Just a few minutes ago, Governor Hickenlooper signed House Bill 11-1124 (“HB 1124”) into law. As you know from recent blog postings, HB 1124 addresses the Conflicts of Interest Policy that community associations in Colorado are required to adopt.
In particular, HB 1124 requires that a Conflicts of Interest Policy must contain the following provisions:Continue Reading HB 1124 Signed Into Law – Take Advantage of Our Free Conflicts of Interest Policy Review!
The San Diego Union-Tribune recently reported on a 70 year old woman who likes to spend time in her garage knitting, watching a little Jeopardy on TV and visiting with neighbors. Marilyn Weber, a resident of Villa Portofino Association (“HOA”), hangs out in her garage around 4 to 5 hours a day. “I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t hang out in my garage, I think I’d go crazy,” she said. “All my friends come over to this space. It if wasn’t for them I would feel isolated.”
Mrs. Weber’s HOA doesn’t feel the same way. In fact, the HOA has fined Mrs. Weber $120.00 so far for using her garage as a living space. Evidently, the HOA’s governing documents say: “No structure of a temporary character, trailer, basement, tent, shack, garage, barn or other outbuilding shall be used on any lot as a residence, either temporary or permanently.” Continue Reading Get Out of the Garage – NOW!
Frequently Asked Questions for FHA Clients during a Government Shutdown:
The following HUD/FHA Information Resources will be available during a government shutdown:
·HUD/FHA Resource Center: (800) 225-5342
·HUD/FHA National Servicing Center: (877) 622-8525
·HUD’s primary internet site: http://www.hud.gov (but will not be updated)
·The Resource Center FAQ site: http://www.fhaoutreach.gov/FHAFAQ
HUD/FHA staff will not be available to respond to case specific questions. All questions that cannot be answered by contract staff at the Resource Center and the NSC will be deferred until the government re-opens.
Please be aware that HUD Staff will not be available to process incoming mail during a government shutdown so business partners should suspend shipment of documents and approval packages during the term of the shutdown. The following are examples of such documents: Submission of FHA Test Cases, HRAP condominium approval packages, NAID requests, etc. Continue Reading HUD Publishes Frequently Asked Questions in Case of Government Shut Down
I think it’s safe to say that it’s impossible to truly appreciate the beautiful things in life until you have first experienced a nasty, mud-slinging fight at an HOA meeting. Come on now – you know what I’m talking about. Here’s how this goes:
Pre-Meeting Strategy Session
Prior to the meeting even beginning, we have to meet to plan our attack. Do we all sit together? Do we spread out all over the meeting room? Do we take over the meeting from the board? Who should attack first? Do we play “good cop/bad cop?” Should we send out a one-sided flyer to the homeowners prior to the meeting to get them all revved-up? Continue Reading Sit Down and Shut Up!
Senate Bill 11-234 (“SB 234”), which was granted late bill status, has just been introduced in the Colorado Senate. After months of negotiations between stakeholders, SB 234 was introduced to address concerns relating to residential transfer fees, to protect equity in homes and to promote the sale of residential real estate.
SB 234, as currently written, provides as follows: Continue Reading Transfer Fee Bill Just Introduced in Colorado General Assembly
I have a confession to make – I’m addicted to the news. It’s pretty common for me to have the remote control for the TV in hand as I rapidly surf from news program to news program. I was in the zone Saturday morning with a cup of coffee in one hand and my trusted clicker in the other when I couldn’t get away from news accounts of an association in Florida that is proposing a ban on kids playing outside. With a nuclear plant on the verge of a meltdown in Japan, a civil war raging in Libya and Charlie Sheen kicking off his “Torpedo of Truth Tour,” why on earth was there so much press coverage about this HOA?
The fact is, whenever an HOA is perceived to be acting in an abusive manner the press will cover the story long and hard. In this particular case, a 48 unit townhouse association is proposing a ban on minors playing outside without adult supervision. In addition,ParentDish reports the proposed rule would prohibit kids from “playing tag, skateboarding, riding Big Wheels or using toys considered loud or obnoxious.” Continue Reading Put Away Your Bikes Kids and Get in the House!
I just heard from Henry that the Happy Hollows HOA Board of Directors held a meeting last night and didn’t tell anyone about it. I bet they couldn’t afford that fancy snow removal service they hired for the winter and are going to cut down on the hours the pool is open to save money. They better not be planning to increase assessments!
Did you hear the Board appointed a committee to look into landscaping issues? I heard the Board President’s brother owns a landscaping company. Do you think this is some sort of scheme to give him a contract? I bet the Board President will get a kick-back on that deal!Continue Reading Stop the Insanity With Open Meetings!
The Aurora Sentinel published a story yesterday entitled Know where to turn when you have HOA nightmares. The story chronicles the troubles of a handful of residents of an HOA in Aurora. The complaints range from allegations of unfair late fees to retaliatory board members to inconsistent enforcement of covenants. Management for the HOA responded that the Board of Directors is following the governing documents in a consistent manner and homeowners are invited to address the Board as long as it’s done respectfully.
Unfortunately, these dynamics play themselves out every day in HOAs across the country. But it doesn’t have to be that way! The one thing we know for sure is boards of directors and homeowners must work together to create vibrant, healthy, livable and harmonious communities. Here are examples of how this works:Continue Reading Harmony in HOAs – It’s a Two-Way Street
As we announced in our blog posting earlier today, the Colorado Senate just passed House Bill 11-1124 (“HB 1124”) which will soon be sent to Governor Hickenlooper for consideration. Since we expect the Governor to sign the bill into law, there’s no time like the present to make sure your HOA’s Conflicts of Interest Policy complies with the requirements of the bill.Continue Reading Free Conflicts of Interest Policy Review!
The Colorado Senate just passed House Bill 11-1124 ("HB 1124") without amendments on a 23 to 11 vote. As we more fully described in our March 22nd blog posting, the bill enumerates the provisions which must be present in the conflicts of interest policy that every homeowners’ association ("HOA") in Colorado is required to adopt. In addition, HB 1124 requires that an…
