NOLO.com
NOLO.com has compiled an excellent list of articles from its web site. “Living Under a Homeowners’ Association”
General Information for Owners
- The Importance of Reading Your Emails and Monitoring Your Association Account February 12, 2025Living in an association comes with shared responsibilities and the necessity of staying informed about association matters. One of the most effective ways to do this is by regularly checking your emails and monitoring your association account. Failing to do so can result in missed deadlines, violations, or unexpected fees. Here’s why paying attention to association communications is crucial. Read the article…………………………….
- Entire Florida HOA Board Of Directors Resigns at Same Time: The Penalties & Consequences February 8, 2025When an HOA board resigns en masse, the immediate financial impact can be severe. If there is no board to authorize payments, essential services like insurance, maintenance, trash, and utilities could be disrupted. For instance, in Sunrise, Florida, condo owners had to crowdfund over $20,000 to cover insurance costs after their HOA board resigned. Without an authorized board, HOA funds cannot be accessed, which can lead to unpaid bills and potential legal action from service providers. Read the article…………………………….
- HOA Covenants: What to Know About CC&Rs January 31, 2025With 75.5 million Americans living in communities governed by homeowners associations (or HOAs) and 3,000 new HOAs expected to form in 2024, community associations are quickly becoming an important aspect of real estate transactions. An HOA is an organization that creates and enforces rules and regulations for the properties and residents of a given residential community. The regulations or guidelines governing the HOA community are called restrictive covenants and are outlined in a document called a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, ...
- What is an HOA? The Ultimate Guide to Homeowners Associations January 29, 2025A Homeowners’ Association (HOA) is an organization that establishes and enforces regulations and standards for a neighborhood or condo. HOA provides many benefits, including amenities, maintenance, security, and other services. However, it has some disadvantages, such as fees, restrictions, and bureaucracy. Living in a community that an HOA manages is quite common. A board of directors usually leads an HOA comprised of volunteers who oversee the community. There are over 370,000 homeowner associations in the US, encompassing more than 40 ...
- HOAs can be a homeowner turnoff, but many still don’t get involved January 27, 2025Homeowners associations are increasingly common in residential communities in the U.S. and their intended purpose is to ensure quality of life and property values, but owners who live in HOA communities have lots of complaints about them, even if they don’t bother to get involved. Read the article…………………………….
- 10 Most Frequently Asked HOA Questions January 22, 2025Discover answers to common HOA questions, including fees, regulations, and homeowner rights. Get informed before making your next property purchase! Read the article…………………………….
Owners – General Information Archives
New Owners
- HOA Covenants: What to Know About CC&Rs January 31, 2025With 75.5 million Americans living in communities governed by homeowners associations (or HOAs) and 3,000 new HOAs expected to form in 2024, community associations are quickly becoming an important aspect of real estate transactions. An HOA is an organization that creates and enforces rules and regulations for the properties and residents of a given residential community. The regulations or guidelines governing the HOA community are called restrictive covenants and are outlined in a document called a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, ...
- Welcome Aboard–Crafting the Perfect HOA Welcome Letter January 23, 2025First impressions matter, especially in a Homeowners Association (HOA) community. A well-crafted welcome letter can set the tone for new residents, making them feel part of the community from day one. This guide will walk you through the essentials of creating a perfect HOA welcome letter and why considering an accompanying newsletter can be beneficial. Read the article…………………………….
- How HOA Boards Can Successfully Navigate New Resident Move-Ins December 27, 2024As new faces arrive with their hopes and dreams packed in moving boxes, existing residents bid farewell to familiar neighbors and shared memories. The ebb and flow of people in a community can either strengthen its foundation or shake it to its core. With each move-in comes the potential for a fresh perspective, new connections, and revitalized energy. Read the article…………………………….
- What Should Be In Your HOA Welcome Letter September 9, 2024Moving into a new home is a whirlwind of excitement, packing, and adjustments — and if your new home is part of a homeowners association (HOA) community, there’s an added layer of information to process. A comprehensive, thoughtfully crafted HOA welcome letter is a fantastic way to ease the transition for new homeowners and demonstrate your HOA’s commitment to a welcoming community. Read the article…………………………….
- Tips For Creating An HOA Welcome Letter & Packet September 7, 2024The HOA welcome letter and packet are essential tools for welcoming new homeowners into your community. This initial communication sets the stage for a positive relationship between the resident and the homeowners association (HOA). A well-designed HOA welcome packet ensures new homeowners transition smoothly into the community by providing key information, outlining expectations, and fostering a sense of belonging. Read the article…………………………….
- First HOA Meeting? Here’s What to Expect April 20, 2023A knowledgeable homeowner is a helpful homeowner. If you’re new to an HOA community, then you may not know what to expect when it comes to meetings held by the board. In this guide, we’ll cover what to expect when attending your first HOA meeting as a homeowner. Read the article………………………..
Insurance for Owners
- Q&A: To Insure or Not to Insure? February 20, 2025Q. Given the recent disasters on both the East and West Coasts, from flooding to fires, it seems obvious that property insurance is important. But it’s also getting very expensive. Owners who have mortgages are required by their banks to carry insurance, but if you own your property with no mortgage, is it still required? Read the Q&A………………………………..
- Hawai‘i Condo Owners Could Benefit From State Plan To Prop Up Insurance Market February 19, 2025Four years ago, when Charles Schmidt and his wife retired to Hawai?i, their monthly homeowners association fee at M?kaha Valley Plantation condominium was $550 a month. Since then, the fee has spiked 60% to $880 per month, largely because of rising insurance rates. Read the article…………………………….
- Utah homeowners see higher fees and cancelled insurance policies after L.A. fires and other natural disasters February 5, 2025I was as shocked and grieved as anyone when the Maui, Hawaii town of Lahaina was virtually burned off the map in 2023. Up until then, it ranked as one of the top 10 deadliest U.S. wildfires on record since 1871, and considered the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii’s history, with just over 100 confirmed victims and still people unaccounted for after the disaster. Read the article…………………………….
- Allstate’s 30% Condo Insurance Hike Sparks Consumer Concern (CA) February 4, 2025California condo owners are bracing themselves as Allstate, one of the state’s major insurance providers, plans to raise its condo insurance rates by an average of 30% starting in April. This significant increase, authorized by the California Department of Insurance, has left many policyholders questioning how the change will affect their wallets—and what it signals about the broader insurance market. Read the article…………………………….
- Liberty Mutual plans to exit state’s condo, rental insurance markets in 2026 (CA) January 19, 2025The garden in Brian Wallace’s backyard is a little slice of peace within San Francisco’s busy cityscape. He owns a condo in SOMA, a place that’s about as far removed from wildfire danger as one can get. Yet, like so many Californians, Wallace has felt the grips of the insurance crisis. “It cannot get any more serious than it is now,” he said. “We were with Farmers for about 20 years or so. They dropped us – although we never ...
- Exclusive data shows which home insurers have most policies in L.A. fire areas (CA) January 16, 2025Two insurers — State Farm General and the California FAIR Plan — cover more homes in the areas where the Los Angeles fires have burned than any others, according to a Chronicle analysis. They’re also the two insurers experts are most concerned could run out of money after a major fire. Read the article…………………………….
Insurance for Owners Article Archives
Buying/Selling Your Unit/Home in an Association
- What Is an HOA? How Homeowners Associations Work February 12, 2025Homeowners associations (HOAs) are private groups that create legally enforceable rules about what you and your neighbors can and can’t do with your property. Despite their portrayal in pop culture, HOAs aren’t always a nitpicky suburban hive mind. HOA fees pay for neighborhood maintenance and amenities, such as landscaping and parks. And most Americans living in community arrangements (including HOAs) are satisfied with them, Read the article…………………………….
- A Maintenance Checklist for Property Owners February 10, 2025Each state, including Massachusetts, has laws and regulations surrounding maintenance inspections for apartment buildings and homeowner associations. A property manager will help schedule these inspections, ensuring that all elements of a building are working properly and are up to standards. When you enlist the help of a property manager for maintenance inspections, make sure they are checking up on these eight elements. Read the article…………………………….
- South Florida condo sales sputtered in 2024 with more sellers forced to drop prices February 7, 2025Palm Beach County’s condominium and townhome market limped through 2024 still suffering aftershocks from the Surfside tragedy and facing higher insurance costs that led to the lowest number of deals closing in at least a decade. Read the article…………………………….
- Condos—a Key Source of Affordable Housing for Homeowners—Are in Jeopardy February 5, 2025Since condos became popular in the 1970s, more than 11 million condominiums have been built, spurred by the idea that buyers can purchase a condominium for less than the cost of a single-family house while enjoying low-maintenance living. The apparent affordability is made possible by buyers sharing ownership of the land and common areas, from roofs to furnaces, while owning a unit typically smaller than a single-family home. Read the article…………………………….
- Smart Moves: Selling a Condo: A Few Pointers for Owners February 1, 2025An investment analyst in Miami is keen to sell the one-bedroom condo he bought in March 2020 right after the pandemic hit. At the time, he was single and giddy about leaving his dreary New Jersey neighborhood for remote work in Florida and a more relaxed lifestyle. Read the article…………………………….
- Buying a New Construction Condo? Key Documents & Must-Know Considerations January 31, 2025Purchasing a new construction condominium is an exciting opportunity to secure modern amenities and enjoy low-maintenance living. Here are some new construction condo considerations to keep in mind when entering the new condo purchase process. Read the article…………………………….
Buying/Selling Article Archives
Working With Boards
- Finding Common Ground February 2, 2025My job as a designer involves the traditional roles of an interior designer, but another aspect is playing the role of psychologist or therapist. So much of the job involves listening to clients and deciphering the design issues at hand, and that boils down to understanding the clients’ needs and ultimately finding ways to meet them. This stands true whether the client is a single person, a newly minted couple, a family or a group such as business owners or ...
- Rogue Board Members: Who Are They? How Do We Manage Them? (ON) August 15, 2024The condominium Industry is full of many challenges. These challenges can range from buildings with major structural issues, to monetary issues, to manager shortages, and even clashes between unit owners. One area that a challenge may not be anticipated is within the dynamics of the Board. Often, the Board of Directors of a Condominium tries to portray themselves as a united front, but behind the scenes, there can be a great deal of conflict. This conflict can be caused by ...
- Condominiums: Drowning in Official Records Requests – How to Respond to Overwhelming Requests from Unit Owners (FL) August 7, 2024A recurring concern raised by managers and board members alike involves overwhelming requests for inspection of official records by unit owners. In many cases, official records requests have become so extensive and time-consuming that they interfere with the normal day-to-day operations of an association. Associations must strike a balance between their statutory obligation to allow for the inspection of official records and their ability to conduct business. Read the article…………………………….
- How to voice out your concerns about HOA dues increase May 16, 2024When you live in a community managed by a Homeowners Association (HOA), you understand your responsibility to pay regular dues to help maintain the quality of your neighborhood. However, a significant increase in contributions might seem suspicious, especially when the change was not communicated properly to you. As a homeowner, you have the right to question your HOA’s actions. Read the article…………………………….
- How to Oust Your Condo Board or HOA March 27, 2024Close to 30% of Americans live in a property governed by a condo board, homeowners association (HOA), or other community association—more than 70 million people. These associations are generally responsible for property upkeep, enforcement of community rules, and acting as a go-between for residents when disputes arise. Most people have a good or at least neutral experience with their condo board or HOA, but not everyone does. Read the article…………………………….
- Elevate Your Co-op Board Game (NY) December 3, 2023Ever found yourself navigating the tricky waters of a coop board with that one steadfast but hesitant volunteer? Picture this: a decision hangs in the balance, and despite the collective will of the board, this one individual assumes/ possesses the power to halt, delay, or even stop progress. Read the article…………………………….