Condo Living Made Easy

Attorneys from Keough and Moody attended the Annual CAI Law Seminar in San Antonio, where discussions focused on the financial burden community associations face due to meritless legal claims from vexatious unit owners. 

Illinois courts have recently upheld substantial attorney’s fee awards against such owners, but the challenge remains in preventing frivolous lawsuits. Associations can mitigate costs by strategically choosing battles, avoiding engagement traps, maintaining reasonableness, and having a clear plan. Legal fees should be carefully assessed, with courts preferring they be awarded rather than preemptively charged. Early intervention and proactive legal strategies can help associations minimize costs and unnecessary litigation.

Learn more from our friends at Keough and Moody here.

We also encourage board members to take advantage of educational seminars hosted by the firm. You may see Lauren Schrader, owner of Haus Financial Services online! Their next offering is on March 12 titled "Identifying and Handling Nuisances."

The 43rd Annual CAI Illinois Conference and Expo for condominiums and homeowners associations is next Friday, February 21st at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

CAI Illinois, the local chapter of the Community Associations Institute, provides information, education, and resources to homeowner volunteers who govern communities and the professionals who support them. This event features education sessions for owners, board members and property managers on topics including legal updates, self-defense, project funding, productive meetings, open mindedness and more. The extensive Exhibit Hall features information booths for vendors providing maintenance and management services for community associations.

This is a great opportunity for board members to learn and network with other condo board members. Lauren Schrader of Haus Financial Services, LLC will be attending the Expo. She hopes to see you there!

Register on the CAI Illinois website.

Money is always a focus for Haus Financial Services, whether it is related to your condominium association or not. Here's a quick tip for finding and claiming money that may belong to you.

The State Treasurer is holding more than 5 billion dollars in unclaimed funds for Illinoisans. The State holds these lost funds until they are claimed by either the original owner or their heirs. Property is returned at no cost with the proper identification.

Most amounts are small, but every penny counts! You can search the Treasurer's database online to see if they are holding any funds that are due to you or a family member.  Good luck!