Working with Your Homeowners Association

by Marlene Coleman

Overview

"...an absolute MUST HAVE for anyone
owning or planning to purchase a condominium.
Don't buy a condo without it."
-Jerome Jahn, Attorney and Real Estate Broker
Pasadena, California

BE PART OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY-YOURS!
Every community-whether condominium, townhouse or gated-has the potential to be a great place to live. Safe and secure. Neighborly. A place to not only protect, but increase what may be your biggest investment. When moving into a community with a homeowners association, you not only buy a home, you choose a way of life.

"Here, at last, is a truly comprehensive manual on condominium living,
written by knowledgeable homeowners, for homeowners. You'll want
to read it from cover to cover and keep it as a living reference as you
learn the ins and outs of your community operations."
-Judy G. Campion, AMS, CCAM, PCAM, Los Angeles, California

"Working with Your Homeowners Association is a valuable guide to all aspects of community living. It provides the tools and blueprint necessary for all involved in the workings of community life....great benefit at all levels-residents, directors, committees, and attorneys."
-Stephen C. Sawicki, Attorney, Orlando, Florida

GET EXPERT GUIDANCE ON ALL OF THE IMPORTANT ISSUES
-The structure and management of a homeowners association
-Getting involved with your association to create a positive community experience
-Keeping your association-and your investment-financially secure

Plus, questionnaires, checklists, a board member manual and other recommended reading and resources for you and your association.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402236846
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	04/01/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Dr. Marlene M. Coleman has lived in a condominium community in Los Angeles for the past twenty-five years. She has held positions as a Committee and Board member, as well as served two terms as President of the Board of her Community Association-having turned it around from near disaster. She is also actively involved in both state and national Community Association organizations. Dr. Coleman is Associate Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Southern California Medical School, an Attending Physician in College Health at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, and a pediatrician in private practice in Newport Beach, California.

Judge William Huss is a full-time mediator and arbitrator, overseeing individual, institutional, and corporate cases. He was named one of the Master Mediators by Verdict Magazine. Judge Huss was on the Los Angeles Superior Court, presiding over both civil and criminal trials. He also served on the Los Angeles Superior Court Executive Committee and was the Chair of the Education Subcommittee.

He was a cofounder of an Alternative Dispute Resolution company and served as its president from 1996 2001. He has successfully conducted over 2,800 mediations on the subjects of construction, business, employment, personal injury, eminent domain, malpractice, real estate, homeowners association, and many others.

Before becoming a judge, he founded a law firm in downtown Los Angeles, and he is now Of Counsel to the firm. Having been an associate and partner in small, medium, and large firms, as well as founding one himself, Judge Huss is well-qualified to share insights and experiences that will benefit lawyers who want to start a law firm themselves.

Table of Contents

Dedication
-
Acknowledgements
-
Introduction -
Evaluating the Community
Tracking and Monitoring Progress: The Forms
How Not to Use This Book

Part I: Building Community

Chapter 1: Community Living -
Becoming a Part of the Community
Being Active in Your Community

Chapter 2:Understanding the Structure of the Association -
Understanding the Association

Chapter 3:Knowing the Players of the Association-
The Board of Directors
Support Systems: The Committees
Managers and Management Companies

Part II: Managing Legal Issues

Chapter 4: The Legal Structure of the Association -
Legal Counsel
The Association's Legal Needs
The Importance of Legal Counsel
Avoiding Legal Problems within the Association

Chapter 5: Preventing Legal Problems -
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs)
Bylaws
Articles of Incorporation
House Rules
Insurance
Due Process
Enforcement
Conflicts of Interest

Chapter 6: Resolving Legal Conflicts -
Negotiating within the Community Association
Mediation
Arbitration
Correspondence that does not Offend

Part III: Managing the Community

Chapter 7: Ground Rules for Success -
The Ground Rules
The Disruptive Homeowner

Chapter 8: Proactive and Preventive Financial Management
Keeping a Forward View
Taking a Team Approach
Basic Considerations in Financial Management
Operating Budgets
Reserves
Investments
Financial Oversight

Chapter 9: Planning and Monitoring
Planning and Monitoring Priority Areas

Chapter 10: Communication and Meetings -
Board and Committee Meetings
The Annual Meeting
Welcome Packets/Homeowner Manuals
Newsletters
Suggestion and Response Systems
Being Part of the Larger Community

A Final Note: You and Your Association -

Glossary -

Appendix A: Key Questions and Evaluations of Your Association -

Appendix B: Sample Letters and Sample Notices -

Appendix C: Board Member Orientation Manual

Appendix D: Recommended Readings and Resources
-
Index -

About the Authors