Articles

Preparing and adopting your annual association budget is a critical component of your responsibilities as a board

Floods are one of the most common types of natural disasters. They can also be the most detrimental for high-rise buildings. The nature of these buildings makes them particularly vulnerable to flooding caused by severe storms.

We all know that there's a lot of paperwork in the home buying process. If the home you want to buy is in a managed community of any kind, a resale package, including your resale certificate and governing documents, is part of that paperwork. Resale certificates and packages offer transparency about the community and whether or not the sellers are current in their financial obligations to the association.

FirstService Financial assists FirstService Residential clients in fulfilling their financing requirements at the most competitive interest rates and terms available.

What did you want to be when you grew up?  Like many children, you may have dreamed of becoming a doctor, teacher, firefighter, pilot, basketball player, ballerina or policeman.  Maybe you wanted to be a movie actor, astronaut, rock star or even the president.  But we’re guessing there are a few professions that probably didn’t make your short list… property manager or community association manager (CAM).    

Success by committee – you may have heard the expression, but do you know how homeowners association committees can help Board members achieve success? Let's start with the basics, a committee definition: an HOA committee is comprised of homeowners who analyze issues and help make recommendations to help reduce Board members’ responsibilities.

Master-planned communities are large developments that integrate a variety of neighborhoods, sub-divisions, recreational facilities and amenities under one community umbrella, with a focus on lifestyle, convenience and quality of life.  Most master-planned communities offer homebuyers a range of residential options suited to different life stages and price points, from single-family homes to townhomes to condominiums to apartments. These residences are often located in distinct neighborhoods within the community, and may be developed by multiple builders.

Implementing new policies within a community can be challenging, but when a board communicates effectively and gives residents a plan that outlines the necessity, process and benefits of a policy, they can avoid a lot of issues and get buy-in, too.

If you volunteer your services to your homeowners association, you know there are many rewards – but also, quite a few challenges. There are residents with individual demands and concerns and Board members who may have difficulty agreeing. There is also the critical need to carefully develop – and adhere to – a strict budget. And that’s just the beginning.

Congratulations! You just bought a new home and it';s perfect for your family – just the right size and condition and in a location and neighborhood to meet your needs. Your new home is part of a homeowners’ association (HOA), so the landscaping, entrance and common areas always look beautiful and well-maintained.

Becoming a board member is a great way to engage with your neighbors and create positive changes in your community. But sometimes, new volunteers have little to no experience and must learn the community's rules, the board’s responsibilities and the demands of their roles as they go

As part of a homeowners’ association (HOA), you’ve probably heard the phrase “CC&Rs” tossed around quite a bit. For a lot of us, the term is just a cluster of letters with no concrete meaning. But the truth is that CC&Rs can have a real impact on how you live. Let’s take a look at CC&Rs – what they mean, why they matter, and how they affect you.