Working With Managers and Management Firms
- Handling Mismanagement: Clear Expectations Are Key March 26, 2025The right property management team can make or break a building. While basic day-to-day maintenance and financial oversight often take priority when managing a multifamily property, comprehensive property management also includes building security, legal compliance, and resident satisfaction. Read the article…………………………….
- 11 Essential HOA Management Questions to Ask Before Hiring March 20, 2025Choosing the right HOA management company is crucial for ensuring your community runs smoothly. The right partner will handle daily operations, financial management, and homeowner relations—all while helping to maintain property values. However, with so many options available, how do you determine the best fit for your community? Asking the right questions during the selection process can help your HOA board make an informed decision. Read the article…………………………….
- Working with Your Community Association’s Professional Team: Management, Insurance Agent, Legal Counsel, and More January 29, 2025Effective collaboration and communication with your professional team is vital for the smooth administration of a condominium, homeowner (HOA), or townhome community association. From day-to-day management to long-term strategic planning, board members must work with a variety of professionals to maintain the community’s property, finances, and legal compliance. Read the article…………………………….
- CMCA Exam Updates: What Candidates Need to Know December 30, 2024Significant updates to the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) exam went into effect on Dec. 9. These changes stem from CAMICB’s 2021-2022 job analysis study that assessed the key tasks and knowledge areas required of community managers to ensure the exam content aligns with current professional standards. Read the article…………………………….
Working With Management Archives
Working With Attorneys
- Association ABC: Lawsuits (IL) May 8, 2025In this short video KSN attorney Nick Mitchell discusses community association lawsuits. Topics include legal requirements, the litigation process, board member responsibilities, and more. Watch the webinar……………………….
- Who Pays the Bill? When you can Recover Attorneys’ Fees and Costs in Enforcement Actions (CA) April 15, 2025Although there are numerous factors a board of directors of a community association should consider before filing a lawsuit, one of the biggest factors is whether or not the association can recover its attorneys’ fees and costs. The standard rule is that absent a statutory or contractual provision providing for otherwise, the “American Rule” is that each side covers its own fees and costs. Read the article…………………………….
- Litigation director rebuked for misleading claims in HOA April 8, 2025After a protracted 67-day bench trial, a Santa Clara County judge awarded $1.8 million to homeowner plaintiffs, citing extensive false statements made by the defense attorney, Stephan A. Barber, in a case involving water damage and mold at a condominium. Read the article…………………………….
- Rare But Real: The Facts About HOA Bankruptcy February 8, 2025A community association is a business, plain and simple. That means the motivation behind monthly dues is straightforward: keep the business operational. It also means that if it becomes insolvent, an HOA can be forced to declare bankruptcy. But can an HOA declare bankruptcy? What happens in an HOA bankruptcy? And how can your association avoid such a drastic measure? Read the article…………………………….
Working With Attorneys Archives
Working With Accountants
- Breaking Down HOA Income Sources: Fees, Fines, And Beyond April 15, 2025A homeowners association has several HOA income sources available to them. Most only know of regular dues, special assessments, and monetary fines, but these can be very limiting. An HOA can earn revenue in other ways without raising fees or levying hefty special assessments. Board members should understand these ways and take advantage of them. Read the article…………………………….
- Rare But Real: The Facts About HOA Bankruptcy February 8, 2025A community association is a business, plain and simple. That means the motivation behind monthly dues is straightforward: keep the business operational. It also means that if it becomes insolvent, an HOA can be forced to declare bankruptcy. But can an HOA declare bankruptcy? What happens in an HOA bankruptcy? And how can your association avoid such a drastic measure? Read the article…………………………….
- Working with Your Community Association’s Professional Team: Management, Insurance Agent, Legal Counsel, and More January 29, 2025Effective collaboration and communication with your professional team is vital for the smooth administration of a condominium, homeowner (HOA), or townhome community association. From day-to-day management to long-term strategic planning, board members must work with a variety of professionals to maintain the community’s property, finances, and legal compliance. Read the article…………………………….
- When Experts Chime In: Can HOAs Afford to Tune Them Out? January 16, 2025An HOA receives an engineer’s report warning that a retaining wall on the property is on the brink of failure. The board, focused on other issues and keeping dues low, decides to put the report on the back burner. After all, the wall looks fine from a distance, right? Fast forward a few months, and a heavy rainstorm triggers a collapse, flooding several units. The HOA now faces costly damage claims, lawsuits, and increased insurance premiums. The expert report, neglected ...
Working With Accountants Archives
Working With Insurance Agents
- Working with Your Community Association’s Professional Team: Management, Insurance Agent, Legal Counsel, and More January 29, 2025Effective collaboration and communication with your professional team is vital for the smooth administration of a condominium, homeowner (HOA), or townhome community association. From day-to-day management to long-term strategic planning, board members must work with a variety of professionals to maintain the community’s property, finances, and legal compliance. Read the article…………………………….
- When Experts Chime In: Can HOAs Afford to Tune Them Out? January 16, 2025An HOA receives an engineer’s report warning that a retaining wall on the property is on the brink of failure. The board, focused on other issues and keeping dues low, decides to put the report on the back burner. After all, the wall looks fine from a distance, right? Fast forward a few months, and a heavy rainstorm triggers a collapse, flooding several units. The HOA now faces costly damage claims, lawsuits, and increased insurance premiums. The expert report, neglected ...
- Reston neighborhood is first to get EV chargers under county program (VA) December 27, 2024More than a year after it launched, Fairfax County’s program to help neighborhoods introduce communal electric vehicle charging stations has resulted in its first installations. County officials joined residents of the Harpers Square cluster in Reston on Dec. 18 for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the addition of two EV chargers, making it the first community to successfully get through the Charge Up Fairfax program. Read the article…………………………….
- 5 Essential Steps to Rebuilding Your Community After Hurricanes Helene and Milton October 17, 2024In the span of just two weeks, Hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaked havoc and untold damage across the Southeast. Helene struck first, bringing 100+ mph winds and significant flooding to coastal areas. Barely a week later, Milton followed with even greater intensity, packing 120 mph winds, deadly tornadoes, and devastating rain bands that submerged entire neighborhoods – and even tore open Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. Read the article…………………………….
Working With Insurance Agents Archives
Working With Vendors
- Advantages of Using Hurricane Contracted Preferred Contractors May 22, 2025I’ve lived through enough hurricanes and hurricane seasons as a community association manager to know it is imperative to have my list of preferred contractors updated and ready for action if needed before, during and immediately after the crisis, for each condominium association and homeowner association that I manage. Is all this fuss about being prepared really necessary? Read the article…………………………….
- The Importance of Community Associations Choosing the Right Vendor (IL) May 15, 2025Choosing the right vendors is one of the most critical responsibilities for a community association board, as these partners significantly influence the community’s overall success and resident satisfaction. Just like a carefully curated wedding guest list, vendor selection impacts everything from aesthetics and functionality to trust, cost-efficiency, and legal compliance. Read the article…………………………….
- Cable TV’s Hidden Lifeline: How HOAs and Apartment Deals Keep Comcast & Spectrum Afloat May 12, 2025For years, industry watchers have marveled at the resilience of cable TV providers like Comcast and Spectrum, despite the meteoric rise of streaming services. With less than 50 million cable TV subscribers remaining in the United States, one might expect a steeper decline. However, a lesser-known factor is propping up the industry: Read the article…………………………….
- Common Characteristics of Effective Association Vendor Contracts May 8, 2025Identifying the best vendors and striking the finest possible agreements for all of the services that community associations need are among the most consequential aspects of board service. For every vendor that is identified, vetted and selected, associations and their board members should avoid relying on informal verbal agreements, or even using the vendor’s proposal as the agreement, as such tactics can and often do lead to disputes or do not provide adequate safeguards for the association. Read the article…………………………….
Working With the Media
- Florida’s condo crisis: Five things to know ahead of Wednesday’s important Post town hall (FL) April 15, 2025Palm Beach County officials are preparing to issue fines to building associations that have failed to comply with the state’s new safety-inspection law…….The Post will discuss the new law in detail during a Town Hall meeting April 16 called “The Condo Crisis.” A panel of industry experts will discuss the issue and answer your questions. The forum will be from 6-8:30 p.m. in The Press Lounge at The Post’s headquarters at 2751 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Read ...
- Roswell homeowners shocked by $1K water bill spike after meter replacement (GA) April 8, 2025A group of homeowners in a Roswell townhome community were blindsided by a dramatic spike in their monthly water bill — one that jumped from around $160 to more than $1,000 — until a media inquiry prompted county officials to take action. Read the article…………………………….
- Biff: Quick Responses to High Conflict People, Their Personal Attacks, Hostile Email and Social Media Meltdowns November 2, 2024We live in an age of rapid change and instant communication. We also live in a Culture of Blame and Disrespect, creating a need to manage our responses to high conflict people (HCPs). A BIFF Response® can be applied in any communication anywhere: in an email, a text message, on social media, or in a letter. It can be used at work, earning you respect and success. It can ...
- Solve It 7: Condo Check (MA) September 12, 2024A group of Beverly condo owners were fed up when their finances were mishandled, so they demanded their money back. When that didn’t happen, they called Solve It 7. Read the article…………………………….
Working With the Media Archives
Dealing With Governments
- Condominium Association Accuses Law Firm of Legal Malpractice Over Foreclosure Missteps (FL) May 22, 2025The Zox HOA recently won the designation from the state of Michigan to become an incorporated village. “By becoming a village, we will then qualify to participate in different public programs to support infrastructure,” said Chris LaDuke, chair of the Village Committee and a current HOA board member. Read the article…………………………….
- In South Florida, when ICE comes knocking, how should your HOA react? May 17, 2025From ICE’s perspective, your community may be a “target-rich” environment. Hundreds of residents may employ nannies, landscapers and housekeepers. Contractors may work onsite with teams of employees, or the association may employ staff directly. Read the article (PDF)…………………………….
- Brickell condo owners push Miami to crack down on illegal short-term rentals (FL) May 16, 2025Condo owners in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood are calling on city officials to step up enforcement against short-term rentals, which they say are disrupting their high-rise communities and violating local rules. Read the article…………………………….
- Constituents in Your Communities: Invite Elected Officials to Your 2025 Community Association Activities May 15, 2025As the weather gets warmer and several holidays draw nearer, community associations nationwide are planning fun and exciting events. These events are designed to bring people together, celebrate community, and inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenship. Are you hosting an upcoming community event such as an outdoor movie, ice cream social, BBQ, town hall, or pool party? CAI’s Government and Public Affairs team wants to help you increase your event’s impact by inviting elected officials to attend. Read the ...