Resources

HOA Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms boards and homeowners run into most.

Articles of Incorporation for an HOA

Articles of incorporation are the founding document filed with a state, usually the Secretary of State or a similar office, to create a corporation. For an HOA, they establish the association as a legal entity, typically a nonprofit corporation, and state its name, purpose, address and registered agent.

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Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in HOAs

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a way to settle HOA disagreements without a court trial, most often through mediation or arbitration. A neutral third party helps the association and an owner, or two owners, resolve a dispute over rules, assessments or maintenance, usually faster and with less expense than litigation.

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HOA Portal

An HOA portal is a secure online account where homeowners and board members handle association business in one place. Residents typically pay assessments, view their ledger, submit maintenance or architectural requests and find governing documents, while boards and managers use it to communicate and track community activity.

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HOA Estoppel Certificate

An HOA estoppel certificate, sometimes called an estoppel letter or resale certificate, is a written statement from the association describing an owner's account as of a stated date. It reports assessments, unpaid amounts, fines and other charges so a buyer, lender or title company knows what is owed at closing.

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CC&Rs: Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions

CC&Rs, short for covenants, conditions and restrictions, are the recorded legal rules that run with the land in a planned community. They set use restrictions, maintenance duties and the obligation to pay assessments, and they bind every owner, current and future, who buys a property in the community.

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HOA Reserve Study

An HOA reserve study is a report that identifies the common areas an association must repair or replace, estimates their remaining life and replacement cost, and recommends how much to set aside each year. Boards use it to build a reserve funding plan so big repairs do not trigger sudden special assessments.

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Special Assessment

A special assessment is a one-time charge an HOA or condominium association levies on owners, in addition to regular dues, to cover a cost the budget and reserves cannot. Common causes are major repairs, shortfalls in reserves, insurance gaps or legal costs, and the association's governing documents control how it is approved.

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