Jupiter – A lawsuit filed against Jupiter Police Chief Frank Kitzerow, who owed about $1,600 in homeowner association fees, has been settled, according to Palm Beach County Court records.
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ARIZONA – HOAs foreclosing on hundreds of Phoenix-area homeowners for as little as $1,200
AZCENTRAL: HOAs foreclosing on hundreds of Phoenix-area homeowners for as little as $1,200
Jessica Boehm and Catherine Reagor, The Republic
September 14, 2017
Homeowners associations, the enforcers of neighborhood paint colors, holiday decorations and trash bins, are leading the latest surge in Phoenix-area foreclosures.
HOAs are foreclosing on a record number of homeowners for as little as $1,200 in missed
maintenance payments, according to an Arizona Republic investigation. And homeowners who thought only their mortgage lender could seize property are losing their houses at sheriff’s auctions, sometimes for just $100 more than they owe.
“It’s become a huge issue,” Arizona Real Estate Commissioner Judy Lowe said. “Most homeowners don’t understand the foreclosure process and don’t know their HOA can foreclose.”
Arizona allows an HOA to foreclose after a year of missed payments or a debt of $1,200. But when HOAs add legal fees and interest to late payments, the debt can more than quadruple in a year.
Some homeowners fighting desperately to keep their homes find HOA balances often don’t match amounts listed in court filings, making it difficult to learn how much they really owe — and impossible to catch up. Read more:
FLORIDA – Report: Florida agency spent $100,000-plus on own employees instead of helping homeowners
CCFJ.NET: Report: Florida agency spent $100,000-plus on own employees instead of helping homeowners
| Article Courtesy of The Tampa Bay Times
By Susan Taylor Martin Published September 6, 2016
Instead of doing all it could to help struggling homeowners, Florida’s housing agency spent more than $100,000 in federal Hardest Hit funds on bonuses and perks for its own employees. That was among the findings of a report released Friday by the special inspector general for the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP), which was started after the Great Recession. As thousands of people waited for financial aid to save their homes, Florida Housing Finance Corp. treated employees to $106,775 in bonuses, Visa gift cards and barbecue from Piggy’s BBQ in Tallahassee, the report said. That sum was part of the $3 million in Hardest Hit funds improperly used by agencies in several states that administer the mortgage relief program. “Congress did not authorize TARP dollars for barbecues, steak and seafood dinners, gift cards, flowers, gym memberships, employee bonuses, litigation, celebrations, cars, and other unnecessary expenses of state housing agencies, but those are some of the charges… forensic analysis uncovered,” said Christy Goldsmith Romero, special inspector general for TARP. Read more: |
FLORIDA – Judge throws out $458,100 condo sale, says Clearwater attorney tricked bidders
CCFJ.NET: Judge throws out $458,100 condo sale, says Clearwater attorney tricked bidders
Article Courtesy of The Tampa Bay Times
By Susan Taylor Martin
Published August 27, 2017
Pinellas County Circuit Judge Jack St. Arnold on Monday threw out the $458,100 sale of a gulf-front condo because of what he called an “unscrupulous” and “conniving” scheme to trick bidders at a foreclosure auction.
His ruling means that the owners of Orlando Realty Group will get back the money they bid on what turned out to be a second mortgage held by a company connected to Clearwater attorney Roy Skelton. Only later did the bidders discover that a different lender had a superior first mortgage and could soon foreclose, leaving them with no condo and out nearly a half million dollars. Read more:
FLORIDA – Tampa woman advertising need for kidney claims HOA wants signs taken down
NEWS CHANNEL 8: Tampa woman advertising need for kidney claims HOA wants signs taken down
By Corey Davis
August 31, 2017
TAMPA, Fla, – (WFLA) – A Hillsborough County woman in desperate need of a kidney is turning to 8 On Your Side for help over a dispute with her homeowners’ association.
Gabi Morales says the Glen Oaks HOA wants her to remove magnetic signs she has placed on her car.
“It’s a community, you’re supposed to help each other, not tear each other down,” Gabi says.
The signs are about 12 inches x 10 inches. She’s had the signs on the two back doors for a month trying to encourage people to go see if they’re a match or a potential donor for others.
The sign reads, “23-year-old needs living kidney donor! Give the gift of life! Facebook: Find a Kidney For Gabriele ‘Gabi.’”
Gabi says a HOA board member is now telling her that the signs are against community rules, and that the signs would make her car a commercial vehicle.
But Gabi and her mother, Tammi Morales, tell us they aren’t selling anything and are only asking for help. They don’t believe their car is a commercial vehicle. Read more:
KANSAS – Homeowners’ group embroiled in parking flap with family
THE DISPATCH: Homeowners’ group embroiled in parking flap with family
Associated Press
August 29, 2017
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas homeowners association has told a couple living with an ailing parent that they must stop parking a car in their driveway overnight because its policy requires that vehicles be kept in garages.
The Avignon Villa Homes Community Association’s property management company said in a letter that it has a responsibility to maintain “the integrity” of the Olathe neighborhood where Marsha Holland, her husband, Stuart Holland, and her parents, Ed and Mary Ann Majewski, live. Ed Majewski, 83, is battling cancer, The Kansas City Star reports. Read more:
FLORIDA – Condo manager accused of accepting bribes and stealing from laundry machines
CCFJ.NET: Condo manager accused of accepting bribes and stealing from laundry machines
Article Courtesy of The Miami Herald
By Brenda Medina
Published August 26, 2017
The administrator of an Aventura condominium has been arrested on charges of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes and stealing cash from the building’s laundry machines.
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Read more:
http://www.ccfj.net/condoCAMArrest.html
NEW YORK – Queens councilman tours ‘nightmare’ condo lobby
NY1.com: Queens councilman tours ‘nightmare’ condo lobby
By Clodagh McGowan
August 22, 2017
A house of horrors is how one local politician is describing a controversial Sunnyside condominium building. NY1’s Clodagh McGowan has this follow up.
NY1 first reported Monday about the unusual goings-on at this 47-unit Sunnyside condominium…from the Uncle Sams outside to pictures of Hitler and others inside.
After the story aired we took City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer to see it for himself.
“The lobby and entryway to this building is like a nightmare. It’s like a horror film,” Van Bramer said.
Tenants say the decorations are the work of Neal Milano, who heads the condo board and is listed as property manager. Residents say he harasses them with absurd fines and posts notices containing wild allegations and intimate details of their lives.
An attorney who represents the condo board, including Milano tells NY1, “The murals are historical in nature, and they include historical figures, including patriotic figures. They are a lesson in history.”
The Councilman doesn’t see it that way.
“Tributes to Nazis, tributes to the Confederacy and racist images, in addition to all of the images of guns…this a deeply disturbing lobby,” Van Bramer added. Read more:
TEXAS – My Life Ruined by HOA
bluestar-ranch.com: My Life Ruined by HOA
by Mary Ann Fordyce
July 2017
http://www.bluestar-ranch.com/chickens—hoa.html Did you know that Homeowner Associations make their own rules and change them as they go along? Did you know that there are NO RULES governing the powers nor limiting the lawsuits you can be assaulted with based on a “whim” of someone that does not like you? Did you know that HOAs can foreclose on your home for a minor infraction?
Did you know that a small HOA in Bellville Texas with 4 “board members” (2 married couples 2 of which are my neighbors) spent over $100,000 and hired 8 law firms, which used 13 attorneys in EIGHT YEARS to shut down my country chicken coop? This directly and indirectly cost me a foreclosure on my home! See vimeo:
Did you know that a small HOA in Bellville Texas with 4 “board members” (2 married couples 2 of which are my neighbors) spent over $100,000 and hired 8 law firms, which used 13 attorneys in EIGHT YEARS to shut down my country chicken coop? This directly and indirectly cost me a foreclosure on my home! See vimeo:
COLORADO – HOA tells one Loveland couple: You have too many pots in your yard
9NEWS.com: HOA tells one Loveland couple: You have too many pots in your yard
By Victoria Sanchez, KUSA
August 21, 2017
A Loveland homeowner’s association and a retired couple living in the HOA community are going head-to-head over garden decorations.
The Alford Meadows Community Association sent a letter informing Colleen and Richard Stephens that their home’s garden violated community rules. The couple’s response was to double-down and add a unique lawn ornament in the form of a large sign.
The red and white sign states: “If you are considering purchasing a home in Alford Meadows, you may want to reconsider …. You could be the next target of the HOA!”
The Stephens’ yard is well maintained. It has bright flowers, pruned bushes and green grass. It also has artwork which is how the dispute between the couple and HOA started.
The Alford Meadows Community Association says there are too many decorations and sent a letter stating some need to come down. If not, there would be consequences in the form of possible fines. Read more:
FLORIDA – Jupiter top cop settles lawsuit over $1,600 in unpaid HOA fees
PalmBeachPost.com: Jupiter top cop settles lawsuit over $1,600 in unpaid HOA fees
By Bill DiPaolo
August 18, 2017
The homeowner’s association lawsuit against Kitzerow also asked for attorney, accrued interest and other fees. That brings the total Kitzerow was told to pay to about $2,300, according to the lawsuit filed April 19.
“(Kitzerow) is making payments to the homeowner’s association,” said Scott Stoloff, the attorney representing the homeowner’s association.
Kitzerow, who has been police chief in Jupiter since 2005, did not respond to a request for comment.
He supervises a department of about 116 sworn officers and is paid about $147,000 annually. The annual Jupiter police budget is about $20 million.
Kitzerow acknowledged he is behind on the assessments when asked about the lawsuit last May. He said he was working with homeowner’s association officials. The monthly assessment is about $516 a month.
“I’m confident we can reach an agreement on how I will make the payments,” Kitzerow told The Palm Beach Post. Read more:
HOA Reform Coalition 