Do you manage the finances of a Homeowner Association? If so, you know the challenges of keeping up with the accounting and bookkeeping tasks required to reconcile accounts quickly and easily. Fortunately, with the right tools, this task doesn’t need to be time-consuming. You can…

If you’re connected to the real estate industry in any way, please take a minute to catch your breath. The past few years have been absolutely volatile, and it looks like things are about to take another sharp turn in 2023. HOAs have not been…

New year, new costs. 2023 is looking expensive, and HOA communities are going to have to make some tough decisions in order to keep up. The combination of labor shortages, supply chain issues, and inflation has created instability for individuals and entire community associations. Experts are…

If your association is considering a management company, there are many variables that need to be considered before making the decision. In this article, we will review some of these factors and how to weigh them during the decision-making process for your homeowners association, condo…

This article is provided by Arch Capital Solutions. Arch Capital Solutions specializes in arranging HOA loans for community associations throughout the country.   Inflation Is Here Virtually, all economists agree that the economy is humming. The country’s unemployment rate is at the lowest level in…

An HOA mold problem is often a point of contention since there is usually a debate on which party is liable for it. Does it fall under the association’s responsibility or should the homeowner answer to the charges?   Who Is Responsible for an HOA…

How is communication between HOA management and homeowners? Make use of text messaging for HOAs to make sure messages are read and replied to. Email VS SMS The day-to-day experience of an HOA board is largely composed of coordinating, communicating, and delegating. It requires connecting…

The roof is the one part of our home that takes quite a beating from the harshest elements day in and day out. While roofs are designed to last, the time will come when you have to replace them eventually. However, you can delay that…

Living in residences that are part of the homeowner association has its perks. The associations help maintain an organized and cohesive atmosphere in the neighborhood and spare homeowners from some responsibilities. However, homeowners have to adhere to the strict regulations usually spelled out in HOA’s…

If you’ve served on a board or managed community associations then you know how difficult it can be to handle violations or ARC requests. This is especially the case when the governing documents are not crystal clear. In some cases, HOAs have an extremely detailed…

This post from Washh, a pressure cleaning Company based in Charlotte, NC. One of the most essential duties of a homeowners association is to maintain certain standards within the community. Often, this means keeping common areas clean to ensure residents’ safety. A neighborhood facility is…

If you haven’t dealt with a homeowners association before, you should prepare for rules. HOA rules govern many of the activities of daily residents. HOA’s aren’t for everyone, so before you make an offer on a home and move-in, you should understand how one may…

Pools managed by HOAs are easily susceptible to losing revenue channels and offering freedom that is often taken advantage of. Without the ability to constantly overlook the pools management elements, it is difficult to control important aspects such as access control for members and guests,…

A lot of towns around the country may not have a company that provides management services that cater to condo communities and homeowner associations.  Maybe an experienced manager hasn’t moved to town or the market is not large enough to support a company that specializes…

Whether you just got elected to the community association board or you’ve served for years, you want to make a good impression. Knowing these common HOA terms will help you sound like you know what you’re doing while you get up to speed or serve…

Rookie HOA board members are more prone to making mistakes, but that does not mean veteran board members are perfect. One of the best ways to become a good leader in your community is to know the most common HOA board member mistakes.   Avoid…

The quality of the air around us can directly impact our health, even though we don’t always recognize it. The presence of various pollutants in the air we breathe are often invisible to the naked eye, which makes it difficult to be alert to any…

HOA board members have many decisions to make that impact the association and those within it. As services offering short-term rentals have become more popular in recent years, HOAs have to be prepared for deciding how they’re going to handle these types of services. Make…

The HOA board is responsible for making decisions when the community is in need of maintenance or repair. Different skill sets are required based on the area of need, so it’s important to be mindful of the contractor you use to get the job done….

Article Link: http://blog.associaonline.com/the-truth-about-hoas-involved-homeowners-are-happier-homeowners MYTH: HOMEOWNERS DON’T NEED TO ATTEND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETINGS. Board members are community leaders. They volunteer their time to make decisions on the well-being and financial health of their association. Every homeowner has a right to know what’s going on in…

Article Link: http://blog.associaonline.com/the-truth-about-hoas-low-assessments-can-come-at-a-high-price MYTH: IT’S BEST TO LIVE IN AN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LOWEST ASSESSMENTS. Another area of effective governance includes setting realistic budgets and funding the reserves. While no one likes making the unpopular decision of raising the assessments, as a board member you…

Article URL: http://blog.associaonline.com/the-truth-about-hoas-dont-blame-governing-documents-blame-inconsistent-enforcement This is part one of a three-part series debunking common myths about living in community associations. Click here to read part two. MYTH: ENFORCING YOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS LEADS TO UNHAPPY HOMEOWNERS. Most people believe that enforcing the Rules and Regulations…

Even if your homeowners association is generally well lit at night, the chances of risks are still increased after dusk as visibility decreases. For that reason, it’s important to make sure your community has some guidelines and warnings for living or arriving home at night. Here are…

Free Wi-Fi internet is a common amenity in a lot of businesses, so it makes sense that your homeowners association might want to offer it for your residents. But there are some risks involved with offering the option of free internet if you don’t have…

Proper landscaping can be integral to the success of your homeowners association. It helps boost property values and keep homeowners satisfied, but it also brings in more potential homeowners. Maintaining landscaping, though, is often tough without the help of the right HOA landscaping companies.  …

For children across the U.S., school is almost out for the summer. This means that the playground equipment in parks and recreational areas of HOA communities will be full of children having fun in the sun. Before the playground equipment in your homeowners association fills…

Associations are small governments that are responsible for keeping their communities and buildings safe, while always trying to maintain and increase the value of the homes in the community. The association’s Declaration and/or Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&R) are put into place for the benefit…

In the wake of recent news reports about the safety of neighborhood watch programs, many association-governed communities are reviewing their policies for neighborhood watches. In many communities, the reviews are taking place to help prevent what no community wants to happen during a neighborhood watch:…

Community pools are a great place for residents of managed communities to cool off in the summer, but they can also be dangerous if the right safety measures are not taken. In addition to protecting residents from potential dangers, pool safety precautions help to protect…

Reserve studies are intended to help financially prepare an association for the inevitable necessity of major repairs or replacement of facilities, equipment and other assets in a community association’s common areas. Since the association is required to maintain these items, it is critical that the…

The still struggling condominium market may get a boost due to actions taken by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA issued new mortgage guidance for FHA insured condominium loans that could significantly affect condo financing and boost the housing recovery. Since the housing crisis began,…

Pick HOA vendors that best fit the needs of your community. Sounds simple written like that, but selecting HOA contractors is not that straightforward. So, before you bring out the HOA vendor contracts, take a look at our tips on how to pick the best…

Does an HOA pay taxes? It’s a common question a lot of homeowners associations ask. While an HOA does not technically operate to gain profit, it is still bound by tax laws. But, how exactly does it all work? Do HOAs have to file tax…

By: Craig Koss, AMS®, PCAM® Regional Vice President, Associa – Ann Arbor, MI Many of us use our computer to order products from Amazon, to pay our electric bill and to manage our bank accounts. Online commerce has grown exponentially over the past few years,…