Assessment collection is imperative to keep an HOA running smoothly. Too often, HOAs find themselves facing a high delinquency rate. This affects both individual homeowners and the community as a whole. What happens when an association’s delinquency rate is too high? What options does the HOA have to collect? Read the article……………………..
HOA Methods Handling Frequent Parking Conflicts
Home Owners Associations have always been in an interesting situation when it comes to parking management. While it may be obvious that every residence gets at least one reserved parking space, what about the extra spaces that every condo building or neighborhood has left over. For a condo association, extra spaces might be prized locations […]
Can you Dissolve an HOA in Texas?
Though homeowners’ associations function to serve the communities in which they govern, sometimes community members decide – for whatever reason – that the association has run its course. In some cases, the HOA is not providing valuable services to the community, or not honoring the commitments that it was obligated to. In other cases, the […]
1099’s for HOAs: Why Filing is Important
As a legal business entity, your HOA must file taxes. Filing is an important thing to do, and there is one form in particular that you should know about, and that’s the 1099-MISC form. If you have a property management company, they will likely take care of most of the tax filing process for you, […]
HOA Bankruptcy: What you Need to Know
An HOA is an organization that runs on money, similar to other businesses and agencies. And similar to those other organizations, when the HOAs money runs out, they, too, can go bankrupt. Declaring bankruptcy is rarely the answer for HOA communities, although it can, on occasion, happen. If your association has more debts than it […]
Former property owner not owed relief in fraud case against homeowners’ association (TX)
The Texas 14th Court of Appeals ruled against a homeowner March 7 in his allegations of unfair debt collection practices against his homeowners’ association and related entities. Justice Frances Bourliot wrote the opinion, and Chief Justice Kem Frost and Justice Tracy Christopher concurred. Although a trial court ruled in favor of Robert Burton and didn’t […]
HOA Welcoming Committee Ideas
Establishing a welcoming committee to contact new residents will enhance the board’s service to the HOA, as well as to the whole community! A welcome package (or packet, basket, etc.) is a good way to ensure that the first contact new residents have with the association is positive. Read the article…………………..
Cluster Mailbox Repair in an HOA Community: Who is accountable?
Cluster mailboxes have become increasingly common in HOAs. They are an affordable option for multi-unit complexes and large communities – not to mention that delivering to a cluster box, rather than door-to-door, spares the post office a significant amount of expense in time, gas, and vehicle maintenance. Residents depend on fully-functioning, well-maintained mailboxes to receive […]
Is Sealcoating Worth It?
Some professionals believe that sealants protect and preserve asphalt surfaces, while others feel that sealants simply create layers of buildup that eventually contribute to cracking and water damage. This begs the question of whether sealcoating is truly necessary and, if so, is it worth it? Sealcoating can protect the asphalt from direct contact with: […]
10 Tips for HOA Insurance
Picking the best insurance policies for yourself can be intimidating. But, picking the best insurance policy for your association, when you’re responsible for the financial resources of hundreds of homeowners and millions of dollars of property? That can really be daunting. As overwhelming as the process is, there are basic steps that boards can follow […]
Benefits of Serving on an HOA Board
Let’s take a moment to highlight all that HOA board members do! You have a desire to see everyone around you flourish, and you take the time, effort, and energy necessary to make that happen. Thankfully, there are some awesome benefits for choosing to spend your time to serve others! Read the article………………….
Improving Your HOA Experience with Renters: Welcome, Inform, and Include
Moving to a new home is often a stressful experience. Learning to meet new people, and in the case of an HOA, learning new rules can easily overwhelm anyone. When the new neighbor is renting, welcoming them is just as important as if they had purchased the home. Renters can become invested members of an […]
Six Tips to Improve Homeowner Attendance at Your Annual Meeting
Planning for your association’s annual meeting is a big undertaking. With all the effort and expense involved, achieving quorum the first time is a must! On top of carefully planning your annual meeting, below are six tips and tricks you can follow to improve homeowner attendance: Read the article…………………….
Answering the Age-Old Question: “How Are My HOA Funds Spent?”
Homeowners may not always understand how HOA funds are spent. Often, they pay their monthly, quarterly, or annual assessments, and when they look around, they don’t see any noticeable improvements in the community. This lack of obvious upgrades leads to frustration and confusion . . . and maybe even some suspicion. After all, where is […]
Political Signs in Your HOA Community: Guidelines for the Upcoming Elections (TX, AZ)
Most cities, counties, and states have laws established regarding the number of political signs a homeowner can post on private property. There are also limits on the size of sign allowed. It’s important that the board understands what is allowed in the community before implementing any rules regarding political signs. Read the article……………………
How to Reconvene an Annual HOA Meeting
To avoid the extra cost and effort of reconvening an annual HOA meeting, it’s really important to reach quorum the first time around. Reconvening a meeting means planning a new date and time, securing a new meeting place, and drafting and mailing a new notice— which are all time and resource-sapping tasks your HOA can […]
When They Won’t Stop Droning On: Responding to Drone Use in Your HOA
When authorities arrested a Kentucky man in 2015 for shooting down a drone he believed was hovering over his property line and filming his sunbathing sixteen-year-old daughter, it ignited a controversy about the appropriate use of drones in associations that is still simmering today. While a court ultimately acquitted him of all charges, concerns about […]
Cybersecurity: Is Your HOA Protected Against Data Breaches?
What do Ashley Madison, Uber, Target, Yahoo, Ebay, Equifax, JP Morgan Chase, and Sony – companies that have incredibly diverse products and expertise – have in common? They have all been victims of data breach! These large breaches, which affected hundreds of millions of customers, have caused cybersecurity to become a common topic of conversation. […]
10 Tips for Field Service Businesses Working With an HOA – Pt 2
Welcome back to the second half of our two-part article on providing your field service business to entire HOA communities at once. HOAs often need regulated and reliable home services to keep their entire neighborhood of homes updated, well-kept, and in-sync with each other on maintenance schedules. HOA communities also often hand around referrals for […]
Selling a Special Assessment
One of the most challenging experiences a board member faces is deciding when it’s necessary to assign a special assessment. Homeowners may not always immediately understand how critical it is to fix certain infrastructure issues. Additionally, if a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, were to hit your association, homeowners may themselves have homes in […]
Essential HOA Board Member Skills
As new board members soon find out, a wide variety of skills are needed to make sure an association runs smoothly. Below, we’ve highlighted four important skills that help boards run effectively. Read the article……………………
Enforcing Rules in Your HOA Community
Being a board member isn’t just about overseeing the annual National Night Out event or choosing a new landscape vendor who can upkeep common areas for a fair price. You also have the responsibility of making sure the rules in the association’s governing documents are followed by all members—homeowners, committee members, and board members alike. […]
When to Use Your HOA Reserve Fund
This article is the third in a series on reserve studies. In the first article, we discussed what a reserve study is and why conducting one is important for the financial health of your association. We also provided basic information to help you obtain a reserve study. We’ll discuss the difference between the reserve fund […]
Can You Claim HOA Fees on Your Taxes?
When the holiday season approaches, many homeowners begin preparing for the year ahead. Contemplating New Year’s resolutions is common during this time, and a popular resolution is to become more financially stable. One of the most satisfying ways to get money back into your pocket is through tax refunds. This poses the question of whether […]
How to Get the Most from Your HOA Reserve Study
This article is the second in a series on reserve studies. Last week, we addressed the importance of getting a reserve study done. This week, we’re going to discuss how to make the most of it. Spectrum Association Management always encourages associations to live below their means, but we recognize that preparing for future costs […]
Association Reserve Studies Explained
A reserve study is a long-term budget-planning tool designed to identify the current status of an association’s reserve fund, which offsets the association’s ongoing disrepair and future costs. A reserve study has two parts: Read the article…………………
Conflicts of Interest and HOA Board Recusal
Any acting HOA board member has an obligation to act ethically and avoid all conflicts of interest when making decisions for the community. Board members have the responsibility to recuse themselves from their responsibilities any time they have a problem keeping their fiduciary duty to the HOA – or, in other words, representing the HOA’s […]
What is a Horizontal Property Regime? (TX)
A Horizontal Property Regime (HPR) is a zoning policy which essentially allows for two new houses to be built on a piece of land that was previously zoned for just one house. This results in tall, narrow houses, either attached or separated by mere feet. HPRs were created to accommodate the rising number of people […]
FCC Regulations for Satellite Dishes
In 1996, the FCC adopted the Over the Air Reception Device Rule, or OTARD rule. In short, the OTARD rule prohibits homeowners’ associations and condominium associations from placing restrictions on residents which impede the installation, maintenance, or use of satellite dishes, TV antennas, or wireless cable antennas. Read the article…………………..
Simple Holiday Decoration Guidelines in an HOA
Homeowners typically love to show their holiday spirit; so limiting holiday decorations is not a viable option for any board. Instead, focus on how to encourage your community to celebrate the holiday season in a tasteful and reasonable way. For most, the holiday season is a time of cheer and goodwill; however, concerns about discrimination […]
How to Find Your CC&Rs
CC&Rs, or the covenants, conditions, and restrictions, are rules that homeowners living in a certain area are required to abide by. They are also sometimes referred to as the association’s governing documents. The CC&Rs often contain building restrictions and space limitations, decorative limitations, prohibitions on non-residential uses of property, pet restrictions, fence limitations, and yard […]
President’s Direction did not Survive Motion to Show Authority
You are hired by an organization to investigate claims against certain parties, and the organization’s president later directs you to file a lawsuit on those claims. Do you have authority to file suit? Maybe not, a recent case reveals. The Board of Directors of Candle Meadows Homeowners Association voted to retain a lawyer to investigate […]
All About HOA Easements
Does it ever seem like easements fall into that “gray area” or who owns what, who is responsible for what, and who has to follow which rules? If so, this post is for you. We hope the following will help make the topic of easements more clearly defined as black and white. Read the […]
Tips for Winter Landscaping HOA Common Areas (TX)
Winter landscaping is a great way to enhance the natural beauty of the season. From adding shrubs that produce a pop of color to focusing on hardscapes—like benches and garden structures—you can make your HOA common areas beautiful and inviting this winter. Use the following tips to get started: Read the article………………
HOA Voting Rules
There are certain rules and processes that must be followed when it comes to HOA elections. This will help you know a little bit of what to expect when election time comes around. An HOA must hold an election vote before taking any of the following actions: Read the article……………….
HOA Statute of Limitations
If you live in a home, condo, apartment, or dwelling that is part of a Home Owners Association, you already know that you are required to pay HOA dues each month, as well as certain special assessments while you reside in the association. While they are necessary to proper maintenance of the association’s collective properties, […]
Alcohol at HOA Events
Community events bring members together and enhance holiday spirit. At SpectrumAM, we want to help our boards provide a happy holiday season for their members, but it’s also paramount that the board act prudently when considering any actions that could cause liability. With the holiday season fast approaching, many HOAs will be hosting social events. […]
Ten HOA Law Gotchas
The legal environment for common interest develop-ments becomes more complicated every time the Leg-islature meets or a court rules. Here are 10 quirky aspects of laws pertaining to “HOAs”—this article’s tag for mandatory membership associations for all types of residential common interest developments, including condominium HOAs (subject to Property Code Chapter 82) and subdivision HOAs […]
Reading Your HOA Balance Sheet
Though it may seem overwhelming or confusing, it’s not something to be quickly gazed over. If members of the board don’t understand how to read the balance sheet, you run the risk of accidentally spending more than is allotted for a specific budget period. It can also be a tool for examining your associations reserve […]
Court Addresses HOA Attempt to Restrict Short Term Rentals (TX)
In a recent case, the Texas Supreme Court addressed an attempt by a homeowners’ association (“HOA”) to restrict short-term rentals based upon recorded Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (“CC&Rs”) applicable to a residential subdivision. The property was a single-family home. The homeowner rented the home through websites such as VRBO. The HOA issued notices of violation; […]
What is Cumulative Voting in an HOA Election?
When it comes to elections in a homeowners’ association (HOA), it’s important to understand the different types of elections that can or cannot be allowed, the pros and cons of each election type, and whether it might be right for your community. One type of election that is held in a homeowners’ association is called […]
HOA Rule vs. Policy: What you Need to Know
Rules and policies are an important part of an association’s governing documents. An association’s governing documents prescribe what the association is, how it runs, what its goals are, and the restrictions home owners agree to abide by while living within the common interest development (CID). As with any hierarchy, there is an order of authority […]
5 Traits of a Problem Board Member
HOA board members are usually fulfilling their positions on a volunteer basis, which means they’re using some of their free time outside of work and family obligations to better their communities. Because of that, it’s important that board meetings are both efficient and productive to be considerate of everyone’s time. Read the article………………
Chaos to Control: Getting the Reign on HOA Board Meetings
Preparing and running an HOA Board Member meeting can sometimes feel like a difficult and daunting task. Do you feel like the meeting goes too long? Do you feel like you and your fellow members have difficulty making decisions for important tasks? Perhaps you feel like you never accomplish everything that needs to be done? […]
HOA Liens and How to Handle Them as HOA Board Members
“HOA Liens? What are those?” It’s a question lots of board members ask, so if you’re wondering as well then you’re not alone! In this post we’ll take you through a brief overview of HOA liens—what they are, what they impact, and how to remedy the situation as a board member. Read the article………………
HOA Audits and Preparedness
Sometimes the word “audit” makes people nervous and uneasy, but the reality is they are part of any business. Your HOA should be prepared and know how an audit works and when it’s time to do one for your community. The first thing your board needs to do is understand when and why your HOA […]