Historic Sanborn maps show how American cities evolved | Daily Mail Online

Historic Sanborn maps show how American cities evolved | Daily Mail Online:

Amazing story about a huge collection of insurance company maps dating back to the 1860s, complete with images of a lot of beautiful maps.

Homeowners In Limbo After Homebuilder Bankruptcy « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

Homeowners In Limbo After Homebuilder Bankruptcy « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth: "A Dallas home builder’s bankruptcy has left homeowners on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid labor costs."

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Yes, because going BK is a business strategy that real estate developers and builders use with regularity. Exhibit A being the current occupant of the White House.

Paris

I have been in Paris and Brussels for the last week or so, which is why I haven't been posting. You'd be surprised at how many things there are to do in Paris besides blogging!  But here's one observation you may find interesting. 80% of the owner-occupied housing in Paris is run by property owners' associations. To wit:

Règlement de copropriété
Co-ownership building régulations, laying out the rights and obligations of co-owners in the building, the method for calculating building fees, and the allowed use of the common areas and the individual apartments. 

HOA defrauded of millions accuses law firm of facilitating scheme – Las Vegas Review-Journal

HOA defrauded of millions accuses law firm of facilitating scheme – Las Vegas Review-Journal: " The homeowners association is trying to convince a judge that the fraud ringleaders could not have embezzled millions without the gross malpractice committed by a law firm that was hired in 2006 to protect the integrity of the Vistana HOA board elections.
 
The firm, Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw and Ferrario, did the opposite and concealed illegal behavior from its client, attorney Richard Haskin, who is representing the Vistana HOA, told a Clark County judge Tuesday.
Judge Mark Denton heard opening statements Tuesday in the civil case the Vistana HOA filed against the firm, which since has changed its name to Kaempfer Crowe. Only one of the firm’s lawyers, a first-year associate, ever faced criminal charges."

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The saga of the massive Las Vegas HOA fraud ring continues.