Letters To The Editor: Stealth Reserves Uncovered

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, September 2007 Editor’s Note: The May 2007 issue of the ECHO Journal included an article titled “Stealth Reserves” by attorney Tyler Berding. In the article […]

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Waterproof Decks

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, September 2007 Waterproof decks are high on the list of the top ten building component items named in lawsuits as being defective despite the fact […]

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San Francisco Association Generates its own Electricity and Hot Water

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, October 2007 The Pacific Heights Towers Association is a 127-unit condominium in a 20-story high-rise in San Francisco. After the association experienced a 40 percent […]

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3 Challenges Every Small HOA Must Overcome

Educational Topics

Small associations are often undercutted as having less problems than their larger counterparts, but this is far from the truth. With less members comes problems finding board members, paying assessments, […]

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Advantages of Incorporation

Educational Topics

Many homeowners associations are unincorporated. The directors of these unincorporated associations must evaluate whether incorporation is actually to the advantage of their homeowners association. The purpose of this article is […]

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7 Common Mistakes in Approving HOA Contracts

Educational Topics

Reviewing and accepting contracts is a regular and important requirement for homeowner associations  boards. However I see many boards that make mistakes in awarding contracts for work on association complexes. […]

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More Questions About HOA Elections

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, November 2007 Homeowner association members in California continue to raise questions about how elections should be conducted under the new law that went into effect […]

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CPA Management Letters to Associations

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, November 2007 What They Are & What They Should Contain Each year, most homeowner associations will engage a CPA to review or audit their annual […]

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Construction in Seismic Regions

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, November 2007  A Safety Issue Uncovered Throughout the last fifty years, there has been an increasing awareness of the need to provide a higher level […]

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The Question of Exterior Painting and Deferred Maintenance

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, December 2007 One recent trend in HOA exterior painting can unfortunately summed up by a simple question: “When is it time to repaint?” The unfortunate […]

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HOA Assessment Collection: Impacts From Federal Bankruptcy Laws

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, December 2007 Collection of homeowner assessments is a constant issue for community associations. This problem becomes even more difficult when a homeowner files a bankruptcy. […]

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Common Sense: Firestorm

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, December 2008 2007 will set yet another record for California acres consumed by fire. As I write this, after a week of massive destruction, firefighters […]

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