2008 was remarkable for the fact that the California Legislature did not pass much in the way of new legislation impacting or affecting California Community Associations. We are providing a summary of two changes to the California Civil Code regarding fines/assessments and solar energy that became effective as of January…
HOA Law Blog
2008 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report – Foreclosure Activity Increases 81% in 2008
2008 was a banner year and for all of the wrong reasons. Foreclosure activity was way up, and the experts project that we will not see a decline in foreclosures in the near future. RealtyTrac® (realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, released its 2008 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report™,…
Pool Safety Subject of New Federal Law
On December 16th, we posted a blog entry regarding the new the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (“Act”). The Act is a federal law that took effect December 20, 2008. It requires owners of “public” pools (the Act refers to spas as well) with submerged suction drains…
SANDRA GOTTLIEB AWARDED SPEAKER OF THE YEAR
SANDRA GOTTLIEB AWARDED SPEAKER OF THE YEAR BY THE SACRAMENTO CHAPTER OF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS INSTITUTE On December 4, 2008, Sandra Gottlieb (and other members of her panel) was awarded the coveted Speaker of the Year Honors by the Sacramento Chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI) for her role in a…
THE HOMEOWNER FILED BANKRUPTCY; FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM
With the world’s economy in turmoil and a significant increase in the unemployment rate, experts are forecasting a big increase in the number of bankruptcy filings in 2009. If your Association receives a Notice of Bankruptcy filing by one of its owners, don’t panic as there are some remedies. But…
Drain Rule May Close Thousands of Pools
Reported by the Associated Press WASHINGTON (Dec. 16) — Unless new anti-drowning drain covers are installed, tens of thousands of public swimming pools and hot tubs could be forced to close Saturday under a sweeping law designed to prevent drain suction from trapping children underwater. The rules apply to pools…
Condominium Bluebook’s “Model Election Rules” Cannot be Utilized Without Compliance with the Civil Code and the Association’s Governing Documents
The 2009 Condominium Bluebook by Branden Bickel and D. Andrew Sirkin has been published and will soon be available to the general public. The Bluebook is a useful tool for California homeowner associations, providing quick reference to state statutes and court cases, as well as useful forms for required notices…
Foreclosure Crisis Leaves HOA Dues Unpaid
Interesting news report on NPR (National Public Radio) on the effect that this financial crisis is having on community associations: Homeowners associations across the country are being hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. Millions of dollars of monthly dues are going unpaid. Neighbors are left to pick up the tab…
Residents Are Falling Behind On Association Fees-Risk Losing Homes
Click here to read an interesting article discussing what we all know, that some owners cannot afford their homes and are not paying their regular or special assessments. They may lose their homes. And this comes from North Carolina.
Increasing Your Association’s Chance of Collecting Unpaid Assessments During the Economic Crisis
Our country and most of the rest of the world are in an economic recession, and we are all suffering the fallout from the most significant and severe economic crisis since the Great Depression. Major corporations are filing bankruptcy and are going out of business, banks are being taken over…