R & E Associates - Frequently Asked Questions

Assessments

What is an Assessment?
Are 'Dues' different than 'Assessments?'

Association Types

What is a Homeowners Association (HOA)?
What is a Community Association?
What is a Neighborhood Association?
What is the difference between a Homeowners Association and a Neighborhood Association?

Association Management Questions

What is Association Management?
What is an Association Management Company and what do they do?
Does my community have an Association Management Company, and if so, how do I contact them?
What is a 'Managing Agent?'
What is a 'Proxy?'
What is a 'Quorum?'
What is a 'Recuse?'

Board Of Directors

What is a Board of Directors?
How do I contact my Board of Directors?

CAI

What is CAI?
Is CAI a national organization or are they local to my area?

Association Legal Documents

What are CC&Rs?
What Are 'ByLaws?'
What are Governing Documents?
What is a Lien?
What is the 'Declaration?'
What is an Estoppel letter?
What is an 'Easement?'
What is a 'Notice of Noncompliance?'

General Terms

What is a 'Common Area?'
What are Ordinances?

Answers

Assessments
- Question: What is an Assessment?
  
  Answer: Homeowner associations can compel homeowners to pay a share of common expenses, usually per-unit or based on square footage. These expenses generally arise from common property, which varies dramatically depending on the type of association. Some associations are, quite literally, towns, complete with private roads, services, utilities, amenities, community buildings, pools, and even schools. Many condominium associations consider the roofs and exteriors of the structures as the responsibility of the association. Other associations have no common property, but may charge for services or other matters.
  
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- Question: Are 'Dues' different than 'Assessments?'
  
  Answer: A predetermined set of fees usually referred to as 'Dues' are collected by HOAs, Community Associations, or divisions of property management for the upkeep of said organizations or neighborhoods in general. These fees are billed at intervals, sometimes by month, quarter, or annually.
  
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Association Types
Association Management Questions
Board Of Directors
- Question: What is a Board of Directors?
  
  Answer: In relation to an HOA, Community or other formal organization, a director is an officer charged with the conduct and management of its affairs. The directors collectively are referred to as a board of directors, and are generally elected or appointed. Sometimes the board will appoint one of its members to be the chair, making this person the President of the Board of Directors or Chairman.
  
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- Question: How do I contact my Board of Directors?
  
  Answer: If your community has a Board of Directors, contact information, meeting times, minutes, and other information can be obtained through checking the Board information area of your website.
  
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CAI
- Question: What is CAI?
  
  Answer: Founded in 1973, CAI stands for 'Community Associations Institute.' CAI was formed to deal with problems involving association management. It was an educational organization then, but CAI made substantial changes in 1992 to its structure and became a business trade group primarily to lobby state legislatures. In 2005, CAI dropped its membership category for HOAs since, presumably, HOAs were consumers, users of CAI services and don’t belong in a tax benefited group whose aim is to support the business interests of its members.
  
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- Question: Is CAI a national organization or are they local to my area?
  
  Answer: CAI is in fact a national organization with many local and state chapters. To contact the CAI offices in your state, check your local phone book listings or the internet to locate the office that corresponds to your region.
  
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Association Legal Documents
General Terms
- Question: What is a 'Common Area?'
  
  Answer: Any area of improved real property intended for shared use by the members of an association.
  
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- Question: What are Ordinances?
  
  Answer: An Ordinance is an individual or set of laws adopted by local government at the county and city level.
  
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