Developer
- Q&A: How to Recover Unpaid Dues From a Condo Sponsor (NY)Q: At an eight-unit condo building in Brooklyn, the sponsor failed to pay the homeowners association dues for unsold units, as required under law, and he stopped responding to emails and calls after he transferred control of the building to the board. The dues are about $30,000, plus interest. Other than filing a lawsuit, and incurring more expense, is there a way to get the sponsor to pay the dues with interest? Read the Q&A………………………………..
- Improperly filed easement could complicate Rockaway Annex condo development (MA)An issue relating to the developer’s right to install a water line along an access easement on adjacent private property could delay the comprehensive permit process for the proposed 12-unit condominium development at 25 Ipswich Street in the Rockaway Annex neighborhood. Read the article…………………………….
- Clark County meets with homebuilder about development project at troubled Paradise Spa condos (NV)Homebuilder Taylor Morrison and several Clark County departments and stakeholders gathered Wednesday to discuss development of the Paradise Spa condo complex. The condo is located off south Las Vegas Boulevard near Silverado Ranch. “It’s important to me that we have a new developer to take that property over and really make something that we can be proud of,” said County Commissioner Michael Naft. Read the article…………………………….
- General Contractor Defeats Owner’s Notice Argument and Prevails in Seattle Condo Dispute (WA)The Washington Court of Appeals recently affirmed a jury verdict and $30 million judgment for general contractor Skanska. The case involves the construction of the 41-story Nexus condominium tower in downtown Seattle. As is often the case, one of the central issues was whether Skanska was entitled to be paid for alleged changes to its scope of work. The owner made a familiar argument: Read the article…………………………….
Transition
- 765 ILCS 160/1-50: 4 Things Every Illinois Common Interest Community Association Board Needs to Know About Developer TurnoverDeveloper turnover is a pivotal phase for any Illinois Common Interest Community Association. 765 ILCS 160/1-50 of the Illinois Common Interest Community Association Act (“CICAA”) governs the requirements for transitioning a common interest community association from developer control to homeowner control. Ensuring a smooth transition requires preparation and an understanding of the legal requirements under the Common Interest Community Association Act. Below are four critical aspects every new homeowners association board must know about developer turnover to ensure that a new volunteer board gets off to a good start! Read the article…………………………….
- Builder turns over HOA to homeowners, some neighbors clashThe builder of a fairly new neighborhood recently turned over the Homeowners Association (HOA) to the homeowners, and there’s been drama. In July, the developer turned the HOA over to the people living in Fox Chase in Denver. Nick Cox has been very vocal against the board. “Emotionally, I’m deflated,” he said. “Has just been like a dictatorship.” Read the article…………………………….
- Housing Counsel: Good Transition for Successful CommunityQuestion: I am serving on the Board of Directors of my community association and this is a critical time for us. We are a new community facing a transition from developer control. What steps — legal and practical — should we take so that this process will be successful? Read the Q&A………………………………..
- 5 Signs You Need A New HOA Management CompanyYour Homeowners Association (HOA) management company plays a critical role in maintaining the value and appeal of your community. They handle everything from financial management and administrative tasks to property maintenance and homeowner communication. But what happens when your HOA management company isn’t meeting your needs? How do you know when it’s time to make a change? Read the article…………………………….
Buying/Selling
- What Is an HOA? How Homeowners Associations WorkHomeowners associations (HOAs) are private groups that create legally enforceable rules about what you and your neighbors can and can’t do with your property. Despite their portrayal in pop culture, HOAs aren’t always a nitpicky suburban hive mind. HOA fees pay for neighborhood maintenance and amenities, such as landscaping and parks. And most Americans living in community arrangements (including HOAs) are satisfied with them, Read the article…………………………….
- A Maintenance Checklist for Property OwnersEach state, including Massachusetts, has laws and regulations surrounding maintenance inspections for apartment buildings and homeowner associations. A property manager will help schedule these inspections, ensuring that all elements of a building are working properly and are up to standards. When you enlist the help of a property manager for maintenance inspections, make sure they are checking up on these eight elements. Read the article…………………………….
- South Florida condo sales sputtered in 2024 with more sellers forced to drop pricesPalm Beach County’s condominium and townhome market limped through 2024 still suffering aftershocks from the Surfside tragedy and facing higher insurance costs that led to the lowest number of deals closing in at least a decade. Read the article…………………………….
- Condos—a Key Source of Affordable Housing for Homeowners—Are in JeopardySince condos became popular in the 1970s, more than 11 million condominiums have been built, spurred by the idea that buyers can purchase a condominium for less than the cost of a single-family house while enjoying low-maintenance living. The apparent affordability is made possible by buyers sharing ownership of the land and common areas, from roofs to furnaces, while owning a unit typically smaller than a single-family home. Read the article…………………………….
- Smart Moves: Selling a Condo: A Few Pointers for OwnersAn investment analyst in Miami is keen to sell the one-bedroom condo he bought in March 2020 right after the pandemic hit. At the time, he was single and giddy about leaving his dreary New Jersey neighborhood for remote work in Florida and a more relaxed lifestyle. Read the article…………………………….