A mid-20th century vignette: A young man stands in tall grass, hands in his pockets, gazing wistfully at an empty diner. Though condominium living, emerging at around that period, is not exactly the cherished tradition that restaurant diner culture was back then, it will go the way of the abandoned diner cars, if the current […]
From Tragedy Comes Opportunities to Give Back
Sometimes, a small gesture of kindness and community can mean a lot to those affected by natural disasters. Following the deadly wildfires that tore through the historic town of Lahaina, Hawaii, in early August, many in the community association industry wanted to show their support to Maui homeowners displaced by the fires. The wildfires are […]
Pros and Cons of Buying a Condo in Hawaii
If you dream of waking up with a view of the Honolulu skyline from your 42nd floor lanai, or downsizing to a smaller living space to retire in paradise, buying a condo in Hawaii is an investment to consider. List Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the Islands’ premier real estate agencies, has helped many prospective […]
What you should know about the AOAO (HI)
Living in Hawaii is, in many ways, similar to living in any other state. Aside from the gorgeous white sand beaches and laidback atmosphere, people work, shop, socialize and even pay association fees. There are three major types of community associations in the State of Hawaii—condominiums, planned communities (HOAs), and cooperatives. Each type of property […]
Aging condominiums: Background reading
With the interest shown in the last couple of posts on condominium issues, I grabbed a few published articles that contain useful information or perspectives. What’s clear is that the issues created by aging condominiums are by no means unique to Hawaii. They are being experienced in all areas where condominiums have been built. Read […]
What’s the life span of a high rise condo in Hawaii?
Here’s a new point worth considering as many of Oahu’s condominium buildings reach 40 years or older: What happens when a condo becomes economically untenable in the face of falling property values caused by mounting maintenance fees that can’t keep up with the cost of needed repairs and maintenance? We need a discussion of procedures […]
Hawaii condo law does provide for “termination” of a condominium
I did a little more research this morning, and found Hawaii’s condominium law (Chapter 514B HRS) does include a provision for terminating a condominium, found in Section 514B-47. The process is spelled out in the statute, and there are several ways for a condominium as a legal entity can be dissolved. Read the article………………………..
Could a Local Building Collapse Like the One in Florida? (HI)
Experts say what happened at the Surfside condo is unlikely to happen here. But they warn condo boards: put off maintenance projects and you’ll end up paying far more. Read the article………………………..
7 Facts About Your HOA CC&Rs
Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) are rules and limitations that govern on a group of homes (aka a community). Typically they are established by the developer, neighborhood association and / or homeowner association (aka HOA) to protect, preserve and/or enhance property values within the community. They might, for example, prohibit owners from parking their cars […]
Advice for Hawaii Condo Owners and Boards
Dana Bergeman, CEO of construction management company Bergeman Group, says many condo associations and unit owners look at infrastructure improvements as individual projects, but many can be consolidated. For example, combining a fire alarm or fire sprinkler project and a re-piping project can save condo owners money because contractors won’t have to open the walls […]
Why Condos Need to Plan Ahead for Major Repair Projects (HI)
Aging condo buildings need large, complex projects to keep them safe and functional. But many condo associations have not budgeted for these expensive, time-consuming repairs, says Dana Bergeman, CEO of local construction management company Bergeman Group. He calls the situation “a real crisis.” Read the article………………………..
A Condominium Can Last Hundreds of Years, But Not Its Components (HI)
Dana Bergeman is the CEO of Bergeman Group, a local construction management company. He says many of Hawai‘i’s condominiums were built in the 1960s and ’70s and are reaching the point where they will need major infrastructure, cosmetic and architectural improvements to keep their value and remain liveable. Read the article……………………………….
Advice for Hawai?i Condo Owners and Boards
Dana Bergeman, CEO of construction management company Bergeman Group, says many condo associations and unit owners look at infrastructure improvements as individual projects, but many can be consolidated. For example, combining a fire alarm or fire sprinkler project and a re-piping project can save condo owners money because contractors won’t have to open the walls […]
Why Condos Need to Plan Ahead for Major Repair Projects (HI)
The 353-unit 1350 Ala Moana condominium near Pi‘ikoi Street has a pool, grass-covered recreation area, barbecue area, exercise room and vast ocean views. The high-rise, built in 1968, has undergone a lot of work over the years, such as re-piping, spall repairs and renovation of its pool deck. Read the article………………………..
A Condominium Can Last Hundreds of Years, But Not Its Components (HI)
Dana Bergeman is the CEO of Bergeman Group, a local construction management company. He says many of Hawai‘i’s condominiums were built in the 1960s and ’70s and are reaching the point where they will need major infrastructure, cosmetic and architectural improvements to keep their value and remain liveable. Read the article………………………..
SB326 – The Balcony Inspection Provisions of the Bill – How Will It Impact Common Interest Developments? (HI)
The Governor signed SB326 August 30, 2019. This new law will have a substantial impact on Common Interest Developments (CID’s) throughout the State of California. The bill was introduced as a response to the Berkeley balcony collapse at the Library Gardens Apartments on June 16, 2015, when thirteen students fell forty feet from a fifth-floor […]
Helping Seniors Survive The Hazards Of High-Rise Living In Honolulu (HI)
When a fire erupted in his high-rise condominium building, Roy Mogi, 83, evacuated down six flights of stairs and crossed safely to the other side of the street. Then he collapsed, and his head slammed against the pavement. He died of blunt force trauma. Honolulu Fire Capt. Scott Seguirant said it’s not known whether exhaustion […]
Rise and Fire
PUTTING SPRINKLER SYSTEMS in older high-rise buildings may sound like a no-brainer—particularly given recent fires like those in high-rises in West London and Honolulu—but winning support from owners can be tricky. Plenty of older condominium associations—built before local or state laws required sprinkler systems in high-rises—have shied away from installing them, launching debates at legislative bodies […]
6 Tips for Making the Most of Your Hawai’i Association’s Reserve Study
For a community to last for generations, its major components – like elevators, clubhouses and swimming pools – all need major maintenance or replacement eventually. The funding for these capital improvements comes from putting a portion of the community’s money into a reserve fund determined by a reserve study. It is more than just another […]
6 Ways to Use Your Budget as a Catalyst for Change
In today’s chaotic world, we are all searching for more meaning – whether it’s in our personal or professional lives, or both. Relevancy is important, and our impact is the measurement of that relevancy. While I could give you plenty of advice on how to take a vision quest to find personal fulfillment, in this […]
6 Ways to Use Your Budget as a Catalyst for Change
In today’s chaotic world, we are all searching for more meaning – whether it’s in our personal or professional lives, or both. Relevancy is important, and our impact is the measurement of that relevancy. While I could give you plenty of advice on how to take a vision quest to find personal fulfillment, in this […]
Condominium and community associations: File or else (HI)
Every day we hear about “nonprofit organizations.” But some of us might not know that there are different flavors of nonprofits with different consequences. Our focus will be on homeowners’ and community associations. Read the article…………..
4 Tips for Homeowner Participation in your HOA
We often come across HOAs that are struggling to handle disagreements, complaints, or controversial topics that are voiced by homeowners. This is normal. Just like a big family, there are going to be disagreements – many of them, in fact. Read the article………………………………….
CAI Best Practices: Ethics
Simply put, when someone is employing ethics, he or she recognizes what is right and what is wrong and is choosing to do the right thing; however, as a great deal of business ethics literature will attest, “the right thing” is not always straightforward. For example, most ethical dilemmas in the workplace are not simply […]
The Hidden Cost of Hardwood Floors for HOAs
Hardwood floors can increase property values in condo units by improving the aesthetic value and helping to alleviate dust allergies. This may seem like a no brainer but many homeowners are shocked to find (often after it’s too late) that this is a restricted and sometimes prohibited upgrade to their unit. Read the article………………………………..
5 Tips for Better HOA Board Meetings
HOA board members have a tremendous amount of power and with that power comes responsibility to exercise it correctly. A big part of this is how you and your fellow board members conduct yourselves when it comes to planning and conducting association meetings. Read the article………………………………….
Couple settles lawsuit against condo association for $1.2M (HI)
A Molokai couple who accused their condo association and individual directors of harassing and intimidating them for trying to get new leaders elected to the board have settled their lawsuit against the association for about $1.2 million. Read more…..
From Good to Great: Principles for Community Association Success
Every community has its own history, personality, attributes and challenges, but all associations share common characteristics and core principles. Good associations preserve the character of their communities, protect property values and meet the established expectations of homeowners. Great associations also cultivate a true sense of community, promote active homeowner involvement and create a culture of […]
So Now You’re On the Board
The first steps to superior board performance are clarifying your board’s job and then following through with appropriate plans, actions and evaluation of results. The checklists presented here are intended to assist you in those tasks. They cover a significant number of your responsibilities. The checklists will apply to virtually any association. To use them, […]