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.

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

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.

A lot unfolds during HOA board meetings, and every member should invest time attending. They are vital to an association's success. At these meetings, the board holds elections, provides a big picture of budget, goals, upcoming projects, governance, and more.

For sure, board members play a crucial role in keeping the community they protect secure and orderly. The fact that most of them work for free for a term of up to four years proves their dedication and commitment to protect our homes, and more importantly, make our investment worth the while. For this reason, appreciating them for their time and effort should not only be something we do annually but as often as it is possible. 

Just like any other association, disagreements among owners and board members are common. However, we should always keep in mind that despite our perspective of them, their sole objective is to preserve our homes and investments. As Thanksgiving week approaches, let us remember to thank the volunteers who dedicate their time to safeguard us and our resources at all times. 

It's a classic, long understood joke... When the weather gets cooler many northern residents "fly south" for the winter. Some people call them Snowbirds, which is a term colloquially used to refer to those who spend the chilly months in temperate climates like those of California or Florida. The impact of these travelling residents can be difficult to measure but we know that they can cause complications for some HOA or COA communities so it's important to be prepared in the event that your community experiences a "Snowbird Season."

During an election year, it's not unusual for community associations to grapple with issues related to the legality of displaying political signs. Yet, these are unusual times. The nation is experiencing a time of increased interest in political activism. Not long ago a video of dueling protesters at a political rally in a Florida community association went viral and made national news. That video made many homeowners and boards aware of the necessity of knowing what political activities are legal in their community association.

Good neighbors are important. Even the most beautiful house can feel like a prison when the homeowners next to you are loud, obnoxious, and disrespectful. On the other hand, decent and helpful neighbors can make a community feel warm and inviting, even for its newest members. Here are 7 qualities of good neighbors that can help make home ownership a delight, instead of a chore:

Many HOA and Condo associations implement restricted access measures to help ensure the safety and security of their homeowners and community property. These measures, such as gated entries, closed-circuit cameras, and even security officers, are all in place to prohibit unwanted solicitors or intruders from disturbing your community's residents. It's important to know however, that the 2020 Census is currently underway and although your members may feel that they would rather not be bothered by Census representatives, denying entry to these representatives is actually illegal and can put your community at a disadvantage.

Whether you're buying your first home or your fifth, you've probably run into some homes that are a part of a community or homeowner's association. You may be familiar with the monthly fees, some benefits, and restrictions of living in a home with an HOA, but it can often be more complicated than what you imagined.