CAI-NJ Sept.2017(1)

S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 1 7

n the September 2016 issue of

Community Trends

I reported on

“zombie foreclosures”

and the

ongoing efforts to reform New Jersey’s foreclosure laws

and practices. I commented that if you ask the board

members of the 6,700 New Jersey community associations

to provide the top three issues hindering their community

governance, their issues would be diverse. The answers

By George Greatrex, Esq.,

Shivers, Gosnay & Greatrex, LLC

George Greatrex, Esq. is a partner with the Cherry Hill

law firm of Shivers, Gosnay & Greatrex, LLC, a CAI

Business Partner, and serves as the Vice-Chair of CAI’s

NJ-LAC and liason to the PA/DELVAL-LAC. His practice

focuses on community association law, and his firm

represents approximately 180 community associations

in South and Central New Jersey. Mr. Greatrex can be

contacted via email at

Courtesy CAI-NJ.

FORECLOSURE REFORM

IN NEW JERSEY:

AN UPDATE

would probably include such matters as insurance claims

that increase premiums, or the collection of overdue assess-

ments from owners driving new model cars, or complaints

of owners not cleaning up after their pets. But it’s safe to say

that more often than not, the issue of

vacant and aban-

doned homes in foreclosure

(known as

“zombie

foreclosures”)

in their communities ranks near the top

of their list. They are unsightly, unsafe, unsanitary, and

worst of all, the owners of such properties rarely pay their

Association assessments, withholding valuable resources

from their association and increasing the financial burden

on those responsible members who do pay their assess-

ments.

I also commented that it is safe to say that anyone who

initiates, supports and works to advance a piece of legis-

lation through the legislative process learns early on that to