In today’s tough economic times, many associations are struggling to pay their expenses due to several delinquent homeowner accounts and, oftentimes, overlook the importance of enforcing their covenants.
The board of directors for an association has a fiduciary obligation to ensure that homeowners are complying with the covenants contained in the governing documents. Covenant enforcement…
You will remember from a recent posting that we discussed the new Fannie Mae guidelines, and the anticipated HUD regulations. As noted, HUD did in fact adopt new temporary regulations that went into effect on December 7, 2009, and remain effective until December 31, 2010, at which time the new permanent HUD regulations will become effective. The new HUD temporary regulations are found in HUD Mortgagee Letter 2009-46 A, and can be found here. The new HUD permanent regulations are found in HUD Mortgagee Letter 2009-46 B, and can be found here. It is important to note that condominium projects under developer control and under construction or being converted have different standards. This posting does not address those standards.Continue Reading New Lending Rules Continued – HUD Requirements
The fallout from our current economic crisis is hitting all of us, sometimes in ways we least expect. While many homeowners are struggling to hold onto their homes, many are faced with the prospect of having to sell. In the present economy, that is difficult enough. However, for those whose homes are condominiums, Fannie Mae has implemented new guidelines that can make it more difficult than previously to complete a sale. HUD has adopted similar new temporary regulations which went into effect on December 7, 2009 and remain effective until December 31. 2010, at which time more restrictive permanent regulations become effective.Continue Reading New Lending Rules – Fannie Mae and HUD
But we are all just volunteers! We all have regular jobs to do too! They can’t expect us to do everything!
We are surprised by the number of times that we’ve heard these statements from board members when they are being challenged for actions they’ve taken, or decisions they’ve made. However, Colorado law does not make any explicit distinction between board members who are volunteers as compared to board members who receive compensation for serving on the board (such as for other types of non-profit corporations).Continue Reading Duties of Volunteer Directors – What Do They Want From Us?
With record rainfalls this season, Colorado community associations and managers have stayed busy responding to reports of water intrusion and hail damage. After the immediate excitement subsides, our phones start ringing. Managers and board members typically ask us some variation of the following questions about insurance:
Is the association or the owner responsible for insurance coverage? This question often arises in the context of condominium and townhome communities, and the answer depends on what the governing documents and controlling statutory provisions say. Often, the documents do not give clear guidance on which party bears the burden for insuring specific components, hence the call to the attorneys. The answers sometimes come as a surprise to uneducated owners and even association boards.
We recommend that associations evaluate insurance obligations with legal counsel and their insurance professionals to ensure proper coverage and to enable clear communication with owners about what coverage applies. Through the preparation of insurance and maintenance charts that summarize association and owner obligations, and the adoption of insurance guidelines that state insurance coverage responsibilities and provide step-by-step procedures for reporting and handling claims, associations can proactively educate owners and reduce confusion when losses occur.Continue Reading Rain, Rain, Go Away — All this damage … who will pay?
The 2009 legislative session began with relatively few bills affecting Colorado common interest communities. But the last few weeks of the session more than made up for the slow start. New laws concerning community association governance do the following: (i) mandate that association boards have access to extensive, specific information to assist with their decision-making, (ii) establish qualifications for individuals serving as committee chairs, and (iii) require policies concerning reserve programs. Other laws enacted but not discussed in this article include restrictions on affordable housing units, modifications to foreclosure time frames for some borrowers, and changes to provisions of the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act applicable to small, exempt communities. The table below gives a summary of the new laws affecting association governance, the action required by associations, and the effective dates of the laws.Continue Reading New Laws Affect Association Governance
We have all heard from time to time about an association manager or officer who gets caught with his hand (or more) in the association’s cookie jar. The most recent account making headlines has to do with a manager in Virginia who has been convicted of stealing $3 million from over 350 different homeowners associations. We shake our heads and are thankful that our association isn’t the victim of such a potentially disastrous crime. But sometimes, it is just a matter of luck that our association hasn’t suffered such a loss, or we are lucky that everybody providing services to the association is trustworthy.Continue Reading Fiscal Irresponsibility In Your Association? Embezzlement and What You Can Do to Help Prevent It
The towing of illegally parked vehicles is a topic that is regularly brought to our attention. In most instances, the problem involves a commercial vehicle, motor home, trailer or truck that that is parked in violation of the Association’s covenants or rules. It may also involve a vehicle that appears to have been abandoned or is not properly registered with the State of Colorado. In more egregious instances, the vehicle is parked illegally in a designated handicap parking space or fire lane. In any instance, the question is: “Can we tow the illegally parked vehicle?Continue Reading Towing of Illegally Parked Vehicles
Continue Reading Holiday Decorations And The Fair Housing Act
Why are we writing about swimming pool safety in the fall? One reason only – the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Effective December 19, 2008 this federal law requires that homeowners associations with community pools take certain actions intended to reduce the risk of injury caused by the pool’s drainage and suction systems.Continue Reading Pool Safety in the Fall
