Frequently Asked Questions
Homeowner Association Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled a list of some Frequently Asked Questions concerning Homeowner Associations below.
- What is a “Community Association Manager (CAM),” what do they do, and how do I reach them?
- What is a homeowner’s association?
- What is the Board of Directors?
- Can anyone run for the Board or who can be elected?
- Are Board Meetings open to all residents? If so, where and when are they held?
- What are the CC&Rs?
- What are the Bylaws?
- Are there any other rules?
- What is deemed a Common Area Facility?
- If I am having a problem with a neighbor for a violation of the Policies and Guidelines, what can I do?
- What are association committees?
- If I want to serve on a committee, how do I find out what committees are active and how I can get involved?
- What is my assessment?
- How is the amount of my assessment determined?
- Will my assessment go up?
- What happens if I don’t pay my assessment?
- Website FAQ
Q: What is a “Community Association Manager (CAM),” what do they do, and how do I reach them?
A: A CAM is hired by the Board of Directors to provide such services as: supervision of subcontractors, obtaining bids for subcontracted services, as well as a general clearing house for problem solving, communications with homeowners and the Board of Directors and to serve in an advisor capacity. The CAM reports directly to the Board and all decisions are made by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The CAM may be reached via email or by phone from the numbers listed on the Contact Us page on this site.
Q: What is a homeowner’s association?
A: It is a non-profit corporation registered with the State and managed by a duly elected Board of Directors. Its purpose is to maintain all common areas and to govern the community in accordance with the provision of the legal documents: CC&Rs, Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation. The governing legal documents for the association may be viewed online within the Resident Documents page of this site. The corporation is financially supported by all members of the homeowners association. Membership is both automatic and mandatory.
Q: What is deemed a Common Area Facility?
A: Common area / facility refers to all property leased, owned, or maintained by the Association. This is mainly for the sole use and benefit of the members in your Association. It may include but is not necessarily limited to private streets; signs; fountains; statuary; swimming pools and adjacent buildings; recreation sites, with associated furnishing; tennis courts and associated equipment; landscaping; with or without sprinkler systems; walls; bridges, safety lanes; green belts with or without trails; parking lots; median islands in cul-de-sac streets; centralized mail boxes, which may be existing or potentially built in the future.
Q: What is the Board of Directors?
A: The Homeowner’s Association again is a corporation and therefore a governing body is required to oversee its business. The Board of Directors is elected by the homeowners, or as otherwise specified in the Bylaws. The limitations and restrictions of the powers of the Board of Directors is outlined in the Association governing documents found within the Resident Documents page of this site.
Q: Can anyone run for the Board or who can be elected?
A: Anyone can be a Director as long as they are a Member in Good Standing. Individuals who volunteer their time to be on / run for the Board of Directors or to serve on a Committee are people who have the time to serve the Community and are well informed about the legal documents for their community. This is strictly voluntary and there is no compensation for their efforts except for the fruits of their labors shown at the end of the year.
Q: Are Board Meetings open to all residents? If so, where and when are they held?
A: Yes. Notice of the time and place of any regular board meeting will be posted on the community bulletin board at the Clubhouse, or can be accessed online on the Calendar page. Meetings are held at the Clubhouse.
Q: What are the CC&Rs?
A: The Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) are the governing legal documents that set up the guidelines for the operation of the planned community as a non-profit corporation. The CC&Rs were recorded by the County recorder’s office of the County in which the property is located and are included in the title to your property. You should have received a copy of these documents and the Bylaws when you purchased your property. Failure to abide by the CC&Rs may result in a fine to a homeowner by the Association. The governing legal documents for the association may be viewed online within the Resident Documents page of this site.
Q: What are the Bylaws?
A: The Bylaws are the guidelines for the operation of the non-profit corporation. The Bylaws define the duties of the various offices of the Board of Directors, the terms of the Directors, the membership’s voting rights, required meetings and notices of meetings, and the principal office of the Association, as well as other specific items that are necessary to run the Association as a business. The Bylaws for the association may also be viewed online on the Resident Documents page of this site.
Q: Are there any other rules?
A: Most associations have developed Rules and Regulations as provided for in the CC&Rs and adopted by the Board of Directors. Rules are established to provide direction to the homeowners for common courtesies with regard to parking, vehicles, pets and pool use hours, etc. In addition, your Association will adopt Architectural Guidelines with procedures for submitting requests to make exterior changes to your home. Such changes may include patio covers, decks, landscaping, or extensive changes and additions. These rules and guidelines are set up to maintain the aesthetic value and integrity of the community on behalf of all owners, and hopefully protect the market value of your investment as well. Violations of these rules may result in action by the Board of Directors and a fine. In addition, if you proceed with an exterior improvement or change, without written approval of the Board of Directors, or Construction Committee, as applicable, you will be required to remove or correct the alteration and/or be fined for the violation. For more information about this topic visit the Resident Documents page of this site.
Q: If I am having a problem with a neighbor for a violation of the CC&Rs and Rules, what can I do?
A: If residents cannot resolve a situation between themselves, then turn to your Association. Should you have a situation that does not appear to be resolved through neighborly means, and you are willing to actively participate in the enforcement provided by the Policies and Guidelines, you may report it in writing to the Association office. If the situation is deemed in violation of the Policies and Guidelines, the Board of Directors will institute the enforcement policy. Your continued assistance may be required.
Q: What are association committees?
A: In general, each association will have mandatory committees (e.g. construction committee). An Association may also have standing committees (e.g. finance, landscape, newsletter). There may also be ad-hoc committees, temporarily created for specific one-time items (e.g. road re-paving project). Members of committees are appointed and removed by the Board of Directors. The primary function of the committee is to render a recommendation to the Board on the subject matter of their committee. This recommendation, once delivered to the Board of Directors, is then approved/rejected by the Board.
Q: If I want to serve on a committee, how do I find out what committees are active and how I can get involved?
A: The Residents page of this website will inform you of the status of current committees organized. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the office for more information.
Q: What is my assessment?
A: The assessment is the periodic amount due from each homeowner to cover the operating expenses of the common area and provide for reserve funds for replacement of common facilities in future years. Your assessments are due quarterly on the first of the month (Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct). Once the annual budget has been approved, coupon books will be sent for assessments as a reminder of the amount and date payments are due.
Q: How is the amount of my assessment determined?
A: Budgets are developed by the Board of Directors and adjusted periodically to meet anticipated expenses. This budget is set upon specific guidelines for utilities, landscaping, administration, etc. Reserve funds are monies set aside for future expenses due to the life expectancy of certain items: lighting, street resurfacing, pool equipment, etc. These amounts are then divided by the number of units in the development. A copy of the current budget can be found on the Resident Documents page on the website.
Q: Will my assessment go up?
A: There is no concrete answer to this. The Board of Directors may approve an increased budget, increasing your assessment up to this percentage in order to cover increased costs of operating and maintaining the common area and sufficient reserve funds.
Q: What happens if I don’t pay my assessment?
A: The maintenance and management services incurred by the Association are dependent upon timely receipt of the assessments due from each homeowner. Late payments will result in a late charge as assessments are due on the first of each quarter. In addition, the CC&Rs allows the Association to charge late charges and interest and proceed with a lien on your property, or foreclosure proceeding for nonpayment of assessments.
WEBSITE FAQ
Q: How do I reset my password?
A: There are no individual user accounts, therefore, there are no passwords to reset.
> There IS however one password protected page on the site: the resident document page. It prompts for a password when you open the page.
There is only one shared resident password for this page. Once the password is entered, you can view the protected resident documents.
This password only affects this page. Every other page on the entire site is available to everyone.
Tip: Select the save password option on your computer or phone for this resident password to avoid entering it again.
Q: How do I get the shared resident password for the resident document page?
A: Contact the front office. Once you get this password, save it.
Please note, as stated above, this password is only necessary for the resident documents page. All other pages and all other documents on the site are open and available to everyone.