Comments for Washington State Homeowner and Condominium Associations http://www.wahoalaw.com Devoted to Improving Community Associations Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:00:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Brian P. McLean and this Blog by 4starchief http://www.wahoalaw.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-37 4starchief Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:00:46 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?page_id=2#comment-37 are you familiar with a homeowners association in the Edmonds area in a neighborhood originally called the Double Dd Ranch? or similar? I am looking to see if a particular address is covered by an association. Thanks in advance. Bruce Roberts broberts@dol.wa.gov are you familiar with a homeowners association in the Edmonds area in a neighborhood originally called the Double Dd Ranch? or similar? I am looking to see if a particular address is covered by an association.

Thanks in advance.
Bruce Roberts
broberts@dol.wa.gov

]]> Comment on Hot Roofs, Cool Roofs, and a New Moon by LizE http://www.wahoalaw.com/2010/10/28/hot-roofs-cool-roofs-and-a-new-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-31 LizE Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:23:24 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?p=144#comment-31 Fascinating! How about a by-law that states a roof must be installed correctly before sale, no matter what the material is. That would be my vote. After a leak last year, we discovered that not one, not two, but three roofs had been installed on hour house. We have a flat roof. This had been done with county approval. Instead of fixing leaks, the previous owner had simply "re-roofed" over the leaks. For owners with flat roofs, think about the weight this adds to the house. We were told that if our area ever experienced a significant earthquake, this roof could collapse. The beams simply were not made to hold this much weight. There are no covenants or by-laws to govern experiences such as this. The County approved the previous roof installations. The inspector did not do roofs when the home was inspected prior to purchase, so we examined it ourselves. Now we have one brand new roof on our home, but for others, "Buyer, beware." Fascinating! How about a by-law that states a roof must be installed correctly before sale, no matter what the material is. That would be my vote.

After a leak last year, we discovered that not one, not two, but three roofs had been installed on hour house. We have a flat roof. This had been done with county approval. Instead of fixing leaks, the previous owner had simply “re-roofed” over the leaks. For owners with flat roofs, think about the weight this adds to the house. We were told that if our area ever experienced a significant earthquake, this roof could collapse. The beams simply were not made to hold this much weight.

There are no covenants or by-laws to govern experiences such as this. The County approved the previous roof installations. The inspector did not do roofs when the home was inspected prior to purchase, so we examined it ourselves.

Now we have one brand new roof on our home, but for others, “Buyer, beware.”

]]> Comment on Greedy HOAs Foreclose for Profit? Come On by LizE http://www.wahoalaw.com/2010/07/01/greedy-hoas-foreclose-for-profit-come-on/comment-page-1/#comment-30 LizE Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:13:21 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?p=126#comment-30 That's "ludicrous" not lubricious. Gotta love spell-check. That’s “ludicrous” not lubricious. Gotta love spell-check.

]]> Comment on Greedy HOAs Foreclose for Profit? Come On by LizE http://www.wahoalaw.com/2010/07/01/greedy-hoas-foreclose-for-profit-come-on/comment-page-1/#comment-29 LizE Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:11:59 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?p=126#comment-29 I do not believe HOAs are purposely abusing their right to foreclose for profit - this would quickly lead to legal issues for the HOA. I also do not support the idea that in these economic times, people are simply turning a blind eye to paying their dues. Again, that would lead to more problems than it is worth, such as liens. My situation is similar to those of the previous two comments - progressively worse financial situation combined with a HOA who has not had a good planning history. I have a history of paying both assessments and dues on time, but lately have had to switch to a payment plan for my dues. My HOA, for reasons not disclosed, is reviewing my option to make payments this year. They have not disclosed why. Frankly, I have no option but to make payments. My husband lost his job and I have been on the same salary since 2004. The idea that we would simply skip our dues is lubricious. However, this was written by an attorney from Kirkland. He would probably see someone like myself as one of those "barbarians" who shouldn't have been allowed in a gated community in the first place. I do not believe HOAs are purposely abusing their right to foreclose for profit – this would quickly lead to legal issues for the HOA. I also do not support the idea that in these economic times, people are simply turning a blind eye to paying their dues. Again, that would lead to more problems than it is worth, such as liens. My situation is similar to those of the previous two comments – progressively worse financial situation combined with a HOA who has not had a good planning history.

I have a history of paying both assessments and dues on time, but lately have had to switch to a payment plan for my dues. My HOA, for reasons not disclosed, is reviewing my option to make payments this year. They have not disclosed why. Frankly, I have no option but to make payments. My husband lost his job and I have been on the same salary since 2004. The idea that we would simply skip our dues is lubricious.

However, this was written by an attorney from Kirkland. He would probably see someone like myself as one of those “barbarians” who shouldn’t have been allowed in a gated community in the first place.

]]> Comment on Greedy HOAs Foreclose for Profit? Come On by viba http://www.wahoalaw.com/2010/07/01/greedy-hoas-foreclose-for-profit-come-on/comment-page-1/#comment-28 viba Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:25:46 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?p=126#comment-28 I am facing a similiar situation but in reverse. Out of the 10 owners, only 4 of us are paying dues, therefore we are in a situation where we might actually lose our condo because people do not pay their dues. Some are not paying because of finances, and some others because they simply don't want to and are actively walking-away from their mortgages, not because they cannot pay but because they are tired of paying their mortgage. Now the rest of us are on the verge of losing our condos. If I could force them to foreclose, I would too. I just don't have the finances to do it. I am facing a similiar situation but in reverse. Out of the 10 owners, only 4 of us are paying dues, therefore we are in a situation where we might actually lose our condo because people do not pay their dues. Some are not paying because of finances, and some others because they simply don’t want to and are actively walking-away from their mortgages, not because they cannot pay but because they are tired of paying their mortgage. Now the rest of us are on the verge of losing our condos. If I could force them to foreclose, I would too. I just don’t have the finances to do it.

]]> Comment on Greedy HOAs Foreclose for Profit? Come On by Tamerlin http://www.wahoalaw.com/2010/07/01/greedy-hoas-foreclose-for-profit-come-on/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Tamerlin Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:03:45 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?p=126#comment-27 I'm facing such a situation, but in my case it's due to an irrational ($16k for severely overpriced deck repairs -- and most of the contractors that the hoa claimed that it requested bids from refused to bid for the work) special assessment. The HOA is obviously not doing a good job of planning, and has shown very little interest in working with the homeowners to make this affordable, so it's burying some of us. Without this special assessment, I'd actually be in decent shape, even though after taking a $20k pay cut this year, I'm a bit strapped -- but still able to at least keep up. With the $16k special assessment, that's no longer the case. I’m facing such a situation, but in my case it’s due to an irrational ($16k for severely overpriced deck repairs — and most of the contractors that the hoa claimed that it requested bids from refused to bid for the work) special assessment. The HOA is obviously not doing a good job of planning, and has shown very little interest in working with the homeowners to make this affordable, so it’s burying some of us.

Without this special assessment, I’d actually be in decent shape, even though after taking a $20k pay cut this year, I’m a bit strapped — but still able to at least keep up. With the $16k special assessment, that’s no longer the case.

]]> Comment on Videorecording Meetings by punintended http://www.wahoalaw.com/2010/05/26/video-recording-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-23 punintended Thu, 27 May 2010 16:19:12 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?p=124#comment-23 Does Washington Condo Law require that all Board Meetings be posted to the Association publicly, though the Association is a private entity? Are there laws preventing board members from meeting without the knowledge of the full board (ie 3 of 5 members meeting "casually" to discuss condo business)? Does Washington Condo Law require that all Board Meetings be posted to the Association publicly, though the Association is a private entity? Are there laws preventing board members from meeting without the knowledge of the full board (ie 3 of 5 members meeting “casually” to discuss condo business)?

]]> Comment on Brian P. McLean and this Blog by valgal1949 http://www.wahoalaw.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-15 valgal1949 Tue, 25 May 2010 07:10:20 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?page_id=2#comment-15 I live in a large HOA here in WA state. Is it illegal in the state of WA to tape an open meeting. Do monthly BOD meetings fall under the public open meeting laws of the state? Is it necessary to get the permission of all people attending the meeting in order to tape it? We are incorporated under RCW 24.03. I live in a large HOA here in WA state. Is it illegal in the state of WA to tape an open meeting. Do monthly BOD meetings fall under the public open meeting laws of the state? Is it necessary to get the permission of all people attending the meeting in order to tape it? We are incorporated under RCW 24.03.

]]> Comment on Reserve Studies in Washington State – 2008 Legislation by steveberde http://www.wahoalaw.com/2008/12/20/reserve-studies-and-disclosures-for-condominiums/comment-page-1/#comment-10 steveberde Sat, 01 May 2010 16:42:42 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?p=22#comment-10 Brian - wouldn't a reserve study (cost to us 1300 bucks) (budget 30K annually) still be worthwhile to know down the road what we are facing? Reserves need to be adequate for the repair, maintenance and replacement of our many common areas - with our current budget of approx 30K annually we have only about 2500 not going to fixed expenses - the balance includes neccessities such as light bulbs, unplanned repairs, etc - despite the extra cost isn't the study (forgotten the legal requirements entirely) helping to provide a comfort level owners should have? Steve Brian – wouldn’t a reserve study (cost to us 1300 bucks) (budget 30K annually) still be worthwhile to know down the road what we are facing? Reserves need to be adequate for the repair, maintenance and replacement of our many common areas – with our current budget of approx 30K annually we have only about 2500 not going to fixed expenses – the balance includes neccessities such as light bulbs, unplanned repairs, etc – despite the extra cost isn’t the study (forgotten the legal requirements entirely) helping to provide a comfort level owners should have?

Steve

]]> Comment on What Makes Homeowner Association Meetings Work by steveberde http://www.wahoalaw.com/2009/04/19/what-makes-homeowner-association-meetings-work/comment-page-1/#comment-9 steveberde Sat, 01 May 2010 16:35:53 +0000 http://www.wahoalaw.com/?p=102#comment-9 I love it - you do have a way with words - just signed on to the blog this morning - I am a board president of an 11 unit building that is doing fine ooverall but will be facing in the not too distant future I worry, many of the issues others have faced as we have not properly determined what reserves need be set aside to stay financially solid at the same time keeping our lovely building in the condition it deserves. Steve I love it – you do have a way with words – just signed on to the blog this morning – I am a board president of an 11 unit building that is doing fine ooverall but will be facing in the not too distant future I worry, many of the issues others have faced as we have not properly determined what reserves need be set aside to stay financially solid at the same time keeping our lovely building in the condition it deserves.

Steve

]]>