A Sweet Partnership? With the burgeoning interest in locally grown produce and all things “green,” could the return of home beekeeping have been far behind? In addition to making honey, pollinators are essential to a good garden, production of food crops and the health of flowering trees and bushes. Locally grown honey surely is better than what comes in those

Strategies for Addressing Issues Associated with Residents with Mental Illnesses: At first it looked like one of the residents was just a poor housekeeper. Plastic bags of garbage were visible through the windows of her condominium unit and dozens of cats were clawing at the windows. The Board was concerned about the presence of rats in the community and the

Many prospective purchasers and homeowners seek out home financing insured by the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA“) in order to purchase or refinance condominium units. In general, these loans have less stringent income requirements than solely private financing and require less of a down payment toward a purchase. These loans are so popular that, reportedly, up to 50% of the condominium

Who Owns the Property, Anyway? More and more frequently our office has been told by an owner in response to a demand for payment of their annual or special assessments or to enforce their community’s use restrictions that: “I don’t own that home anymore, I sold it under a lease-purchase agreement.” Until the sale of the home closes, however, a

Life on the Golf Course: The house I grew up in was on a street called Golf Avenue. No house on the street had a view of the golf course. In fact, the street dead ended into a large, nicely landscaped privacy fence behind which was a parking lot for the city course. Interesting marketing! Nonetheless, the golf course played

As the end of the year approaches, many community associations prepare for annual meetings, holiday parties and similar gatherings that often include sharing food and drink. These get-togethers can be good forums for thanking community volunteers, meeting neighbors, and generally fostering good will throughout the community; however, these gatherings are not always without peril.

There is little doubt that when a community buildout goes as planned, the recently top-coated streets, brand new paint and immaculate landscaping often present the picture of an “ideal” neighborhood. Unfortunately, time works its magic as paint peels, tree roots sprawl and pavement cracks. What, then, is the Association to do to uphold the community standards that the first owner-elected

Not Always an Association Issue: At Blue Sky Condominium, Phyllis Morris had just plopped down on the couch after a hard day’s work when the smell of cigarette smoke wafted in from the condominium unit next door.