Livability AARP maintains a Livability Index (), scoring neighborhoods and communities across the U.S. for their impact on seniors. The index identifies availability of multi-family housing, the percentage of housing units that are not single-family, detached homes,...
Shortly after the collapse of the Champlain Towers Condominium in Surfside, Florida in 2021, Fannie Mae (“Fannie”) and Freddie Mac (“Freddie”), the government-sponsored entities which support the secondary mortgage market in the US and wield enormous power over...
Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and Condominium Associations play large role in maintaining order, managing common spaces, and preserving property values. These organizations are in most cases run by a board of directors made up of volunteers. The recent introduction...
Condominium association insurance policies are rapidly increasing in cost, outpacing inflation. The changes have affected property, liability, and directors and officers (D&O) policies. Why are these changes occurring, and how should associations respond?...
Architectural control and the authority to approve modifications are some of the most important responsibilities of a residential association and can present difficult issues. Both homeowners associations and condominium associations will often have the authority to...
Lately, it seems I am doing a lot of reviews for landlord clients of leases provided to their tenants by property managers they hired to manage their residential properties. It is clear after review of many of these leases that either the property managers have: 1)...
Condominium and homeowners associations have restrictions on use of the property, contained in governing documents. Over time, associations may find the need to amend the governing documents to address technological developments or changing property use. Amendment...
At least once a year I receive a call from a board member or property manager in which I am informed that the board of directors has voted a fellow director off the board. When I inform the caller that this is probably not possible in the typical residential...
If you're a fan of John Oliver's humor (like I am) and GEICO's talking gecko (he’s ok and was smart enough not to star in the commercial I am talking about), you may have seen Oliver’s recent segment[1] and GEICO’s[2] recent ad poking fun at Homeowners Associations...
When damage occurs to a condominium building or Unit, who makes the first insurance claim, who oversees the repairs, when can responsibilities shift, and who pays the deductible? Association Insurance Responsibilities The Michigan Condominium Act, MCL 559.154(4)...
