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Condo living has its perks: amazing urban locations close to public transportation, being part of a community without having to do yard work or home maintenance, enjoying amenities like fitness centres, party lounges and pools at your doorstep. Just don’t forget that those perks come at a price – a monthly strata fee. What are strata fees and how are they determined?

Not all strata managers have what they need to give you great service. Learn what it takes to be a great strata manager.

To set you and your association up for success, we’ve pulled together a list of common board blunders and included some practical tips for avoiding them. If you can identify these early, you may save yourself (and your board) from a lot of frustration.

As a board member, one of your principal responsibilities is stewardship of the association’s finances. A lot of that boils down to one thing: the annual budget. Unfortunately, for many board members, “annual budget” is just another term for “big headache.” It doesn’t have to be that way. By staying aware of common budgeting pitfalls, you can make the creation of your annual budget less of a hassle – and ensure an entire year of minimal money woes while you’re at it.

Some community associations simply get three proposals and price quotes, and go with the lowest bidder. That sounds easy, but buyer beware – there is much more to the bidding process than many board members realize. Sometimes simply choosing a vendor by its low price will get you exactly what you pay for. Here are some best practices on simplifying the bidding process and maximizing the value your association receives.

Being part of a Homeowners Association is rewarding – yet it can also be challenging at times. Board members are often tasked with difficult duties ranging from proper financial stewardship to navigating community conflicts, and much more.

Is your association really prepared for an emergency? Learn how to develop an HOA emergency preparedness plan in 8 steps.

How does your California association handle maintenance? Discover your association's unique maintenance style.

The HOA board members of your community association serve many important leadership functions. This article will discuss the role of treasurer and the impact they have on the health and future growth of your community.

Great policies can help your association run smoothly, enhance the resident experience and improve your reputation. Here are five questions to ask before creating a new HOA policy.

The concept of raising HOA assessment fees can be a sensitive issue. Read our article to learn how to do so without stepping on people's toes.

Living in a high-rise is unlike any other experience. Here are some community policies to consider to create a more harmonious environment for all.

Financial stewardship ranks near the top of the list of responsibilities for HOA board members. This requires proper allocation of association funds to ensure they are protected and FDIC insured, while earning the best possible rates. Adequate insurance coverage also factors into the equation. It’s a challenging balancing act, but asking the right questions can help.

How do you tackle alignment as a group of diverse individuals with unique values? Follow these four tips on HOA agreement to find out.

Is your maintenance job turning into a capital improvement? Are you ready for a big capital improvement expenditure? Read on to get answers to your top questions about maintenance, capital improvements and useful life.

Does your association manager have the right tools, resources and support to take your association to the next level?

Enforcing HOA policies is nobody’s cup of tea, but having good policy enforcement in place helps improve the resident experience and elevates your reputation. Follow these 4 principles for healthy policy enforcement:

A healthy and effective California homeowners association will not only find great volunteers and committee members, but will empower them to drive positive change in the community. How can your association make this happen?

Association leadership plays an important role in creating harmonious communities. This applies to board members and community management professionals to work in partnership. Here are seven steps to a happy community.

Are you getting the best returns on your reserve funds? Most California board members are not sure. Here are six ways to improve your reserve fund returns and create an HOA investment policy.

It's vital to prepare for the future and take steps to protect your association reserve funds. Here are 3 ways to manage reserves during a crisis.

Whether your HOA is an amenity-driven active adult community or an emerging single-family home community, future financial stability is always a top-of-mind concern. And while it may seem like your everyday operating budget is the ultimate priority, a well-funded reserve is the key to helping your community thrive well into the future.

How do manage collections and HOA funds after a crisis? Get 3 tips to help you plan for the future

Strategic capital improvements lead to better property values. Read on to see the three ways to pay for them and their pros and cons.