"Back to the Future" A Mortgage Market Update for Condominiums and Homeowner Association.
Most everyone is already aware that we all lived through the "Mortgage Meltdown" and "Credit Crunch" in 2007. The term "Sub-Prime" was actually voted as the "Word of the Year" by the American Dialect Society? Yet few people understand what actually happened, or how it will affect them. The national news media's drumbeat of hype and negativity doesn't make it easier for consumers to wade through the print to understand . . . to read more of this article by Rick Davis, First Horizon Home Loans click here.

Guidelines to Board Member Responsibilities
When Joe Homeowner was elected by his fellow homeowners to his association's Board of Directors, he was thrilled; at last he could get things done! The very next morning he set out with his hammer to replace boards long missing from the property's fence, and the next week he was seen reorganizing the main storage locker. Being on the Board was clearly hard and important work. But whoa, Joe! The work of a Board member is important and sometimes hard, but . . . to read more of this article by Toyan Copeland, PCAM, The Copeland Group, LLC click here.

Investing Association Funds
Traditionally, advisors to community associations have recommended to their clients that association funds must be invested in "risk free" investments, with no potential for loss of capital. This results in association funds being invested in Certificates of Deposit or Money Market accounts, which carry no potential for significant growth through strategic investments. Typically, higher frisk investments, like stocks, have a higher expected investment return. They can also . . . to read more of this article from Heather McCormick and Ken Harer, Condominium Law Group, PL LC click here.

With the winter season well upon us, the question often arises whether a homeowners association is required to remove snow and ice from the common areas where snow and ice pose a danger to homeowners and their guests within a reasonable time after accumulation. A condominium association is landowner with respect to the common area as defined by the CC&R's and applicable persons entering upon its property is determined . . . to read more of this article from Marty Pujolar & Viivi Vanderslice, Vanderslice Law Firm LLC click here.