I have written in the past about the need for properly funded reserve accounts. But what happens if a board of directors doesn’t properly fund the reserves, and later tries to make up for the shortfall by specially assessing owners? Read the entire article……………………………….
Board, rather than membership, makes business decisions for Association (FL)
Q: Our small gated community is overrun with toxic bufo frogs. After several homeowners got together and researched how to rid the community of this problem a solution was found with a licensed removal company. The board president was asked to put issue on the agenda for our annual meeting for a vote. He refused. Read […]
HOA Homefront: Can we meet completely virtually (CA)
Q: Is it permissible for the board to be virtual? That is, do we need to physically be together, or can we be virtual? Our homeowners association is less than 50 units, so we are tiny. Likewise, some board members are landlords and so do not reside in the units. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Countless emails to the association (FL)
Q: An owner in our community sends countless emails to the association asking for information and updates on various projects. The requests have become overwhelming and our manager is unable to adequately respond and tend to her other responsibilities. What are we required to do here? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Condo Q & A (FL)
Q: I have several questions about the fining/suspension committee hearing. Can the Owner who appears before the Hearing Committee bring a witness or their attorney to the hearing? Read the Q&A……………………………….
HOA will likely have to pay to repair perimeter wall (NV)
Q: We noticed the outside of our wall, which is on a corner lot, to be cracked. On further inspection, the wall moves from above. We found you in a Google search. The first search to pop up was an article dated Jan. 31, 2009: “HOA bill to address maintenance of Security Walls within communities.” […]
Ask Mary: Here Are the Answers for a Tsunami of Asks (NY)
Dear Mary: In my condo, we have a few unit-owners who are always asking for things that go against the building’s rules or policies. Sometimes the requests involve local laws or other guidelines. How can we deal with this time-consuming tsunami of “asks”? Read the Q&A…………………………….
Sparks fly during homeowners association meeting at American Legion hall in Brook Park (OH)
A Brook Park man, 70, told police Aug. 11 that he felt threatened by another man at American Legion Post 610, 19944 Sheldon Road, during a homeowners association meeting. Read the entire article……………………………….
The Surfside condo collapse triggered evacuations. Hundreds are still waiting to go home.
For some 20 years, Guarnizo lived a peaceful life in North Miami Beach’s Crestview Towers — a 156-unit condominium occupied by both young families and elderly residents, many with roots stretched throughout Latin America. Then the Champlain Towers South in Surfside collapsed in June, marking one of the worst building failures in U.S. history and […]
Wasilla homeowner’s association to develop park (AK)
A group of local homeowners helped provide a new park for children in Wasilla in an area that was made previously unusable. On Saturday, Lakeview Estates Homeowners Association members, Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford, families and children gathered to celebrate the future site of a new park. Read the entire article……………………………….
Grandmother, granddaughter sentenced in theft of more than $120K from HOAs (TN)
A Williamson County grandmother and granddaughter were recently convicted of crimes related to the theft of more than $120,500 dollars from three homeowners associations. The pair also faced charges in relation to a fraudulent GoFundMe campaign started under the guise of paying for cancer treatments. Read the entire article……………………………….
Marshals shore up Shorewood (GA)
The Shorewood neighborhood on Lake Hartwell is looking much better than it did when Marilyn Bathen and her husband moved there 15 years ago. Bathen, who hails from California and is the president of the Shorewood Homeowners Association, attributes the cleanup to work spurred by the Stephens County Marshal’s Office. Read the entire article……………………………….
Collapsed Surfside Towers Actually Broke Building Code From the Very Beginning (FL)
For over a month, crews worked to recover survivors and then the dead from the collapsed Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida. The 98th and final victim was identified only two weeks ago. During the same period, forensic engineers have combed through the debris of the 12-story condominium tower, searching for the reason for the […]
Fall City looks at ownership model for shared septic system (WA)
At the meeting, owners narrowed the ownership model down to two possibilities — a homeowners association (HOA) or a public utility district (PUD). “A homeowners association is fast and efficient, and allows more local control, flexibility and ease of use of forming it,” Donaldson said. “Whereas, a utility district requires an election process for commissioners […]
Murray condo complex cleans up after flooding (UT)
Residents of the Willowbrook Condominium complex are cleaning up after a heavy storm that brought flooding to several units and the clubhouse Wednesday. Read the entire article……………………………….
What to know about the Belmont condo building evacuated due to structural concerns (MA)
With the Miami collapse still fresh, 75 Belmont residents were evacuated from a condo building after engineers found structural concerns. The seven-story building at 125 Trapelo Rd. was inspected by a structural engineering firm after residents noticed cracks in the structure, 7 News Boston reported Read the entire article……………………………….
Camas and Lacamas Shores HOA receive notice of citizens intent to sue via federal Clean Water Act (WA)
Steve Bang’s patience has finally run out. After seven years of discussions with the Lacamas Shores Homeowners Association (LSHOA), city of Camas staff, council members, and state representatives and agencies, Bang’s attorneys at Plauché & Carr LLP sent a notice of intent to sue for violating federal clean water standards. Read the entire article……………………………….
Judge Wants Sale Of Surfside Condo Collapse Property To ‘Benefit All Victims Collectively’ Instead Of Onsite Memorial (FL)
A Miami-Dade County Judge would prefer the site of the Surfside condo collapse property to be sold to benefit the families of the victims instead of building a memorial on the site. He said the memorial could be built at a nearby park. The city of Miami Beach recently offered a portion of the 28-acre […]
River’s Edge homeowners sue Pahlisch Homes over plans to remove golf course for residential housing (OR)
“Save the golf course!” Save River’s Edge!” read lawn signs that have proliferated across west Bend. The signs are a component of community organizing being done by residents of the River’s Edge in an effort to halt the conversion of the public 18-hole River’s Edge Golf Course into housing. Read the entire article……………………………….
Miami orders hundreds of residents to evacuate 8-story condo building deemed unsafe (FL)
Hundreds of residents of a Miami condo building were ordered to evacuate by Tuesday morning after city officials deemed the building unsafe, according to reports. Residents began removing their belongings Monday night from the 138-unit Read the entire article……………………………….
Another part of NW Miami-Dade (condo) building’s roof collapses; homeowner says looters stole belongings (FL)
A second part of a Northwest Miami-Dade apartment building’s roof has collapsed, and one homeowner said looters have stolen his belongings due to a lack of security at the complex. Read the entire article……………………………….
Cedar Rapids condo dispute after derecho highlights HOA challenges (IA)
A couple of lawn chairs sit on the cracked concrete foundation that used to be Anne Clinton-Cirocco’s living room before the derecho struck a year ago. The 71-year-old moved out of her condominium in February so workers could gut and rebuild the place after water damage from the severe Aug. 10, 2020, wind and rainstorm. […]
Charges against Four Seasons security workers dropped; association may get pretrial diversion deal (IN)
Prosecutors dropped charges against two Lakes of the Four Seasons security workers, and a defense attorney for the gated community’s property owners’ association said Tuesday he expects the entity will be offered a pretrial diversion agreement. The Lake County prosecutor’s office charged the association and its two security workers in December with impersonation of a […]
Partial Roof Overhang Collapse At NW Miami-Dade Condo, Similar Collapse At Building A Month Ago (FL)
A roof overhang partially collapsed on one of the buildings at Lakeview Garden condominiums in northwest Miami-Dade. There’s no word on if anyone was injured. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA requests Pasco resident take down ‘unsightly’ community library (WA)
One Pasco woman’s attempt to bring the community together with books is now facing pushback from her neighborhood’s Homeowner’s Association. In February, KAPP/KVEW told you about Juanita de Luna, a Pasco resident lovingly dubbed by neighbor’s as the “Little Library Lady.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Tahoe tourist startled by bear in dumpster sues over his injuries (CA)
A Tahoe tourist is suing after he alleges he was injured when a bear popped out of a dumpster in Incline Village, court documents show. Plaintiff John Donaldson says he suffered a torn Achilles tendon and was diagnosed with spinal compression after tripping and falling on Sept. 5, 2019, at Incline Crest Condominiums in Tahoe. […]
County honors HOA restrictions: Board of Appeals upholds planning director on vacation-rental issue (HI)
Hawaii County government won’t approve short-term vacation rentals where homeowner’s associations prohibit them, the Board of Appeals ruled unanimously Friday in denying an appeal from a Keauhou View Estates property owner. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront – Reader Questions: My peeping doorbell camera, and where is MY parking space? (CA)
Q: Because of the type of work I do at home, I was required to install a security system in my condominium, including a front-door camera. My neighbor across the walkway is captured daily in recordings which show numerous occasions of various at-home liaisons with persons who are not his wife, and on other occasions […]
Board seeks to collect unpaid assessments (IL)
Q: We have a serious assessment delinquency issue in our association, and we are looking for ways to persuade owners to bring accounts current. Can our homeowner’s association report owners who have unpaid assessments to the credit reporting companies? Read the Q&A……………………………….
West Houston neighborhood fighting to keep peacocks after HOA cities complaints (TX)
A group of residents is fighting to keep peacocks in their West Houston neighborhood. Fans of the exotic birds told KPRC 2 that the peafowls have become part of the Heathlake community. Don Brennan, who has lived in the area for 18 years, said he’s in favor of keeping the birds around. Read the entire […]
‘It feels like we didn’t matter’: Extreme heat raises questions over bans on window AC units (OR)
Denise Lewis doesn’t want to break the rules, but she feels like she has no choice. Her Northeast Portland condominium complex bans window AC units. So, amid this week’s extreme heat, she tried going without air conditioning altogether. Read the entire article……………………………….
North end turf war between Wrightsville Beach and Shell Island homeowners association settled (NC)
An agreement has been reached in a legal dispute over parking and land between the Town of Wrightsville Beach and the homeowners association of Shell Island, the upscale resort on the island’s northern tip. Read the entire article……………………………….
Residents evacuated from 7-story condo building in Belmont amid structural concerns (MA)
Residents were evacuated from a seven-story condo building in Belmont on Thursday due to structural concerns, officials said. The building at 125 Trapelo Rd. was reportedly inspected by a structural engineering firm after residents noticed cracks in its structure. After receiving a preliminary synopsis of the findings, Great Property Management CEO Lou Gargiulo, in conjunction […]
Lake Anne’s Aging Infrastructure Reviewed By Fairfax County (VA)
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn briefed Lake Anne residents Wednesday night on Fairfax County’s efforts to assess the aging infrastructure within the community, identify problem areas, and propose possible solutions. Read the entire article……………………………….
Eight units destroyed in Indian River condo fire (MI)
Last week, multiple fire departments from around Cheboygan County and into Emmet County worked together to extinguish a blaze at a group of condominiums on Burt Lake in Indian River. Read the entire article……………………………….
Rock Springs Ridge HOA President still favors land swap deal with City to purchase golf course lands (FL)
For a while, it looked like a match made in heaven. Back in April, the residents of Rock Springs Ridge (through its Homeowners Association), The Golf Group (owners of the closed Rock Springs Ridge Golf Course), and the City of Apopka proposed a three-way deal that made sense to all parties. The City would swap […]
Lower Bucks flood victims in limbo a month after destructive storm. What’s next? (PA)
He and some 60 of his neighbors lost their homes in the 100-year flood at Lafayette Garden condominium complex off Red Lion Road near Route 13 as a storm stalled over Lower Bucks dumping some 6 to 10 inches of torrential rain and damaging hundred of properties, including leaving more than 100 homes uninhabitable. Read […]
Resident Frustrated After He Was Fined by Condo for Not Wearing Mask (FL)
The mask-wearing controversy extends beyond schools. One downtown Miami resident told NBC 6 he was fined $100 by his condo board for not properly wearing a mask in a common area of the building. “It should be up to us to decide because the original thing was if you are vaccinated you don’t have to […]
Westchester condo complex dumps Trump name (NY)
Donald Trump has been dumped again, this time by condo owners at a complex in White Plains. The Trump Tower at City Center will be losing its name in the coming weeks, according to LoHud. Unit owners in the 35-story luxury tower voted to drop the affiliation with the former president and real estate mogul […]
How Florida condo associations wielded political power before the Surfside collapse
Soon after Jason Pizzo was elected to Florida’s state Senate in 2018, he began working on a bill that reflected one of his top priorities: stiffening penalties for secrecy, fraud and kickbacks on condominium boards. The legislation, he said, was a response to constituents’ complaints about shady financial dealings that led to condo residents getting […]
Fast-Moving Fire at Cortlandt Condo Complex Displaces Two Dozen (NY)
A fast-moving fire at a condominium complex in Montrose Friday night left 12 units uninhabitable and displaced approximately 25 residents. The blaze at Coachlight Square, which is located off Kings Ferry Road, broke out at about 9:45 p.m. in one of the units in an L-shaped row and traveled quickly in the attic space of […]
Surfside condo collapse: Town leaders fuming at obstacles to investigation, aim to sue county (FL)
In the days following the collapse of Champlain Towers South, town, county, state and federal officials worked side by side, seeming to put politics aside while laser-focused on finding survivors, recovering victims, and providing support to the families of the missing, dead and displaced. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo Safety: What owners, buyers need to know in wake of FL building collapse (IL)
It’s been seven weeks since the partial collapse of the high rise in Surfside, Florida that killed 98 people. While devastation of that scale is extremely rare, condo boards everywhere are feeling more pressure to keep buildings safe. Read the entire article……………………………….
Ask a real estate pro: Can a condo community post speed limit signs? (FL)
Q: I live in a small condominium community. Several residents are complaining about speeding vehicles and delivery trucks. We are thinking of posting 15 mph speed limit signs, although the streets outside our community allow faster travel. Can we do this, and what else can we do to slow drivers down and prevent someone from […]
Club West legal stalemate heating up (AZ)
When Superior Court Commissioner Andrew Russell made his initial decision March 24 in the Club West Conservancy’s lawsuit against the former Foothills Club West Association board, it seemed like only a matter of time before the two parties would iron out the final ruling’s wording that would put the case to bed. Read the entire […]
Anonymous bidder offers $120m for site of Miami condo collapse (FL)
An anonymous bidder has offered up to $120m for the site of the Florida condo collapse. The potential buyer of the Surfside site was revealed at a court hearing into the future of the site where the Champlain Towers South collapsed killing 98 residents. Read the entire article……………………………….
Community Agriculture Alliance: Wildfire connected with forest health, water issues (CO)
The council has been coordinating with fire districts and local agencies to get individual homeowners and homeowners associations’ advice and funding options they need to reduce their fire risk and be better prepared in the face of a wildfire. Read the entire article……………………………….
County Clears Dangerous Eyesore From Single Tree Estates (WA)
An abandoned home in Yelm’s Single Tree Estates was recently removed by Thurston County, concluding a project that was years in the making. The eyesore was collapsing in on itself and was located near a school bus stop. Community members said children were known to play within the walls of the dangerous structure. Read the […]
How Minnesota got ‘a step ahead’ of an issue that may have contributed to the Surfside condo collapse
A law passed in 2017 was aimed at increasing the supply of condos and townhomes. But it also required developers, and condo associations, to fund upkeep of the buildings. Read the entire article……………………………….