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. Our mission has been to connect residents, board members, community managers, and business partners with CAI’s subject matter expertise.
This year, the Ungated blog published 50 posts—a fitting number for celebrating CAI’s 50th anniversary—and gained more than 30,000 views. We touched on topics such as productive and efficient board meetings, the importance of community association assessments, condominium safety, electric vehicles, insurance coverage, lending requirements, and mental health.
Earlier this year, we were thrilled to accept the bronze award for the best overall blog site at the 2023 AM&P Network EXCEL Awards, an annual program that recognizes excellence and leadership in nonprofit association media, publishing, and communications. It marked the third straight year the Ungated blog has won an award in the category.
Revisit the top five most read Ungated blog posts in 2023, and look for more content relevant to community association leaders and residents in the new year.
Rate shock: Skyrocketing insurance premiums straining community associations
Community associations in California have been staring at skyrocketing insurance premiums. Some have been facing increases of as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Community finances are being strained and, in some cases, it’s become impossible for new buyers to secure mortgage lending.
Reserve study standards: New guidance incorporates preventive maintenance, structural inspections
Community associations should incorporate preventive maintenance and structural inspections into their reserve studies—the important budget planning tools that identify the components a community association is responsible for maintaining or replacing, indicate the status of the reserve fund, and provide a stable and equitable funding plan to offset anticipated future major common area expenditures. The recommendations are part of new Reserve Study Standards released by CAI.
Condominium blacklists: Secretive lending questionnaires impacting affordable housing
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are compiling troubling blacklists that prohibit mortgage financing for entire condominium or housing cooperative buildings. As the blacklists grow, community managers and board members have no knowledge their buildings are on them. When people are unable to buy and sell units in these buildings, property values may be affected. The government-sponsored enterprises recently improved access to information on their lists.
Insurance coverage: Communities report significant challenges with rising premiums
More than 90% of respondents in a recent survey conducted by the Foundation for Community Association Research reported that their property and casualty insurance premium had increased at the last or current renewal with 24% citing an increase between $101 and $500, and 14% citing a larger increase. Eleven percent of respondents indicated that their property and casualty coverage was canceled or not renewed.
Know before you fly: Not all flags are treated equally under the law
Flags are always a hot topic for community associations as evidenced by this post originally from June 14, 2021 (Flag Day). It’s important for community association residents to know the association’s rules on displaying the U.S. flag as well as applicable state laws and restrictions on other types of flags.
