Bulkheads on the Padre Island canals failed during Tropical Storm Alberto in June which caused severe damage to several neighbors properties.The Padre Isles Property Owners Association (PIPOA) has been working on repairs to fix the bulkheads for a few months, and according to PIPOA Executive Director Rick McGinley, the work is about halfway done. Read the […]
2-Alarm Fire At Alexandria High-Rise Injures 5 (VA)
A fire at a condominium high-rise in Alexandria injured five people and went to two alarms Monday. The Alexandria Fire Department responded around 2:47 p.m. Monday to a 15-story condominium building at 6301 Stevenson Avenue. Two residents and three firefighters were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Read the article…………………………….
South Florida in midst of condo crisis as rising HOA fees lead to surge in listings: ‘Don’t know how I’m going to stay’
A growing condo crisis has gripped South Florida and a new state law requiring condominium boards to set aside reserves for repairs and maintenance is being blamed for a spike in the number of listings in the face of soaring HOA costs, according to a report. Read the article…………………………….
Elevator issues plague Merritt Island condo complex in wake of Hurricane Milton (FL)
Residents at an 11-story luxury condominium complex on Merritt Island could see full elevator service restored soon after Hurricane Milton disrupted service last week, the senior living complex reports. Read the article…………………………….
Carbon Monoxide Alarm Triggers Evacuation at Montclair Condo Building (NJ)
A 27-unit condominium building in Montclair was evacuated on October 10 after elevated gas levels were found in the hallways and stairs and dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the basement. The Montclair Fire Department reports that no residents were sickened. Read the article…………………………….
Carolwood condos might get historic resource status (CA)
West Hollywood’s Historic Preservation Commission is set to discuss at a public hearing tonight whether the Carolwood Condominiums at 1033 Carol Drive should be named a local cultural resource. The nomination for this designation was filed on June 18 by Architectural Resources Group, representing the Carolwood Homeowners Association. City Hall is recommending that the commission […]
HOA board members must disclose conflict of interest (NV)
Q: What an absolute breath of fresh air at the mere mention of fiduciary duty by a newly elected board member in your Oct. 6 Las Vegas Review-Journal column. At times, I have wondered if that idea, much less that legal requirement, of fiduciary duty had been tossed into the dustbin of history. I wish […]
Condo Director Term Limits Questioned (FL)
Q: Our condominium association hasn’t held elections for many years due to a lack of more applicants than available board seats. We are considering amending how we handle board terms and adding term limits at the next annual meeting. Should we implement staggered terms for continuity and fair rotation, or should board members be allowed […]
Pokin Around: Homeowners’ associations can no longer ban chickens; a coop quickly goes up (MO)
Because Jamey Murphy wanted his two daughters to experience caring for six chickens in their backyard, I’m writing today about the fact that homeowners’ associations across Missouri can no longer prohibit residents from having six or fewer chickens. As a result, having chickens in the backyard — in locations where there is a homeowners’ association […]
Polk County Needs Forms from HOAs in Gated Communities to Pick Up Hurricane Debris (FL)
Hurricane Milton debris collection will begin in Polk County on Monday, Oct. 14, and residents are encouraged to clean up storm damage and move debris to the curb for collection. However, it’s important to note that an extra step is required for Polk County residents who live on private roads or in gated communities. Polk […]
Several Departments Respond to Bright Condo Fire (IN)
Several departments responded to a fire at a multi-family condo in Bright early Saturday morning. The blaze was first reported around 3:50 a.m. Crews worked in high heat and heavy smoke conditions to keep the fire from spreading to other units at the undisclosed location. Read the article…………………………….
Williamstown Select Board Talks Policy on Plowing Private Ways (MA)
The Select Board last week discussed a policy to guide decisions on whether to accept private ways for snow plowing by town personnel. Actually, the town has an existing policy, and the Department of Public Works currently plows 10 private roads under that policy, which was enacted by the board in late 1980s. Read the […]
Annapolis beach community roiled by president’s theft charges: ‘He betrayed us all’ (MD)
Oyster Harbor, one of 62 “special tax districts” in the county, collects $400,000 a year from a surcharge tacked onto residents’ property bills. The additional revenue is supposed to go to clearly defined community projects, like snow removal or shoreline erosion. But the county relies on community associations, usually run by volunteers, to enforce how […]
Determination to rebuild follows Florida’s hurricanes with acceptance that storms will come again
No sooner had residents of the Bahia Vista Gulf condominium complex dug out and from Hurricane Helene than they were faced with the same daunting cleanup from new damage inflicted by Hurricane Milton. Read the article…………………………….
Fire guts condo but association balks at paying its share to repair damages. Now what? (FL)
Question: Our condominium unit caught fire earlier this year. It was electrical, with extensive smoke damage. We hired a contractor to do the restoration, and the contractor presented the HOA with an invoice to do the electrical, plumbing, and drywall, which is their responsibility. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Condo residents evacuate early Saturday (FL)
Venice residents who had already survived Hurricane Milton woke up to yet another evacuation order. Emergency crews working to repair damage from the hurricane found cracks inside a high-rise in the heart of Venice early Saturday. Most residents had evacuated the building before Milton’s landfall, but after the team’s discovery, anybody who stayed behind had […]
HOA Homefront: How the Corporate Transparency Act affects board members (CA)
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………………………………..
MFD crews respond to condo fire on Starr Grass Drive (WI)
Firefighters arrived on the scene are were able to put the fire out just after 4 p.m. The fire had spread to two places and was fought from inside and outside of the building. Read the article…………………………….
Lake Granbury Harbor residents rally against HOA’s de-brush mandate (TX)
According to a letter from the Lake Granbury Harbor HOA — sent to residents at the end of last month — the community was deemed a fire hazard by the Hood County Fire Marshal. The letter states the HOA was given a warning in lieu of a $35,000 fine, along with an order for residents […]
Old Walden Lake Golf Course Still Falling Apart (FL)
The Walden Lake development began with two privately-owned, thriving golf courses in the midst of 2200 houses. However, the golf courses’ 320 acres became run down, lost business, and eventually, the owner filed for bankruptcy. The course has been closed for 12 years. As the clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, and other structures continued to degrade, […]
Mission community threatened by dog attacks (TX)
“It’s not the dogs’ fault, the dogs are just animals, but at least the owner, even an apology would be fine as we are not looking for money or something, but just for him to know that the cat was part of our family,” Gerardo Martinez said. Gaitan says she has called her homeowner’s association […]
Crane collapses from top of St. Petersburg building during Hurricane Milton (FL)
A crane on top of a building (condo) in St. Petersburg collapsed during Hurricane Milton, the City of St. Petersburg said. Late Wednesday night, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue received reports of a crane collapse at the 400 Central building construction site. Read the article…………………………….
Lay of the Land: Has Washington State Resolved the Condo Liability Problem?
Major residential condominium construction has seen a decade-plus lull, due in part to an onerous warranty statute applicable only to condos. The Washington State Legislature significantly changed that statute in 2019, and the statute of limitations has now expired on the first condos subject to the new changes. Listen to the podcast…………………………..
Surveillance company skirted regulations as it expanded across north Fort Worth HOAs (TX)
A private surveillance company has skirted local regulations by installing dozens of cameras on public property without approval from the city of Fort Worth, an investigation by the Fort Worth Report has found. Flock Safety, a $4 billion technology behemoth known for its automatic license plate readers, maintains hundreds of surveillance cameras in the city, […]
Questions arise on who’s responsible for $75K wall damage in NW Harris Co. neighborhood by May storm (TX)
Almost five months after the May storm, an eight-foot-tall wall running alongside homes in a northwest Harris County neighborhood still hasn’t been repaired. The wall runs along Mauna Loa Lane and the southern border of homeowner Ron Hale’s property. The May 16 storm knocked down one of Hale’s trees, which, in turn, brought down a […]
Temporary housing to run out for hundreds of residents kept out of Club Valencia condos (CO)
It’s been nearly two years since residents of an Arapahoe County condominium complex were displaced by two fires within three months. Now, temporary housing is about to expire for hundreds of people who are still not allowed to return home. Despite all Linda Jones has been through, she said things could be a lot worse. […]
Gov. Green discusses Maui wildfire recovery progress, possible relief for condo insurance hikes (HI)
Gov. Josh Green stopped by Sunrise with an update on the Maui wildfire recovery progress and possible relief for condo insurance hikes. Video news report……………………..
Caughlin Ranch community divided over new HOA proposals on flags and holiday decor (NV)
The Caughlin Ranch Homeowners Association rewrote its rules and regulations to propose only allowing holiday decorations that are recognized federally or by the state of Nevada. It also proposed that only American or military flags be flown, unless other flags or decor are approved by the board. But now, after some residents’ push-back, the proposals […]
San Antonio HOAs have mixed rules on Halloween decorations (TX)
Spooky season has officially arrived. It’s the time of year when 10-foot skeletons, cauldrons, orange and white lights jack-o’-lanterns make their way onto front lawns. But with homeowners’ associations so often being a stick in the proverbial mud, can they douse the fiery flames of Halloween decorations across San Antonio? Read the article…………………………….
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…………………………….
Community Association Institute offers HOA information (NV)
Q: Ms. Holland, I recently was elected to my homeowners association board. I faithfully read your articles in the Las Vegas Review-Journal every Sunday and appreciate the information you provide to the community. Since I have become a board member, I have downloaded both the Nevada Revised Statutes and Nevada Administration Code rules on HOAs, […]
The Battle Over the Halloween Craze That Won’t Die
It was early January and “Hubert,” a 12-foot-tall skeleton decoration that had towered over his front yard since September, was jangling the nerves of neighbors. His homeowners’ association told him it needed to come down. “Please remove skeletion from view,” stated the misspelled instructions, arriving on official letterhead, accompanied by a photo of Frost’s lawn. […]
Owner says rogue condo board is churning out rules without notifying residents. Now what?
Question: I’m a fairly new resident in a condo community. I’ve been here about two years and I’m beginning to think our condo board has gone bonkers. They are churning out “new rules” on almost a monthly basis. None of the owners were notified about rule changes/amendments or given an opportunity to understand the need […]
Developer temporarily halts building luxury condos near Turtle Bay (HI)
A Utah-based developer building luxury residential units near Turtle Bay Resort has paused vertical construction until December 1. The decision comes one month after the developer hosted a community open house with residents……From traffic to environmental concerns, many Koolauloa and North Shore residents are against new development and have been for years. Read the article…………………………….
Water districts, municipalities in our area preparing for possible flooding next week (FL)
“With that forecast in hand, we yesterday started bringing down some of our canal water levels, in order to start moving some water in advance of the storm,” said Strowd. “In addition to that, we notified the homeowners associations that have residential stormwater systems within our district, gave them permission to open their operable water […]
Victims’ families of Raleigh mass shooting file lawsuit against accused shooter, his parents and HOA (NC)
The families of victims of the Raleigh mass shooting in the Hedingham neighborhood filed a lawsuit on Friday against the shooter’s father and other parties for their response. The lawsuit named the Hedingham Community Association, Capitol Special Police LLC, the accused shooter, Austin Thompson, and his parents, Alan Thompson and Elise Thompson, as defendants. Read […]
40 displaced after fire at DeKalb County condo complex, emergency officials say (GA)
Forty people lost their homes after an early-morning fire swept through a DeKalb County condo complex, according to county firefighters. Crews were called to Ridgecreek Condos on Ridge Creek Drive in Clarkston around 2 a.m. Saturday, where they saw heavy flames coming from a breezeway and apartment. No injuries were reported, and the cause of […]
Florida’s Biggest Insurer Cuts Over 600K Policies After Hurricane Helene
A property insurer of last resort in Florida is set to hand over hundreds of thousands of policies to the private sector later this month due to overwhelming demand. Earlier this year, regulators in the Sunshine State approved proposals that would allow private insurers to take policies from the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Read […]
Is your condo ripe for a buyout? Seven signs that developers might target your building (FL)
Condo buyouts were on the rise this year — and they can represent an escape to some burdened owners, but a threat to those who could be forced to leave their homes. Condo buyouts or terminations happen when 80% of condominium owners agree to sell to a developer. A deal can move forward unless 5% […]
State revokes condo property manager’s license after years of complaints (FL)
People living in several South Florida condo communities say they have been fighting for years to take back control of where they live. All telling NBC6 their property manager, hired by their boards, has been abusing his power and their money. “The biggest issue is that the owners have no rights in there,” said Julian […]
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 […]
Mystery leak causes damage in Littleton condominium (CO)
A mysterious leak at a Littleton condominium complex has residents concerned. Lynda Speck told FOX31 water is seeping into her home at the Miralago Condominiums and causing extensive damage. “Probably a minimum of $10,000 to replace all your flooring, all of your baseboards, cutting into the walls and replacing drywall,” she said. Read the article…………………………….
City of Washougal Launches HOA and Neighborhood Registry (WA)
The City of Washougal is excited to announce the launch of its Homeowners Association (HOA) and Neighborhood Registry, aimed at fostering stronger community connections and enhancing local communication. Washougal is comprised of roughly 200 neighborhoods with their own unique character and appeal. Read the article…………………………….
Management company for Somerset Park details inherited financial issues (NV)
News 3 is hearing for the first time from the Homeowners Association Management company that oversees Somerset Park Townhomes in Henderson. CAMCO, the company says they have only been with Somerset for just over a year. Somerset was a property CAMCO inherited from a different management company, which CAMCO claims was not doing its job. […]
Cooper City rabbi allowed to play shofar, keep his menorah on lawn after dispute with association (FL)
A rabbi is getting ready to celebrate the Jewish New Year with a victory under his belt after his homeowner’s association said his celebrations can move forward. Rabbi Shmuel Hurwitz got into a religious dispute with the association at the Embassy Lakes community in Cooper City last month when the board told him he wasn’t […]
‘I won’t be able to hang on’: Seniors fear they’ll be displaced by onslaught of rising condo fees (FL)
Lake Clarke Gardens condominium residents reached out to WPTV worried that expensive condominium assessment fees may be too much for them to afford. “It’s a dream to live here. It’s very nice, very quiet but lately, we’re all really worried about the situation,” resident Arturo Duharte said. Read the article…………………………….
Condo Owners’ Long Wait for Year-Round OK (MA)
Elaine Eliopoulos told the Truro Select Board on Sept. 10 that she and the other owners of the 13 residential units at the Anchorage on the Bay condominiums at 596 Shore Road had spent two years trying to get approvals from the town for the year-round occupancy of their units, to no avail. Read the […]
Months long battle to fix cluster mailboxes leaves deliveries disrupted in Pecan Grove neighborhood (TX)
It’s been nearly three months since Hurricane Beryl and the same amount of time people in one Pecan Grove community say they’ve had their mail delivery service disrupted. It’s all because of a broken cluster mailbox that no one is claiming responsibility to fix. Customers say this inconvenience has impacted crucial deliveries like medicine, and […]
Central Florida Condo owners call on state to reform costly condo law
In May, Channel 9 shared how one Orange County Condo board planned to pass a more than $22,000 special assessment. The former Regency Gardens condo board said the special assessment fee was needed because the new state law required Regency Gardens to make up nearly a $17 million gap in reserve funding. After Regency Gardens […]
Neptune condo association targeted by NJ after harassment in ‘Russian spy’ neighbor fight
The state Attorney General’s Office said a woman was repeatedly harassed by her Neptune condominium neighbors, who called her a “Russian spy,” and the case has now placed the condominium homeowners association in legal hot water too. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights announced on Sept. 9 that Findings of […]