Residents who were evacuated from the Dockside Condominiums in February will have an opportunity to retrieve their belongings. The City of Charleston and Dockside Association worked together to approve a plan for residents to safely move out if they choose. It comes after the residents were given a 48-hour notice to vacate the building over […]
Attorneys investigate evacuation of Dockside Condominiums, seek answers (SC)
Two Charleston-area law firms are investigating the sudden mandatory evacuation of a downtown condominium on behalf of condo owners. The Anastopoulo Law Firm and the J. Davis Law Firm launched a class action investigation following the Feb. 28 evacuation of the building, located at 330 Concord St. beside the International African American Museum. Attorney Roy […]
HOA disputes: Could new legislation help solve neighborhood rifts (SC)
As more people move to South Carolina, there’s a growing problem and it’s not just traffic. Disputes that aren’t so neighborly, are on the rise. In this 7NEWS Consumer Exclusive, why homeowner associations are now at the center of a number of bills at the statehouse. Read the article…………………………….
Dockside Condominium resident shares experience after mandatory evacuation (SC)
Nearly two weeks after a mandatory evacuation, Dockside Condominiums residents have yet to return to their homes. Harry Traulsen Jr. and his neighbors received a mandatory vacate notice on Feb. 27 to evacuate their homes within 48 hours. It came from the Dockside Association and the City of Charleston, noting the safety concerns surrounding the […]
Dockside Association misses deadline for requested reports by City of Charleston (SC)
The Dockside Association failed to meet the deadline set by the City of Charleston, which was Mar. 7 at 5 p.m. for an engineer to provide specific reports requested by the city. City officials requested two reports from the association regarding the possible threat the tower poses to nearby properties and corrective action summary. This […]
Myrtle Beach woman arrested for allegedly starting 2,000-plus acre wildfire (SC)
According to the arrest warrant, the suspect “did not have an appropriate water source readily available,” nor did she “have any garden tools on hand to control the fire, thus allowing the fire to spread to land owned by Walker Woods HOA. This incident was witnessed by several neighbors.” Read the article…………………………….
What forced Charleston’s Dockside evacuation? Experts say issues akin to collapsed Florida condo. (SC)
Structural concerns that forced Charleston residents to urgently evacuate a downtown residential tower along the Cooper River appear similar to conditions that resulted in the 2021 collapse of a Surfside, Fla., condo that killed 98 people, according to outside engineers. While no one has said whether the 19-story Dockside Condominiums — Charleston’s tallest building other […]
Rising Fees, Few Safeguards (SC)
When Caila Schwartz bought her home in the Carolina Park neighborhood of Mount Pleasant in 2017, her homeowners association fees were approximately $860 a year. Since then, annual increases have been routine — to the point where her 2025 HOA fees will be $1,255, she said, 46 percent higher than when she originally bought the […]
Timeline details half-century history and problems of Dockside condos, Charleston’s tallest building (SC)
The half-century history of the Dockside condominium tower in downtown Charleston reached another seminal moment with the urgent order for residents to vacate. City officials came close to such a call two years ago. This time, further details and a deeper understanding of dangerous structural issues in the 18-story building forced the issue. An engineering […]
‘It’s pretty unsettling’ Residents describe hasty exit amid Dockside Condo evacuation (NC)
Residents continue to evacuate Dockside Condominiums Thursday due to structural concerns, per its association request on Feb. 26. The Dockside Association Board received a letter from WJE, an engineering firm they hired, to assess the load capacity of the floors. The firm deemed the building unsafe for occupancy, and the building’s board of directors informed […]
New zoning district proposed to limit redevelopment of golf courses (SC)
A zoning change to limit redevelopment of two of the oldest golf courses on Waccamaw Neck is moving forward while Georgetown County rewrites its ordinances. That is likely to require creating a new zoning district, even though officials say the 32 districts contained in the current ordinance are too many. Read the article…………………………….
FinCEN Pauses Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Penalties Pending New Rule
On Thursday, February 27, FinCEN announced that it does not plan to issue fines, penalties, or take enforcement action against companies that miss deadlines for filing or updating Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) under the Corporate Transparency Act. No penalties will be applied until new interim final rules takes effect. Read the article…………………………….
City of Charleston releases fact sheet on Dockside Condominiums (SC)
Charleston officials on Thursday released a fact sheet about the Dockside Condominiums with information they compiled about the property, the history of the discovery of structural issues, and more. This comes after the city asked residents of the downtown tower to evacuate the building by 5 p.m. Friday, after city officials said their engineering firm […]
Charleston officials tell Dockside Condominiums residents to evacuate by Friday (SC)
A potential structural issue prompted Charleston officials to order that residents at a downtown condominium leave the building by the end of the day on Friday. The board of directors for Dockside Condominiums said in a statement they were alerted to the issue. The statement did not specify what the issue was or its cause. […]
Cogswell’s development company quietly settles 2019 lawsuit (SC)
WECCO Development LLC, a company owned by Charleston Mayor William Cogswell and now managed by his wife, in November settled a lawsuit filed in 2019 by the One Cool Blow Condominium Association following negligence, breach of contract and other allegations. Read the article…………………………….
Horry County community fed up with poorly maintained roads despite reaching out to various HOAs (SC)
Residents in the Island Green community are voicing their frustrations about what they say are poorly maintained roads and other concerns about the neighborhood. Recently moving into the Island Green community with his family, Scott Davis said he didn’t notice any problems at first when touring his condo in Fairway Village off Sunnehanna Drive. But […]
Kingfisher Inn HOA plans reopening despite safety concerns (SC)
The Kingfisher Inn, a beach resort in southern Horry County, plans to move forward with reopening despite concerns of structural safety. About a year ago, the property manager raised concerns about the building’s condition leading to an investigation by a structural engineer. Read the article…………………………….
Can HOA enter your home without permission? What SC law says you can do & what it can’t
Whether you like them or not, Home Owner Associations are the keepers of the rules in communities and neighborhoods. And more often than not, a homeowner may find themselves dealing with their HOA and those rules. But what are the rules for HOAs, especially when it comes to being on your property or entering your […]
North Strand HOA members discuss ways to the reduce number of complaints (SC)
Members of North Strand HOAs spoke with WMBF News on Wednesday about ways to reduce complaints after Horry County was named the top county in the state for HOA complaints in 2024. “We just feel that when you are transparent or you talk to people, people feel comfortable,” Jack Haines said. This is one way […]
Condo company sues Myrtle Beach, says new long-term rental ban cost them over $16M (SC)
Myrtle Beach’s new long-term rental regulations face a legal challenge from a condominium company that alleges the city’s policy will cost the firm millions in profit. MBSC Property South LLC has accused the city of causing them more than $10 million in damages. They also say the company will lose over $6 million in projected […]
Homeowners association blocks Inch & Co from its own Spring Garden development site in Regents Glen (SC)
Members of a homeowners association opposing an apartment building in their gated community barricaded land from its owner, inflaming a land-use dispute in Spring Garden Township that appears nowhere near resolution. Read the article…………………………….
Horry County resident frustrated with HOA as county leads South Carolina in complaints in 2024
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) released its annual Homeowners Association (HOA) Complaint Report, and Horry County had the most HOA complaints in the state for the seventh year in a row. Read the article…………………………….
North Strand HOA members discuss ways to the reduce number of complaints (SC)
Members of North Strand HOAs spoke with WMBF News on Wednesday about ways to reduce complaints after Horry County was named the top county in the state for HOA complaints in 2024. “We just feel that when you are transparent or you talk to people, people feel comfortable,” Jack Haines said. This is one way […]
2025 Homeowners Association releases complaint report (SC)
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) released the 2025 Homeowners Association (HOA) Complaint Report on Tuesday. The report contains a compilation of data on complaints from Jan.1, to Dec. 31, 2024. To view the entire report, click here.
Are Beaufort HOA & POA fees rising in 2025? Here’s a SC neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown
The following is a list of communities in Beaufort County that include Property Owners Association and Homeowners Association fees. The list of fees and neighborhoods included show an increase or decrease in price between 2024 and 2025. These numbers reflect the baseline HOA and POA fees that all residents of gated communities are required to […]
US Supreme Court Greenlights Corporate Transparency Act Enforcement
In the ongoing ping-pong game that is the Corporate Transparency Act, today (January 23) the US Supreme Court has allowed the government to enforce the CTA, which requires businesses to disclose their beneficial ownership information. Read the article…………………………….
New lawsuit alleges North Myrtle Beach rental ‘recklessly’ exposed the public to bed bugs (SC)
The lawsuit lists West Virginia resident Richard J. O’Donnell III, who appears to own and operate the rental unit, and three companies as defendants. Unlike O’Donnell, the companies’ connections with the property are less clear. Sea Castle Condominium Association Inc., Seaside Vacations Sales and Management Inc., Elliott Beach Properties LLC and Elliott Realty Inc. are […]
Beaufort HOA & POA fees rising in 2025. Here’s how much in these SC neighborhoods (SC)
The following is a list of communities in Beaufort County that include Property Owners Association and Homeowners Association fees. The list of fees and neighborhoods included show an increase or decrease in price between 2024 and 2025. Read the article…………………………….
Dealing with an annoying HOA? Here’s what to consider before suing your association in SC
If your HOA is creating problems for you, such as being sticklers for the rules or charging high fees, it may seem like a good idea to sue. But filing a lawsuit against an HOA can bring more problems than it’s often worth, lawyer Tom Winslow said. Often people sue HOAs to get an injunction […]
Ballot Season: Kiawah Island Community Association Members to Vote on Five Amendments (SC)
The Kiawah Island Community Association’s (KICA) annual membership vote will open on Monday, January 13 at noon and will remain open for one month. This year, KICA members are voting to elect two new members to represent their interests on the board of directors. They will vote to approve or deny five vital amendments to […]
Can an HOA in SC give you a real speeding ticket? Here’s what state law says
Do you sometimes drive a little too fast on the way to work or to get home at the end of a long day? Make sure to watch your speed in HOA neighborhoods, as some posted speed limits can result in hefty fines if violated. Read the article…………………………….
Can an HOA in SC make you take down your Christmas lights and decorations when it wants?
If you’re still enjoying your holiday decorations and you live in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association, time is likely running out to get those lights put away. Chances are the length of time you can keep your decorations up is limited. Read the article…………………………….
Corporate Transparency Act Back on Hold (For Now) (NC/SC)
If this feels like legal “whack-a-mole,” you’re not alone! Yesterday, Thursday, December 26, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order vacating its earlier decision to stay the District Court’s preliminary injunction, which had enjoined the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act’s (CTA) compliance reporting deadlines. Read the article…………………………….
Community pitching in to help nearly 30 people displaced after Florence County condo fire (SC)
The American Red Cross and a local church are helping several families whose condos were heavily damaged in an overnight fire in Florence County. About 30 people were displaced and one person was hurt after the fire broke out at about 10:30 p.m. Monday at a condominium complex on Coventry Lane, the West Florence Fire […]
30 displaced in Florence County after condominium fire (SC)
About 30 people were displaced and one person was hospitalized Monday night after a fire at a condominium complex in Florence County, authorities said. The West Florence Fire Department was dispatched at 10:30 p.m. to the 600 block of Coventry Lane. When crews arrived, there was heavy fire and reports of people trapped inside the […]
Many Myrtle Beach HOAs might have Grinch like tendencies, but here are some that celebrate (SC)
Homeowner Associations, or HOAs, have become commonplace among new developments in the Myrtle Beach region. According to the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, in 2023 Horry County had the most HOA complaints in the state, accounting for nearly a quarter of all complaints registered in South Carolina. Read the article…………………………….
Corporate Transparency Act Reinstated by Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
A prior post, Corporate Transparency Act Blocked Nationwide by Texas Federal Court, reported that on December 3, Judge Amos L. Mazzant III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a preliminary nationwide injunction against the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The post also advised staying informed, as the compliance deadline of […]
New documents shine light on timeline of issues for Horry County condo building (SC)
New details from documents obtained by WMBF News are shedding light on the timeline of deterioration of the now-condemned Renaissance Towers building. Documents show the Renaissance Towers on South Kings Highway started to deteriorate as early as 1998, with reports revealing, that the HOA board knew about it, but it never took action until it […]
Owner of Folly Beach condo accused of numerous crimes for alleged secret recordings of guests (SC)
The owner of a Folly Beach condo is accused of using a hidden camera to make video recordings of beach guests in 2021 and 2022. William Daniel Mayes, 54, was released from the Charleston County jail Dec. 7 on a $260,000 bond. He was arrested a day earlier and charged with one count of sexual […]
Myrtle Beach resident says HOA demanded he take flags down in sunroom without explanation (SC)
A Myrtle Beach resident says his homeowners association demanded without any explanation that he remove seven flags that hang inside his sunroom. Larry Lang moved into The Isles at Bella Vita in May 2023 and hung up the flags on his screened-in porch a month later. No one said anything about it until recently, a […]
Lake Murray condominium sees 3 vehicles stolen within 24 hours (SC)
One Irmo community is reeling after three vehicles were stolen and another was broken into within just three days. Yacht Cove is a community off Lakeshore Drive and River Road that has over 400 units and sits right off Lake Murray. Property management and residents sent WIS News 10 three videos that show stolen vehicles […]
Ex-Beaufort County administrator-turned-real estate agent sued over unpaid POA dues (SC)
The property owners association for an exclusive Lowcountry barrier island community sued former Beaufort County Administrator Eric Greenway for unpaid dues, administrative payments and late fees. A state lawsuit filed by the Fripp Island POA claims that Greenway owes $2,615.59 for charges between January and November. They also are seeking foreclosure on his property. […]
Crews respond to fire burning through condo roof in Asheville (SC)
The Asheville Fire Department responded to a condo fire on Monday with flames emerging from an attic. Officials report firefighters responded to a condo fire on Colony Drive. Read the article…………………………….
Two firefighters report minor injuries following Friday afternoon fire at newly-sold condo in Lexington (SC)
Officials say a fire in Lexington County that sent two firefighters to the hospital with minor injuries is out. Around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, police said crews were near the 1300 building on Laryn Lane at the Lexington Villas condominium comment due to a fire threatening multiple units toward the back of the neighborhood. Read […]
Neighborhood-by-neighbood: A guide to POA fees in Beaufort County communities (SC)
Following (at link) is a list of communities in Beaufort County that may assess Property Owners Association, Homeowners Association and club fees. The fees are, in most cases, a comparison of 2023 annual fees with those charged in 2021, and the percentage increase. Some fees haven’t been released yet for 2023. The list doesn’t include […]
SC restaurant said HOA forced it to shut down. The neighbors have a different story
A longstanding buffet in Longs that appeared to shut down in October is blaming the HOA across the street for its closure, but neighbors tell a different story. Read the article…………………………….
Pioneer Rural Water District customer talks leaks, repair plan (SC)
A local homeowner came before Pioneer Rural Water District earlier this week to find a solution to a series of water line leaks. George Hibler, president of the Homeowners’ Association at Parkview South in Fair Play, told the Board of Directors at its September meeting that he’s been a customer for 20 years. “In front […]
Charleston-area homebuilder wants right to cancel contracts any time. SC Judge says its unethical
Pat Franquelin and her husband, Marcel, were three weeks from closing on their Johns Island home when the builder unexpectedly called and canceled their contract. Now, more than three years after filing a lawsuit against the builder for breach of contract, the Franquelins are still fighting to move into their dream home. The couple is […]
Did the City of Myrtle Beach get involved in HOA violations? The facts behind the rumors (SC)
Did the City of Myrtle Beach send letters about an HOA violation to residents in the Meridian by D.R. Horton? Spokeswoman Meredith Denari said in an email to The Sun News on Aug. 19 that the city didn’t. “No, the city has not sent a letter to the HOA members of the Meridian community,” her […]
Brazen car break-ins leave Carolina Forest condo owners shocked (SC)
Several condo owners in Carolina Forest woke up to troubling news Friday morning: their cars had been broken into overnight. The sound of a neighbor banging on the door of his condo at The Fairways at River Oaks got Tyler Cole out of bed as he learned his new car was broken into and one […]