A homeowners association is a legal way to insure that there would be certain rules in place to govern the way people live in a particular community. It can be a high-rise building, golf course development, townhome community or traditional neighborhood. Check out our articles and blog posts for more information about homeowners associations.
Is this Homeowners Association (HOA) Good or Bad?
Is this Homeowners Association (HOA) Good or Bad? Q: I am writing to you in response to the article that I read "Homeowner Association (HOA) Resident Offers Potential Solutions to Board Member Shortage." I have to agree with the article. Being on the board is dangerous these days. However, I have to admit that I [...]
Is This Homeowner Association (HOA) Compliant with State Law
Is This Homeowner Association (HOA) Compliant with State Law Q: We live in a high-rise downtown Chicago. Although the building is well maintained, there are issues with transparency and perceived conflicts with state law and our homeowners association (HOA) condo declaration and bylaws. We are wondering if our interpretation is incorrect. Every time we ask, [...]
HOA: Changing Homeowner Association Rules
HOA: Changing Homeowner Association Rules Q: I just read your response to the question about the 20-unit homeowners association (HOA) that can't get people to run for the board. I used to manage HOAs and have a few thoughts for your readers. 1. Before they do anything, they need to carefully read their HOA documents [...]
HOA Board: No One Wants To Serve
HOA Board: No One Wants To Serve Who will run the homeowners association if no one wants to serve on the HOA board? Q: I belong to a 55+ community of 20 single family homes. We are self-governed by a homeowners association board (HOA) of five members. This past spring, the terms of two of [...]
HOA Rules Contain Alarming Language
HOA Rules Contain Alarming Language Q: The homeowners association (HOA) of our complex added language to the association’s rules and regulations that I believe is alarming and invalid. I read your column every week and wanted to get your take. Our HOA has around 70 units. A section of the new rules was adopted without [...]
HOA Smoking Rules
HOA Smoking Rules: What's permitted under state law? A homeowner association board member asked owner to research local and state laws to see what rules could be enforced. Q: Your newspaper article on homeownership association rules around home smoking policies has prompted me to try to get my homeowners association (HOA) to pass “no smoking” [...]
HOA Won’t Pay Repair Bill
HOA Won't Pay Repair Bill Here's why the homeowners association won't agree to foot the entire bill for water damage to an owner's unit. Q: We own a condo in Atlanta as a secondary residence. About a year ago we discovered a portion of our floor was saturated with water. We discovered, and the [...]
Can we shut down our HOA?
HOA: Can we shut down our HOA? What can a small community do if no one wants to step up and manage the homeowner association? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCg1nR3GzfU Q: We live in a small townhome community of 24 houses in Maryland. We have a homeowner’s association (HOA), and it is generally very mellow, without any [...]
What is a Homeowners Association and What Can It Do?
What to do when your homeowners association is making life difficult? What do HOA's do? Q: I read the article you wrote about first-time homebuyers and homeowners associations. The State of Florida has a lot of gated communities and along with that typically comes a powerful homeowners association (HOA). Unfortunately, I didn't know that when [...]
How Much Should an HOA Have in Reserves?
How much should an HOA have in reserves? This reader wants to know how much an HOA should have in reserves and what happens if it’s too much. Q: Can a homeowners association have too much cash in reserves? If they do, what are the consequences? How Much Should an HOA Have in Reserves? A: [...]