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Nicholas Meinert

Nicholas Meinert is the Operations Director. Nick earned his law degree from Case Western Reserve University after graduating as an Accounting Honors Student from Hillsdale College.

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Did Fannie Mae Just Update its Condominium Lending Guidelines Again?

Leave a Comment / About Associations, Federal & Regulatory, Financial /

Maintaining mortgage eligibility is one of the most important aspects of protecting property values. If your condominium association wants to keep units eligible for Fannie Mae financing, which many other lenders use as a benchmark, the association must comply with Fannie Mae’s lending regulations to avoid the dreaded “Fannie Mae Blacklist.” On March 18, 2026, Fannie Mae updated its lending guidelines in efforts to make compliance easier […]

Did Fannie Mae Just Update its Condominium Lending Guidelines Again? Read More »

L.H. Hipshire v. Oakwood Village: Why Ohio’s Supreme Court Dog Bite Case Matters for Community Associations?

Leave a Comment / About Associations, Court Cases /

The Ohio Supreme Court is currently weighing a case, which may have significant implications for condominium and homeowner association (HOA) board members and managers: L.H. Hipshire v. Oakwood Village.   At the heart of the case is the question of whether a landlord, who owns and controls common areas, can be held strictly liable under Ohio law as a “harborer” of a tenant’s dog

L.H. Hipshire v. Oakwood Village: Why Ohio’s Supreme Court Dog Bite Case Matters for Community Associations? Read More »

How is the Use of Employees, Contractors, and Volunteers Impacting Association Liability?

Leave a Comment / About Associations, Blogroll, Communications /

For community associations, engaging the use of employees, independent contractors, or volunteers each present their own unique advantages and liabilities. Understanding these differences is essential for managing risk, ensuring smooth operations, achieving desired results, and making informed decisions about your workforce. Hiring employees gives associations the most control over how and when work is accomplished. Also, employment is “at-will” in most states, meaning an employer

How is the Use of Employees, Contractors, and Volunteers Impacting Association Liability? Read More »

Is your Condominium on the Fannie Mae Blacklist?

Leave a Comment / About Associations, Blogroll, Education /

Are owners in your condominium having trouble selling or re-financing their units? If so, it may be due to the condominium property being blocked by Fannie Mae for not meeting its lending criteria. Fannie Mae does not make loans, but it does purchase and guarantee them in the secondary market, which reduces risks to banks,

Is your Condominium on the Fannie Mae Blacklist? Read More »

Your Community Pool May Require Lifeguards By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq.

About Associations, Blogroll, Uncategorized /

In Ohio, any pool serving more than three residential dwellings is considered a “public pool,” which means that nearly every condominium and homeowners association pool is classified as “public” despite its private ownership and access. This means that your community pool falls under the regulations outlined in the Ohio Health Code. Apart from chemical monitoring

Your Community Pool May Require Lifeguards By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq. Read More »

Don’t Gamble with Your Community’s Well-Being By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq.

About Associations, Blogroll, Meetings, Operations /

The recent changes to Ohio’s sports gambling laws, which took effect on January 1, 2023, have prompted many board members to inquire about the possibility of community associations holding bingo game or raffles.  In short, the laws related to bingo and raffles remains the same. Only charitable corporations may conduct such gambling events. As we

Don’t Gamble with Your Community’s Well-Being By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq. Read More »

Protect Your Community Association’s Reputation by Protecting Contractors from Interference, By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq.

About Associations, Operations /

Have your association’s contractors ever complained to the board about residents interfering with their ability to perform their work? Have you heard stories of residents scolding your snow removal provider for not doing their job properly this last winter? With spring clean-up season right around the corner and large landscaping projects, as well as routine

Protect Your Community Association’s Reputation by Protecting Contractors from Interference, By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq. Read More »

Prevent Automatic Contract Renewals in Service Contracts, By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq.

About Associations, Blogroll, Operations /

Community association boards execute contracts on the association’s behalf with various types of contractors to maintain, repair, and replace their associations’ common elements. Project specific contracts involve a contractor completing a particular project, for example, replacing the roof of a building. Project specific contracts should always include a start date and completion date requirement. Service

Prevent Automatic Contract Renewals in Service Contracts, By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq. Read More »

Fraud Alert: Mortgagee Questionnaire Scams, By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq.

About Associations, Blogroll, Federal & Regulatory, Operations /

In response to the tragedy at the Surfside condominium in Florida, Federal mortgagees are starting to update their questionnaires that are required to be completed in conjunction with the financing of a condominium unit sale.  These changes include questions about the current status and condition of the property that are difficult to answer, along with

Fraud Alert: Mortgagee Questionnaire Scams, By: Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq. Read More »

Updated Condominium FHA Approval Rules By Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq.

About Associations, Federal & Regulatory, Operations /

On September 12, 2019, our office published a blog explaining the new FHA Condominium Approval Rules that became effective on October 15, 2019, which includes the single-unit approval process. The purpose of these new rules was to create more opportunity for individual condominium owners to obtain FHA insured mortgages. As many condominium associations are learning,

Updated Condominium FHA Approval Rules By Nicholas J. Meinert, Esq. Read More »