Community Associations Network Industry News

Suwannee, Georgia- July, 2007- Innovative online website firm AtHomeNet Inc. reached an agreement to acquire the operations of Georgia based HoaBuilders.com, a provider of services to clients in the Homeowner Associations industry. The purchase represents the latest venture in AtHomeNet’s commitment to providing high quality community association websites to clients in Homeowners Associations and communities nationwide.

Michael Garner, president of INS Digital Media, HoaBuilders.com’s parent company, cites that “HoaBuilders.com’s resources and customer base is very different than traditional businesses in that the HOA market has numerous and very specific needs.” Garner’s company is selling the HOABuilders.com division in an effort to focus on their core market of insurance and financial services firms.

AtHomeNet is an industry leader in providing Homeowner’s associations and Management companies with individually customized websites at affordable prices. AtHomeNet has been serving the community association industry since March of 1998. Their sites can be found all across America representing apartment, condo, and home-owners in a way that reflects both the beauty and the technology of their communities. Known for their knowledgeable support staff, excellent customer service, and monthly product updates; the AtHomeNet team’s reputation continues to surge as the company thrives in pioneering easy user friendly community and HOA web sites.

This latest acquisition presents AtHomeNet with the opportunity to provide new clients within the Homeowner’s Association industry nationwide the technology and tools necessary to operate successfully within today’s ever expanding online environment.

If you would like more information on HoaBuilders.com or AtHomeNet please contact Sales@AtHomeNet.com or call AtHomeNet at 1-800-556-7852

Posted by Joe at 12:14 PM | Permalink

HOA247(tm) (www.HOA247.com) today announced a new entry level Homeowner website service priced at just $19 per month, which provides a complete private and interactive neighborhood website for HOAs, communities and associations.

The new ESSENTIALS package gives Association staff, administrators and residents a fully functioning neighborhood website including applications for sharing news, documents, links, discussions and providing additional services for residents such as yellow pages, classified ads, photo galleries and more. The HOA 247 ESSENTIALS package is ideally designed for HOAs who want to control and manage their own independent website.

The new package offers greater value to homeowner associations with more, easier to use interactive facilities and tools. No technical knowledge is required as the ESSENTIALS package is a ready-to-go web service. The Neighborhood Sites are created almost immediately using a new Wizard based control panel, which makes it easy to edit and control the site to deliver against business objectives. HOAs can designate their own domain name and email addresses.

"Our private and interactive Homeowner Web sites are a high-value resource for HOAs, neighborhoods and communities, which is why Associations across the country choose to use HOA247 sites", said Paul Eastwood, founder of HOA247. "Staff and Administrators will find the Essentials Package very easy to use. Communicating with residents using a HOA247 neighborhood website will take less time and reduce costs."

Clients’ reactions have been very positive. Steve Hawkins in Boulder CO said, "We would highly recommend HOA247 Neighborhood websites for any homeowner association. Our Neighborhood website is very rich in function. We especially like the document section, because it allows our Property Management organization to initially load and update all CC&R’s, Bylaws, Board Meeting Minutes, Insurance Documents etc. in a timely fashion. That way, all residents have immediate access to these documents as they need them."

About HOA247
HOA247 provides Private and Interactive HOA, neighborhood and Community web sites that require residents to register in order to participate.

HOA247 is a division of the Blue Fire Group Inc which has been neighborhoods and associations with private and interactive neighborhood web sites for over three years.

Posted by Joe at 12:08 PM | Permalink

RISMEDIA, July 18, 2007—There is an estimated 250,000 Homeowner Associations (HOAs) in the United States according to the Community Association Institute. Since HOAs govern property usage, these groups have increased their power over the desirability of neighborhood of the last decade. An understanding of the rules and regulations add relevance to the service that the real estate professional provides. This is but one more added skill attained when agents take the new Certified Neighborhood Specialist (CNS) program designed to help agents become true “Neighborhood Experts.”

Most new developments are being created with a Homeowners Association attached; oftentimes, this is required by the city council prior to building the neighborhood. But regardless if an agent specializes in a new or an established neighborhood with a Home Owners Associations, he or she must know all the details. Theses details are more than just the basics such as the dues and when they are accessed.

As a “Neighborhood Specialist,” agents must understand the rules and regulations that can impact future homebuyers. According to the Community Association Institute, this could include many aspects, such as pets, solar panels, roofing, maintenance, home businesses, gardens, clotheslines and exterior decorations.

Knowing the details of your neighborhood association and asking qualifying questions to potential purchasers can save vast amounts of time. Save time by enabling your buyers to avoid making offers on homes that would only be voided once the buyer found out about restrictions that they would not be able to live with. Gain credibility by knowing the facts of any association and passing this information to your client.

Additionally, a true neighborhood expert should have a good understanding of their finances…more than just the dues, but assessments, cash flow, delinquencies, etc. During a normal process of closing, a typical buyer has less than two days to read covenants and/or community rules of a homeowners association, not nearly enough time to make an informed decision. By having the necessary understanding of your neighborhood association agents will be empowered to ensure that their clients are purchasing the right home.

Become a “Neighborhood Specialist” and learn more homeowners associations and all the 101 other aspects that impact neighborhoods across the country by becoming CNS certified.

For more information visit www.CertifiedNeighborhoodSpecialist.com.

Posted by Joe at 8:27 AM | Permalink