Changes to FHA financing approval requirements

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) released a detailed update to existing condominium underwriting regulations on June 30, 2011 with new requirements effective for all approval application packets submitted on or after August 30, 2011.  In 2010, FHA-insured mortgages accounted for more than one-third of all condominium purchases nationwide.  Many other lenders are also informally adopting […]

Aging in place in Community Associations

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 48% of owner-occupied homes and 26.2% of rental homes nationwide contained one or more persons age 55 or older. In Minnesota, 24.8% of the State’s population is 55 years of age or older and 22.8% of all households contains at least one person who is at least 65 years […]

Comfort animals: What are they and how should associations deal with them?

The Federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) prohibit discrimination against some protected classes, such as disabled individuals. Normally, a residential housing provider is required to make reasonable accommodations in its policies, procedures and practices to afford a disabled individual with an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. […]