There is a worrying trend of new bankruptcy filings locally and nationally. The Eastern District of Michigan (covering the metro Detroit area) saw a 7% jump in new bankruptcy filings in 2024 compared to 2023. In March 2025, new bankruptcy cases nationally increased...
Blog
Navigating Unit Alteration Requests in Condominium Communities: Legal Frameworks and Best Practices
Requests by co-owners to alter or modify their units—or adjacent common elements—are among the most frequent and challenging issues faced by condominium associations. For board members and property managers, responding to these requests requires careful consideration,...
Last Day to Pay Foreclosed 2022 Property Taxes is March 31, 2025!
Properties having unpaid 2022 property taxes are currently subject to tax foreclosure proceedings by county treasurers. The last day to redeem the property from the property tax foreclosure is March 31, 2025. If those 2022 taxes are not paid, any lien held by...
BOI Reporting No Longer Enforced for Domestic Entities
Updated March 3, 2025 Community associations may finally be saved from filing BOI reports under the Corporate Transparency Act. We are glad to announce that on March 2, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department has determined "...with respect to the Corporate Transparency...
Webinar – The Michigan Homeowners’ Energy Policy Act
The Michigan Homeowners' Energy Policy Act: What Board Members and Managers Need to Know If you are a board member or manager of a Michigan community association, you need to know how to comply with the Homeowners' Energy Policy Act, which becomes effective April 2,...
Attorney Evan Alexander Has Been Promoted to Partner at the Firm
Evan Alexander joined the MAGWV team 10 years ago, and during that time, he has steadily established himself as an authority on community association law. He is a frequent presenter on community association law topics, including seminars held by United Condominium...
Another Victory for a MAGWV Association Client: Michigan Court Rules in Favor of Right to Hire Property Manager
In a notable decision issued on October 10, 2024, the Michigan Court of Appeals in Neuman v Long Lake Shores Ass’n, No 368648 (Mich Ct App Oct 10, 2024) upheld a trial court ruling in favor of MAGWV’s association client in a contractual dispute brought by a group of...
Court of Appeals Decision Recognizes Swim Spas as Swimming Pools: A Victory for Community Association Law
MAGWV has successfully argued that an above ground “swim spa” constitutes an above ground “swimming pool” and is therefore prohibited when an association’s governing documents prohibit above ground swimming pools. In Hills of Oakland Subdivision Association v....
The Importance of Board Meeting Minutes
Association boards have legal, financial, and ethical responsibilities for the organization they lead. Individual directors in turn have a legal duty to act with due care in their service to the association. This involves attending meetings, providing legitimate...
Michigan Supreme Court Opinion and Co-owner Premises Liability Claims Against Condominium Associations
On July 11, 2024, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a pivotal decision in Janini v. London Townhouses Condominium Association that directly affects how co-owners can pursue claims against condominium associations. In this landmark decision, the court ruled that a...
New Homeowners’ Energy Policy Act Impacts All Community Associations in Michigan
The State of Michigan adopted Public Act 68 of 2024, known as the "Homeowners’ Energy Policy Act" (the “Act”). Its effective date is April 2, 2025. This Act impairs the ability of condominium and subdivision associations (referred to in this article as “community...
Social Media Best Practices for Your Community
The primary allure of social media in community associations lies in its ability to foster enhanced communication. Platforms like Nextdoor and Facebook groups offer a space for neighbors to share information — from community events to security alerts — and foster a...