Search Results for: Construction defects

Where are they now? Updates on HOA, condo, co-op disputes

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 By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Updates on HOA, condo, co-op disputes Poinciana, Florida (Osceola and Polk Counties) Homeowners and residents in Poinciana have encountered one obstacle after another, as explained in several previous posts. Now Keith Laytham, Friends of Poinciana Villages, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to continue their legal battle to gain voting power in their HOA, Association of Poinciana Villages (APV). APV has announced an increase in annual Continue ReadingWhere are they now? Updates on HOA, condo, co-op disputes→

City, home inspectors fail to identify defects in condo and HOA construction

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities   If you are in the market for a new or recently renovated home or condo, view the following reports first. Word is beginning to spread across the country, with an epidemic of poor design and shoddy construction, especially prevalent in condominium projects and all types of planned communities governed by homeowner associations. The common theme: housing consumers cannot count on city and county inspectors to prevent construction defects Continue ReadingCity, home inspectors fail to identify defects in condo and HOA construction→

A tale of two HOAs plagued by construction defects

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities J Have you noticed a pattern with widely publicized media reports of construction defect settlements? They almost always seem to involve high end condo associations, with owners that can afford to hire the best attorneys to go up against prominent developers and architecture firms. Settlements in the millions create good publicity for construction defect attorneys, after all. But what about owners of modest means, or low-income owners of affordable Continue ReadingA tale of two HOAs plagued by construction defects→

Unaccountable developers create big problems for condo, homeowner associations

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities   Let’s talk about one of the most glaring unintended consequences of enabling real estate developers to control residential communities large and small: no accountability to housing consumers. Allow me to explain. Prior to the 1980s and 1990s, a buyer could purchase a new home from a builder without being forced to “agree” to membership in a mandatory, covenant burdened, deed restricted, association-governed community. Each new home, even if Continue ReadingUnaccountable developers create big problems for condo, homeowner associations→