NOLO.com
NOLO.com has compiled an excellent list of articles from its web site. “Living Under a Homeowners’ Association”
General Information for Owners
- Can I Sue My HOA for Emotional Distress? (CA) January 17, 2025Can you sue your HOA for emotional distress? The answer to that question is an easy one—Yes. What it takes to do so, however, is much more complicated and nuanced. Disputes between California homeowners and their HOAs can, and often do, escalate into significant legal battles. In some cases, homeowners may consider pursuing emotional distress damages against their HOAs. This article examines the feasibility of such claims, focusing on the legal framework, challenges, and practical considerations associated with making and ...
- The Importance of Homeowners in an Association Following The Rules and Regulations January 15, 2025Living in a community offers a unique blend of private homeownership and shared responsibilities. Associations are typically governed by rules and regulations outlined in documents such as the bylaws, covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). These rules are designed to maintain order, protect property values, and ensure a harmonious living environment for all residents. Read the article…………………………….
- Life on The Other Side – A Resident’s Candid Take on Condo Living and Community Governance (FL) January 15, 2025Everyone knows that boards and management are the decision makers in community associations—but what’s it like to be on the receiving end of those choices? In this week’s episode of Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger flips the script with a guest who provides a candid look at life within a condominium association where he believes things are going awry. Listen to the podcast…………………………..
- What should you do if the HOA sues you in Florida? January 13, 2025If you’re a homeowner in Florida and your Homeowners Association (HOA) has filed a lawsuit against you, it’s essential to stay calm and take immediate action. While it’s a serious situation, there are steps you can take to protect your rights and interests. Here’s what you need to know. Read the article…………………………….
- What To Do if the Condominium Above You Has a Water Leak January 10, 2025You’re at home in your condominium, minding your own business when you notice a leak in your ceiling, coming from the unit above. What do you do? It’s scary to have any damage in your home—and frustrating when it happens through no fault of your own—but damage to shared walls (and ceilings/floors) is not uncommon in townhomes and condos. Read the article…………………………….
- What Your Condo Fees Actually Pay For January 6, 2025If you live in a community of single-family homes, you might find yourself paying monthly or annual homeowner’s association (HOA) fees. If you live in a condominium community, you’ll instead be on the hook for condo fees. While the two fees aren’t totally interchangeable, they do serve similar purposes, and they can add — sometimes quite a bit — to your costs as a homeowner. Read the article…………………………….
Owners – General Information Archives
New Owners
- How HOA Boards Can Successfully Navigate New Resident Move-Ins December 27, 2024As new faces arrive with their hopes and dreams packed in moving boxes, existing residents bid farewell to familiar neighbors and shared memories. The ebb and flow of people in a community can either strengthen its foundation or shake it to its core. With each move-in comes the potential for a fresh perspective, new connections, and revitalized energy. Read the article…………………………….
- What Should Be In Your HOA Welcome Letter September 9, 2024Moving into a new home is a whirlwind of excitement, packing, and adjustments — and if your new home is part of a homeowners association (HOA) community, there’s an added layer of information to process. A comprehensive, thoughtfully crafted HOA welcome letter is a fantastic way to ease the transition for new homeowners and demonstrate your HOA’s commitment to a welcoming community. Read the article…………………………….
- Tips For Creating An HOA Welcome Letter & Packet September 7, 2024The HOA welcome letter and packet are essential tools for welcoming new homeowners into your community. This initial communication sets the stage for a positive relationship between the resident and the homeowners association (HOA). A well-designed HOA welcome packet ensures new homeowners transition smoothly into the community by providing key information, outlining expectations, and fostering a sense of belonging. Read the article…………………………….
- Tips for Hosting New Resident Orientations July 11, 2023Moving into a new community is exciting. But it can also be intimidating. Hosting a new resident orientation is a thoughtful gesture to make new neighbors feel welcome. It will also acclimate them to your association’s bylaws and prevent unintentional infractions. Here are 8 tips for hosting new resident orientations that guests enjoy and that serve your association’s purposes. Read the article………………………..
- First HOA Meeting? Here’s What to Expect April 20, 2023A knowledgeable homeowner is a helpful homeowner. If you’re new to an HOA community, then you may not know what to expect when it comes to meetings held by the board. In this guide, we’ll cover what to expect when attending your first HOA meeting as a homeowner. Read the article………………………..
- Moving Into an HOA Neighborhood? Make Sure You Know These 20 Things April 13, 2023Homeowners associations, or HOAs, have seen a huge surge in popularity over the past few decades. Over a quarter of the U.S. population today is part of an HOA, and 67% of newly completed homes in 2021 were part of HOAs, a massive increase over 2011, when only 18% of homes were part of them. Read the article………………………..
Insurance for Owners
- Liberty Mutual plans to exit state’s condo, rental insurance markets in 2026 (CA) January 19, 2025The garden in Brian Wallace’s backyard is a little slice of peace within San Francisco’s busy cityscape. He owns a condo in SOMA, a place that’s about as far removed from wildfire danger as one can get. Yet, like so many Californians, Wallace has felt the grips of the insurance crisis. “It cannot get any more serious than it is now,” he said. “We were with Farmers for about 20 years or so. They dropped us – although we never ...
- Exclusive data shows which home insurers have most policies in L.A. fire areas (CA) January 16, 2025Two insurers — State Farm General and the California FAIR Plan — cover more homes in the areas where the Los Angeles fires have burned than any others, according to a Chronicle analysis. They’re also the two insurers experts are most concerned could run out of money after a major fire. Read the article…………………………….
- They lost their home insurance policies. Then came the fires (CA) January 13, 2025Last year, Francis Bischetti said he learned that the annual cost of the homeowners policy he buys from Farmers Insurance for his Pacific Palisades home was going to soar from $4,500 to $18,000 — an amount he could not possibly afford. Read the article…………………………….
- LA fires just latest disaster prompting home insurers to drop coverage, raise rates January 12, 2025Wildfires leveling parts of Los Angeles. Hurricanes devastating Florida and the Carolinas. Floods around the Passaic River, Meadowlands and Jersey Shore. Nearly half of all homes across the nation — worth almost $22 trillion — face at least one type of severe or extreme climate risk, ranging from flooding to wind, wildfire, heat and air quality, according to a report last year by Realtor.com. Read the article…………………………….
- Central Florida homeowners join rising trend, opting out of property insurance January 12, 2025“Right now, 20 percent of homeowners in Florida have opted to self insure and remain uninsured,” said Divya Sangam, an insurance expert and spokeswoman with ValuePenguin, a Lending Tree research site that conducted a data analysis of the Florida insurance crisis. Read the article…………………………….
- Frustrated Clear Lake residents discuss skyrocketing homeowners’ insurance rates, demand regulations (TX) January 9, 2025They hope to live there as long as they can but fear they’re being priced out. Brian Smith said their current insurance provider, Texas Fair Plan Association, will drop their coverage in April. Brian and Jenna Smith have lived in their La Porte home for 11 years. Their current insurance provider, Texas Fair Plan Association, will drop their homeowners insurance coverage in April. They’ve been on the hunt for another provider but most of the companies they’ve reached out to aren’t ...
Insurance for Owners Article Archives
Buying/Selling Your Unit/Home in an Association
- HOA Resale Certificate: What Is It & What’s It For? (TX) January 16, 2025When you’re buying or selling a property within a homeowners association (HOA), a Texas HOA resale certificate is crucial for a smooth transaction. This document provides valuable information about the financial health and rules of the community. In this article, we’ll explore the HOA resale certificate, Texas rules, why it’s essential, and how it impacts both buyers and sellers in Texas. Read the article…………………………….
- HOA vs. CDD: Why You Need To Understand the Difference January 13, 2025The California wildfires have killed at least 24 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures—and not just celebrity homes and mansions. A number of those structures were privately controlled complexes, where residents were required to pay monthly dues to the homeowners association, or HOA. Those who live and own HOA properties, like condos and townhouses, have very different options in terms of rebuilding next steps. The same goes for those who live in community development districts, or CDDs. Read ...
- New Florida condo laws force South Florida residents to sell January 7, 2025Rising repair costs spurred by new Florida condominium laws are driving some South Florida homeowners to sell, including residents of Springbrook Gardens, a condo building on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The Springbrook Gardens owners voted to sell their units after being unable to meet a $4.5 million repair bill to shore up the building’s foundation. Read the article…………………………….
- Cracking the Code of Condo Sales: A Deep Dive into Selling Your Condo (CO) December 31, 2024Selling a condo is not just about placing a property on the market; it is entangled with market trends, buyer expectations, and regulations particular to condos. In order to sell profitably, one has to go about the process with preparation, insight, and adaptability. The unique strategies and actionable insights within this guide go beyond the basics of condo sales. Read the article…………………………….
- How condo conversions are gaining traction in South Florida December 26, 2024Developers say the South Florida housing market is better-positioned now to offer condos. Condo conversions also are planned in cities such as Hollywood and Dania Beach. With the potential for lower mortgage rates, some would-be homeowners may find a better opportunity to buy. Read the article…………………………….
- Racial housing discrimination over Virginia Beach condo sale focus of new $1.3 million nationwide education campaign (VA) December 23, 2024A woman who was the victim of racial housing discrimination after attempting to purchase a condo in Virginia Beach will be the face of a $1.3 million federally funded nationwide campaign to educate others about housing resources. Read the article…………………………….
Buying/Selling Article Archives
Working With Boards
- Rogue Board Members: Who Are They? How Do We Manage Them? (ON) August 15, 2024The condominium Industry is full of many challenges. These challenges can range from buildings with major structural issues, to monetary issues, to manager shortages, and even clashes between unit owners. One area that a challenge may not be anticipated is within the dynamics of the Board. Often, the Board of Directors of a Condominium tries to portray themselves as a united front, but behind the scenes, there can be a great deal of conflict. This conflict can be caused by ...
- Condominiums: Drowning in Official Records Requests – How to Respond to Overwhelming Requests from Unit Owners (FL) August 7, 2024A recurring concern raised by managers and board members alike involves overwhelming requests for inspection of official records by unit owners. In many cases, official records requests have become so extensive and time-consuming that they interfere with the normal day-to-day operations of an association. Associations must strike a balance between their statutory obligation to allow for the inspection of official records and their ability to conduct business. Read the article…………………………….
- How to voice out your concerns about HOA dues increase May 16, 2024When you live in a community managed by a Homeowners Association (HOA), you understand your responsibility to pay regular dues to help maintain the quality of your neighborhood. However, a significant increase in contributions might seem suspicious, especially when the change was not communicated properly to you. As a homeowner, you have the right to question your HOA’s actions. Read the article…………………………….
- How to Oust Your Condo Board or HOA March 27, 2024Close to 30% of Americans live in a property governed by a condo board, homeowners association (HOA), or other community association—more than 70 million people. These associations are generally responsible for property upkeep, enforcement of community rules, and acting as a go-between for residents when disputes arise. Most people have a good or at least neutral experience with their condo board or HOA, but not everyone does. Read the article…………………………….
- Elevate Your Co-op Board Game (NY) December 3, 2023Ever found yourself navigating the tricky waters of a coop board with that one steadfast but hesitant volunteer? Picture this: a decision hangs in the balance, and despite the collective will of the board, this one individual assumes/ possesses the power to halt, delay, or even stop progress. Read the article…………………………….
- How To Effectively File A Complaint To Make Sure HOA, Co-Op Board, Or Landlord Listens October 30, 2023Making a complaint to your HOA, co-op board, or landlord can be frustrating because you can’t ever be sure they will actually listen to you. Sometimes, the complaint process can be worse than the problem itself. We’ve all dealt with the nightmare of noisy neighbors, the random rent increases that mess with our budgets, or the deadly black mold hiding in the bathroom. Read the article………………………………