The list shows the most widely read articles on this site.

1. Living Up to Your Fiduciary Duty as an HOA Board Member
   December 2008
   "Fiduciary" is not just a big word. It carries legal consequences if you--even unknowingly--breach that duty. Here's what you need to know about fulfilling your fiduciary duty as a homeowners association board member. . . . keep reading
   
   
2. HOA Board Meetings: Open Meetings and Executive Session--What You Must Know
   March 2010
   Does your state require that your condo or homeowner association board have open meetings? If so, what does that mean? And what about executive session? What can you discuss privately, and what must you discuss in front of homeowners who wish to attend? Here's a rundown. . . . keep reading
   
   
3. HOA Reserve Studies: What You Need to Know
   August 2009
   Just what is a reserve study? What should it include, and how often should it be done? We've got answers. . . . keep reading
   
   
4. HOA Voting: Everything You Need to Know About Proxies
   December 2009
   What's a proxy? Who can assign it and when? Who can it be assigned to? Can your association implement any limits on the use of proxies? Here, our expert contributors answer your questions. . . . keep reading
   
   
5. HOA Board Members: 7 Things You Must Know If You're Sued Personally for Board Actions
   April 2010
   Sometimes homeowners sue HOA boards, and sometimes they sue both the board and board members individually. Here are seven things you should know if you're personally sued for actions taken as a condo or homeowners association board member. . . . keep reading
   
   
6. HOA Elections: 6 Mistakes to Avoid with your Condo or Homeowners Association Elections
   August 2009
   It's very easy to invalidate an election by not following every rule to a T. Keep an eye out for these common mistakes condo and homeowners associations make when conducting elections. . . . keep reading
   
   
7. HOA Reserve Funds: The Pros and Cons of Underfunding Reserves
   April 2009
   Some boards stop funding--or underfund--their homeowners association reserves as a way to easy the burden on homeowners during difficult economic times. Is this a smart move for your HOA? . . . keep reading
   
   
8. 9 Mistakes New HOA Board Members Make--And How to Avoid Them
   March 2010
   Here we list the nine most common mistakes new HOA board members make and provide tips for turning those mistakes into successes. . . . keep reading
   
   
9. 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
   
   
10. Discussion Forum Follow-Up: Reining in Bullies on Your HOA Board
    June 2010
    A reader on the HOAleader.com discussion board asks: "I am on the board of directors of our HOA, but the president is just running wild and not following any of the bylaws or CC&Rs..." Here, we provide tips for handling secretive, power-hungry board member tactfully yet effectively. . . . keep reading
    
    
11. HOA Rules: What You Must Know About Flag Restrictions
    July 2008
    There are several legitmate reasons why your HOA might want to provide guidance to homeowners on flag displays. Before you do, however, make sure you understand the maze of laws governing the issue. . . . keep reading
    
    
12. HOA Pet Rules & Required Accommodations: The Facts About Comfort Animals
    July 2009
    Is Fido a medical necessity, or are we being taken for chumps? That's the question HOA board members are asking themselves as a growing number of owners claim that their beloved pet isn't a violation of their association's rules but a critical part of their medical treatment. Here's what you need to know about comfort animals and how your association should treat owners' requests for them. . . . keep reading
    
    
13. Definition: Quorum
    A quorum is the smallest number of board members necessary to legally conduct the business of your HOA. Most, but not all, groups define a quorum as a . . . keep reading
    
    
14. HOA Financial Matters: What's Receivership, and When Do Condo and Homeowner Associations Need It?
    November 2009
    Though it's still rare in community associations, receivership has become more common in today's economy. With any luck, your HOA will never experience receivership. But some unlucky associations will. So here are some basics on receivership, along with information about how it's arising in condo and homeowner associations today. . . . keep reading
    
    
15. 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
    
    
16. Master Homeowners Associations: Is Your HOA Its Own Master?
    June 2009
    Imagine your surprise. You buy a home in a community knowing full well that you'll become a member of your local homeowners association only to learn that your homeowners association is really a subassociation and you're bound to follow the rules of a bigger "master" association. Here's a primer on master associations and how masters and subassociations, often called "subs," interact. . . . keep reading
    
    
17. HOA Contracts: Can One Board Member Contractually Bind Your Homeowners Association?
    October 2009
    Can one board member, without the board's knowledge, bind the association to a contract? The short answer is yes. However, our experts have suggested practices you can implement to prevent it from happening at your association. . . . keep reading
    
    
18. HOA Rules: Which Political Signs Can You Regulate?
    July 2008
    While a campaign-issued two-foot by two-foot Barack Obama or John McCain sign might look just fine on owners' lawns, would you feel as comfortable with a 10-foot by 10-foot sign? What if the sign promoted a White supremacist running for local office? The answer may be a rule banning political signs in your homeowners association. Before you enact such a rule, however, make sure you know whether your state permits you to do so and understand the Pandora's box you may be opening. . . . keep reading
    
    
19. HOA Legal Compliance: A Primer on the Fair Housing Act for Homeowners Associations
    November 2009
    The Fair Housing Act prevents many types of discrimination in housing. Here's a basic overview of how it affects your homeowners association. . . . keep reading
    
    
20. 9 Responsibilities HOA Boards Shouldn't Delegate to a Manager
    February 2011
    HOA management companies can be a great help to an association's board of directors. But a manager is not supposed to usurp the board's duties. Here we share nine duties you shouldn't allow your HOA manager to handle. . . . keep reading
    
    

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