Blog - Educational Community for Homeowners (ECHO)

Understanding Board Decisions and Judicial Deference

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, July 2009 California law offers a limited protection to homeowner boards of directors: the rule of judicial deference. Arising from the 1999 California Supreme Court […]

Roofing Technologies For The Green Era

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, July 2009 Roofing products have taken on an important role as the consciousness for the need to improve our environmental conditions increases. These products can […]

Save Money, Save the Planet

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, August 2009 If you own a home in today’s unstable financial marketplace, you are vulnerable. Fortunately, each dollar we spend on energy efficiency upgrades adds […]

What’s Important In Painting?

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, August 2009 Good paint performance depends on good adhesion, and paint adheres best to surfaces that are clean and sound. That’s why contractors make sure […]

When Do Statutes Of Limitation Begin To Run On Construction Claims?

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, August 2009 A Developer Lays A Trap For The Unwary Statutes of Limitation are intended to protect defendants from stale claims. They are also traps […]

My Small Claims Court Experience

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, August 2009 In the past year, I have had the “opportunity” to present collection information at Small Claims Court on behalf of two associations. In […]

To Foreclose or Not to Foreclose

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, August 2009 How to Collect Assessments in the Face of the Sub-Prime Crisis We get it. The sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2008 that resulted in […]

Installing New Windows in HOAs: Regulations and Best Practices

Educational Topics

Homeowners in your association may be interested in upgrading their property to energy efficient windows. However, for HOAs that have not established guidelines in their CC&Rs for window replacement, this […]

How to Read Your Reserve Study

Educational Topics

Common Interest Developments contains areas and facilities that are owned “in common” by the members. For the purpose of this article that common ownership may be in undivided interest, it […]

Ask The Maintenance Panel

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, October 2009 Members of ECHO’s Maintenance Panel address from time to time a specific maintenance concern that many associations face. These concerns come to the […]

Yes, Association Banks Are Lending!

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, October 2009 The question most often heard by association bankers lately is “Are you making loans to HOAs?” The answer is a resounding “Yes”! A […]

Reserve Projects – Now or Later?

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, October 2009 To spend now or not to spend now is the question for financially sound homeowners associations contemplating their spending plans for reserve projects. […]