QUESTION: I live on a residential airpark with covenants and deed restrictions that I consider to be pretty good. When I was looking into the property I followed the advice you offered during Sun ‘n Fun presentation about taking the CC&Rs to a good attorney and making sure I understood them.

After buying the property and moving here I discovered there are a few property owners who have failed to pay their annual assessments. The board of directors keeps talking about the situation but doesn’t appear to be doing anything.

At the last meeting I asked for the identity of those failing to meet the financial requirements of their agreement and was told that the BOD didn’t want to make that information public for fear of legal action or other problems.

My questions: should the identity of the miscreants be disclosed and what action should the board take? Read the full story

The Wall Street Journal quoted LivingWithYourPlane.com’s Ben Sclair when the newspaper highlighted three airpark properties for sale. The properties were located in Florida, Georgia and Indiana.

I’ll be doing forums at the Arlington (WA) Fly-in and AIrVenture Oshkosh in July. The Arlington presentations will take place Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12 and the AirVenture program is planned for July 31. At Arlington, I’ll speak at 10:30 am on Friday (July 11) and noon on Saturday (July 12).

At Oshkosh, I’ve been scheduled for 8:30 am on Thursday, July 31 in the NATCA Pavilion Number 8.

The Arlington times are great; before the heat of the day and prior to the airshow distractions. At Oshkosh, it’s kinda early in the morning but again, the time is before the heat and humidity builds up and well before the competition with the airshow later in the day.

At each of these events I always make sure there’s plenty of time for those attending to share their ideas and questions. Often, others in the audience can provide first-hand experience of an issue or there’s someone attending who is an expert in an area in question.

If you can’t attend but have a question or issue you want to share with the participants, please send me an e-mail and I’ll do my best to get it in front of everyone.

A reader comments:

I read with great interest your article on homeowner dues in airparks. I live on an airpark, and I have a question about dues paid by commercial enterprises on the airpark.

In our case,  the owner of a commercial – residential lot on the airpark resides on the lot, and he operates an aircraft maintenance business on the lot.

Do other airparks charge different homeowner dues for businesses located on the airstrip? A business creates more wear and tear on the airpark facilities and a business has the most to gain by having a well-maintained airpark. Our business owner is charged the same dues as all of the strictly residential property owners in the airpark.

I am curious to know how other airparks handle this situation.

Post your thoughts below.

Recently we asked insurance firms to tell us about liability insurance terms and fees for residential airparks. We received responses from Jon R. Shimer, Jr. of Aviation Insurance Resources and Norma Joyce of AUA. The information they provided is below together with the contact information.

Read the full story

Here’s an interesting idea for someone working on a new airpark or fly-in community somewhere in the West. This couple wants to relocate and work with someone on a project. Here’s what he writes:

My wife and I are considering a relocation to a residential airpark in the west where I could continue my small architectural practice. 

If you happen to hear of a developer, investor or builder who might need an architect/resident on site for the project, I would appreciate the information.

Thanks for the ongoing news and updates.

Douglas Frazier
douglaslfrazier@yahoo.com

For those who were unable to attend the recent Sun ‘n Fun fly-in at Lakeland, FL, you missed another great event.

We presented two forums on residential airparks during the show and each was attended by about 100 individuals. There were lots of questions and indications that interest in residential airparks continues at a brisk pace.

At least two or three new airpark plans were revealed during the seminars and we’re added them to our listings of airports under construction or in the planning phase. Some of those in the list probably will actually be open during 2007.

Prices for airpark homes and lots continue very strong, despite the reports of housing slowdowns in non-aviation communities.

All this is exciting, positive information for those owning properties or looking to acquire them.

I’m a Mortgage Loan officer for a small Mortgage Broker company in Overgaard, AZ.

I’m looking for financing companies for aircraft hangers at our private airpark, Mogollon Airpark. I have lenders that will do the loans for the homes all day long, just not the hangers and I’m at my wits end trying to find the lenders for my potential customers.

Any help you can provide will be GREATLY appreciated!! I’m not looking for business, (if it came my way I wouldn’t turn it down) just some assistance.

Thank you so much!!

Denise Barker
Wholesale Lending LLC
MBBR 0108116
888-277-9660

The owners of a 1400-acre southern Arizona property are looking for someone who is experienced in developing residential airparks from ground up to partner with them on this property.

This isn’t an unusual request so we decided to add it to the blog and see if there are folks out there interested in helping this group or others.

If you are interested in this Arizona project, contact Andy Cosentino at andycosentino@yahoo.com or 520-481-8981. We would also appreciate having your information on file at Living With Your Plane for the next folks who inquire.