A local pilot is asking for his homeowners association to reconsider banning him from parking his RV outside his home. The man, whom we’ll call John to maintain anonymity, is a pilot on the front lines transporting vital supplies. Read the article………………………….
Southwest Austin neighbors decorate yards, create art walks for locals to enjoy on social distancing-friendly walks (TX)
While some residents have enjoyed searching for wildflowers along public trails, others have stuck to the familiar, walking along similar neighborhood sidewalks each day. In some Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs neighborhoods, residents have been decorating sidewalks, lawns and windowsills so neighbors have something different to look at each day as they walk. Read the […]
Family on front lines of pandemic battle HOA (TX)
Amid the Coronavirus crisis, rules are being bent and accommodations are being made, but that’s not the case for everyone. “You never know what another person goes through until you walk a mile in their shoes,” said Mongo Wilson who works in infection prevention at a local hospital. “I’m in constant contact with those who […]
Plan to convert Sharpstown association to HOA ‘causing a lot of division’ (TX)
Brenda Harris couldn’t believe her eyes. She had heard that the civic association in Sharpstown, the west Houston neighborhood where she had grown up and now owns home, was thinking of updating its subdivision rules, but she hadn’t given the matter much thought. Then a neighbor began posting the proposed updates, paragraph by paragraph, on […]
HOAs Slow to Accept Native Plant Landscaping (TX)
San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has long offered incentives to homeowners to replace non-native grass lawns with drought-resistant native plants. But the city’s many homeowner associations (HOAs) continue to favor water-thirsty, non-native turf grasses and resist residents who want native plant landscaping. Read the article………………………
Could law enforcement contracts some neighborhoods have with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office go away? (TX)
An item on next week’s Harris County commissioner’s meeting regarding law enforcement contracts is creating quite the stir. City Oaks in south Harris County hired Precinct Seven. The $320,000 contract provides three deputy constables for protection. Read the article…………………………
Kingwood residents take lobbying for flood mitigation into their own hands (TX)
Three flooding events in three years — Hurricane Harvey, the May floods and Tropical Storm Imelda — have some Lake Houston area residents feeling like flooding is all but inevitable. But Harvey wasn’t the first time the Lake Houston area was threatened and it likely won’t be the last. Several residents have sprang into action […]
HOAs Cannot Prevent Political Signs, But They Can Regulate Them (TX)
Some Texas cities could have hosted four different elections, including the race for congressional seats and the Presidential election, by the end of the year. During any election, it isn’t abnormal to see residential neighborhoods lined with signs of each resident’s preferred candidate or ballot measure — some houses with dozens in their front yard. […]
How a Spring woman’s Facebook post got an HOA to re-evaluate its rules about signs (TX)
Sheila Rojas posted on Facebook when her HOA board members told her she could not have a sign in her yard remembering Harris Co. Sheriff’s Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal. Read the article…………………………….
HOA board member claims defamation against neighbor who accused him, his brother of stealing funds (TX)
A Harris County area homeowners association director and his brother are claiming defamation against a neighbor who accused them of stealing HOA monies. Read the article…………………………..
Lake Conroe to Kingwood: Look elsewhere for help with flooding (TX)
This past week, the two sides marched into battle at a packed public hearing in a Conroe convention center, where each speaker was given three minutes to state his or her case. The crowd included three busloads of residents that David Hartman tailed down Texas 105 from Walden on Lake Conroe. Along the way, they […]
Cranky Neighbors Drop Lawsuit Against Parents Who Built Play Set for Their Terminally Ill Boy (TX)
In an update to her original post, Kim wrote that “the lawsuit has officially been DISMISSED! (For now anyway!)” “Thank you all so much for your prayers and support!” she continued. “We are blown away with the amount of love our family has been shown! Now we can focus on what’s truly important — our […]
Georgetown family faces lawsuit over playscape for terminally-ill son (TX)
A Georgetown family faces a lawsuit over a playscape they built on their property. Their next-door neighbors filed the suit claiming the structure was not built with the proper approval. Read the article…………………..
Woodlands OKs hiring feral hog consultant as problem continues (TX)
Efforts to control feral hogs in The Woodlands continued on Wednesday, Jan. 15, with another several dozen residents showing up at the township Board of Directors meetings to plead for help battling the invasive swine and directors approving the hiring of a special consultant to help develop a collaborative game plan to try to stem […]
HOA meets about Missouri City neighbors’ lawsuit against NFL star after brutal dog attack (TX)
Neighbors say their Fort Bend County homeowners association is refusing to enforce its rules when dealing with the property an NFL football player. Missouri City resident Jerry Flowers is suing The Manors Property Owners Association, Missouri City and Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams after he claims some of the football player’s 11 pit bulls […]
West Houston condo owners sue their HOA claiming it won’t turn over insurance money for Harvey damage (TX)
“It hurts after this long to not be able to go home,” said condo owner Norman Hord. ” We just want to go home.” Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on Houston in August of 2017. “It’s now January 2020 and I still do not have a completed home in spite of having flood insurance,” Hord said. […]
Kingwood HOA takes on flood mitigation with $500K dredging operation (TX)
The Kingwood Service Association has applied for a permit with the City of Houston to dredge an area of River Grove Park where sand was deposited during Hurricane Harvey. The dredging will be from the left of the boat ramp, around the pier, and down to the right to the end of the boardwalk to […]
Disaster Loans Available for Dozens Put Out by Dallas Condo Fire (TX)
Help has arrived for dozens of people displaced by a massive condominium complex fire from early December in Dallas. The U.S. Small Business Administration declared the Dec. 4 fire at the Sable Ridge Condominium Complex, which impacted about 90 people near the intersection of Northwest Highway and Abrams Road, to be a disaster. Read the […]
In The Woodlands, a senior community fights back against feral hogs (TX)
The Woodlands, about 30 miles north of Houston, is a master-planned suburb designed to be in sync with nature. Deer and armadillos wander through Windsor Hills in the development’s northeast corner. Hogs nosed around before, too, said Rob Miller, president of the homeowners association. Read the article…………………………..
‘We’re Going To Flood Again’: This Houston Neighborhood Got Hit Twice In 2019 (TX)
As it always does, Christmas is coming to Kingwood. But this year, for some residents who’ve been flooded, it won’t be the same. When Nancy Vera’s home in Kingwood’s Elm Grove subdivision flooded for the first time in May, the family carefully saved all their holiday decorations. But those boxes didn’t survive when Tropical Storm […]
Condo owner alleges security guard’s call to police resulted false arrest, imprisonment (TX)
A Houston condo owner alleges she was falsely arrested, imprisoned and hospitalized after a security guard at her condo community called the police, saying she was a danger to herself and others. Read the article………………………..
Elderly Woman In Critical Condition After Dallas Condo Fire (TX)
An elderly woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition after a fire at a Dallas condominium early Tuesday morning. Watch the news report……………………..
KHOU 11 Investigates: Homeowners confront manager of non-existent HOA (TX)
Property owners in Acres Homes came face-to-face with the man who they claim has been ripping them off for more than a decade. In April, KHOU 11 Investigates uncovered hundreds of people were paying an elusive man who collected dues for an HOA that did not exist. Read the article……………………….
Bastrop County leaders discuss private road signage policy (TX)
Bastrop County leaders had a discussion Monday that focused on a policy regarding street name signage on private roads. A “private road” is defined as a road not maintained by the county. According to Bastrop County Engineer Carolyn Dill, this could include roads maintained by a road district, homeowner’s association or a property owner’s association. […]
HOA sues retired Texas City couple for up to $100,000 for flower beds that don’t meet guidelines
A property owner’s association is suing a retired Texas City couple for thousands of dollars over a dispute about flower beds that did not meet the HOA’s guidelines. Klaas and Dorothy Tadema moved into the Lago Mar neighborhood after their Dickinson home flooded during Hurricane Harvey. Read the article…………………………………
Residents, officials talk about strategies to control feral hogs in The Woodlands (TX)
Feral hogs have been a destructive and potentially dangerous nuisance to residents of Windsor Hills and other neighborhoods in The Woodlands, said a group of about two dozen residents who attended a Dec. 4 board of directors meeting to ask for a solution. Read the article………………………..
Fire Destroys Northeast Dallas Condo Building Overnight (TX)
Residents of a Northeast Dallas condominium building say they’re thankful to be alive after their homes were destroyed in an overnight fire. A Dallas Fire-Rescue news release said crews were first called about 12:55 a.m. to the Sable Ridge Condominiums located in the 6100 block of Abrams Road, near Northwest Highway. Read the article……………………………
North Dallas condo building gets sued for snatching resident’s grand piano (TX)
How do some condo buildings reward long-time, faithful owners? If you live at Preston Tower on Northwest Highway, and if you can believe the pleadings in a recently filed lawsuit, they reward you by confiscating the $150,000 concert grand piano you utilize to give music lessons — because of city code changes. Yikes. Read the […]
Ducks are running amok in Pearland! The city says you can help get rid of them (TX)
The City of Pearland is allowing landowners and HOA’s to get rid of MUSCOVY DUCKS ONLY by either capturing them or shooting them, but there are rules! Read the article……………………….
Too Soon? Festive family told to take down Christmas decorations (TX)
How soon is too soon to start putting up Christmas decorations? A battle over a snowman in one Northside neighborhood is putting that question to the test. Read the article…………………………
La Bota Homeowners Association responds to protests (TX)
The La Bota Homeowners Association, which is made up of the subdivision’s developers, are now sharing their reaction to homeowners fighting against their fees. Read the article………………………..
Uniformity in jeopardy: League City’s building codes pre-empted by new state law (TX)
According to the Texas Municipal League, private deed restrictions and homeowners association rules will remain intact despite the new law. These are two ways cities can attempt to continue to restrict what materials can be used to construct buildings, HooverRead the article…………………………… said.
Genecov Group, Hollytree area homeowners reach agreement on nearby development (TX)
Genecov Group President Ray McKinney said in addition to tweaking plans as previously discussed, the developer also met with homeowners association leaders. McKinney said the homeowner groups brought a proposal that they felt would satisfy both sides, and presented the agreed-to changes to the P&Z committee. All matters approved by the committee must still be […]
Neighborhood requests permanent memorial honoring deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal (TX)
Neighbors in the Copperbrook subdivision in northwest Harris County are asking for donations to help fund a permanent memorial dedicated to fallen Harris County Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal. Read the article……………………….
La Bota Homeowners protest auction and fees at Justice Center (TX)
A group of local homeowners are saying “Enough is enough!” Video shows a protest led by La Bota homeowners known as Homeowners Voices United have gathered in front of the Justice Center. Read the article……………………….
Condo owners dealing with rats angry after management fails to follow through on pest control promises (TX)
Some residents at Greenspoint Landing Condominiums say they can hear the rats scurry across the ceiling. “When I see my cat’s paw at the walls and they attack the walls, that’s very alarming,” said Zariah Hunter. Read the article……………………….
MUD taxes can remain higher than city rates, officials say (TX)
David Flores was only 22 years old when he bought a house in Anderson Mill West, a municipal utility district, or MUD, south of Cedar Park, in 2004. “To be honest, I didn’t have any clue that I was in an unincorporated area, what it meant to live in a [municipal utility district]or what that […]
Residents call for immediate action on flooding at Kingwood town hall (TX)
About 400 residents filled the Kingwood Community Center to let Kingwood and Houston officials know their concerns about persistent flooding problems during Houston council member Dave Martin’s town hall on Oct. 17. Read the article……………………….
Homeowners upset over UTEP students parking in their neighborhood (TX)
Homeowners in the area say the Rim Road Homeowners Association is working on getting no parking signs for the area due to a large number of students parking in the area. “The UTEP students used to park over in the Kern area. The Kern association was very effective in getting parking permits and enforcement in […]
HOA fines parking violation: What are your rights? (TX)
Since July, David Lopez has been hit with two parking violations for parking his truck overnight in the street adjacent to his home in the Parkside At Slaughter Creek subdivision in south Austin. Lopez said he’s not alone, several of his neighbors have also received a parking violation, “down here you have another five or […]
Fourth Court of Appeals denies motion to withhold finances (TX)
The La Bota homeowners Association was ordered by District Judge Joe Lopez to release all financial information including expenses regarding association fees. However, the association fought that ruling by filing an appeal with the Fourth Court of Appeals. Read the article……………………….
3 adults, 2 children sickened by carbon monoxide at west Houston condo (TX)
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be dangerous for people who are sleeping. People may have irreversible brain damage or even die. Read the article………………………..
How Communities Can Rebuild after a Flood
Tropical storm Imelda battered much of Southeast Texas with heavy rains. More than 40 inches of rain fell in just over 72 hours in Jefferson County, which is 80 miles east of Houston along the coast, according to the National Weather Service, making it the seventh wettest tropical cyclone in U.S. history. The storm left […]
Residents suing developer, home builder over ‘sewage nightmare’ in far north Bexar County (TX)
Loosening the septic pumps behind his home has become a dreaded routine for Villas at Timberwood resident Tom Marty. But it was the call that summoned him away from church Easter Sunday that has stuck with him the most: the mosquitoes that covered him as he moved a PVC pipe up and down in an […]
Four lakes along Guadalupe River will not be drained after settlement reached (TX)
A settlement has been reached, which will keep four lakes along the Guadalupe River from being drained. This was a big victory for those who like to take a boat out onto one of the lakes. Although the drainage is delayed, it’s not permanently decided on. Read the article……………………..
HOA requiring every home in Georgetown neighborhood to have video surveillance (TX)
Every home in the Wolf Ranch neighborhood has a video camera. Some homes even have a video doorbell. It’s required by the homeowners association. Stephen Bednarski’s family moved in several months ago. He says it was a selling point. Read the article………………………….
Border wall plans could divide South Texas retirement community (TX)
Lauren Heiy has an ailing back, but that didn’t stop her from joining about 50 of her neighbors to protest a planned border wall through their River Bend Resort and Golf Club communities. U.S. Customs and Border Protection met with residents at the field office in Brownsville. Heiy, 69, said they asked officials where exactly […]
Northern Hills residents getting frustrated with persistent leak-per-week problem (TX)
Over 1,700 homeowners in one Northeast San Antonio neighborhood are growing more frustrated with a seemingly unending series of water line breaks that have left multiple streets wet and some sidewalks impassable for kids walking to school. Read the article……………………….
More time granted for residents in La Bota Ranch suit (TX)
La Bota Ranch residents suing several of their Homeowners Association board members were granted more time to gather evidence of board members’ alleged self-dealing. On Thursday, 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez granted a motion for continuance to delay the trial and extend their preparation time. Residents said the defendants did not overturn all the […]
Legislative Update: Texas House Bill 1025
Recently, we published an update to the 2019 Texas Legislative Session. One of the outcomes of that session was the passing of House Bill 1025. So, how does this affect association board members and homeowners? Let’s recap the two components to this bill: Read the article……………………..