Few things can be as upsetting as discovering that the funds that fuel a building or association have been mishandled—or worse yet, stolen. For residents, fraud undermines their sense of trust in the men and women who oversee and manage…
As the leaders of their community and guardians of their residents' investment and quality of life, HOA board members have a lot of responsibility, and access to a great deal of personal—sometimes sensitive—information about their neighbo…
For board members, the time spent serving their association and fellow residents can be among the most strenuous yet rewarding periods in their lives. For years, they make decisions that affect their community in the present and may co…
For most people, “foaming at the mouth” is just a figure of speech. Attorney Ellen Hirsch de Haan, a managing partner in the Tampa Bay, Florida office of Becker & Poliakoff PA, has encountered the real thing—and not at an animal shelter,…
In many parts of North America, people will soon enjoy one of nature’s finest shows. The changing colors of fall foliage make for a beautiful display, but too-early changes in leaf-color can be a sign that your tree is stressed and is s…
Whether its the close proximity to the coast, the reassurance of knowing its a safe place to raise children or simply its easy distance from the bright lights of Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township in southeastern New Jersey has somethin…
When you’re reading the history of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI-PADELVAL, for short), it might be helpful to whip out the map to get a sense of who they are and the communitie…
Generally speaking, the issue of municipal services—snow removal, paving, garbage collection, etc.—as they apply to HOAs is pretty cut-and-dry: municipalities receive money directly from owners in the form of property taxes. HOAs budget …
It’s an oft-repeated mantra when it comes to condo and HOA management: no two boards are ever the same. Each is—or should be—a reflection of the community it serves, and each is made up of a unique blend of personalities, skill sets, an…
When owners move into an HOA or condo development, most have a basic idea of who’s responsible for repairs and maintenance in their unit, and who’s responsible for the common areas—even if they don’t bother to read the governing documents…