[kris10xoxo]

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Differing interpretations, I suppose. Again, best to follow this current board’s direction and amend the documents to be more specific.

[kris10xoxo]

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This is the problem with vague provisions in the declaration. I would recommend following your board’s interpretation and just removing the wheelbarrow. Then, I recommend amending your documents to be more specific. Or at least include a provision that says certain terms are under the discretion of the board to define.

[kris10xoxo]

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That sucks… Squatters are the worst. I know firsthand what they are capable of and it’s insane how much the police let them get away with. They are practically stealing! And don’t get me started on squatters rights. Why should they even have rights? It’s absolutely ridiculous!

Anyway, my HOA didn’t really do anything about them either. I suppose they had the same troubles as you. But as the owner of one of the “squatted” homes, what I did was essentially evict them. I sought help from the police (after a while, they eventually came through), served a formal eviction notice, and filed a lawsuit. It’s a long process and very expensive to boot. But it’s well worth it in my case as they were destroying the place. I had to pay for renovations out of pocket and that cost me a pretty penny too. I don’t know how an HOA would go about removing squatters, but this is what I did as a homeowner. Hope it helps you.

[kris10xoxo]

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Most of the information your looking for is found within your community bylaws. If you dont have bylaws or have incomplete bylaws then you should do something about that. Amend your bylaws and outline your election procedure as specifically as you can. Best of luck.

[kris10xoxo]

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I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “right” but I do think you can ask for the job description of paid employees.

[kris10xoxo]

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Has everyone forgotten what happened to Surfside? What a tragedy! After that, I don’t think you can ever really be “overfunded”… Keep funding, OP. Don’t be another Surfside

[kris10xoxo]

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I don’t think they can tell you who you can and can’t sell your house to but there are other ways HOAs can use to discourage investment companies from buying homes in the community. One way is to restrict rentals or put a moratorium on them. Like any new homeowners can’t rent out their houses for 2 years or something like that. Rental restrictions are common in HOAs, so I wouoldn’t be surprised if your HOA did that

[kris10xoxo]

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Hi BarbC,

I don’t believe there is a maximum amount that an HOA can hold in reserves. Most HOAs actually have underfunded reserves. The optimal level is to have it at least 70% funded. Do you believe your HOA has reached that level?

[kris10xoxo]

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Pros: better management, connections to contractors and vendors, more time for the board. Cons: fees can be really extravagant – no joke!

[kris10xoxo]

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Hi annap_14,

To answer your questions, yes and yes. An HOA does need to be incorporated (usually a non-profit) most of the time. You also need to pay taxes since you’re still treated as a corporation.

I’m assuming you’re in the first stages of starting an HOA, which can be very difficult. Make sure you register with the proper agencies and have a solid declaration. You will also need to elect board members and they must thoroughly know your bylaws and covenants.

I find that many fledgling associations neglect insurance. Don’t make this mistake. Insurance is important and you should see to it that you have all the policies – a master policy, liability insurance, D&O, worker’s comp, crime and fidelity, etc.

It also wouldn’t hurt to hire a management company if you have the money for it. It’s going to make your life a lot easier, trust me.

Good luck!

Kristen

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