Even before Coastal fire, hilltop dwellers worried and some took key steps (CA)

A decade ago – long before February’s Emerald Bay fire, or this week’s Coastal fire – Newport Coast resident Gerald Klein tried to impress upon his homeowners’ association the importance of fire prevention. The brushy canyons of Crystal Cove State Park push in from two sides, and his home – along with hundreds of others […]

Former Gran Paradiso board president targeted in recall vote (FL)

A recall is underway for the treasurer of a Wellen Park homeowner group.  Phil Stokes, however, disputes the arguments leveled against him.  His opponents state in recall documents that, as president of the Gran Paradiso Property Owners Association, Stokes allowed overspending, threatened or intimidated others and demeaned or showed “inappropriate behavior.”   Read the entire article……………………………….

Beach renourishment not for everybody (FL)

It’s been a decade since the last beach renourishment project on Fort Myers Beach and areas such as the beach behind the Pink Shell Resort and Leonardo Arms have undergone significant erosion.  “We are one storm away from devastation,” Gene Duffy, president of Leonardo Arms Building 2 Board, said on Thursday at a public informational […]

HOA, homeowner in court over snacks for dogs (NC)

When a Raleigh man created a dog treat station outside his home as an act of kindness, he never expected to find himself in the middle of a lawsuit in Wake County District Court.  The HOA of his neighborhood wants it gone – but he says he’s not taking it down without a fight.   Read […]

Calhoun Co. woman accused of stealing from PCB homeowners association (FL)

A Calhoun County woman is facing charges for allegedly stealing thousands from a Panama City Beach condominium homeowner’s association.  Bay County Sheriff’s investigators charged 42-year-old Lucinda ‘Cindy” Carey this week with one count of on-going scheme to defraud.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Fox Tail Trail development draws HOA condemnation (UT)

James Letchford, president of the Hidden Meadows Homeowners Association, which represents all of the homes in the nearby area, said that the applicant will ultimately be able to make their own rules by establishing their own HOA.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Economist to Co-op and Condo Boards: Pick the Low-Hanging Fruit First (NY)

Habitat spoke with the economist Alex Heil, vice president for research at the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan watchdog on city and state finances. Heil has testified before legislators on the best ways to implement ambitious carbon-reduction laws, including New York City’s Local Law 97, the Climate Mobilization Act.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Florida’s insurance crisis spreads to condos

Up and down the Florida coast, condo owners are waking up to a new reality as insurance rates rise, and coverage declines.   Up and down the Florida coast, condo owners are waking up to a new reality as insurance rates rise, and coverage declines.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Emergency plans emphasized after Ocean City condo fire (MD)

Residents of high-rises were reminded this week to pay close attention to their buildings’ emergency plans after a transformer fire at a north Ocean City condominium forced a wide-sweeping evacuation.   Read the entire article……………………………….

VALENCIA SUED: HOA Accused Of Not Paying Bills (FL)

Valencia Shores is accused of not paying tens of thousands of dollars in bills submitted by its landscaper since September. The Homeowners Association is now being sued by MDL Property Maintenance.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Ask the HOA Expert: Roberts Rules of Order

Question: If the board agrees to an action but does not follow the Roberts Rules of Order as far as making a motion, seconding and voting for the motion, is the action legal?   Read the Q&A……………………………….

Electric Vehicles Are On The Rise In Hawaii. Can Charging Infrastructure Keep Up?

As more and more drivers in the state make the switch to electric vehicles, or so-called EVs, managers from townhouses to high rises are dealing with requests to install charging stations in their parking structures. But costly regulations, infrastructure barriers and lengthy permitting processes have delayed many buildings from installing these chargers, slowing the EV […]

Former Green Valley Ranch HOA Manager ‘Shocked’ At HOA’s Cash Stash (CO)

Roger Sherman, who managed the Green Valley Ranch HOA for 15 years, says he was “shocked” to learn the current HOA board has amassed more than $1 million in cash, savings accounts, checking accounts and CDs while simultaneously initiating foreclosure proceedings against homeowners who haven’t paid their HOA penalties.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Adding a Little Free Library in a community association

Q: I love the concept of “Little Free Libraries” and would like to start my own, but I live in a community association that does not allow additional structures to be built. Do you know if they exist in community associations and how they got approved by the association board?   Read the Q&A……………………………….

Severe foundation problems force St. Charles family out of subdivision (MO)

Another family was forced to move out of the troubled Heritage subdivision in St. Charles.  An emotional Victoria Poletti told FOX 2’s Elliott Davis she had to leave her home after seeing severe foundation problems like deep cracks in the basement floor and cracks in the walls and ceiling.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Frequent condo false fire alarm sets off neighbors (NV)

Q: What can be done about a fire alarm going off in one of our association’s attached patio homes for the past several weeks? The home is not occupied at this time as the owner became ill and her family took her to Arizona. We have no way to contact the family.   Read the Q&A……………………………….

Town considers delay of window-tinting rules (FL)

A one-year delay on the implementation of an ordinance mandating a restrictive .15 tinting for replacement glass windows, and new windows, garnered some support from members of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council Monday though no conclusion was reached.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Former president accused of stealing from HOA (FL)

A former homeowners association president is accused of stealing nearly $3,000 from the HOA by making multiple ATM withdrawals with the association’s debit card after he resigned.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Should board members be paid? (FL)

Q: Is a condominium association permitted to pay the members of the board of directors? Board members spend a lot of time and energy in a thankless job. It only seems fair that they should get some benefit for all the effort.   Read the Q&A……………………………….

HOA Homefront: What to do about expired and ignored CC&Rs (CA)

Q: I am looking into purchasing a property with three freestanding units and a small amount of common space used as a walking area to get from the street to the units. The selling agent provided the CC&Rs, but the HOA doesn’t exist and has never met for as long as the current owners have […]

Sneads Ferry neighborhood installs license plate readers (NC)

One neighborhood in the east is bumping up its safety measures by adding automated license plate reader cameras.  The ALPR system scans plate numbers and then runs them through a national crime database for wanted criminals or persons of interest.  Chadwick Shores Homeowners Association voted to install the cameras in response to several crimes reported […]

What to do when you don’t agree with your Homeowner’s Association (OH)

Susan Gorman has lived in her Hilliard-area condo since 2012, but in late 2020, things changed after so-called “upgrades” were made to the parking lot.  “You just don’t have much room to maneuver around here,” Gorman said. “I have property damage to my car where my neighbor kept hitting it. Because there’s just not enough […]

Site Of Surfside Condo Collapse Hits Auction Block May 24th

Nearly one year since the deadly collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, the beach side site where it once stood will officially go up for auction.  Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman approved the sale of the land and a live auction for the property will be held on Tuesday, May 24th.     Read […]

As work resumes at ‘pinch point’ on Southwest light rail, condo owners say costly delays predictable and preventable (MN)

In January, work suddenly stopped in that section after condo owners who live mere inches from the construction reported damage.  A 5 INVESTIGATES review of emails, public statements, and other reports found new evidence of early warnings that accurately predicted some of the issues now jeopardizing the largest civil construction project in Minnesota history.    Read […]

Park City landowner accused of spending $3.7M of HOA funds on personal chef, nanny (UT)

A prominent Park City landowner and landlord renting out commercial and residential space on historic Main Street is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he misappropriated millions of dollars on “significant commercial and personal expenses” including a personal chef and nanny.  The charges stem from Abdalla’s business dealings and management of the Sky Lodge condominiums and […]