By Paul Bannister • Bankrate.com One of every five Americans lives under rules and regulations that could confiscate their homes from them, remove their right to privacy and take away their freedom of expression. Neither Congress, the police nor local governments can do … Continue reading
By Michele Lerner • Bankrate.com Highlights One benefit of an HOA is fewer responsibilities for maintenance. A drawback is the lack of individuality afforded by HOA rules. Associations charge fees, which vary according to breadth of services. Homeowners associations aren’t for everyone. … Continue reading
Evan McKenzie – March 27, 2013 I testified at the Maryland State Senate hearing yesterday in support of S.B. 1062. The hearing was long and emotional at times, as unit owners told how they have been subjected to foreclosure actions by association … Continue reading
By Cindy George — March 27, 2013 Charles Babineaux, whose tug-of-war with his Harris County HOA was the subject of the Chronicle’s March 16 Houston Advocate story, learned this week that he can keep his security door. According to a letter from … Continue reading
By Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel posted: March 25, 2013 The developer of the half-built Bimini Bay resort in Davenport withdrew more than $16,000 from the homeowner association’s accounts the same day he was arrested earlier this month and accused of stealing from … Continue reading
March 15, 2013 We’re smack dab in the middle of the Session that ends at midnight on May 27th. Still plenty of time for any bill to pass, and for any bill to morph into something different. We now have … Continue reading
Lauren Ritchie COMMENTARY March 17, 2013 Sixteen homes, 16 sets of panicked owners. The residents of a Leesburg subdivision that went belly up during the real-estate bust face a financial dilemma that’s the result of greedy investors, a failure by … Continue reading
Proposed Texas HOA/COA Laws – 2013 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE: Business & IndustryTIME & DATE: 1:30 PM or upon final adjourn./recess Tuesday, March 26, 2013 PLACE: E2.014 CHAIR: Rep. René Oliveira Condo Owners: HB 2075 listed for … Continue reading
By Cindy George – March 15, 2013 — Houston Chronicle Burglars, be forewarned. You’ll hurt yourselves trying to break through the doors on Charles Babineaux’s house. In 2007, he was among the first homeowners in Brunswick Meadows – a subdivision … Continue reading
By: George Staropoli As an alternate to making HOA governments a state entity, the creation and establishment of a bona fide, legitimate state agency established by an effective and meaningful enabling act will accomplish HOA reforms. Couple the clear and … Continue reading
Pamela Dittmer McKuen Community Living March 15, 2013 Chicago Tribune: It’s complicated evicting delinquent owners After months of trying to collect past-due assessments, your community association has a court order to evict the delinquent owner. Now what? You rent out … Continue reading
By Frank Cerabino Palm Beach Post Staff Writer If you think the shenanigans with Florida elections are bad at the state or county level, you’ll really be impressed with the major-league artistry of a shady condo election. Take the case … Continue reading
By: Evan Axelbank – March 16, 2013 BOCA RATON, Fla. – Every single home in the Boca Quay gated community got a letter saying that skateboards, roller blades, bicycles, scooters, toys and ball playing are not permitted in roadways, walkways … Continue reading
Orange County Register: Condo owners win secondhand smoke case Published: March 12, 2013 By Marilyn Kalfus An Orange County jury has found a homeowners association negligent for failing to resolve a secondhand smoke dispute between neighbors at a Trabuco Canyon … Continue reading
By Mary Shanklin — March 7, 2013 A standoff of sorts has occurred at the gates of one of the region’s most prestigious country clubs. Alaqua resident David Acosta owes as much as $100,000, possibly a record for the Orlando area, … Continue reading
March 2, 2013 By David M. Bendoff Q. I am a unit owner in a homeowner’s association. The association’s attorney attended a board meeting to discuss several issues with the board. During a homeowner’s forum, I asked … Continue reading
Mar. 1, 2013 11:33 PM By Trevor Hughes A Fort Collins property manager accused of stealing $75,000 in rents from her clients has been arrested. Sherry Jefcoat, also known as Sherry Eichman, was the owner of Legend Property Management Real … Continue reading
Posted: 5:59 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 Kissimmee police said a thief now has the bank account information for thousands of people who belong to a homeowners’ association. A property management company for six communities in Osceola, Orange and Polk … Continue reading
By Jim Sanders The Sacramento Bee Published: Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013 Millions of Californians would not be able to smoke tobacco inside their own homes under new legislation that would raise the bar nationwide for fighting secondhand smoke. No state … Continue reading
February 27, 2013 Incoming Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino brings a very personal perspective on homeowners associations to the Colorado General Assembly when it convenes next week. He’s not a fan. In fact, when I mentioned HOAs to Ferrandino … Continue reading
By George K. Staropoli February 27, 2013 The following is my comment to a post by Evan McKenzie on his Privatopia Papers blog, Las Vegas HOA corruption probe continues. In his post, Prof. McKenzie raised the question of federal congressional … Continue reading
I was on Nevada Public Radio the other day with the state ombudsperson, an HOA lawyer, and an owner advocate. It was a good conversation. But there was something that kept going through my mind that I never got a … Continue reading
By Jeff German LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Posted: Feb. 24, 2013 Federal prosecutors have charged nearly 40 conspirators in the scheme to take over Las Vegas Valley homeowners associations. But more than four years after the investigation became public, they still … Continue reading
By Paul Squire | 02/24/2013 More than a year after three homeowners at a 55-and-older community in Calverton filed a petition against their homeowners association alleging the group broke state law, a state Supreme Court justice has ruled against the … Continue reading
By Jennifer Sorentrue Palm Beach Post Staff Writer – February 9, 2013 A small group of Century Village residents has called for the removal of the retirement community’s president, alleging the 7,000-unit condominium complex in suburban West Palm Beach has … Continue reading
By Michael E. Miller Thursday, Feb 21 2013 Icon South Beach Residents Angry After Board Prez Cashed $113,000 in Checks “and they are paying out tips in cash to avoid taxes?” Florida history is full of condominium-related corruption, including board … Continue reading
By: Beanie Adolph Buying into an HOA is far worse than co-signing a note with strangers. A note has a fixed amount, defined terms, and can be paid off. In an HOA there is a lien that can never be … Continue reading
Texas is just like Arizona- the CAI controls the legislature. From George Staropoli: Observations on AZ legislative treatment of HOA reform bills If you listen carefully to the HB 2371 sponsor and committee chair explain her bill you would hear the familiar … Continue reading
By Carole VanSickle – February 19, 2013 Vacation-home buyers are finding it harder and harder to finance their purchases, even with good credit and a healthy down payment. In some cases, the culprit behind their lenders’ skittishness is not even … Continue reading
February 18, 2013 Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) – Fraudulent, dishonest and criminal. Those are the words used to describe an HOA President and his cohorts. They’re accused in a lawsuit of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the homeowners … Continue reading
By: Tamara Sone – The Desert Sun – February 18, 2013 RANCHO MIRAGE — What began as a routine Homeowners Association meeting turned into something resembling a WWE wrestling brawl on Sunday at The Springs Country Club in Rancho Mirage. According … Continue reading
By Jeff German – LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL – February 4, 2013 A key player in the massive scheme to take over Las Vegas Valley homeowners associations pleaded guilty in federal court Monday. Ralph Priola, 46, a confidant of former construction boss Leon … Continue reading
By Brian Sullivan – February 1, 2013 There’s a mindset that craves the acquisition of any kind of authority and takes full—even excessive—advantage of it. Individuals afflicted with said mindset tend to amplify the significance of insignificant matters and insist, … Continue reading
February 11, 2013 BAREFOOT BAY, Fla. —A turf war is unfolding in Brevard County. A couple who re-landscaped their yard to save water has run afoul of a homeowners’ association. It’s demanding the couple put in St. Augustine grass. Bill … Continue reading
February 12, 2013 Lexology.com: Property owners are entitled to fee award arising from invalid claims made by homeowners association Barger & Wolen LLP David J. McMahon February 12, 2013 In Grossman v. Park Fort Washington Association, 2013 DAR 747 (2013), … Continue reading
February 13, 2013 VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Volusia County deputy has been suspended after being arrested on grand-theft charges. Investigators said the arrest didn’t involve any actions on the job, but while he was the president of a homeowners’ association … Continue reading
February 9, 2013 $1,356,880 Awarded Homeowners; $616,678 for Attorney Fees Houston – Years of frustration and lawsuits finally ended Friday February 8, 2013, when a group of homeowners at The Landing Condominium in El Lago, Texas, won their case before … Continue reading
By Justin Jouvenal – Feb 10, 2013 02:13 AM EST The feud that consumed Fairfax County’s Olde Belhaven would span four years and cost the community as much as $400,000, and it was ignited by one of the smallest of sparks: … Continue reading
By Fred Grimm – February 2, 2013 It doesn’t much matter if developers employ lowdown tactics; if they wheedle, cajole, bully, induce, mislead, secretly manipulate, pay off — whatever it takes to wrest approval for controversial projects. Unseemly, it turns out, … Continue reading
The small vegetable garden that had an Orange County man’s property management company threatening to remove it will get to stay for now. According to Bonnie Buyea, her family received an email on Tuesday from the Fairways Country Club park … Continue reading
ca5.uscourts.gov – February 08, 2013 “Thus, we hold that MCTA’s right to collect assessments is not a compensable interest under the Takings Clause, and that MCTA was not entitled to compensation for the loss of its assessment base.” This decision … Continue reading
By Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel – February 6, 2013 Homeowners behind on their community-association dues would have to make good on the full amount before fighting the charges, under proposed legislation that would also bring state oversight to Florida’s homeowner associations. Sen. … Continue reading
By: George Staropoli, February 5, 2013 Citizens For Constitutional Local Government, Phoenix, AZ The legal doctrine of Monell claims appears to be suited for those instances where public policy permits violations of constitutional rights under 42 US 1983, “Civil action … Continue reading
By Jack Fink – February 4, 2013 DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Residents at the Sable Ridge Condominium complex say they’ll never forget the sound. Michael Issa says the eight gunshots that rang out Monday morning scared him. “I just know I heard … Continue reading
By Dan Carden – January 31, 2013 INDIANAPOLIS | Seeking to rein in tyrannical homeowners associations, the Indiana House on Thursday voted 93-3 for legislation requiring the financial and communications records of homeowners associations be made available to all association … Continue reading
Summerchase’s HOA president told we could not attend that meeting to ask questions. By: Archith Seshadri – WJBF News Channel 6 – January 31, 2013 Augusta, GA — People who live in one Richmond County neighborhood want to know how their Homeowners … Continue reading
The Illinois Supreme Court essentially has ruled that private security officers can exercise real police powers By: newssun.suntimes.com – January 31, 2013 The Illinois Supreme Court essentially has ruled that private security officers can exercise real police powers. We think the … Continue reading