By Ian Cummings

Thursday May 15, 2014

SARASOTA – A simmering feud between a downtown club owner and a nearby condo association is headed for court. As promised earlier this year, Ivory Lounge owner Ambrish Piare has filed a lawsuit against the Plaza at Five Points Condominium Association, claiming the group has gone too far in trying to get his business shut down.  Read more:

By Shaun Bevan

May 16, 2014

Six Miami residents, including three former loan officers, pleaded guilty this week to participating in a fraud scheme that sold condo units to straw buyers, causing millions of dollars in losses to lenders.

Leidy Masvidal, 42, of Miami pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud. Alfredo Jesus Chacon, 48, of Orange Park, and Francisco Martos, 63, and Dorian Wong Magarino, 49, both of Miami, also pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit wire fraud and mail fraud.  Read more:

By Gordon H. Rowe III

May 12, 2014

Many New Mexicans only get involved in their homeowners’ association by attending the annual potluck picnic and membership meeting, where the biggest issue is why the single tray of enchiladas is gone long before the overcooked hotdogs. That’s all going to change this summer.

May 13, 2014

By Michael E. Miller

May 15, 2014

“People should either be caressed or crushed,” Niccolò Machiavelli once wrote. “If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do.”

A Sacramento judge has ordered retired Air Force Brigadier General Chuck Yeager and his wife to pay a homeowners association $43,150 in fees. Superior Court Judge Judy H. Hersher issued her final decision on Monday after a court trial earlier this year in a lawsuit filed by the Park River Oak Estates Homeowners Association against the renowned test pilot.The suit that was filed in 2008 charged that Yeager, 91, and his wife, Victoria, 55, hadn’t paid their association fees on two units they own in a townhouse complex near Garcia Bend Park.  Read more: 

By Melissa Mecija

May 9, 2014

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. – Some Rancho Santa Fe residents are questioning the manager of their homeowners association after he suddenly took leave, and then retired. Pete Smith raised more eyebrows after he told the Rancho Santa Fe Review he was training for marathons and triathlons — all while on sick leave. “There are a lot of issues that have come up about transparency and governance,” resident Terry Peay said.Terry Peay has lived in Rancho Santa Fe with his family for three years. He said Smith’s salary comes from their dues. “We’re paying the dues. We ought to be entitled to be getting this kind of information, particularly when it comes to financial packages and compensation,” Peay said.

May 11, 2014

By Diane Wilson

DURHAM (WTVD) — A homeowner who found herself in a dispute with her homeowner’s association over a handicap lift turned to the ABC11 Troubleshooter for help. Rebecca Cunningham was told she needed to paint her handicap lift or face fines. HOA’s have all kinds of powers, but this was one change Cunningham was not willing to make.The handicap lift has been the same color since it was installed four years ago at Cunningham’s Triangle home. “They want it to be the same color cream as the porch,” said Cunningham, “even though it wasn’t the same color blue as the porch for four years.”   Read more:

May 9, 2014

By Alex Boyer

Round Rock – Tucked away inside a Round Rock subdivision is an ordinary home. Nothing necessarily stands out except for maybe the landscaping. “I didn’t want a boring circle or square because everyone has those and this is Texas,” said homeowner Lee Steele. So Steele decided to go big.  The 65-year-old retired accountant designed a pebble garden in the shape of Texas.  She bought a bunch of colored pebbles to fill it in. “I got 42 bags of red and 38 of blue,” recalled Steele. But before her vision was complete the homeowner’s association sent her a notice telling Steele to stop.

“They’re picking and choosing what you’re allowed to do and I just feel that’s not fair,” added Steele. And Steele believes she has the pictures to prove it. She snapped several photos of front lawns in her neighborhood Steele believes should also be flagged by the HOA.  Read more: