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Home | Feature Articles

Feature Articles

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HOA Finances: Can--and Should--Your Association Consider Bankruptcy?
March 2010
If your homeowner association has been beaten up by the economic downturn and there seems to be little hope of ever getting back onto solid financial footing, bankruptcy is something your board can consider. Here's what you need to know about how bankruptcy might affect your HOA. . . . keep reading
HOA Finances: Tips for Handling Your Reserve Account
March 2010
Are you putting enough money aside to pay to replace or repair your HOA's buildings and amenities? Is it possible your condo or homeowner association is putting too much aside? Does the HOA board know how reserves are supposed to be used? This article provides tips on how much to save and how to properly use association reserve accounts. . . . keep reading
HOA Security: Low-Cost Ways to Improve Security in Your Homeowner Association
March 2010
Here are a few tips for improving security in your HOA without digging deep into your condo or homeowner association's wallet for expensive security devices. . . . keep reading
HOA Rules: Using Webcams and Video to Enforce Rules in Your Homeowners Association
March 2010
Webcams may be the simple and low-cost solution to some common but annoying problems with enforcing HOA rules. But can your condo or homeowners association install cameras and use the evidence you capture on video to impose fines on your residents? . . . keep reading
Help Homeowners in Your HOA with a Model Code of Conduct
February 26, 2010
In a new article, we've posted a model code of conduct for homeowners in a community association. Based on input from experts from across the country, it's a great tool for new owner orientation, or as a reminder to longtime owners. In this week's tip, we offer two points to include in any model code of conduct for owners. . . . keep reading
Owners in Your HOA Need Guidance? Use a Model Code of Conduct for Homeowners
February 2010
We've created a model code of conduct for HOA boards, but homeowners have responsibilities, too. We've asked our experts for their best advice on the conduct homeowners should always follow, along with conduct homeowners should avoid. Here's a list that you can distribute to all owners in your association. . . . keep reading
Can Your HOA Fine Owners for Slacking?
February 19, 2010
This week's tip addresses two common problems: lazy owners and the need for additional revenue. Can your homeowners association kill two birds with one stone by financially penalizing owners who don't attend meetings, vote, or volunteer by imposing a "nonparticipation" fee on them? . . . keep reading
Can Your HOA Impose "Nonparticipation" Fees on Complacent Homeowners?
February 2010
You'll probably never be able to get all your homeowners to volunteer for association duty. But is there a way to financially penalize those who don't attend meetings, vote, or volunteer by imposing a "nonparticipation" fee on them? Even if you can, is it a good idea? Are there alternatives that would build participation in a positive way? We've got answers. . . . keep reading
HOA Facilities: A Roadmap for Identifying Common Elements
February 12, 2010
This week's tip answers the deceptively simple question: What is a common or a limited common element? . . . keep reading
Discussion Forum Follow-Up: What's a Common Area in My HOA?
February 2010
A reader on the HOAleader.com discussion board asks a question many associations end up grappling with: What's a common area? A handful of owners in our reader's townhome have decks, rather than concrete slabs, which everybody else has. The governing documents don't reference maintenance for decks. Our reader wonders: Who's responsible? . . . keep reading
Mandatory Club Memberships May Land Your HOA in Court
February 5, 2010
This week's tip is a cautionary tale for homeowners associations considering making club memberships mandatory in an effort to generate additional funding. . . . keep reading
Can Your HOA Make Club Membership Mandatory?
February 2010
Cash-strapped homeowner associations in Florida, Oregon, and Washington have been testing a new plan to generate income for their communities--making membership in association clubs mandatory for all homeowners. If you've been considering generating revenue by amending your governing documents to make membership in your HOA's golf or other club mandatory, read on before you take any action. . . . keep reading
HOA Finances: Think Twice Before Throwing a Party with Unused Budget Funds
January 29, 2010
This week's tip deals with condo and homeowners associations that take leftover money in a miscellaneous or contingency budget account and fritter them away with things like parties. Be careful before taking that step. . . . keep reading
HOA Governance: Challenges Remain When Working with Lenders on Delinquencies
January 2010
Too many homeowners associations are struggling to deal with absentee owners who've taken the "jingle mail" route--they've walked away from the home they now owe too much money on, and they've mailed the keys to the bank--before lenders have foreclosed. Even when banks have completed foreclosure and own association units, HOAs still have trouble collecting ongoing fees. . . . keep reading
Mechanic's Liens: What You Must Know, and How to Avoid Them
January 22, 2010
our project to add parking to your homeowners association has been fraught with problems from day one. You've argued with the contractor over all the additional charges that seem to materialize out of thin air. Your board is sick and tired of dealing with the constant frustrations and decides it will simply nod and smile to the contractor until the project's done. Then it'll simply refuse to pay all the additional charges the contractor is trying to impose. This week's tip explains why that's like sending an engraved invitation to a contractor to file a mechanic's lien against your HOA, which is a very bad idea. . . . keep reading
HOA Communications: Getting a Bead on Your Owners' Concerns
January 2010
One way to understand your owners' concerns is through a survey. But what should you ask? And if you survey your members, will you generate ill will if you simply ignore their comments? Here, we provide answers. . . . keep reading
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