Blog - Educational Community for Homeowners (ECHO)

What Does the New Agenda Bill Require for HOAs?

Educational Topics

What Does the New Agenda Bill Require for HOAs? SB 528 has been signed into law, effective January 1, 2008. For some Associations, it will not make a difference because […]

Beginner’s Guide to HOA Boards of Directors Duties and Responsibilities

Educational Topics

Many new board members want an introductory guide that states in one place what are their duties and by what authority do they operate. This article discusses general concepts and […]

Ask The Maintenance Panel: What to Do With Widely Differing Bids for Reroofing

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, February 2008 Question: “We asked for bids from roofing contractors to reroof our complex and got seven bids back. The bidders are offering us four […]

Allow For “Bad Debt” In Your Budget!

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, February 2008 Builders, who couldn’t build homes fast enough a year ago, are now offering substantial discounts and/ or incentives such as swimming pools and […]

A New FCC Exclusive Service Ban Will Void Existing Cable Agreements

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, February 2008 Community associations will no longer be able to play favorites, at least when it comes to the selection of companies providing cable services. […]

Back to Our Housing Future: Will the Old Suburbs Become the New Urban Core?

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2008 A New Role for Older Community Associations? Have we reached the end of the move to the suburbs that started after World War […]

Ask the Panel: Outside Construction Managers

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2008 Question We are faced with several major projects in the next three (3) years and money is tight. Most of our board feels […]

Minutes – The Legal Document of the Association

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2008 Twenty-five years in the association management business have provided me with plenty of opportunities to review board meeting minutes and observe the various […]

2007 Statute and Case Law Update

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2008 […]

Maintenance – A Team Effort

Educational Topics

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2008 Many articles have been written over the past few years regarding different aspects of maintenance— maintenance programs, how to, where to, who to […]

Running an HOA Board Meeting: The Open Meeting Act

Educational Topics

HOA board meetings are an essential part of running an association. But what exactly does it entail? This article discusses the laws for running your HOA’s meetings. Attendance at Meetings […]

How Long Should We Keep HOA Records?

Educational Topics

Your HOA may have a closet full of records, but do you have the right ones? Which records should you keep for reference and which are required by California law? […]