Guide 01 of 03

HOA fundamentals

You joined the board, or you're about to. This guide covers what an HOA actually is, the documents that give it power, and the duties you take on when you accept the seat — in about twenty minutes.

4 articles12 min totalBeginnerUpdated Oct 2022
By the end you’ll be able to
Explain what an HOA is and where its authority comes from
Know which governing documents outrank which, and where to find them
Understand the fiduciary duties you accept when you join the board
Read in order
Article 1 · Board operations1 min
What is an HOA?

Many homeowners reside in a housing subdivision, planned development or condominium with an accompanying homeowners association (HOA). An HOA is a legal organization that represents its homeowners’ collective interests. To do so, the HOA governs the community through Covenants, Codes & Restrictions (CC&Rs). While each…

Article 2 · Board operations1 min
What are CC&Rs?

The Declaration of Covenants, Codes & Restrictions (CC&Rs) is a legal document that describes the rules and responsibilities of a community governed by an HOA. These CC&Rs are defined in the interest of the community to protect and improve property values for all its residents. In an HOA, every homeowner must abide by…

Article 3 · Board operations5 min
The Important HOA Legal Documents that all Community Members Should Review

Your homeowner’s association does more than collect fees and repair fences. To best serve your community, your HOA has rules and regulations about how it operates. The HOA board and its members follow these rules to keep the community running smoothly. These basic rules, for both the HOA and its members, are contained…

Article 4 · Board operations5 min
Understand the Fiduciary Duties for HOA Board Members

Some HOA board members embark on the position with full understanding of what’s involved. Most, however, do not. You join to help your community, maybe make some changes to how the association is being run, and meet new people. The truth is, even though board members are volunteers, these positions come with a lot of…

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Guide 02 · Reserves and funding
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