CAI Alert – Community Association Legislation Support, Help HOA’s!

On behalf of CAI’s Legislative Action Committee, I wanted to alert you about an important piece of legislation we are promoting in Georgia. The proposed bill (number not yet assigned) establishes that, at the time of a foreclosure sale on residential property, the new homeowner shall take title to the property subject up to six months worth of homeowners or condominium owners association fees, if any such fees are due at the time of foreclosure.

This legislation is vital to our HOA’s and COA’s, many of which are suffering significant losses because these debts remain unpaid at the time of foreclosure. When such dues remained unpaid, every member’s property value suffers! This bill is a reasonable compromise with lobbyists for the bankers and realtors, who rejected our prior proposal. However, both of these groups maintain that they will not support any legislation that holds the purchaser responsible for any outstanding homeowner’s association fees.

Our advocates at the Capitol have asked that we reach out to our legislators and ask for their support of this important bill. Please call and email the Chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, whose information is provided below.

Representative Wendell Willard

Chair, House Judiciary Committee

(404)656-5125

wendell.willard@house.ga.gov

 

Senator Bill Hamrick

Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee

(404) 656-0036

bill.hamrick@senate.ga.gov

Please also reach out to your local Representative and Senator, whose contact information can be located by typing your zip code into this link – http://www.votesmart.org/. When you contact them, please identify yourself as a constituent and tell them you are in support of proposed legislation to protect a property owners association‘s right to collect fees due at the time of foreclosure.  Please contact them as soon as possible!

Thanks in advance for your support of this effort.

www.riversidepropertymgt.com  (678) 866-1436

Via Email from:

Julie Jackson

CAI-Georgia

P.O. Box 2943

Peachtree City, GA  30269

Phone: 770-736-7233

www.cai-georgia.org

 

How Does Your HOA Measure Up?

A good HOA must be careful not only to repair what is visible, that is, what is on the surface, but most of all, a good HOA must make sure that everything on the property under its care is working properly . It is dangerous to have something that looks good only on the surface, but is falling apart inside.

There are plenty of things to monitor in the Home Owners Association. Landscaping to construction signs, everything should flow correctly to avoid possible dangers.
Landscaping can be expensive, especially if there is no ongoing maintenance done to the land. If the grass is sick and is not known until the disease has spread across the lawn, for example, would be a costly and time consuming expense, but if monitored money will be saved.

The signs around the property must be well maintained because they are easy to discolor, warp, or seem spent. The maintenance of the signs of the property would not only make it easier for visitors, but also help give your property a nice and clean curb appeal.

What about the amenities you have in your property, such as exercise equipment and maintenance such as clubhouse, swimming pool, etc? Keeping everything in proper order is extremely important. This encompasses working not only keep your residents happy but also to prevent potential lawsuits.

Board members and committees could help the Homeowners Association to be on top of things by requiring periodic inspection reports on a monthly or quarterly basis. The use of a form that lists the things needed to be documented can help ensure that everything on the property is monitored correctly and that necessary repairs are carried out expediently.
Homeowners love living in an HOA community when they have confidence that the HOA will make their life more comfortable. The board, management company and the community must work together to ensure  that you have a community of happy residents, free from any threat of lawsuits looming on the horizon.