For too many Americans, the dream of owning a home has been stymied by a homeowners association. Owning real estate is one of the best ways to build wealth and pass that wealth on to the next generation, but for decades, Black Americans have been excluded from buying in certain neighborhoods.    Read the article……………………………….

Every week EFF receives emails from members of homeowner’s associations wondering if their Homeowner’s Association (HOA) or Neighborhood Association is making a smart choice by installing automated license plate readers (ALPRs). Local groups often turn to license plate readers thinking that they will protect their community from crime. But the truth is, these cameras—which record […]

The Village of Key Biscayne has ignored reasonable requests for a one-village unified stormwater system, despite years of meetings and articles. Instead, the council approved a doubling of the stormwater fee last fall without any consideration of the impact on condo budgets.   Read the article……………………………….

The millions of dollars embezzled from local homeowner associations ought to elicit examination. Why fiduciaries in prosperous neighborhoods exhibited no greater vigilance than elementary school students is incomprehensible.    Read the article…………………………………..

Protests and demonstrations across Long Beach have shown the urgent need to address structural racism. Clearly, the murder of Black people by the police and other police violence nationwide is the immediate issue, but Long Beach is as guilty of racism in many other ways. White people, past and present, made choices to segregate Long […]

My first real memory of any neighborhood watch that took place in a community I lived in came from my youth in South Florida. We had moved out of east Miramar to the west side of town — a side that provided a culture shock when we noticed how often Black and other minorities were […]

My partner of 35 years and I have lived in Ahwatukee Foothills for 31 years, the most recent 18 in Cabrillo Canyon, right here in The Foothills. While in Lakewood, I served as president in our sub-association for 6 years and led their very extensive landscape renovations and maintenance committee with a team of very […]

Pandemic rules are frustrating. I do not want to wear a mask wherever I go and I want to be able to go places. As I write this message, Massachusetts has promulgated six pages of rules just to re-open swimming pools, court deadlines are suspended until July 1st and certain lawsuits can’t be filed or […]

Last week, Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAI’s chief executive officer, and Ursula K. Burgess, Esq., president of CAI’s Board of Trustees, released a statement calling for equality and justice. As communities continue to navigate the current crisis, CAI shares an unwavering support of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and advocates for our public policy […]

Two white homeowners threatened the lives of Black Lives Mater protestors in on a private street in St. Louis yesterday, raising questions about anti-Black racism in pseudo-public space.   Read the article…………………………..

Mark Stevens’ commentary (“You can fight back against homeowners association,” The Daily News, June 17) was unsatisfying. Yes, there are serious problems with many boards, but his solution to just “vote them out” isn’t practical.  Read the article………………………….

In the April 22 issue of the AFN, there was an article regarding the Club West Conservancy’s lawsuit against the Club West HOA Board of Directors and the board’s action to seek dismissal of the lawsuit.  As some in the community may not be aware, the Club West Conservancy is a not-for-profit group of Club […]

Restrictive covenants, often contained within a deed, impose a restriction on the use of land. Typically, a homeowners association must gain a majority vote of owners to amend their particular governing documents and remove a discriminatory restrictive covenant.     Read the article…………………………

If you live in Miami, it is very possible that your house is under the administration of a Homeowner Association or HOA. These HOAs have the obligation to maintain the organization and the control of your community, but they have also been called out for abusing their power, for misuse of the community funds and […]

An emerging crisis is threatening condominium owners. Rapidly rising insurance costs make it increasingly difficult for strata properties to get coverage.  Across the Lower Mainland and Greater Victoria, some annual insurance premiums have increased between 25 per cent and 300 per cent. At the same time, deductibles are also rising.    Read the article………………………….

The case of two homeowners who fell behind on their association fees and had their house sold by the HOA for $3,000 is an aberration and troubling. One needs to review all the details of the case to ascertain the substantial intricacies.  The case has caused significant outrage by many who were unaware that foreclosure […]

When my wife and I moved into our Danville home 22 years ago, it came with a homeowner’s association and a list of rules governing, among other things, acceptable house colors (earth tones), where you could park your vehicles (not on the street), and whether you could have a garden (don’t even think about it). […]

Sunland Village East Homeowners Association (HOA) in Mesa, Arizona, has reportedly hired a contractor to set traps—including cruel steel-jaw devices—throughout the neighborhood with the misguided intention of reducing coyote populations.   Read the article…………………………

The American dream isn’t dead, but it is evolving.  For decades, the dream has meant owning a home, having a successful career, or having a better quality of life than your parents. Now, it’s more about freedom and family.  A pair of studies released earlier this year showed how the American dream is changing and […]

When times are good it is easier to increase your dues than when times are tough. Asking people to pay more for dues or common charges when their work hours get cut back or a spouse loses their job is much harder. But what is an association to do in order to keep a balanced […]

Daunting statistics indicate that sea level will continue to rise for centuries, even if greenhouse gas emissions and global warming are sharply reduced. By 2100, sea levels are expected to rise by at least 24 inches.  In Florida, the statistics are not encouraging. Miami has the most to lose in terms of financial assets of […]

A homeowners association urged residents to vote “yes” to proposed regulations regarding short-term rentals in Jersey City Nov. 5.   Read the article…………………….

Unbending homeowners’ and condominium associations have been accused of overreaching rules that prevent residents from flying the American flag or other expressions of personal or political choice.  Rarely, though, has a condo association rule been blamed for the untimely death of a resident. But, some people are pointing at an Evesham Township condominium board because […]

The president of their Leesburg, Va., homeowners’ association, as far as his neighbors knew, was all about the mundane issues of suburbia:  “Stray cats, Ash and other trees, snakes, large trash containers, development, fees for townhomes vs. single family, pool expense, sidewalk and bus stop snow removal,” were the items listed on the agenda that […]

I would like to express my opinions regarding the homeowner/property owners associations. We all have differing needs and expectations when it comes to our homes and dwellings.  These groups or associations can be the greatest asset and source of comfort or a financial drain and/or an emotional nightmare which seems to suck the oxygen out […]

This is an open letter to all the members of the Foothills Community Association.  Neighbors, our HOA is in trouble.  I have been a resident of Ahwatukee since 2003. Like many of you, I paid little attention to the affairs of our HOA, the Foothills Community Association.   Read the letter…………………………