A Houston trial court allowed a jury award to stand in favor of 20 homeowners who filed suit in opposition to a proposed urban residential 21- story high – rise development. Neighboring homeowners had opposed the Ashby High-Rise development for six years before suit was filed in 2013. Read more……
It May Be Time to Fire Your HOA Management Company
Here is a lesson that we can all take to heart. My contact and experience with management companies is fairly extensive–both as a home owner/investor and in my experience as a Realtor with many different management companies in condo associations and single family communities alike. What I have seen over the years is that management companies […]
Houston (TX) Court of Appeals Reverses Large Judgment Against HOA
The Houston Court of Appeals, 14th District recently ruled in Tanglewood Homes Association, Inc. v. Feldman, overturning a trial court judgment for over $ 500,000 that had been awarded in favor of owners after a lengthy bifurcated jury trial. Read more……..
Management Company Liability
(Linked) is an article that was recently published in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth Community Associations Institute Chapter magazine, Community Contact, Spring, 2014, which addresses potential liability faced by management companies and protection strategies to minimize risk. Read more…….
Stone Oak-area HOA Again Loses Bid to Halt Extension of Hardy Oak Road in San Antonio
The Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio, has twice ruled against the Sundance at Stone Oak Association, Inc. (the “HOA”) in its bid to prevent the extension of Hardy Oak Road across the HOA’s property. [Author’s Note: Hardy Oak Rd. is a major roadway in the Stone Oak master-planned subdivision, which abruptly (and somewhat […]
From Good to Great: Principles for Community Association Success
Every community has its own history, personality, attributes and challenges, but all associations share common characteristics and core principles. Good associations preserve the character of their communities, protect property values and meet the established expectations of homeowners. Great associations also cultivate a true sense of community, promote active homeowner involvement and create a culture of […]
Why So Many Dams In Texas Are in Bad Condition
A 3-part story about a state investigation into one part of it’s infrastructure. This could be any state. “We have a lot of people call us and say ‘we want to fix this. But we have no money to do it,’’ Samuelson said. “And it’s not just [homeowner’s] associations. A lot of it is cities. […]
Texas homeowners may have drought-resistant lawns
he Texas Legislature has guaranteed the right of landowners to install drought-resistant landscaping. The Senate passed a bill Monday denying homeowners’ associations the power to ban landscaping designs intended to save water. The bill now goes to Gov. Rick Perry for his signature. Read more…
Bexar County Jury Awards HOA $208K from former President and Lawyer
A jury has spoken in the somewhat protracted dispute between the Ventura s HOA and various owners of properties in that northeast Bexar County subdivision. The former HOA President and its former attorney were hit with a whopping $280K verdict on December 21, 2012. Read More……
Fourth Court Upholds Allegedly Obsolete Restrictions Mandating Residential Use Along Blanco Road
On July 13, 2012, the Fourth Court of Appeals of Texas (San Antonio) issued its opinion in a case in which it was asked to determine whether antiquated residential-use limitations applied to a subdivision abutting now heavily-developed and largely-commercial Blanco Road in San Antonio. Read More……
So Now You’re On the Board
The first steps to superior board performance are clarifying your board’s job and then following through with appropriate plans, actions and evaluation of results. The checklists presented here are intended to assist you in those tasks. They cover a significant number of your responsibilities. The checklists will apply to virtually any association. To use them, […]