If you're a listener to "Condo and HOA Buzz" you heard over the past two weeks that Congress recently passed a bill that includes important provisions affecting all condominiums in the country. On February 2, 2016, HR 3700 was approved by the House of Representatives 427-0. The proposed law would streamline the FHA's certification requirements for condo projects, allow more commercial space in FHA-approved condo buildings, and relax current owner-occupancy requirements. read more

In times of crisis, Boards generally try to solve the specific issue in front of them, sometimes overlooking basic principles and procedures. So the best time to focus on these basic principles and procedures is before a crisis. Those times may be few and far between, but just after the annual meeting at which new board members were elected is the perfect time for basic board training or, as we like to call it, Board Boot Camp. Boot Camp is also good as a refresher for incumbent board members. read more

Setting off fireworks is a bright, colorful way to celebrate certain special occasions. While most commonly associated with the 4th of July, it is not unusual for people to set off fireworks on New Year's Eve and other holidays, as well. When the Seahawks won their first-ever Super Bowl in 2014, the Seattle sky was peppered with exuberant blue and green explosions—a night most of us won't soon forget. read more

It is common for issues between community associations and owners to escalate into disputes when there is a request by the owner to review association records. On the one hand, a board may not understand the obligation and elect to deny a records request outright. On the other hand, an owner may have unreasonable expectations regarding the scope, timing, and who should bear the cost of review. With this in mind, we offer the following primer on records requests. read more

There are certain situations in life that tend to bring out the worst in people, and one of those is when neighbors just cannot seem to get along. Whether at an HOA or condominium, when people of diverse personalities and interests, who would otherwise not be connected in any way, are forced to live in close proximity to one another, it can be a recipe for conflicts, particularly when owners refuse to compromise or communicate with one another. I have yet to see a set of governing document that expressly requires owners to be friends and get along. read more