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Feature Articles

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FHA Condo Certification Update; What You Need to Know
February 2012
Condo associations are still struggling to meet Federal Housing Administration certification requirements for mortgages insured by the federal agency. Here's the latest FHA condo certification news. . . . keep reading

Should You Study How Your Homeowners Association Stacks Up to Nearby HOAs?
January 2012
An owner reports online that her homeowner association commissioned a study to see how it compared to nearby HOAs in terms of amenities, services, costs, and market value. Should your HOA commission such a study? Where do you find a vendor to conduct such a survey? And are the results of such a study open to owners' review, or can you keep them confidential? Here are some answers. . . . keep reading

Can Your HOA Give Owners "Discounts" on Fees? Alternative Ways to Say Thank You
January 2012
What if you want to motivate your owners to do something--like volunteer on a committee or oversee the lobby redecoration? Is it possible to offer incentives--like reduced HOA fees for a specific period of time--to attract otherwise-apathetic owners? Here, our experts weigh in. . . . keep reading

Getting HOA Owners to Clean Their Property
January 2012
A Maryland HOA recently got a court order forcing a homeowner to do a laundry list of repairs or to allow the HOA access to the owner's property to complete the work. . . . keep reading

Bedbugs in Your HOA? Really? Yes, Really!
January 27, 2012
This week's tip may make your skin crawl. I apologize in advance! But it also might help you prevent a real infestation. . . . keep reading

What to Do if Bedbugs Invade Your HOA
January 2012
Last August, New York legislators passed a law requiring that rental buildings must disclose any bedbug infestation history, and some real estate agents are requiring New York co-ops to make such disclosures in sales, too. Yet no matter where your HOA is located, you should be preparing for a bedbug infestation--but how in heaven's name does an HOA do that? . . . keep reading

What's an HOA Board to Do When It's Been Getting It Wrong?
January 2012
Our experts say it's common for condo and homeowners association boards to misinterpret, fail to read, or to just plain ignore their governing documents. Here, HOA experts explain the errors they find boards making and how boards can correct the error of their ways. . . . keep reading

"Get Out!" Is that Something You Can Suggest to an Owner?
January 13, 2012
In this week's tip, we lend some advice to consider before you bellow to an owner, "You obviously don't belong here. Maybe you should get out!" . . . keep reading

Can You Encourage HOA Owners to Get Up and Go?
January 2012
Some owners just aren't suited for HOA living, and they make their own lives and the lives of their neighbors miserable. Are there things you can do to encourage those owners to sell and move elsewhere? Or would any such efforts be out of line? Here we provide answers. . . . keep reading

Kick Off 2012: Learn from Other HOAs' Best Moves in 2011
January 8, 2012
In this week's tip, we give you a jump on smart homeowner association management in 2012 by revealing some of the best moves HOA boards made in 2011. . . . keep reading

Start 2012 Right: Review the Best Moves HOA Boards Made in 2011
January 2012
What better way to ring in the new year than to improve the operation of your HOA with ideas from your peers and the experts who advise them? . . . keep reading

Can Your HOA Get a Judgment Instead of a Lien?
December 2011
A HOAleader.com reader reports that his new HOA management company wants to change the wording in the HOA's 10-day demand letter so the HOA would get an automatic judgment, not a lien, when a home owner doesn't pay. What's the difference? And do state laws allow that? . . . keep reading

Keys at HOAs? They're So Early 2000s!
December 23, 2011
In this week's tip, we sing the praises of keyless entry systems. . . . keep reading

The Pros and Cons of Keyless Access in HOAs
December 2011
A HOAleader.com reader reports that his HOA is considering keyless access--like swipe or insert cards--for elevators to help increase building security. His board is particularly concerned about those who may have avoided proper screening or requested additional keys to allow unauthorized access for friends. . . . keep reading

Hiring HOA Vendors: Is a Delinquent Owner's Employer Off Limits?
December 16, 2011
This week's tip will help you determine whether you should raise red flags about hiring a company at which a delinquent owner works. . . . keep reading

Should Your HOA Board Refuse to Hire a Delinquent Owner's Employer? Discussion Forum Follow-Up
December 2011
An HOAleader.com reader asks: "One of our residents moved out of his house, but it's still in his name, and he owes $2,000 in back dues plus attorneys' fees. This person submitted a bid to do the snow removal. Some board members decided that since he is only the vice president of the snow removal company, they hired the company to perform our snow removal. Three people voted against the hiring, and four people voted to hire the company. I say this is 100 percent wrong, but I need something to support my feelings about this hiring." . . . keep reading

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