HOA

HOAs, Condo Associations Must Implement Safeguards to Prevent Election Fraud

A recent case in Las Vegas has set a new bar for the heights to which criminals will go in…

9 years ago

The Landscape Renovation Process in Your HOA

As homeowner associations age, both structures and landscape wear out. And just like those groovy harvest golds and avocado greens…

9 years ago

Rein in the cost of your association’s social functions

The winter has been harsh and long, but relief is on the way. Landscapers are cleaning up the grounds, and…

9 years ago

How Today’s Urban Planning Can Divide a City and Disenfranchise Voters: The Case of Alexandria, Virginia

This is an analysis of the unforeseen consequences of the City of Alexandria, Virginia privatizing many services that it has…

9 years ago

4 insurance issues arising from body cameras and private security

Recently, a broker e-mailed me with a question I had not yet heard. A homeowners' association was seeking to equip…

9 years ago

How an HOA Board Can Prepare to Work with a Manager for the First Time

If your HOA board has hired a manager for the first time, there are a number of things it can…

9 years ago

Can HOAs spend money to fight rezoning projects nearby? (NC)

Q: Members of our community have been involved in a lawsuit over the possible installation of a solar-panel farm just…

9 years ago

The Republican National Convention: Community Associations Should Keep an Eye on the Short-term Rental Market

The Republican National Committee’s announcement that Cleveland would be the site for its 2016 Republican National Convention was great economic…

9 years ago

Why Community Associations Cannot Afford to Ignore Lender Foreclosure Actions: Part III

This blog post is part III in a series of posts discussing why community associations cannot afford to ignore lender…

9 years ago

Marijuana in Condominiums: Nuisance and Legal Consequences

Until recently, many co-owners were concerned about secondhand smoke issues relating to tobacco products in the condominium project and how…

9 years ago

The Bare Facts about Covenant Enforcement

It’s that time of year again, when the weather is changing and people are spending more time….naked in their doorways?…

9 years ago

Look Out for Sneaky Provisions in your Declarations that Bite

Trying to keep communities looking good is one of the most important goals for homeowners associations; in fact, it is…

9 years ago

Why Your HOA Should Contribute to Reserves

HOA boards and committees have to think about not only its community’s residents, but also its finances, taking care of…

9 years ago

Why an HOA Board Should Use Caution When Hiring a Contractor

Finding a contractor who will perform quality work at a reasonable price can be a daunting task for any HOA…

9 years ago

Government, federal court complicate HOA pool rules

Most swimming pools have a list of rules posted somewhere on the premises. We’ve all seen them. The rules contain…

9 years ago

How to Create A Sense Of Community In Your HOA

Many homeowners don’t feel a sense of community in their Neighborhoods or see the value their HOA provides. They know…

9 years ago

…Not much has changed by way of homeowners’ rights in Arizona in the past couple of years

Tenants and landlords often disagree about who is responsible for violations of the HOA's governing documents during the tenancy. The…

9 years ago

New laws (MD/DC) next year mandate bicycle storage, training for board officials

If you are a member of a community association board of directors in Montgomery County, as of January 2016 you…

9 years ago

Go Slow: Children at Play

The U.S. Department of Justice announced settlement of a Fair Housing violation case against a Community Association and its Management.…

9 years ago

Homeowner Association: $1.2 Million Fee Award Against Homeowners/Short Renting Landlords Affirmed On Appeal

This one is truly frightening and shows why fee shifting is a potential game changer in litigation.  Plaintiffs were condo…

9 years ago

2015 General Assembly Update for Virginia Community Associations

The legislation that passed the 2015 General Assembly Session is mostly helpful to Virginia HOAs–clarifying issues created by some legislation,…

9 years ago

Get involved with your HOA to protect your home’s value

We take so many things for granted as we go about our busy lives. One of them is the routine…

9 years ago

Long-range Planning in Your HOA

A manager of a seniors homeowner association once commented "We have to approach long range planning carefully around here. Many…

9 years ago

Drones present opportunity, challenge for community associations

In the not-too-distant future, community associations could launch camera-equipped, unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, for many routine tasks.…

9 years ago

Does an HOA Board Have Legal Authority?

As a member of your HOA board you have a big responsibility to enhance, maintain and protect your homeowners association.…

9 years ago

Do board members owe a duty of care and loyalty to their association?

A community association is a corporation, in many ways similar to any other corporation, be it a for-profit or not-for-profit…

9 years ago

Case Tests Homeowners’ Associations’ Icy Sidewalk Liability (NJ)

The New Jersey Supreme Court is considering whether homeowners’ associations and their maintenance contractors can be held liable for injuries…

9 years ago

Why Community Associations Cannot Afford to Ignore Lender Foreclosure Actions – Part II

This blog post is part II in a series of posts discussing why community associations cannot afford to ignore lender…

9 years ago

New Mexico Legislation re: Transfer Fees

(Scroll to 2nd item)  A bill by Rep. Monica Youngblood to cap what a homeowners association can charge for releasing…

9 years ago

The Ever-increasing Deductible Dilemma: Part One

It is becoming more and more common place. A condominium association has a few claims on its insurance policy over…

9 years ago

Grow Low H20 Plants in Your HOA

One of the great challenges most homeowner associations experience is how to reduce landscape maintenance and water costs. Xeriscaping is…

9 years ago

The Top Traits of Great and Effective Boards of Directors

Over the years, I have worked with many, many Boards of Directors: As a manager, as a consultant, and as…

9 years ago