According to a recent report by Miami Realtors, only 13 of the 9,307 condominium buildings in Miami-Dade and Broward counties were approved for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, down from 29 last year. In Florida, potential condo buyers must personally qualify for a home loan, but the condo project itself must also undergo approval for […]
How the New Condo Rule is Playing Out for Reverse Mortgage Lenders
In late 2019, the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new condominium guidelines that aimed to make it easier for single units to be approved for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) financing. This included transactions under the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program. Read the article…………………………..
Serrano board recall fizzles (CA)
After three hours of ballot counting, HOA Elections of California, acting as inspector of elections, informed Serrano HOA board meeting attendees last Friday that the recall failed to garner enough votes to proceed to the election of a contingent board. No public comment was made during an open forum offered prior to ballot counting. Read […]
Two women unhappy with complaint about black lives matter sign on home (KY)
Two single moms from Lexington said they only had their sign up for a couple of days before they were asked to take it down. Alyssa Derrick and Becca Wise say the director of the Homeowner’s Association of the neighborhood they rent in came directly to their house. Read the article……………………………..
Why Trump Plaza removed Flagler Drive ground floor signs bearing president’s name (FL)
“Trump” means a lot of things to a lot of people but at the West Palm Beach condo towers that bear the President’s name, it means risk. Management removed the ground floor Trump Plaza signs Monday morning from both sides of the twin buildings’ Flagler Drive entry, “for your safety,” General Manager Michael Kampy wrote […]
Lawsuit accuses now dead ex-treasurer of Mt. Juliet’s Brookstone HOA of embezzling $290K (TN)
A Mt. Juliet neighborhood association has filed a lawsuit that accuses its former treasurer of embezzling more than $290,000 over a period of years. The treasurer being accused died in December. Read the article…………………………..
Sea Gate residents take homeowners’ association to court for release of financial records (NY)
Three residents from a gated community in southern Brooklyn are taking their homeowners’ association to court to force the release of its financial records — claiming that there are more than $5.1 million in discrepancies between the governing body’s tax returns and financial statements over the course of four years. Read the article…………………………..
Harassment of Disabled Persons is Illegal (FL)
Q: An owner reported to the board that another owner has been “harassing” him due to his physical disability and has asked the board to take action. Is this an association responsibility or a private matter between the two owners? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Houston’s most outrageous HOA rules, according to KPRC 2 readers (TX)
We asked KPRC 2 readers to share their most outrageous dust-ups with local homeowners associations and what we got back were hundreds of grievances. Some of the tales are humorous up until the moment when you think on what it would be like to face a fine, receive a citation or get a warning for […]
Asbury Woods Homeowner’s Association to allow sign supporting McDowell graduating senior (PA)
It’s a happy ending for a story that JET 24 Action News brought you last night. McDowell High School senior Connor Williams placed a sign in his yard that read “Celebrating Our McDowell Senior 2020.” However, the Asbury Woods Homeowner’s Association told the Williams family that they must take the sign out of their front […]
Condominium has options to recover unpaid assessments owed by deceased owner (FL)
Our small community (40 units) has a unit that was owned by an elderly woman who died with no relatives or heirs. She had a reverse mortgage with the bank; a neighbor and friend who was also a realtor who had control of the unit has died (and his business partner went to court and […]
At least 35 displaced after condo fire (AR)
The Lake Hamilton Fire Department responded after a fire reportedly erupted in one of the condos and quickly spread to multiple other condos, according to witnesses at the scene later in the morning. Josh Egbert, regional communications manager for the American Red Cross in Arkansas, said the Red Cross did respond to the fire and […]
Round Rock family battling HOA over pool slide height during pandemic (TX)
A family in Round Rock has started an online petition to fight an order by their Home Owners Association. Christina and Rick Greene say last year a donor paid to install an in-ground pool in their backyard for their immunocompromised son, Jonah. Read the article…………………………..
HOA Homefront: Are our reserves being handled properly? (CA)
Q: Is there a formula for the reserve funds that are necessary, or at least advisable, for a HOA? Also, can an assessment be collected from each homeowner and put in reserve and then returned to them after a reasonable time if it’s not needed? Read the article………………………..
Sun City Palm Desert raises money to help laid-off staff (CA)
Following the “stay in place” order by Gov. Gavin Newsom in mid-March, Sun City’s Association was forced to terminate approximately 145 employees, which represented 60% of its workforce. Even though said employees’ health benefits were covered through the end of May, many were forced to rely on unemployment benefits and food banks to pay their […]
Faith Over Fear Crosses: A local homeowner’s association is telling residents to take them down, and some are not too happy (GA)
“Faith Over Fear Crosses” are supposed to bring people joy during this pandemic. One Columbia County HOA is making residents take them down. “We don’t feel that anybody has the right, whether its a covenant or anything else to tell us we don’t have constitutional rights to have freedom of religion,” said Ken Johnson. Read […]
Riverchase Country Club sues homeowners association (AL)
Part of the golf cart path on the 13th hole of the Riverchase Country Club golf course has eroded away. Country club officials say the hazard was caused by problems with the stormwater drainage system for the Riverchase community, and the club is suing the Riverchase Residential Association, which the club says is responsible for […]
Heath condo residents seek cause of flooding, solution to future flooding (NJ)
Residents of the recently flooded Glenwood condominiums and apartments in Heath are working to determine the cause of extreme flooding, as well as a solution to prevent future floods in the area. Read the article…………………………
Killen residents want to know who’s responsible for fixing badly damaged road (AL)
Many of you likely use the public boat dock at Lock 6 in Killen. If you’ve driven that stretch lately, you know it’s rutted with pot holes. Homeowners there say they’ve been asking for years to have the stretch of road resurfaced. The problem is they say they can’t find a road department responsible for […]
Round Lake Beach woman says Fairfield Village HOA made her remove signs celebrating son’s graduation (IL)
A woman in Round Lake Beach said she was forced to remove signs from her window and yard celebrating her son’s graduation and her church. Shara Wright said her son Aidan had recently graduated from 8th grade with top honors. “He has accomplished so much this year,” she said. “He was one of the top […]
Use Rights Suspended for Virus Protocol Violations (FL)
Q: My homeowners’ association recently posted new rules concerning the use of our community pool in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The board stated that if the rules are violated, the association has the right to suspend the owner’s right to use the pool. Because the pool is a community pool owned by all the […]
Council votes to accept seven private roads as public ways (MA)
A years-long process to turn seven city streets from private ways to public roads is almost complete after a first reading by the City Council on May 21……Onyski said the Devon Manor Homeowners Association and neighbors on Hillcrest Circle all did a lot of the work. “It was a great team effort,” he added.Read the […]
Firefighters battle Liberty Grove blaze (WI)
Investigators were at the scene of a Liberty Grove condominium Sunday morning after a fire damaged one of the unit’s deck and roof. Crews from several Door County fire departments including Sister Bay-Liberty Grove responded to the Liberty Park Waterfront Condominiums just north of downtown Sister Bay after 9 p.m. Saturday. What was originally a […]
La Cienega fire under investigation (NM)
Armijo said the county fire department contacted the Las Lagunitas homeowners’ association two weeks ago for an assessment of the small bosque, which was found to be crowded with juniper. “They recognized the danger and were in the first steps to prevent fire, and then this happened,” Armijo said. Read the article……………………………
No residents injured in South Nashville condo fire (TN)
Nashville fire crews say no residents were injured when a two-alarm blaze broke out at a South Nashville condo complex. One firefighter had to be taken to an area hospital for evaluation. Read the article…………………………….
Laws prevent owners from viewing correspondence (FL)
Q: Are condo owners entitled to see correspondence between the board president and the association’s attorney? Are the owners the client or is the board the client especially if association monies are used to pay the legal fees? Our board is stalling the annual meeting and election and refuses to hold it via teleconference where […]
Michigan dam disaster an example of what could happen in many other communities
When the dam broke, the geography here was almost instantly redrawn. Houses that once sat lakeside with private docks now stare out over mud flats pocked with pleasure boats heaving awkwardly on their sides. Below, where all the water went, businesses and homes look churned and strafed, the roof of a car dealership has collapsed, […]
HOA Homefront: Why it’s important to wait for the board to act (CA)
In community associations, corporate formalities seem to interfere with efficiency. Some argue that if someone is making good decisions, why wait for board meetings and motions that might delay the action? Although most clients view corporate procedures as a bother to be avoided as much as possible, the process is an important protection for volunteers. […]
Three weeks after breach, preparations underway for Wilkinson County Dam repairs (GA)
After the Wilkinson County Dam breached and was left for three weeks without water, Memorial Day on Lake Tchukolako is going to look different this year. Richard Brantley, President of the Holiday Hills Homeowner’s Association which owns the dam, says they are working as hard as they can to bring the water back up. Read […]
Gulfpoint prepares for rebuild after massive fire (TX)
Gulfpoint Condominiums will rebuild its “B” building after a massive fire engulfed the 27-unit property this past Saturday. The rebuild will take anywhere from 24 to 30 months, according to Carlos Chacon, owner of Chacon Realty, the entity who manages Gulfpoint Condominiums, said. Read the article…………………………….
Club West Conservancy counters HOA board’s suit dismissal request (AZ)
A group of Club West homeowners who want the beleaguered golf course to be restored or turned into a preserve recently fired back at their HOA board’s effort to dismiss their lawsuit over what they call an illegal attempt to control the site’s future. The Club West Conservancy has sued the Foothills Club West Community […]
Mission Viejo Grads Replace Yard Signs, Buoyed By Support (CA)
Patch reached out to the Mirasol Homeowners Association, and to the Total Property Management Company that oversees them. On Thursday, the Executive Director of Total Property Management Company responded to Patch, saying that the yard signs had been returned, or were available to residents who identified and requested them. Read the article…………………………
Feds revoked failed Edenville dam’s license in 2018 over inability to handle big floods (MI)
The Free Press asked EGLE officials whether it’s prudent to raise the lake levels by 3 to 8 feet in early spring, at times of record-high water across Michigan and amid several years in a row of unusually strong spring rains. They hadn’t responded as of Wednesday afternoon. In its statement Wednesday, Boyce said the […]
Hidden Harbor Condo Fire Deemed Suspicious (MI)
A large fire at the Hidden Harbor condominium complex in the City of Brighton is being investigated as suspicious. Upon arrival, crews found two units on the third floor on fire spreading into the attic and were able to safely get four people out of the structure – one via a ladder, two who were carried […]
Gold Star family fighting to honor fallen son this Memorial Day (AZ)
As Memorial Day approaches, one Gilbert family is in a battle with their Home Owner’s Association because of their attempt to honor their fallen son. Craig and Alma Smith lost their son, Donald Smith, in a military exercise in 2006. Donald Smith received full military honors and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. […]
Delivery truck driver involved in tense confrontation returns to neighborhood with police (OK)
More than a week ago, Travis Miller went to a northeast Oklahoma City neighborhood to make a delivery when a man claiming to be with the homeowner’s association blocked him from leaving. Read the article…………………………
Condo column: Executive committees and board meetings; what you need to know (FL)
Q: I am a new director and our association has an executive committee made up of the four officers and the C.O.O. of our club. I personally see this meeting as a way to get around Sunshine Laws and to conduct a board meeting where board discussion takes place. At the regular board meetings, there […]
A group of Ottawa County condos are surrounded by standing water (MI)
A group of condos in Spring Lake sit right next to the Grand River and after recent rainfall they are dealing with more than a foot of standing water overtaking the parking lot and approaching front doors of first level homes. Read the article……………………………..
North Olmsted man chokes HOA president over flooding issue, police say (OH)
When North Olmsted police arrived at the victim’s home at 6357 Stafford Dr., the alleged assailant had already left the scene. Multiple witnesses, and the unnamed victim, reportedly told police that Dean Kohler had come to the victim’s home and began to yell obscenities, saying the victim, who is the housing development’s homeowner’s association president, […]
Association “Sunshine Laws” Explained (FL)
Q: We have a five-member board and the board has said that they are only required to post notice of a meeting when three or more board members are together. However, we have learned that often, two board members will meet and discuss the association or that there will be phone calls between two board […]
Condo Workers Strike at 75 Wall Street (NY)
According to a press release from the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, over a dozen residential workers at a luxury condo in Manhattan’s Financial District have gone on strike as of 7a.m. Monday, May 18 to protest what they claim are unfair labor practices at 75 Wall Street. Read the article………………………..
Deathtrap NYC condo killed 28 birds in one day: advocates
Migratory birds are flying thousands of miles to the Big Apple — only to smack into a glassy Upper West Side condo and fall dead, according to bird advocates who tallied 28 fatalities in a single day thanks to the Central Park-adjacent building. Read the article…………………………….
Lawsuit accuses Biscayne Beach developer and construction firms of shoddy work (FL)
Three years after completing the Miami luxury condo tower Biscayne Beach, the developer and firms involved in its construction created a stinky situation for buyers, a recently filed lawsuit alleges. Read the article…………………………….
Ask SAM: How do HOAs enforce covenants? (NC)
Q: I live in a neighborhood that has a homeowners association that is supposed to comply with a declaration of covenants. However, some people in the association believe it is not necessary to comply with the covenants because they believe they are not legally enforceable. An issue that has come up pertains to satellite dishes, […]
Rules on tree trimming by owner (FL)
Q: I am a new owner of a home located within a deed restricted community. Many of the lots, including mine, have large oak trees located between the rear of the residence and the community property line. The oak trees are never trimmed by the association. One oak tree in particular is located on common […]
‘This is absolutely horrific’: Large fire reported on South Padre Island (TX)
Flames are ripping through a condominium complex on South Padre Island Saturday morning. Firefighters are working to contain the fire that broke out at Gulf Point Condominiums, near the Sapphire building, the Brownsville Herald reports. Read the article………………………….
Private sessions of the board allowed in specific instances (IL)
Q: Our board has received conflicting information about what matters it can discuss in private in an “executive session.” Can you explain what matters can be addressed in an “executive session?” Read the Q&A……………………