Thirdhand smoke: An unseen hazard might be affecting your home
Residue from cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products—known as thirdhand smoke—can cause carcinogens and heavy metals to build up on walls, ceilings, fabrics, HVAC units, and dust, posing a risk to health if inhaled or ingested.
Affordable dream: Housing crisis policies could bring changes to your community
Owning or renting a suitable home is increasingly out of reach for many in the U.S. Lawmakers, housing officials, and advocates are scrambling to find solutions.
Taking flight: What to consider when deploying drones in your community
Drones can have wide-ranging benefits in community associations. Here’s what you need to know about their capabilities, adopting rules, and due diligence when contracting with a drone operator.
Crunching numbers: What goes into a community association’s budget?
Just like for-profit businesses, association boards should work diligently to develop annual budgets that estimate revenue and expenses for the upcoming fiscal year. A properly drafted budget can help prevent reduced services, deteriorating property, or special assessments.
Welcome home? New FHA process could make condos available to more buyers
New guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allow more condominium units to be eligible for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration—making homeownership more attainable for first-time buyers.
Common courtesy: How to promote civility in community associations
The erosion of civility in our society has begun to manifest itself in private residential communities. This comes in many forms—from rudeness and disruptive behavior at meetings to more dangerous and escalating actions. It’s time for community association boards to send a message that uncivil behavior won’t be tolerated.
Passing the torch: Why succession planning is essential for community association professionals
As the growing community association management industry is witnessing a changing of the guard, its pioneers are looking for ways to successfully pass the torch to the next generation of leaders.
Frost Fight: Brace your community for winter
Snow lovers might be shivering with anticipation, but it’s important that community associations encourage residents to winterize their homes before the brunt of the season hits.
Adding on: Homeowners building more accessory dwelling units
Remodeling projects to create ADUs may be increasing due the lack of affordable housing in expensive metropolitan areas, a reduced rate of housing production, and increased doubled-up households, the National Association of Home Builders finds.
Now hiring: Employment growth projected for community managers
Community association management is becoming a sought-out career with growth for new hires expected in the coming decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
