Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Governance of Property Owners Associations
Here is Don Nordeen's new weblog on this topic.
Governor signs bills protecting members of homeowner associations
Fred Pilot passed this along. A big event in the Golden State...

Homeowner associations will be required to use secret ballots when electing board members or imposing levy increases, under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bill, authored by Sen. Jim Battin, R-Palm Desert, stemmed from complaints from homeowners who said some associations require identification in elections that can lead to unwanted lobbying or even intimidation by fellow members. Homeowner associations will be required to make financial and other important records available to members under legislation from Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, that was also signed by the governor. Finally, the governor signed a bill from Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, that prevents homeowners' associations from using foreclosure when a homeowner owes less than $1,800 in assessments.

Monday, October 03, 2005

Sunday, October 02, 2005

More states have enacted construction-defect statutes that can benefit you...
...if you are a developer or contractor--if you are an owner...well, maybe you might feel differently about these laws. Thanks to Nancy Levy for this article from a roofers publication.

During the past three years, about half the U.S. states have enacted so-called "construction-defect" or "right-to-cure" statutes. These statutes, which apply almost exclusively to residential construction (with Colorado and Tennessee being exceptions), are intended to try to reduce the amount of construction litigation by providing contractors with notice and a right to correct alleged construction defects before homeowners or condominium associations file suit.