Serving on a community association board is often discussed in terms of authority, obligation and liability. Before any of those things, however, it is an act of service. Volunteer directors step away from already full lives, careers, homes, partners and families to help steward a community they share with their neighbors. They agree to make decisions that affect property values, safety, finances and quality of life, often without professional backgrounds in law, construction

Serving on an association board often means making decisions that not every owner will like, and sometimes decisions the directors themselves would prefer to avoid. Owners may want lower assessments, delayed repairs, or exceptions to the rules. But the board’s role is not to accommodate every individual request. Its role is to act in the best interests of the association and that means the community as a whole. That tension is exactly why fiduciary duties matter. Board member

From repaving roads to replacing roofs, communities and homeowner associations (HOAs) routinely hire vendors for projects that affect safety, property values, budgets, and neighbor trust. When costs rise, it’s tempting to choose the lowest bid, hire a contractor without solid coverage, or manage a major job in-house. The trouble is that “cheap” decisions often don’t save money—they relocate it into change orders, delays, disputes, liability exposure, and long-term maintenance

California's fire seasons are growing longer and more intense, and both state and local agencies are turning their attention to a crucial area around homes called “Zone 0.” For homeowner associations and residential communities, knowing about Zone 0 is more important than ever—not just for safety, but also for long-term landscaping, upkeep, and insurance. What Is Zone 0? Zone 0 is the first 5 feet around a home or building. Experts now see this area as one of the most importa

One of the most common and consequential questions a homeowners association board will face is deceptively simple: who is responsible for fixing this? Whether the issue is a leaking plumbing line inside a wall, a damaged fence, a cracked patio slab, or a failed window, the answer is critical to understanding who actually performs the repair, who pays the contractor, and who bears liability if the problem is ignored. Yet despite how frequently this question arises, many boards

The holiday season is a time of celebration, connection, and reflection. For HOA board members, it’s also an opportunity to foster...

While often not viewed as an exciting topic, assessment collections are necessary because running a common interest development fails...

The real estate casualty market has continued to tighten in recent years. Market cycles are nothing new to the insurance industry;...

What Associations Need to Know. It may seem overwhelming if you are a board member or officer of a homeowner association, condo...

With summer, and record-breaking heat waves, it is difficult not to think about the use and conservation of precious natural resources,...

Background On January 1, 2020, the State legislature added California Civil Code § 5551 to require condominium associations with certain...

Homeowners Associations (HOAs) in California face unique challenges in today's insurance market, marked by increasing premiums and...

In these uncertain times, community security has become a paramount concern, particularly when law enforcement agencies are grappling...

Budget season is upon most associations, and while many boards are understandably focused on getting their budgets right and properly...

In recent years, a growing concern has emerged among individuals, businesses, and policymakers alike: the relentless surge in insurance...

With Budget season underway, so many communities dread the line item for plumbing. Despite careful planning, it only takes a single...

If there is one thing I've learned about people over the years of being a CEO and employing a staff, it's that every single person has a...

Homeowners associations (HOAs) are becoming increasingly popular in residential communities across the United States. You are receiving...

For decades PBS’ Sesame Street and Mister Rogers Neighborhood have given the world beautiful examples of how everyone in a community has...

Whether you're an executive or a Board Member, the fact of the matter is that attracting and keeping great employees is more...