MAJOR DEVELOPMENT: Property owners win one in Senate
Bill limits homeowners association foreclosures
By Jim Wasserman, Associated Press


SACRAMENTO -- A bill greatly restricting the use of home foreclosures to collect late homeowner association assessments passed the Senate without opposition Tuesday, representing a major initial victory for homeowner activists in more than 36,000 privately governed California neighborhoods.

The Senate voted 34-0 to end a widespread practice of allowing homeowner associations to foreclose on homes when owners get slightly behind on assessments, which has provoked growing opposition in California and nationally. The new bill requires that for amounts less than $2,500, most associations must take the matter to small claims court or put a lien on the property.


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This is big. And as Jim Wasseman says, there are national implications.