Respecting boundaries: How community leaders can respond to harassment
It’s not uncommon for community association managers and board members to have days filled with high-stress situations, emotional exchanges, and difficult personalities, but there’s a clear line between a difficult day and harassment. Here’s how to recognize and respond to harassment.
Housing market: Community associations will continue to thrive in 2026
The housing market is expected to build on the gradual stabilization that began in 2025 this year and will see improvements in inventory, home sales, prices, and mortgage rates, according to 2026 predictions. In 2026, the Foundation for Community Association Research projects 3,000 to 4,000 new condominium communities and homeowners associations will be built, growing the total number of associations in the U.S. from approximately 373,000 at the end of 2025 to as many as 377,000 in 2026.
Year in review: The top five most-read Ungated blog posts of 2025
Since launching in May 2018, CAI‘s Ungated blog has provided news, tips, and trends important to the community association housing model with members and nonmembers. This year, we published 60 posts on topics such as the Corporate Transparency Act, holiday preparation guidelines, community projects, and four-day workweeks. Revisit the top five most read Ungated blog posts in 2025.
New Corporate Transparency Act ruling: What community associations need to know
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit reversed and remanded a lower court’s stay of the Corporate Transparency Act. This decision lifts the order blocking enforcement of the act issued by a district court in March 2024 that paused all reporting requirements. Despite the court ruling, community associations can continue to ignore the act’s requirements to report beneficial ownership information to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
Customer service: Timely responses and technology can boost homeowner satisfaction
Clear policies, practical strategies, consistent communication, and steady enforcement can help community association boards and managers boost customer service and homeowner satisfaction. During a recent CAI webinar, a seasoned community association manager outlined some straightforward steps managers can take to improve customer experiences and transform the reputation of homeowners associations.
The ultimate guide to the best HOA holiday ever: Events, packages, guests
Now that your community is off to its best HOA holiday ever with clear and easy-to-follow decorating guidelines, board members and managers should put policy development, implementation, and enforcement aside for a minute and remember what’s really important: celebrating the season. Often, that means helping residents with the influx of packages and guests. It also means creating opportunities for residents to get together and boost engagement.
Finding meaning in the holiday rush: A message to the CAI community
As we step into December, many of us are coming off a long weekend of family, friends, food, and reflection. In the moments you feel overwhelmed, remember your CAI community is here for you — to help you finding meaning, trusted tools and insights, quick insights, data and trends, standards, guidance, and best practices.
The ultimate guide to the best HOA holiday ever: Decorations
Tis the season for community associations to come alive with lights, decorations, and special events. With some preparation, an HOA holiday can bring together neighbors, friends, and family. Community association leaders should brush up on and, if necessary, refresh their decorating guidelines to ensure a season of cheer for everyone.
Board member education: Ensuring successful governance
Community association board members are responsible for governance, compliance, and protecting property values. Few homeowners joining their board for the first time have all the tools to succeed, and the consequences of uninformed decisions can be severe. The question of whether board member education and training should be mandated for volunteers is nearly as old as common interest communities.
CAI Advocacy Summit: Making congressional connections
Nearly 200 advocates participated in 145 congressional meetings during the CAI 2025 Congressional Advocacy Summit in Washington last week. Wendy Bucknum met with Rep. Young Kim and urged her to extend Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance to community associations following a natural disaster.
