Budgeting is often considered one of the more challenging parts of community management. However, I want to flip that script and consider that it can be one of the best tools to plan for your year ahead, and it can be fun learning so much about your community. But everyone should participate because, as I always like to say, we can do whatever we want to do in the short and long term, but we have to pay for it. So there’s a balancing act. Here are some tips to help you in the process:

A homeowner' association board has a role in ensuring its community runs flawlessly and with financial stability. However, the association may encounter a huge or unanticipated expense, such as a leak in the clubhouse roofing. If that happens, and the regular dues are not adequate to cover the unexpected expenses, the HOA's reserve fund comes in very handy.

Package theft has become the scourge of modern neighborhoods. With online orders at an all-time high, receiving packages has become normal for families and professionals. But porch piracy also makes the neighborhood feel unsafe. It's not just annoying to lose a package, it's also costly and frightening. This is exactly the kind of thing that community associations work to prevent. Of course, you want to protect your residents from package thieves and the other crimes that successful theft might invite.

The issue of cell towers has been a hotly debated one across homeowner associations. You have plenty of open space and phone carrier brands want to put a tower in your midst. Should you allow it? What benefits does the cell tower deal offer to your community, and how does that contrast the downsides? And if you do decide to build a tower, how can you enhance those benefits and minimize any downsides for your community?

The driving goal behind homeowner associations is to benefit through sharing. Pools are expensive, but we all get a pool by sharing the cost. Keeping an expansive lawn is lavish for one purpose, but becomes a community park when shared and everyone benefits. Shared responsibility can cover the cost of regular maintenance and predictable repairs infinitely. But maintaining an entire community isn't always so enjoyable. Unexpected and costly repairs are sometimes also shared in ways that are financially heavy on the community members.

One of the greatest things about being part of an HOA is joining in the community events. Barbecues at the pool or holiday parties in the clubhouse are always a draw, but some communities go big for the benefit of everyone in the neighborhood. Block parties are an opportunity for every member of your HOA community to join in and have a good time when the weather is nice.

Should Your Community Association Enforce Board Member Term Limits?:

Deciding whether our HOA should enforce term limits on board members is not always an easy decision to make. Moreover, many states have laws in place that either requires board members to have a term limit on their services or prohibit HOA/community organizations from setting term limits on board members. Knowing the laws in your state is a very important first step to understanding what term limits you can enact on your board members. You also want to know if the term limits that you are setting are against the laws in your state.

Delivering bad news is difficult. This is why successful HOA Board Members will go to any length to ensure the news is delivered in a way that minimizes conflict and frustration. As a board member, it's normal to feel ambivalence when delivering bad news. 

Reasons A Board Would Need to Deliver Bad News. 

One of the significant roles of a board is to enact and enforce rules, regulations as well as policies that enhance or maintain the health, well-being and safety of a homeowner's association (HOA). Nevertheless, as a board member, it's inevitable that at some point, you'll have to announce bad news to your unit-owners or shareholders. Bad news messages include capital projects that have fallen behind schedule, circumstances like mold remediation that might temporarily displace residents and parking lot resurfacing, leading to limited parking for some days. Other types of bad news include: 

• Increased dues
• Temporal or permanent closing of an amenity
• Adjustments of rental rates

Lounging by the pool and taking a dip can be very refreshing, especially when the temperatures are high. Homeowners Associations and Condominium Owners Associations provide this ultimate luxury amenity for prestigious homes and condos.

Homeowners Association (HOA) board recalls are rare, and when they do happen, it is crucial to ensure they proceed according to the association's bylaws and state laws. These laws provide the basis to determine whether a recall is necessary and how to conduct it.