COA

10 Ways for Your HOA Board to Kickstart the New Fiscal Year
Most Homeowners Associations operate on the fiscal year starting January 1st. So, welcome to a new year in the adventures of shaping your community’s future. The decisions you make in the these early days of the year will carve a path to a successful and well-managed year ahead. Steer your HOA toward a year filled…

Getting Started as a Homeowner’s Association Treasurer
Becoming a Homeowner’s Association Treasurer is an important and rewarding role in your community. The homeowners in your community rely on effective financial management to ensure common areas and amenities are managed and maintained. Additionally, you and your board will establish and enforce community rules in line with the CC&Rs to preserve property values and…

How to Write an HOA Violation Letter (with Examples)
From sidewalks to swimming pools, Homeowners Associations (HOAs) exist to help keep your community a nice place to live. They are there to maintain common areas, keep the landscaping nice, manage property improvements and provide amenities. In order to do all of this in a fair and orderly manner, there are rules that homeowners need…

Navigating HOA Dues Increases
Following is a transcript of this episode of the Two Minute Treasurer’s Tip Podcast from MoneyMinder, with audio/video below. Welcome to the Two Minute Treasurer’s Tip Podcast. I am your host Cyndi Meuchel, and we’re talking HOA reserves today. Ed writes: I feel my HOA needs to conduct a reserve study, but homeowners are concerned thatif we…

Homeowners Associations: What’s the Difference Between Bylaws vs. CC&Rs vs. Rules & Regulations
New research shows that 73.9 million Americans live in a community with a Community Association, showing tremendous growth over time (Foundation for Community Association). Call it a Homeowners Association (HOA), Condominium Owners Association (COA), or Property Owners Association (POA), the function is the same: they are a legal entity formed for the maintenance of common…

Suggestions for Enforcing HOA Rules
Following is a transcript of this podcast episode, with audio/video below. Welcome to the Two-Minute Treasurer’s Tip Podcast. I am your host Cyndi Meuchel with MoneyMinder where we’re hoping to make your life as a volunteer way easier. Dani writes: We have some homeowners that are out of compliance with our CC&Rs. What’s the best…

What Your HOA Can and Cannot Regulate
Following is a transcript of this podcast episode, with audio/video below. Welcome to the Two Minute Treasurer’s Tip Podcast. I am your host Cyndi Meuchel with MoneyMinder where we’re hoping to make your life as a volunteer easier. Justin asks: What kinds of things can our HOA regulate? To figure out what kinds of things…

Building Trust in the HOA Board
Homeowners Associations (HOAs) are there to maintain common areas, landscaping, and property improvements, making sure the community is a well-kept, nice place to live. HOAs also use community funds and prohibit or allow certain activities to enforce previously established guidelines. This is where some HOAs get a bad rap. Even if it’s what they signed…

Considerations for Starting a Community Garden for Your HOA
When it comes to growing your own food, there are a great many benefits. Not only do fresh air and digging in the dirt provide some good old-fashioned outdoor therapy, having fresh fruits and vegetables on hand promotes health and wellness. But gardening as a community takes these benefits to the next level. It allows…

How to Settle HOA Disagreements
When you purchase a property that is managed by a Homeowners Association (HOA) or Property Owners Association (POA), you should make sure you understand the rules. Go through the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs). Whew, that’s a lot of acronyms! Maybe the CC&Rs don’t seem like a big deal at the time you purchase your…