HOA & Community
Boards, reserves, meetings, and living in an HOA.
Why Did My HOA Dues Go Up? 7 Common Reasons (2024)
HOA dues often rise 5-15% a year due to inflation, insurance costs, reserve fund shortfalls, and deferred maintenance catching up all at once.
Removing an HOA Board Member for Missing Meetings: 4 Steps
Most HOA bylaws allow removal of a board member after 3 consecutive unexcused absences, but the process almost always requires a formal vote, not a memo.
HOA Violation Letter: 5 Steps That Make It Hold Up
A defensible HOA violation letter names the exact rule broken, gives a 10-to-30-day cure period, and gets sent by certified mail with proof of delivery.
HOA Selective Enforcement: What It Is and Why It Sinks Cases
Selective enforcement means an HOA enforces a rule against one owner but ignores identical violations elsewhere, and it's the top defense that beats boards in court.
HOA Secretary Duties — A Complete Guide for New Volunteers
An HOA secretary typically handles meeting minutes, official records, and notices — here's what the role covers and where new volunteers get tripped up.
HOA Rules vs. CC&Rs — What's the Difference, and Which Wins?
CC&Rs are recorded with the county and usually need 67% owner approval to change; board rules can be adjusted at a single meeting.
HOA Reserve Study vs. Capital Plan: The Real Difference
A reserve study prices out future repairs over 20-30 years, while a capital plan schedules and funds them — most boards need both, not one or the other.
HOA Progressive Enforcement: Warning to Fine to Hearing
A three-step enforcement ladder — warning, fine, hearing — keeps HOA fines legally defensible and cuts owner disputes by giving everyone written notice.
HOA Loss Assessment Coverage: The HO-6 Add-On Owners Miss
A $10,000 HOA loss assessment can land on your bill with 30 days' notice, and most standard HO-6 policies only cover $1,000 of it.
HOA Homeowner Open Forum: How Much Speaking Time Is Required?
Most states require HOA boards to set aside open forum time, with several setting a 3-minute-per-speaker floor unless the bylaws say otherwise.
HOA Governing Documents Hierarchy — Which Rule Wins?
When HOA documents conflict, state law usually wins, then the recorded Declaration, then Articles, Bylaws, and Rules — in that exact order.
HOA Election Rules for a Clean, Contested Vote (2026)
Most contested HOA elections fail on notice, quorum, or ballot secrecy, not on the actual vote count, and those errors can void the result.
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