Residents give HOA lifestyle seal of approval

Human mom milked for cheese
Tastes like cheddar, provolone

The vast majority, 71 percent of homeowner association (HOA) residents polled, said they are satisfied with HOA life, and 17 percent said they were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with their communities. Only 12 percent expressed discontent.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2010 DeadlineNews.Com



Unauthorized use of this story is a copyright violation -- a federal crime


Deadline Newsroom - Only 12 percent of community and homeowners association (HOA) residents expressed some level of discontent with their communities, according to recently released research commissioned by Community Associations Institute (CAI).

The vast majority, 71 percent, said they are satisfied with HOA life, and 17 percent said they were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with their communities.

For the 60 million people who live in the nation's 350,000 HOA communities, buying a home in an HOA community is a lot like buying a share in a closely held, publicly traded real estate holding company, governed by an ever-changing regulatory system and managed by volunteers -- the neighbors.

HOAs have seen their share of shoddy construction leading to nasty building defect litigation as well as poor management and disgruntled residents, but most residents are quite satisfied with how they operate.

"Americans have weathered difficult times, and that would normally create more negative views toward most institutions," Lincoln Hobbs, a member of CAI's College of Community Association Lawyers and president of CAI's affiliate Foundation for Community Association Research, said in a statement.

"That hasn't happened in the case of community associations. That says a lot about the dedication and skill of the vast majority of homeowner volunteers and professionals who govern and manage these communities."

You've got news...news that really hits home, right here: High Marks Given to Homeowners Associations




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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist, parlayed 30 years of old-school journalism into a digital real estate news service, the San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group, including DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site, and the Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop.

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HOA board member volunteers need schooling

Freakishly fit kid
gets Guinness record

Current community and homeowner association board members who want to enforce the rules with a soft touch; committee members who want to pitch in; residents who aspire to leadership positions and others who just want to know why they can't make up rules, all need this course.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

Unauthorized use of this story is a copyright violation -- a federal crime

Deadline Newsroom - On-the-job training is fine, until "it" hits and you haven't learned how to turn off the fan.

If you've ever been elected or appointed to a homeowners association's (HOA) board of directors (BOD) you know the drill.

The volunteer position can be both non-paying and thankless, replete with whining, anarchistic members, an ineffectual management company, and other board members behave more like zombies than concerned property owners.

It's an ugly job, but somebody has to do it.

If you and other residents don't step forward, law may dictate that outsiders take over.

While you have the option of learning as you go, OJT doesn't really cut it if you want to be a viable board member who is more proactive than reactive.

That's why the Community Associations Institute (CAI) has launched a free online learning course anyone can attend -- and you don't have to wait until you are in the hot seat to sign up.

CAI's six-part, self-paced "Board Member Basics" (BMB) requires only online computer access, a portable document format (PDF) reader and your time.

Current HOA (also called "community associations," "common interest developments" and others) board members who want to enforce the rules with a soft touch; committee members who want to pitch in; residents who aspire to leadership positions and others who just want know why they can't make up rules can all take the course.

More than 60 million Americans live in an estimated 300,000 association-governed communities. At least 1.8 million homeowner volunteer leaders serve on the elected boards that govern these associations. Hundreds of thousands more support their associations in other ways, including serving on committees, writing newsletters and maintaining community websites, according to CAI.

While local jurisdictions regulate governance specific to given associations, CAI's course offers principles and standards typically shared by all associations.

"Virtually all association-governed communities share common characteristics and core principles," says CAI President Edward D. Thomas.

"Basic standards and best practices apply to any association and every homeowner leader. Homeowner leaders who complete this learning program take with them a better understanding of how associations should function and the knowledge and perspective to help them lead their communities," Thomas adds.

BMB offers the following

• Model Code of Ethics -- Board authority, decision-making, conflicts of interest, elections, confidentiality, professional relationships, harassment, etc.

• Community Association Fundamentals -- A primer on the basic nature of common-interest communities.

• Rights and Responsibilities -- Forty-two principles and practices to help promote a sustained sense of community by reducing conflict and promoting responsible citizenship and effective leadership.

• Governance Guidelines -- Twelve principles that address potentially contentious components of association management and governance, including rules, grievances and appeals, assessments, elections and foreclosure.

• Introduction to Community Association Living -- A two-hour program that addresses the roles and functions of community associations, including providing services, managing physical assets, working with governing documents and advocating for fellow homeowners.

• Fundamentals of Community Volunteering -- Operations, association management, roles and responsibilities, contracting, meetings and more.

"With all of their inherent advantages, common-interest communities can face complicated issues," says Marilyn Brainard, chair of CAI's Community Association Volunteers Committee.

"Serving on an association board is a challenging responsibility with infinite opportunities for mistakes and missteps. This education program will help board members avoid situations that often create discontent, strife and, in some cases, costly litigation."

You are on the honor system, but complete the program and you get a "Statement of Completion - Board Member Basics."

CAI notes the program is a "voluntary, non-verified learning program. Individuals who represent that they have reviewed and understand this information do so
on the honor system."


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© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

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Get "News that really hits home!" for your Web site or blog from the DeadlineNewsGroup.Com.

You are reading a sample of "News that really hits home!", now available from several beats and published in a growing number of locations.

Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist, parlayed 30 years of old-school journalism into a digital real estate news service, the San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group, including DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site, and the Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop.

Perkins is also the first Examiner to cover three beats for the Examiner.com news service:
• National Offbeat News Examiner
• National Consumer News Examiner
• National Real Estate Examiner

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Condos Pay Off As Second Homes

Choose a condo as a second home and, chances are, you'll be satisfied with the workings of the community association, the money you save and the chores you won't have to do.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

Deadline Newsroom - Make a condo, townhome or other community association property your second home and, chances are, you'll be pretty happy with your choice.

More than seven in 10 condo and townhome residents say they are satisfied with their purchase, according to a recent survey conducted by Zogby International for the Foundation for Community Association Research.

The foundation periodically conducts the survey to keep tabs on the perceptions of those who live in condos and townhomes and to identify recent trends in the condo world.

Satisfaction is a big trend in housing communities governed by homeowners associations due to a host of reasons.

Compared to single-family homes, condos are generally less expensive.

That's particularly true in areas where condo speculation once ran rampant, including Florida, Nevada, California and other areas which are now loaded with bargains not seen in years. Cheaper prices make condos cheaper to operate as a vacation home, because property taxes, homeowners insurance and utility bills cost less.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that in November, a 13-month supply of condos had swamped the market. That was the biggest backlog since NAR began keeping condo statistics in 1999. The National Association of Home Builders expects the oversupply to last through 2009.

Condos are also easy on your back.

Landscaping chores are managed not by you, but by the homeowners association. And, given the average condo has a smaller square footage footprint than the average single-family home, keeping the interior spic and span is easier too. Again, if your property is a vacation home, you'll spend much less time and money on upkeep than you would with the average sized single-family home.

What's more, the homeowners association, as the community's on-site governing body, is there to serve the best interests of the community. The association protects your home's value, provides security for the community and uses a professional management company to keep on top of operations.

With a single-family home, not only could you spend more, but you are also pretty much on your own keeping things in tip-top shape. That's tough when you've got vacation home guests coming and going.

It's key for buyers to understand that buying a second home in a community association is a lot like buying a share in a closely held, publicly traded, real estate holding company run by a board of directors -- typically volunteers with little experience.

"Community association living isn't perfect, and for some it's just not a good fit, but it's reassuring to know that most residents believe their associations are functioning effectively," said foundation President Robert Browning.

But most buyers do get it and have no qualms about how a condo community operates. The Zogby survey said more than 90 percent of those who buy a condo either were not put off by the living style or were motivated to buy because of it.

More than 60 million Americans live in an estimated 300,000 homeowner associations, condominium communities, cooperatives and other planned developments, up from 45 million residents in 223,000 communities in 2000, according to Community Associations Institute.

The Zogby survey also found:

• Eighty-eight percent of community association residents believe their association board members strive to serve the best interests of the community.

• Seventy-three percent of residents say management companies provide value to their communities.

• Seventy-four percent believe community association rules "protect and enhance" property values.

• Homeowners in homeowner association governed communities pay assessments for services and amenities such as landscaping, trash pickup, street lighting, pools and tennis courts. Nearly 80 percent say they get a good return for their assessment.

• Eighty-six percent said they knew they were moving into a homeowner association governed community when they decided to purchase; 61 percent had no qualms about the association's existence, 30 percent said the association made them more likely to buy or rent.

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist of 30 years, is publisher and executive editor of San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service, and the new Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's new backshop. In both cases, it's where all the news really hits home.

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