Community Associations Network Industry News

Just because you live in a homeowner association (HOA) governed community doesn't mean you always need permission to go green at home.

Granted, a condo, townhome, loft or other home in an HOA community isn't always your castle when it comes to certain home improvements, but there are many other approaches you can take to help save the planet.

Community Associations Institute (CAI) has launched an interactive, Net-based initiative, Community Green to help HOA communities turn global thinking into local action through environmental awareness and activism by community association leaders and the 60 million people who live in HOA communities.

The principles are simple:

• Collaborate with neighbors to develop sustainable, consensus-driven decisions.

• Respect property rights and honor private agreements that are compatible with sustainable environmental practices.

• Be vigilant in actions that minimize the environmental footprint.

And developing green habits in a condo home is easy. Here are some ideas:

• Buy Energy Star. Appliances account for 20 percent of a household's energy consumption. Upgrading your kitchen with a new refrigerator will save the most. Don't forget the dishwasher, stove, oven and clothes washer and dryer.

• Tighten up. Close the fireplace damper when not in use. Insulate. Plug holes. Check air ducts for leaks. Patch the roof.

• Be cool with heating and cooling. Heating and cooling account for more than 40 percent of a home's utility bills. Keep your system well maintained, clean filters regularly and consider upgrading to the latest energy efficient models as soon as possible. Keep the thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer. Turn kitchen, bath and other ventilation or exhaust fans off as soon as possible or they'll suck out warmed or cooled air.

• Landscape smart. Choose indigenous plants with deciduous trees planted on the south and on the west sides to keep your house cool in the summer and allow sun to shine in the windows in the winter. Vines also provide shading and cooling. Growing on trellises, vines can shade windows or the whole side of a house. Winter winds can be deflected by planting evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and west sides of the house.

• Lighten up. Replace 25 percent of your lights in high-use areas with fluorescents and you'll save about 50 percent of your lighting energy bill. Why not replace them all? Fluorescent lamps also last six to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Whenever possible, use solar powered outdoor lighting. Otherwise use photocells or a timer on outdoor lights so they will turn off during the day.

• Make windows winners. Windows account for 10 to 25 percent of heating and cooling bills. Replace old single-pane windows with new double-pane glazing and high-performance glass. In cold climates select windows that are gas filled with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings to reduce heat loss. In warmer climates, select windows with spectrally-selective coatings to reduce heat gain. New solar control spectrally-selective windows can cut the cooling load in half. If you can't replace your windows or decide not to, install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house; close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day;
Install awnings on south- and west- facing windows; Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows to reduce solar gain.

"Best Practices: Energy Efficiency" by the Foundation For Community Association Research contains more greening information for HOA dwellers including remodeling tips and case studies of HOAs that successfully made it a priority to reduce their energy consumption and costs.

Visit "Community Green"

Posted by Joe at 3:02 PM | Permalink

Suwanee, Georgia (Vocus) May 14, 2008 -- Georgia based Community & Association Website provider AtHomeNet (http://www.AtHomeNet.com) has solidified a partnership with the reinvented software firm 212 SOFTWARE (http://www.topssoft.com), formerly known as TOPS Software LLC. The agreement reaffirms the commitment of both companies to synergize the most progressive management software with cutting edge website technology to provide clients with a complete online property management solution.

AtHomeNet is the nation's premiere provider of innovative, affordable customized websites for Association Management firms, Communities, and Homeowner Associations (http://www.AtHomeNet.com). The privately owned firm has in excess of one million homes on their service in 5 countries. The newest version of their service, "AtHomeNet Elite", is scheduled for a summer release and will feature full integration with 212 SOFTWARE's industry leading software.

Formerly known as TOPS software, 212 SOFTWARE has currently launched an aggressive campaign; reinventing their organization and its products as the most powerful property management software firm nationwide. Their partnership with AtHomeNet ensures that the progressive technology of both firms continues a legacy of redefining how the community of the future is managed.

Co-owner and Director of Marketing for AtHomeNet Susan Sander's stated, "TOPS Software's evolvement into 212 SOFTWARE represents an aggressive move by the company to usher in the next generation of Property Management Technology. With our own "AtHomeNet Elite" coming out soon, this is an exciting time for communities nationwide and beyond."

"For us, the decision of evolving the classic industry standard TOPS Software into 212 SOFTWARE is a real metamorphosis towards a higher degree of community management. The wave of excitement combined with reaffirming our partnering with AtHomeNet on the cusp of AtHomeNet Elite's pending release, has made this a banner year for both of our companies," added 212 SOFTWARE President, Jeff Hardy.

The announcement of the proud partnership between the two industry pioneers comes in the midst of AtHomeNet's 10 year anniversary festivities, which along with the release of "AtHomeNet Elite" will include; their 4th annual Training Camp to be held in September, the sponsorship of an Adopt a Library program with the Community Associations Institute, and a series of promotional endeavors and appearances.

For more information on AtHomeNet please contact Susan Sanders at 800-556-7852

Posted by Joe at 2:58 PM | Permalink

SAN MATEO, Calif., May 14, 2008 – While every renter and homeowner needs property insurance, those who own a condominium or co-operative property must purchase an insurance policy specific to this type of property to be sure their buildings -- and their possessions -- are covered, and Bills.com president Ethan Ewing cautioned that condo or co-op owners should know seven specific things before choosing insurance.

Each condominium and co-op property has a "master policy," purchased by the owners’ association or co-op board. This policy covers the building structure and common areas, such as lobby, elevators, boiler, basement and roof. Every individual unit owner must purchase an additional, separate insurance policy to cover personal property and provide liability protection.

"To find out exactly what is and is not covered, carefully review your association bylaws or your co-op's proprietary lease," suggested Ewing. "Then, to obtain the right insurance for your condo or co-op unit, follow the guidelines below."

Ewing's checklist includes:

1. Understand the details. Some building insurance policies cover standard fixtures inside each unit (such as cabinets and original carpet). Others exclude improvements and additions to a condo/co-op unit -- new carpet, new cabinets, or a remodeled kitchen or bathroom -- which must be covered by the unit owner's policy. With other policies, unit owners are responsible for covering anything within the unit's walls. Know what you need to cover so you can work with your insurer to build the right policy.

2. Assess your coverage. Look into coverage for unit assessment fees. With this special policy addition, if the building suffers a covered loss, and all unit owners are assessed a portion of the cost, the insurance will cover the fee.

3. Watch for water problems. Many property owners know policies will not cover flood damage without special flood insurance. A more likely cause of water damage for condo/co-op owners, however, is water backup. Ask about a policy that covers damage from sewer or drain malfunction or backup.

4. Mind your business. Those who work from home should be aware that most condo/co-op insurance policies do not cover business activities. Owners generally need a separate policy to protect them from losses related to any business they operate from their home unit.

5. Cash vs. replacement value. Choose a policy that will pay replacement value for damaged or stolen goods -- that is, enough money to be able to replace belongings with new ones. Some policies cover "cash value" or "fair market value" instead, which refers to the money the owner would receive from selling their (used) belongings on the open market. Also, before selecting a policy, calculate the true value of possessions by doing a home inventory (forms and suggestions are widely available on the Web).

6. Go on the record. Photograph inside drawers and cabinets, and take snapshots of electronics and furnishings. Also take photos and keep receipts for any improvements to the unit, such as installing new fixtures or remodeling. Save the documentation in an electronic file that is backed up electronically, or put it on a CD in a safe deposit box. The records will speed payment of claims.

7. Ask for a discount. Most insurance companies give discounts for multiple policies, so check with the agent who issued your auto insurance. On the other hand, the best rate might come from the same company that issues the building or association policy. Check both before selecting a policy.

"Owning a condominium or co-op can be an excellent investment in your future," Ewing said. "Protect that investment with the right insurance, and you can stay on the road to successful unit ownership."

Based in San Mateo, Calif., Bills.com (www.bills.com) is a free one-stop portal where consumers can educate themselves about complex personal finance issues and comparison shop for products and services including credit cards, debt relief assistance, insurance, mortgages and other loans. As the online portal to Freedom Financial Network, LLC, the company has served more than 40,000 customers nationwide since 2002 while managing more than $1 billion in consumer debt. Its RSS feed is available at http://www.bills.com/news_releases/.

In 2008, Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Bills.com as the No. 3 fastest-growing U.S. company on its Hot 100 list. Company co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Housser and Brad Stroh have been Northern California finalists in Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and were named to the San Jose Business Journal's "40 Under 40" list in 2008.

Posted by Joe at 10:23 AM | Permalink

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CondoCompare Inc., a web site for researching, buying and selling condominiums, today announced the launch of its new Web 2.0 site with added features that make it easier for consumers to research, buy and sell condos online. CondoCompare.com is the only real estate website that lets consumers select both condo buildings and condo units, and then compare those buildings and units using a wide variety of criteria, including neighborhood, price, amenities, size, cost per square foot, and user-generated comments and rankings.

“Traditional real estate web sites list individual condo units and not the actual condominium buildings, making it very difficult to do an ‘apples to apples' comparison of one unit to another or one building to another building,” said Casey Sullivan, CEO of CondoCompare, Inc. “CondoCompare provides analytical tools that allow consumers to select condos that meet their exact requirements, and compare those condos and buildings to hundreds of others. The site even provides historical pricing information so consumers can determine the realistic market value of a property to help them negotiate the very best deal.”

CondoCompare's “secret sauce” is its ability to aggregate disparate data about hundreds of thousands of listings from multiple listing services (MLSs) and format this data so consumers can compare one unit or condo building to another. This is difficult to do because there are over 880 MLSs across the United States, all of which have proprietary systems with differing data formats and listing requirements. CondoCompare connects data about the various condo units with their respective buildings, which then allows consumers to compare units and buildings using more than 30 different criteria, including neighborhood, price, size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, view, pet policy, and building amenities.

“The buying and selling of condominiums is typically a much more complicated purchase than buying a house,” said Brett Frosaker, president of CondoCompare, Inc. “We only work with the top agents in each market, those in the top 20 percent of their office and with a proven expertise in condominium sales. We even offer a Chat button on the site where you can talk with an agent and arrange for a tour of the property within 30 minutes.”

Consumers can register for free on the site and build a personalized profile in the “My CondoCompare” section. They can then post messages and photos about a favorite condo, share their knowledge of neighborhood amenities such as shops, dog parks or favorite dining destinations, and rank condo buildings on a one-to-five scale.

Once registered on the site, users can save their search criteria in My Saved Searches and save favorite condos and/or buildings in My Watch List, which will send them an email alert whenever there is a price reduction or new listings on the market.

CondoCompare.com began its service in the greater Seattle and Portland markets and will soon be expanding into California, followed by Texas, Nevada, Colorado and Utah in the coming months. A national rollout is planned within the next year.

About CondoCompare.com

CondoCompare.com is the premier condominium web site and real estate brokerage that allows buyers and sellers to research and buy or sell condominiums from the comfort of their office or home. CondoCompare Inc., a privately funded company, is based in Seattle, Washington and was founded in May 2007. For more information, please call 866-582-2667 or visit www.CondoCompare.com.

Posted by Joe at 7:28 PM | Permalink

SAN ANTONIO, TX--(Marketwire - May 1, 2008) - The Vineyard Homeowners Association's streets are lined with playing children and plagued by speeding cars. Since the gated community in San Antonio, TX is a private neighborhood, the maintenance, repair, and regulation of its streets are its own responsibility. When traffic on local streets increased to speeds that residents felt were unsafe, the HOA had to respond on its own. Rubber speed cushions were installed to calm traffic and protect residents.

Speed control on private HOA streets is conducted differently than on city roads. Through its Board of Directors, the Association sets speed limits, posts signs, and must enforce traffic laws on their own. The city's police department does not enforce traffic restrictions on private roads.

The community has approximately 3,000 residents and 800 homes, most of which are occupied by families with small children or teenagers. Residents requested traffic calming to prevent cars from speeding on their streets. At first, the HOA responded by reducing speed limits, placing traffic signs and conducting an educational campaign. However, after these efforts did not slow traffic, the Board decided that a physical deterrent was necessary. Asphalt speed bumps were installed but residents found them frustrating and ineffective. After conducting research on other options, the community chose to install Traffic Logix rubber speed cushions. The cushions increase in grade over a longer distance so that motorists notice them and slow down but without the abrupt feel of speed bumps.

Speed cushions are traffic calming measures that slow cars to approximately 15-20 mph. They are designed as a set of graduated speed humps and make pedestrian vehicles slow down while allowing emergency vehicles pass without affecting response time. The standard Traffic Logix cushion is 3 inches high, with a width of 6 feet and a length of 7 feet. However, since Traffic Logix products are constructed of interlocking units, they are customizable to a variety of lengths or widths in 18' increments.

Before purchasing the speed cushions, the Association contacted several other cities who had purchased Traffic Logix products. Brian Erickson, the Association Administrator, noted that those contacted spoke highly of the rubber traffic calming products, their effectiveness, and their long-lasting durability. He also commented on the excellent design and visibility of the cushions. The cushions were installed by an untrained local electrician's crew who found the cushions easy to handle and user-friendly.

Two sets of the cushions were purchased and installed on major neighborhood streets, Milan and Tealwood. Although many residents requested traffic calming, these streets chosen as the most serious speeding concerns. Both roads have long stretches of uninterrupted driving, which results in people driving faster than they should. Mr. Erickson observed that "the cushions really have made a significant difference... It would be impossible for our community patrol to be there continually writing tickets, and the cushions make sure that folks drive slower and more safely."

The response has been very positive from residents and the community. The community expects to purchase additional speed cushions, focusing installations on the spine roads that are the community's main routes. When asked about the HOA's future plans for installing Traffic Logix rubber cushions, Mr. Erickson commented, "It's not a question of if but a question of when."

To find out more about Traffic Logix speed cushions, visit the company's website at www.trafficlogix.com.

Posted by Joe at 10:41 AM | Permalink