Practical, no-nonsense guides for self-managed HOA boards. No property manager required.
How to choose HOA software, what to pay, and what you're actually getting.
We reviewed 7 HOA software platforms - pricing, features, and who each one is actually built for.
Most HOA software is built for large communities. Here's what actually matters for a self-managed association under 100 units.
A breakdown of HOA software pricing models, hidden fees to watch for, and the features you shouldn't sacrifice to save money.
Self-managed HOAs don't need enterprise software. Here's what reasonable pricing looks like and what red flags to avoid.
How flat-tier pricing compares to per-unit models, what hidden costs to watch for, and how to find software that doesn't charge extra for features you need.
Free and low-cost tools for HOA boards, ranked by what they can actually replace - and where you still need real software.
Run your HOA without a property manager - collection, compliance, and day-to-day operations.
Property managers charge 8–15% of dues. Here's a practical guide to everything they do - and how to handle it yourself.
Online dues collection cuts late payments by 30–50%. Here's how to set it up, what it costs, and what to look for in a platform.
The highest-leverage ways to reduce HOA costs - from eliminating the property manager to tightening vendor contracts.
Spreadsheets are free and familiar. But they have a ceiling. Here's when manual tracking stops working and what to do about it.
A real look at what the transition from spreadsheets to dedicated HOA software actually involves - and whether it's worth it.
Dues collection, late fees, reserves, budgets, and what to do when homeowners don't pay.
From late notices to liens: how to handle non-paying homeowners consistently and legally, without losing relationships.
How to set a legally sound late fee policy, typical amounts, grace periods, and how to apply fees consistently without legal exposure.
A practical walkthrough of HOA budget categories, reserve vs. operating funds, and how to track actuals against projections.
What a reserve fund is, the 70% rule, what happens when reserves run dry, and how to track contributions separately from operating funds.
When special assessments are warranted, how to calculate per-unit amounts, what notice is required, and how to track separate from regular dues.
ACH vs. credit card, autopay setup, receipt history, and why the right payment portal cuts delinquency rates significantly.
Practical guides for running an HOA board: violations, vendors, maintenance, and board member responsibilities.
How to run a consistent, documented violation process that protects the board legally and doesn't alienate neighbors.
What legally needs to go in your minutes, a working template, and why digital record-keeping matters more than most boards realize.
What the president, treasurer, and secretary actually do, fiduciary duty explained simply, and the tools that make the job manageable.
From submission to resolution: how to manage maintenance requests so nothing gets lost and residents stop asking "whatever happened to..."
How to vet vendors properly, what insurance minimums to require, and how to track certificate expiration before it becomes a board liability.
A step-by-step handoff guide: what records to demand, what to set up before they leave, and what software to have ready on day one.
How AffordableHOA stacks up against other platforms, and what to look for when switching.
An honest feature-by-feature comparison of PayHOA vs. AffordableHOA, including pricing, what each includes, and who each is built for.
Buildium was built for property managers, not self-managed HOA boards. Here's what you're paying for and what you're not getting.
Condos have specific needs around insurance, common elements, and unit owner responsibility. Here's what software should handle for condo boards.
What HOAs can and can't do: rules, fines, ARC, rentals, voting, records, reserves, and more.
What goes in CC&Rs vs. bylaws vs. rules and regulations, why the distinction matters, and which one wins when they conflict.
The three tests that determine whether an HOA rule is enforceable, plus common rules that get struck down and why.
Which fines hold up, the notice-and-hearing process boards must follow, and how to dispute a fine you think is unfair.
What typically needs ARC approval, realistic timelines, "deemed approved" laws, and what happens if you skip the process.
A growing number of laws limit how HOAs can restrict solar panels, EV chargers, and drought-tolerant landscaping. Here's what's changed.
Rental caps, short-term rental bans, grandfathering, and what rights tenants and landlords actually have under the CC&Rs.
Quorum requirements, proxy voting, electronic ballots, and the different vote thresholds for different kinds of decisions.
Notice timing, what has to be on the agenda, what happens with no quorum, and a checklist for a compliant annual meeting.
What financial and governance records owners can request, response time requirements, and what to do if a request is denied.
What a reserve study covers, full studies vs. updates, typical costs, and what "percent funded" actually means.
How HOA liens work, judicial vs. non-judicial foreclosure, owner rights, and how to stop the process before it gets that far.
Incorporating, drafting CC&Rs, recording with the county, and the consent threshold most people underestimate.
Insurance, taxes, banking, and the day-to-day decisions that come up once you're managing the community yourselves.
Monthly and annual responsibilities for boards running their own association, from dues and maintenance to budgets, taxes, and elections.
Bare walls, single entity, or all-in coverage? What a master policy typically covers, the HO-6 gap, and why board liability needs separate coverage.
What D&O insurance covers, the business judgment rule, typical coverage amounts, and what it costs for a self-managed association.
Yes, HOAs generally have to file taxes. Here's the difference between Form 1120-H and Form 1120, the income tests, and filing deadlines.
Why associations keep separate operating and reserve accounts, FDIC coverage limits, signing authority, and what banks require to open an account.
What's in a resale certificate, who pays for it, typical costs, and how long an association has to respond to a request.
Ownership structure, insurance, and maintenance responsibilities differ between HOAs and condo associations. Here's how, and why it matters.
Vote thresholds, recording requirements, and a step-by-step process for updating governing documents that no longer fit the community.
Why board seats go unfilled, what happens when no one runs, stipends, term lengths, and how to make board service sustainable.
Towing notice and signage requirements, guest parking, RVs and commercial vehicles, and what authority an HOA actually has over parking.
What to collect from new residents, what welcome packets should include, move-in/move-out fees, and rules for moving trucks and common areas.
Can an HOA enforce quiet hours? How to document and handle complaints fairly, fines and escalation, and reducing repeat neighbor disputes.
Quorum, voting, executive session, committees, and the financial decisions and safeguards that come with running the board.
Annual meeting keeps falling short of quorum? How adjourn-and-reconvene works, what counts toward quorum, and how to fix it for good.
Is e-voting legal for HOAs? Bylaw changes, secret ballot rules, and whether it actually solves the quorum problem.
What HOA boards can discuss behind closed doors, what doesn't qualify, and how minutes and voting work for executive session.
ARC, finance, landscaping, social: which committees are worth setting up, and how much authority each one should have.
Is there a legal cap on dues increases? Board authority vs. membership votes, notice rules, and how to break the news.
How fraud actually happens in small HOAs, and the separation-of-duties controls that prevent it, from dual signers to annual reviews.
Pet and rental rules, vendor bidding, and the templates and tools that keep residents informed.
Breed and weight limits, pet counts, and where the Fair Housing Act overrides what an HOA can otherwise enforce.
State law limits, minimum-lease alternatives, and how to amend your CC&Rs if your board wants to add a restriction.
Still auto-renewing the same landscaping contract? How to write an RFP, collect competitive bids, and evaluate vendors beyond price.
Ready-to-adapt templates for dues increase notices, meeting reminders, violation letters, and welcome letters for new residents.
Your community Facebook group is great for lost pets and recommendations. Official notices, votes, and records need somewhere else.
Worried that switching means losing years of dues history? What actually needs to migrate, and a realistic timeline for the switch.
State-specific overviews of HOA governing statutes, homeowner rights, and what boards are required to do.