HOAleader.com provides practical advice on homeowner and condominium association management, laws, rules, insurance, finances, reserves, dues, liens, assessments, dispute resolution, and more.HOAleader.com provides practical advice on homeowner and condominium association management, laws, rules, insurance, finances, reserves, dues, liens, assessments, dispute resolution, and more.
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Published by Plain-English Media, LLC
Home | Feature Articles

Feature Articles

Click on any headline below to find the full article.

And be sure to click the "More Headlines" link at the bottom of the page to read articles you may have missed.

Four Thoughts on Modifying Bylaws and Board Term Limits; Discussion Forum Follow-up
May 2013
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "Our bylaws state that we need to have elections every two years. We have four seats on odd years and three seats on even years at two-year terms. We have a very hard time getting anyone to run for the board. I saw a comment in here regarding that issue of how so many HOAs have that problem and how they are changing the term of office limits. My main question is, Can we as a board amend or restate our bylaw pertaining to the term of office without having to get a membership vote? . . . keep reading
When You Can -- and Can't -- Extend Your HOA's Vote Deadline
May 2013
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "Extending voting AFTER the deadline has come and gone--that's what's happening here on an important CC&R amendment the board wants to see pass. A week or more after the deadline, without sufficient votes, they've extended the voting, and I want to know if this is LEGAL. I'd also like to know if it violates fiduciary responsibility to all homeowners, since I believe that it unfairly favors those in favor of such an effort." . . . keep reading
HOA President Gambles HOA Funds--and Refuses to Resign. Now What?
May 17, 2013
In this week's tip, we discuss whether all should be forgiven if a board member improperly uses HOA funds (to gamble, no less!) and then pays them back. The first issue is the proper process for removal of directors. States vary, but Florida provides guidance. . . . keep reading
Should This HOA President Resign?
May 2013
In response to a reader's question, we ask our experts if they can imagine a circumstance in which a board member who withdrew HOA funds for personal use shouldn't resign, even if the funds were paid back. Also, under what circumstances would the HOA have its lawyer defend the president in a recall petition? . . . keep reading
Should Your HOA Delay -- Not Ban -- Rentals?
May 2013
Some condo and homeowners associations forbid rentals altogether, but others are taking a different tack--banning rentals for a period of time, say one or two years. What are the pros and cons of a short-term, instead of an outright, ban? Here's the scoop. . . . keep reading
No Quorum for Meeting to Elect a Board: Give Up? And Can the Prior Board Carry On?
May 2013
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "The CC&Rs say 51% for a quorum. If no quorum, quorum requirements drop to 25% for the adjourned annual meeting. My question is if a first adjourned meeting has to be called because the 25% quorum requirements were not met, and the second adjourned meeting also fails to meet the 25% quorum, what then? Does the sitting board just continue into the next term? When does the board declare failure to meet quorum requirements and end the torture?" . . . keep reading
Have You Tried These HOA Best Practices?
May 10, 2013
In this week's tip, we give you a taste of six ideas HOA boards nationwide have implemented to make their communities better places to live. . . . keep reading
6 Ways Boards are Improving Their HOA's Operations
May 2013
Need ideas to help your condo or homeowner association run more smoothly? Here, board members from associations across the country and experts who advise them share six of the best practices they've recently implemented to streamline operations. . . . keep reading
HOA Legal Committees: Good Idea That Can Be Abused
May 3, 2013
In this week's tip, we answer a reader's question about the legitimacy of his HOA's legal committee and whether its secretive deliberations are necessary. . . . keep reading
HOA Legal Committee: To Be or Not to Be?
May 2013
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "A few years back our HOA board formed a legal committee of board members. They have been operating outside of the board on all issues, even those lacking pending litigation. Over the past 12 years, I've been on the board five times, serving in an officer position each time. This year I was appointed to the legal committee. . . . keep reading
Was This a Secret HOA Meeting? You Be the Judge
April 26, 2013
In this week's tip, we discuss the fallout from what may have been a secret board meeting. Here's what happened. AnHOAleader.com reader says a handful of board members met to discuss how they'd handle a sensitive issue at the next meeting--but they didn't tell anybody else they were meeting. When the others found out, they balked. It's not completely clear to all of our experts whether this board absolutely, positively did anything wrong. But it may have. . . . keep reading
Yes, Virginia, That May Have Been a Secret HOA Board Meeting
April 2013
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "It became evident that our nine-member board was making some costly and unwise decisions. At our recent annual meeting, we were able to fill the majority of positions with some people who possess good, solid business and management backgrounds so that those remaining from the old board are in the minority. The subsequently elected officers included only one previous board member who was never part of the problem. . . . keep reading
Are Illinois Courts a Danger to Its State's HOAs and Others?
April 19, 2013
In this week's tip, we head backto Illinois to discuss yet another questionable Illinois court ruling that could have implications for HOAs far and wide. (See last month's article on another questionable Illinois court ruling.) . . . keep reading
Illinois Court Rules Owner Can Shirk HOA Assessments
April 2013
Last month, we discussed the wisdom of an Illinois Supreme Court case,Poris v. Lake Holiday Property Owners Association, allowing HOA security officials to stop and write tickets to speeding home owners. (See last month's article.) In what we hope doesn't become a regular series, we'll now discuss another controversial Illinois court case. . . . keep reading
HOA Yard Sales: Community Builders or Killers?
April 13, 2013
In this week's tip, we tackle the tough question of whether yard sales are good or bad for HOAs. . . . keep reading
Pros and Cons of Banning Yard Sales in Your Homeowners Association
April 2013
An HOAleader.com reader asks, "Are yard sales a good idea for a HOA? The board is concerned with the extra traffic it involves, plus the possibility of criminals casing our properties." Here our experts discuss whether their clients have rules governing yard sales--and whether they should. You might be surprised at their disagreement. . . . keep reading
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