HOA News, Advice, and Tips
Does your condo or HOA prohibit street parking? Are the number of parking spaces limited? If so, you may live in a community where parking is at a premium. Stories abound on how HOAs enforce parking rules, and of course, they are almost all negative. Parking may be at a premium, but there are some […]
Continue ReadingWhen buyers look at condos or homes in an HOA, their first question is often how much are the association fees. For many buyers, low HOA fees are attractive. In newly built or converted condos, fees can be kept relatively low because new systems are in place. An association may be able to defer dealing with costs […]
Continue ReadingIn this busy “budget time” of year, when so many associations (those with a 12/31 Fiscal Year End) are working on their budgets, it is a good time to remind my readers why Reserve contributions are important. And it’s not just me. A prominent Southern California attorney, Mr. Robert DeNichilo, just wrote a nice summary […]
Continue ReadingAt a time when a significant number of Floridians are still struggling to make ends meet, millions of Florida homeowners could be faced with the threat of yet another forced increase in their cost of living. At issue is what some attorneys in Florida want to call the “unlicensed practice of law” by community association […]
Continue ReadingUnless you’re careful about choosing a community association management company, you can end up taking on more headaches than you save. Thorough evaluation can save you from this situation and can lead to a positive working relationship with your management company. Here’s 5 tips to bear in mind when trying to choose the right firm […]
Continue ReadingBudget season is upon us and one of the most controversial subjects that boards face when budgeting is budgeting for bad debt. What exactly is bad debt? It’s those assessments that are not collectible from the homeowner. When budgeting for the association the goal is to have a zero budget, meaning not planning for income […]
Continue ReadingIn a homeowners association, the enforcement of the architectural standards in the community is the primary function of the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) and the Board of Directors. The governing documents for a homeowners association will dictate: The requirement of the board to appoint a standing architectural committee, The number of volunteers required to serve […]
Continue ReadingPlanned communities can be large or small, upscale or average, urban or rural, or somewhere in between. However, they share a common thread because they are all inhabited by people who are members of the world at large. Community Managers can encourage a sense of community by offering programs within the association as well as […]
Continue ReadingWith the holidays approaching, a newsletter is a great way to keep the community informed of upcoming events. However, equally important, is a communication tool that offers information and updates to all homeowners. With many owners having online access and email, a newsletter can be easily sent as an attachment, within the body of an […]
Continue ReadingIt is important for boards of directors to be aware that conflicts of interest or dualities of interest sometime occur in the course of conducting the business affairs of the homeowner association. The appearance of same can be troublesome – – even if there is in fact no conflict whatsoever. Conflicts occur because the many […]
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