A 3.49-acre property that sparked a contentious rezoning debate earlier this year is now off the market. The Villas at Roxton Ravine Condominium Association, Inc. purchased the piece of land at 2180 W. Fair Avenue where a developer had previously hoped to build a gas station and convenience store. Read the article………………
HOA board president confronted after gun-toting squatter investigation (NV)
Some people living in a condominium complex near the Summerlin Parkway and Tenaya Way say they have no where else to turn after suspected gun-toting squatters took over two units and making life a living hell. 13 Action News first reported the issue in June when some neighbors complained the squatters were causing problems. Read […]
Ask Eli: Find Savings In Your 2019 Condo/HOA Budget (VA)
Question: I’m the Treasurer for my condo association and we’re working on the 2019 budget. What’s a good way for us to save money in the budget without compromising the health and maintenance of the building? Read the Q&A……………
Trial over Hayden man’s Christmas display begins (ID)
Morris is seeking to have his house de-annexed from the HOA along with $250,000 in punitive damages. The battle over Christmas lights in Hayden, Idaho made its way to federal court Monday in Coeur d’Alene. Jeremy Morris’ legal battle with the West Hayden Homeowners Association started back in 2015 when he moved to his home […]
Condo owners in Little Havana band together to list building as dev site (FL)
In an unusual twist, the owners at an aging condo building in Little Havana have banded together to list their property as a redevelopment site. Norman Smith of Weichert Realtors Best Beach Real Estate is representing the 16 owners at Habana Condo at 424 Southwest Seventh Street in Miami. The 16,000-square foot building includes 18 […]
New penalties for financial reporting violations (FL)
Q: I heard there was a new law that punished condominium associations who failed to timely provide a copy of the annual financial report. Is this true? What are the penalties? Read the Q&A……………..
Retired Teacher May Be Fined for Her Butterfly Garden (FL)
A retired teacher who started a butterfly garden in the yard of her Panhandle home might be subject to homeowners’ association rules against breeding animals. WEAR-TV reports Krissa White started her a butterfly garden six years ago. Her front yard has butterfly-friendly plants and trees. Read the article………………
Association asked to pay for patio damage (IL)
Q. The patio of my unit (a limited common element) has been damaged by erosion from water that cascades over the gutters of our building. The gutters clog frequently with leaves from trees that overhang the gutters. The gutters are cleaned once a year by the association. I asked the board to repair the patio; […]
Do I have to show proof of auto insurance to association? (FL)
Q: I was recently informed by our association manager that as a resident I’m required to provide them with my proof of auto insurance info because they’re liable if something happened involving my vehicle on their property. It looks to me like the local law enforcement would be who I will need to prove I […]
New weapon in campaign sign battle: neighborhoods can’t ban them (MO)
If your homeowners association says you can’t put campaign signs in your yard, you can now say ‘no’ to them. The General Assembly passed a law earlier this year that homeowners associations cannot prohibit political signs. However, it seems that not everyone knows about the new rules. Audrey Shah, a supporter of 50th district Democratic […]
Woman, 42, accused of siphoning water funds (WA)
The former secretary/treasurer of a North Whidbey community association is accused of stealing more than $40,000, court records state. Johanna M. Boyle, 42, is accused of paying her husband, who was the association’s water manager, thousands of dollars for work he did not do over a seven-year period, according to the police report. Read the […]
Flooding from broken pipeline in Northeast Richardson creates insurance fiasco
When a major underground pipeline ruptured Aug. 30 in the Knolls of Breckinridge development, 1-2 feet of water flooded the home of Sylvester and Martha Lee. With the question of liability hanging in the balance, the Lees are still living there today. Their insurance company has agreed to pay the cost of structural repairs but […]
Q&A: Emotional Support Animal
Q. I live in a 40-unit condo building, which has had a ‘no pet amendment’ since 1980. A woman recently purchased a unit and has been seen with a dog that barks all the time. She signed all the disclosure forms that stated “no pets,” but gave the board a note from a nurse practitioner […]
HOA Homefront: Readers want to know ‘when do WE speak?’ (All about open forum) (CA)
Q: Kelly, thank you for helping people understand HOA laws! Here’s my question: Civil Code 4925(b) states “The board shall permit any member to speak at any meeting…” (executive sessions excluded). You wrote in a past column that “members may observe board deliberation, but the law does not give members the right to participate.” This […]
Signature achievement: Condo owners celebrate building’s rebirth (FL)
When more than 200 residents of Signature Place, a 36-story condo tower in downtown St. Petersburg, gathered in May to celebrate the completion of major capital improvements to the building, many of them also felt vindicated. Read the article………………
Hundreds of trees in Aloha neighborhood cut down (OR)
A series of tree-lined streets in one Aloha subdivision look very different after the majority of street trees were cut down in the last couple weeks. Even more trees are slated for removal. “It’s sad that they’re cutting down all the trees,” said Emily Day, who’s lived in the Arbor Vineyards subdivision for 15 years. […]
Residents say they are being evicted from Panama City condo building (FL)
People staying at a Panama City resort are furious after they received a notice saying they need to get out. The notice reads, in part: “Due to recently discovered water damage throughout the building caused by Hurricane Michael, the Associations facilities and units have been deemed unsafe for occupancy. Based on advice and recommendations of […]
Humble family fighting HOA fines over pickup truck parked in their driveway (TX)
A family in Humble is turning to Eyewitness News to help them in a fight against their homeowners’ association. Bobby and Sonya Sykes say they were told by Kenswick HOA that their truck is a commercial vehicle, and that it is a nuisance to their neighbors. They say the truck stays in their driveway and […]
Katy resident plans to fight HOA to keep huge Beto sign in front yard (TX)
One Katy homeowner is fighting back against her property association after it sent her a violation notice regarding a large painted black-and-white “Beto” sign on her front yard. Read the article………………
Hartland condo development requests that upkeep for roads be paid for with public funds (WI)
Hartland’s village board will hold a public hearing for the Glen at Overlook Trails, a condominium project that has been in the works for nearly two years, at 7 p.m. Oct. 22. One of the biggest issues that will be up for discussion is the possibility that the village would maintain the streets in the […]
South Hampton HOA president, treasurer charged with felony theft (MD)
South Hampton Homeowners’ Association president Ulysee Davis, his wife Linda and HOA treasurer Benedicto Afroilan have each been charged with felony theft and conspiring to steal in excess of $100,000 for allegedly stealing money from the South Hampton Homeowners Association over the course of at least five years, according to charges filed by the Charles […]
Sheriff’s Office: Ventura condo ‘overrun by squatters’ served with warrant; 10 arrested (CA)
A condominium property in Ventura that had been “overrun by squatters for the past year,” authorities said, was at the center of a two-month investigation that ended with 10 arrests last week. The multi-condominium property is located in the 200 block of West Harrison Avenue in a residential area west of Ventura Avenue. Ventura County […]
Old Code vs. New Code: Miami Beach condo president forced to change railing (FL)
Times change, in many things for the better, but when it comes to codes, it can be painful and expensive. It’s why owners of historic condos on Miami Beach are saying, “Wait, we need help,” and so they called Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser. The older parts of South Florida can be picturesque. Especially […]
Former treasurer gets jail, probation after embezzling from Costa Mesa homeowners association (CA)
A former homeowners association treasurer who embezzled more than $100,000 was sentenced Monday to probation and jail after agreeing to pay the money back. Bonnie Harris, 71, was sentenced to three years of felony probation and 36 days in local lockup after pleading guilty earlier this month to four felony counts of embezzlement, according to […]
Homeowner’s pro-Trump sign causes stir in Plantation (FL)
A Plantation homeowners association cut down two palm trees to remove a provocative pro-Trump campaign sign Monday morning after a homeowner refused to take it down. After the sign was removed and the trees were cut down, Karl Payne, who lives in the 800 block of Northwest 10th Court, responded by hanging additional signs and […]
West Houston HOA sues management company over unreleased documents (TX)
The Clayton Woods Homeowners Association in west Houston has brought a legal suit against its former management company and the company’s representative Patricia Ortiz for failure to release proper records to the HOA board. The HOA elected a new board Jan. 11, 2017, after years of service from Elite Association Management Company and its predecessor […]
Ask the HOA Expert: Dryer Vents, Noisy Neighbors and Yard Sales
Question: How frequently should dryer vents in common wall HOAs be cleaned and repaired? Answer: Dryer vents are the source of fires and water damage (leaks in the ceiling) so should be checked and cleaned at least once a year or when alerted by residents Read the Q&A…………..
Leesburg chooses witnesses for Exeter lawsuit (VA)
A lawsuit filed by the Exeter HOA has a trial date and deposition witnesses after Leesburg Town Council refused several settlement deals. The property in contention is the Exeter Stormwater Management Pond, a dam located between Ball’s Bluff and Leesburg Elementary School. In 2014, a revision to Virginia law required Exeter to make expensive structural modifications […]
Flagler County says no to HOA’s ‘no parking’ signs at beach access point
At the end of Solee Road next to the small, gated community of Hammock Beach Estates, the serenity of the beach has been jarred by a debate, as not everyone agrees with the new “No Parking” signs. In addition to the gated community, the rest of the subdivision, known as Armand Beach East, also uses […]
Condo board asked to deal with secondhand smoke (IL)
Q. I recall that you have addressed second hand tobacco smoke, but I can’t recall your guidance. One of our residents works from his unit and chain smokes all day. His neighbors have bombarded the association with complaints that they smell cigarette smoke in the hallway next to his unit and in their adjacent units. […]
Maalaea condo groups working on wastewater alternatives (HI)
The Maalaea Village Association has begun facilitating discussions among area residents, businesses and governmental entities about the feasibility of a regional wastewater treatment plant to serve the Maalaea community. Read the article………………
HOA Homefront: Short-term rentals – both sides now (CA)
Q: We have a guest house on our half-acre lot that we have rented out [using a short-term rental service]. We are always home in the main house when guests are present. Therefore, there never has been any issue with noise or nuisances over the many times we have rented it out. It has been […]
HOA flag controversy in The Villages (FL)
There was a big controversy over a small flag on a quiet street in The Villages. Joe and Peggy Ganci were outraged that their community classified their American flag as a “lawn ornament.” “Regardless of how it flies – whether it’s on the house, on a pole, or in the garden, it’s still the American […]
Feral hogs run wild in far NW Side neighborhood (TX)
At around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Russell Corporon’s wife nudged him and said she could hear feral hogs moving their landscaping stones in their yard. It’s not the first time the Corporons have had an unwelcome visit from the hogs. With cellphone in hand, Corporon began to silently walk outside to capture the pesky pigs […]
Botsford Commons residents suing Beaumont Health (MI)
Virginia Halley says she’s seen the river bank behind her unit in the Botsford Commons Condomimium complex drop some six feet in the last five years. Halley and other residents of the complex have seen similar erosion around the complex, and they want Botsford Commons to do something about it. After what they say has […]
Millennium Tower Removing Scaffolding Despite City Order (CA)
The Millennium Tower Homeowners Association is balking at the city’s order Thursday to reinstall protective scaffolding that it took down earlier in the day. The city required the sinking and leaning tower to keep the scaffolding in place at the base of the building until a cracked 36th floor window is replaced. Read the article………………
Woman takes on HOA with marijuana signs (AZ)
66-year-old Helene Feinerman is in a legal battle with the exclusive River Ranch Homeowners Association on Tucson’s far east side. An aging hippie, who displays “hipi” on her license plate, and a former protester, she believes the HOA is harassing her. “Singling me out and treating me differently than the other homeowners,” she said. The […]
Rabbi Files Suit Against Active Adult Community (NJ)
He moved from Chicago to be closer to his daughter and her family. But he said he cannot practice his religion in the township home he purchased in a 55+ adult community…….Lefkowitz is suing Westlake Master Association Inc. and each Board of Trustees member individually for religious and disability discrimination. The suit was filed in […]
River City saga highlights complexities, popularity of condo deconversions (IL)
Anyone who has bought or sold a home knows the legal land mines, financial obstacles and emotions that can gum up a deal. Now, imagine trying to buy a building made up of hundreds of individual homeowners, all with their own unique financial situations and their own levels of attachment to their homes. Read […]
Lakewood Ranch condo assessments challenged (FL)
Some condominium homeowners in Lakewood Ranch say they are paying more than their fair share of community expenses. Watercrest, Moorings at Edgewater, Waterfront at Main Street, Boca Grove and Miramar are condominium projects located within the boundaries of Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 2. Although cost allocations vary, the neighborhoods have residents who say their […]
Hurricane Michael causes flooding in Louisiana ahead of landfall (LA)
Many highways and roads were passable only by truck or SUV Tuesday afternoon, as southern Louisiana experienced some early impact from the storm. While most of the metro area is high and dry, roads in areas like Venetian Isles are covered with water. Mia Bournes, a Venetian Isles resident said the sight of flooded streets […]
New Harbor condo residents hope relief is coming (MI)
Help is hopefully coming soon for residents of New Harbor Condominiums, commonly known as Captain’s Quarters, on Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor. At various times, residents there have had to deal with water, gas and electricity being turned off to different parts of the three-building complex. Read the article………………
Holly Ridge in Candler gets new water supply with help of trust (NC)
In a shared mission to provide and protect safe water resources, Xylem Inc. and the Water Well Trust (WWT) partnered to solve critical water well disrepair in Candler, North Carolina’s Holly Ridge subdivision. After five months of developing and executing a solution for the rural community, the two organizations completed the project in July, restoring […]
Sewage ‘detectives’ will search for Fairview Beach’s waste problems (VA)
After years of trying to determine the source of human and animal waste polluting the Potomac River at Fairview Beach, King George County officials are calling in an agency whose workers have been likened to crime-scene investigators. That’s the Hampton Roads Sanitary District, which in 2015 invested more than $400,000 in a microbial source-tracking program, […]
Board Spending Authority Not Unlimited (FL)
Q: My condominium association has a number of committees including a social committee. Recently there was a discussion at a board meeting concerning the association paying for certain social committee activities, including providing food and drinks at parties. However, the board stated that it cannot use the association’s funds to pay for social events and […]
Homeowners upset over HOA park, handed over to Kaysville City (UT)
When Tim Hodges, originally from Texas, moved into his neighborhood back in April, he says the land supported by the local Homeowners Association was a major factor, because it included a park and an equestrian area. “It was perfect. It was everything we dream of,” Hodges said. “I mean, that’s a competition-size arena right there, […]
How to stop inaccurate emailed association board meeting reports (FL)
Q: One resident in our community has obtained the email addresses for all owners. This owner attends all board meetings and then twists the actual discussion and sends an email to the community with a creative summary of the meeting. The summaries are inaccurate. What can we do to stop this? Read the Q & A……………
Nobody wants the state to take over an HOA (NV)
Q: How often does the government come in and take over a homeowners association. I’m a board member, and our reserves are underfunded. On paper, for 2020, the total should be $450,000. At this time we have $250,000 but are going to spend most of that ($160,000) to replace the roofing that was installed in […]
Monument homeowners take housing developer who allegedly walked off the job to Bankruptcy court (CO)
Monument homeowners take housing developer who allegedly walked off the job to Bankruptcy court. While Michael Curry, the owner of Freedom Homes may be out of business, that’s not stopping homeowners from trying to seize his assets in Bankruptcy court. Read the article………………
Northwest-side neighborhood battling feral hog problem (TX)
After KENS 5 aired a story about a northwest-side neighborhood’s feral hog problem, the homeowners’ association is tackling the problem. Read the article………………