by Tracy Barker
Feature Story
Manager’s Perspective: Productive Board Meeting
Do you have that one monthly association board meeting that is the most dreaded of all meetings in your portfolio? Does it last three, four or five hours? Yes, I said five hours. Why?
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Feature Story
Association Budgets Beware – New Federal Overtime Rules Are Coming
This past spring, the Obama administration announced new rules which go into effect on December 1st regarding overtime pay for certain employees. I interviewed Heather Paton, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Executive Director of Seabrook Island POA on Johns Island, South Carolina, who pointed out that many associations will need to be aware of the new rules in creating their budgets for 2017 and beyond..
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by Sherri Hall
Feature Story
Preparing a Community’s Grounds for Winter: What Associations Can Do Now
While it’s true that harsh winter weather, snow plows and ice melting chemicals can cause destruction to a community’s grounds, there are a number of steps associations can take to minimize the damage to their properties.
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by Sherri Hall
Feature Story
Association Fees on Owners’ Credit Reports?
Benefits and Pitfalls of New Credit Reporting Capabilities
Late payers beware. Community associations now have the ability to report delinquent assessment fees to Equifax, thanks to a recent agreement the major credit bureau entered into earlier this year with Sperlonga Data & Analytics.
by Sherri Hall
Feature Story
Regulating Holiday Decorations Within Associations
As Halloween approaches, followed by the winter holidays shortly thereafter, associations should ensure that policies regarding holiday decorations are in place for residents to follow. Such rules must be reasonable, and more importantly, legal.
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by Sherri Hall
Feature Story
Changes on the Way for FHA Condominium Certification Process ?
The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (H.R. 3700) was signed into law on July 29, 2016 with the intention of reforming the Federal Housing Association (FHA) loan program for community associations. The FHA serves to insure mortgages and because of that, it has to be attentive to risk, said Philip Sutcliffe of Project Support Services in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, a company that assists condominium associations with FHA certifications and recertifications. He explained that the FHA’s policy is to insure loans in communities that offer a reasonable expectation that the loans are going to get paid on time.
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by Olivia Lynch
Feature Story
Board Member Voting: Is My Ballot Private?
Neighbors in a community may be friends, however, it’s possible someone may not think their friend would make a good board member. This puts them in a funny position when their friend asks them to sign a proxy for their community’s board election. Can owners in condominium and homeowner associations vote with the confidence that their vote will be confidential?
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by Olivia Lynch
Feature Story
Pet Restrictions in Condominiums — What the Fair Housing Act Can Control
These days, many condo owners are wondering why they see so many dogs in their buildings and communities — even though they’re “not allowed.” What’s going on?
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by Sherri Hall
Feature Story
“I Understand You’re Upset…” – Managers Share Tips for Diffusing Angry Homeowners
As a professional in the property management industry, you want to serve your community members with the highest level of customer service. You want to help each and every one of them, and ensure their happiness. Then, one day it happens. You get a phone call from an angry homeowner…who is yelling at you! Now what? How do you handle it?
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Last month we received several questions regarding what constitutes a majority when voting to change an association’s bylaws or the declaration. We were a little surprised by how something that seems so simple, is actually not. As they say, the devil is in the details, especially when it comes to voting on either association bylaw or declaration amendments.
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