WXYZ Detroit (Channel 7) recently interviewed Kevin Hirzel regarding the debate over HOA’s. The interview discusses the pros and cons of Homeowner’s Associations, what you need to know before entering into binding agreements with your association and how your day to day living will be impacted by that associations “rules and regulations”. This interview also discusses how entering into binding
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In Fox Bay Civic Assn, Inc v Creswell, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued May 30, 2019 (Docket No. 343384), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that a homeowners association could enforce its deed restrictions banning fences and that a disabled owner could not erect a fence in order to keep her emotional support and service dogs in
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In Stadler v Fontainebleau Condominiums Association, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued April 11, 2019 (Docket No. 343303), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that the plain language of the condominium bylaws permitted the condominium association to recover attorney’s fees and costs for successfully defending a co-owner’s lawsuit. The court further held that the condominium bylaws were enforceable
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In Sanzaro v Ardiente Homeowners Association, et. al., Docket No. 2:11-CV0-1143-RFB-CWH, 2019 WL 1049380 (D Nev, March 5, 2019), a federal court imposed a judgment of $350,000 in compensatory damages, $285,000 in punitive damages and awarded the plaintiffs attorney’s fees and costs against their homeowners association. Based upon the facts of the case, the court determined that the homeowners association
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Overview of Religious Discrimination under the Fair Housing Act The Federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), 42 U.S.C. §3601, et. seq. prohibits a condominium association or homeowners’ association from discriminating against a potential purchaser or an owner based upon religious beliefs. 42 U.S.C. §3604 provides in pertinent part: As made applicable by section 3603 of this title and except as exempted
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Introduction In Michigan, the laws related to the governance of the formation and operation of condominium projects are found in the Michigan Condominium Act (the “Act”), MCL 559.101, et seq. MCL 559.205 of the Act requires a condominium association to maintain a “reserve fund,” to be set aside for major repair and replacement of the common elements. MCL 559.205 provides:
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In Oak Valley Estates Homeowners Association v Georgetta Livingstone, Unpublished Opinion of the Michigan Court of Appeals, Docket No. 338292 (January 22, 2019), the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a monetary judgment in favor of a condominium association, for fines and attorney’s fees and costs, after granting an injunction requiring that a co-owner remove solar panels, a wind turbine and
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