Condo Fees

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Post-Petition Condo Fees Discharged in Chapter 13

Although a chapter 13 debtor continues to accrue post-petition condo fees while in bankruptcy, discharge extends to his in personam liability for those fees. In re Wiley, No. 16-15361 (Bankr. D. Md. Jan. 26, 2018).

Chapter 13 debtor, Christopher Wiley, owned but did not live in a condominium unit subject to a mortgage lien and a lien held by the condominium association based on post-petition fees and assessments. The mortgagee was granted relief from stay to foreclose but had not done so for over a year. Mr. Wiley’s confirmed plan surrendered the property to the lienholders for foreclosure with any deficiency in sale proceeds being treated as an unsecured claim. The plan also provided that estate property would not vest in the debtor until discharge. [Read more…] about Post-Petition Condo Fees Discharged in Chapter 13

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Condominium Lien May Be Partially Avoided

Interpreting the condominium documents and state law, the Western District of Pennsylvania found that the debtor could partially avoid a lien based upon unpaid condominium assessments. Young v. 1200 Buena Vista Condominiums, No. 12-786 (W.D. Pa. Aug. 27, 2012), rev’g, 467 B.R. 792 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. 2012). The case turned on whether a lien created through the operation of the condominium declaration and by-laws and state statute, 68 Pa. C.S. § 3315, constituted a “security interest” under Bankruptcy Code section 101(51) which would be subject to the anti-modification provision of section 1322(b), or a “statutory lien” under section 101(53) which could be bifurcated into secured and unsecured portions. [Read more…] about Condominium Lien May Be Partially Avoided