitutional, effectively placing the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting on hold. By way of background, the CTA was enacted on January 1, 2021 as part of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act as an attempt to prevent […]

Corona Woman Sentenced In Federal Embezzlement Case (CA)

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 […]

Condo insurance woes strike Hawaii

As Hawaii’s Governor wages war on Maui short term rental unit investors, there’s an insurance sting in the tail for condo owners and would-be buyers across the state as it wrestles with property insurance challenges.  Insurance costs for condo complexes have skyrocketed by anything from 100% to 1,000% since the devastating August wildfires,    Read the […]

Thousands of California Homeowners to Lose Their Insurance

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 […]

DeSantis says Citizens isn’t solvent. What would happen if it can’t pay out claims? (FL)

Florida homeowners shouldn’t rely on Citizens Property Insurance if a severe storm strikes the Sunshine State in the upcoming hurricane season, is the message relayed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on CNBC’s “Last Call,” which aired on Tuesday.  Echoing concerns serious enough to instigate an investigation by the Senate Budget Committee into whether Citizens could afford […]

NC House panel okays recommendations limiting power of HOAs

A state House panel Wednesday gave the final okay to recommendations they say would help curb abuses of power by community and homeowners’ associations in North Carolina.  “We can’t make as many changes probably as some would like to see happen, but we do have a few suggestions in the way of this committee report,” […]

Lake Monticello residents ready to take fight over water rates to Richmond (VA)

The water may be placid but the water rates are rising fast at Lake Monticello.  Aqua Virginia, a utilities company which provides water and waste management to 36 localities across Virginia, has proposed an overall rate increase of 29.4% for its customers residing in the Fluvanna County gated community surrounding the manmade lake.    Read the […]

HOA insurance premiums skyrocket across Colorado, driving up condo dues

To say Rosalie Hayes was stunned when she opened the letter describing a dues increase at her Arvada condo complex this year would be an understatement.  “When I opened this letter, it was just like you could have knocked me over with a feather,” she said. “It was a shock.”  Read the article…………………………….

A CT dam disagreement emerges as climate change impacts state. ‘It’s for our safety… our family’

The lake is remote, nestled in the woods in eastern Connecticut, with just an appliance store and an auto exhaust servicer nearby.  Ashford Lake’s 53 acres are surrounded by residences, members of the Ashford Lake Property Owners’ Association, who enjoy kayaking in the summer and ice fishing in the winter.    Read the article…………………………….

‘Heartbeat of this HOA:’ Ocoee woman helps make neighborhood a community (FL)

Here at News 6, we get a lot of emails about neighborhood homeowners associations.  Most are complaints that go to our investigative or consumer units.  But residents of one Ocoee neighborhood felt so strongly about someone on their board, they nominated her for the News 6 Getting Results award.    Read the article…………………………….

In New York, the Trump Brand Is Costing Some Condo Owners (NY)

When Donald J. Trump became president, condominiums in buildings emblazoned with his name began selling for less, according to an analysis.  In the world of real estate, Donald J. Trump’s name has long been synonymous with luxury.   Read the article…………………………….

HOA Homefront: Reader wants to know, ‘Is my dog allowed?’ (CA)

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………………………………..

Mother-daughter-boyfriend trio accused of defrauding West Kendall HOA; 2 arrested (FL)

Thirty-eight-year-old Yasnely Pedroso had once been fired from the Westwind Lakes Garden Homes Condominium Association, Inc. for destroying records, among other things, according to police.  Enter her mother, Idoris Pedroso. According to Miami-Dade police, when the 63-year-old became board president, she rehired her daughter as an assistant.    Read the article…………………………….

Inside the battle for the Hammocks HOA’s future leadership (FL)

Over a year after five people were charged with running a massive fraud at the Hammocks, the homeowners association is again embroiled in contention.  Court-appointed receiver David Gersten has been overseeing the HOA since the November 2022 arrests of four ex-board members and a fifth person.   Read the article…………………………….

Florida storm-proofing grant program may expand to condos

There is bipartisan support in the Florida House for a proposal giving condo associations money to harden their buildings against hurricanes.  The proposal (House Bill 1029) is a pilot program designed to expand the My Safe Florida Home Program. It would allow condo associations, like residential homeowners, to pursue matching grant dollars    Read the […]

Spanish Main Yacht Club installs $1M of potable water pipes (FL)

Chairman of the Water Committee Tom Freiwald said Spanish Main Yacht Club was a 55-plus community in both the age of its residents and potable water lines.  Due to repeated system failures, the Spanish Main Yacht Club had to replace its potable waterRead the article……………………………. lines, which were original to the condominium’s construction in 1966.