Corporate Transparency Act Injunction Lifted; January Deadline Reinstated
As you may know, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) reporting requirements were temporarily paused earlier this month due to a federal court injunction. That injunction has now been stayed by ...
RECENT ARTICLES
Minnesota Supreme Court: Restrictive Covenants In Community Associations
The Minnesota Supreme Court recently issued a decision in Windcliff Association, Inc. v. Breyfogle that has important implications for homeowners' ...
Federal Trade Commission Proposes New Regulation Regarding Noncompete Agreements
The FTC has proposed a new regulation that would ban the use of noncompete agreements in employment. Read it here. ...
Understanding Owners’ Rights to Access Association Records in Colorado
It is an issue that every community association faces: homeowner requests for association documents. But what are homeowners entitled to ...
WIN: Insurance Company Must Pay for Depreciation after Litigation Delays
SJJ attorneys Tim Johnson and Brad Hammond recently won a decision in the Minnesota Federal District Court requiring that an ...
Be Prepared: Tax Preparation & Filing
Tax filing deadlines (April 15 for individuals, partnerships, and LLCs; March 15 for S-corporations) are rapidly approaching. With 2022’s financials ...
Ross Hussey Scores Another Trial Win
Ross Hussey recently secured an award after a two-day trial in McCloud County District Court of approximately $230,000 on behalf ...
Fire-damaged homeowners face insurance troubles
People whose homes are damaged by fire may face a challenging time dealing with their insurance companies. The results of major wildfires, such as the Camp Fire, have changed the way that many insurers do business. Homeowners devastated by fires have faced massive losses, from their homes themselves to the landscapes that once surrounded them. After a claim, however, or…
Fire threats are leading to a loss of insurance coverage
In California, 167,000 homeowners were unable to get their insurance policies renewed in 2018, which was an increase of 6% throughout the state. Furthermore, there was a 10% increase in the number of policies that were not renewed in areas likely to be impacted by wildfires. Of those who had their coverage terminated, 88,000 lived in areas where there was…
WHY DOES MY INSURANCE ESTIMATE HAVE AN ACV AND RCV NUMBER?
After you’ve made a claim, the insurance company’s adjuster will inspect your home for damage and prepare an estimate. When you receive the insurance company’s estimate, you see that it lists two amounts for “RCV” and “ACV.” How much money do you have to make repairs? ACV is an abbreviation for “actual cash value.” ACV is the actual value of…
What insurance policies generally do and do not cover
When natural disasters strike, they may cause various forms of damage to homes and apartments. Items inside of a home or apartment may also be damaged or lost in the aftermath of a storm. A standard homeowners or renters insurance policy in the U.S. will likely cover the cost of repairing a home. It will also likely help individuals pay…
Tips for making storm damage insurance claims
The U.S. has been hit by an unusual number of severe thunderstorms this summer. For example, on Aug. 11, a hailstorm tore through Billings, Montana, shattering windows and punching holes in roofs. This sort of damage can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to repair, forcing many homeowners to file an insurance claim to recover their losses. Fortunately, there…
Help with Insurance Claims and Maintenance after a Storm
It was a beautiful, sunny day, but you noticed that clouds were starting to form. Just a few hours later, the sky was dark and the winds were picking up. Hail fell, heavy winds tore through the neighborhood and your properties were left damaged. Fortunately, they were still standing. As a property manager, you know how quickly a storm can…
Common Homeowner Association Mistakes to Avoid
There is more to a homeowner association than meets the eye. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes, with these associations dealing with regular challenges and potential pitfalls that can cost them money and anger residents. Knowledge of the most common homeowner association mistakes makes it easier to avoid trouble. Here are five mistakes that come up time after…
What May Homeowners Associations Regulate?
Running a successful homeowners’ association is a difficult task. Each resident within a community has their preferences for how they decorate and maintain their home, and there always seems to be one or two owners who simply do not want to operate inside the HOA guidelines. In many cases, some owners will find conflict wherever they go, regardless of how…
What’s the Right Insurance Policy for my Homeowners Association
Insurance is generally the largest budgeted expense for most homeowners associations (HOAs). But not every insurance policy is the same. So how do HOAs know whether the insurance policy they’ve purchased meets their needs? These are just some of the things HOAs need to be consider when they’re deciding which insurance policy to purchase. What is the Policy Deductible? Every…
Home ownership grows for community associations
In the United States, community associations represent the fastest-growing form of home ownership. These organizations include townhome associations, condominium associations and cooperatives. According to a 2010 estimate from the Community Associations Institute, there were 62 million Americans living in community associations. That’s about 25 million homes. There are law firms that serve the legal needs of these associations, including their…
LEGAL SUPPORT FOR REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
Realtors and other real estate professionals play an important role in assisting buyers and sellers in transactions involving homeowners associations (“HOAs”). is here to help professionals ensure that their clients have all of the information they need to make an educated decision about their particular situation, and to make sure their transaction goes as smoothly as possible. For sellers, this…
Preventative Maintenance Plan “To Do” List
Click here to download the checklist (Preventative Maintenance Plan “To Do” List) 2. ___________ Follow the Preventative Maintenance Plan. Retain qualified professionals (contractor, engineer, etc.) to inspect all association-maintained improvements. Best Practice Tip 4: Liability! The board and its management company should not do the inspections. 3. ___________ Review and Act on the Inspection Summaries. After inspections have been conducted,…