Condo Media - May 2010 - 25

homeowner volunteers and professionals who govern and manage these communities.”

Association Rules
Often called Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R), rules in community associations typically address issues such as architectural guidelines, yard upkeep, pets and parking. While some homeowners chafe when confronted by rules they don’t like, 70 percent say their association rules “protect and enhance” property values, while only 2 percent say the opposite. Twenty-seven percent believe rules have no impact. Although the enforcement of association rules can generate discontent as well as calls for more stringent regulation of community associations, only 10 percent of those surveyed want additional government control of association-governed communities. Almost 90 percent oppose more government involvement.

relates to the appearance of homes. Other leading reasons for strife include parking (12 percent), personal habits and noise (both 11 percent). “Conflict and dissention make headlines, and that’s what many Americans read in newspapers and see on television about community associations,” says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAI’s CEO. “But when you ask residents themselves, the news is largely positive. “While there are serious issues in some communities, this research affirms that the vast majority of homeowner board members and profession-

al managers are doing good work for the community associations they serve,” Skiba continues. Homeowners who are unsatisfied will need to “step up and play a constructive and positive role in their associations,” Skiba adds. “You get out of your communities what you put into them. There’s no substitute for active and constructive homeowner involvement and no better way to build a true sense of community,” he says. For comparative date on 2005, 2007 and 2009 national surveys, visit www.caionline.org. CM

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The Best and Worst
Asked to name the best aspects of living in an association, residents most often cite neighborhood attractiveness (23 percent), less maintenance for individual homeowners (22 percent), community safety (13 percent) and property values (11 percent). Asked to name the worst aspects of their associations, 37 percent say there is nothing bad. That is followed by restrictions on exterior improvements (14 percent), dealing with neighbors (12 percent) and paying assessments (10 percent). Association homeowners pay assessments for services and amenities provided by the association. Services can include landscaping, building maintenance, garbage pickup, snow removal and street lighting. Amenities can include pools, clubhouses, tennis courts, playgrounds and associationsponsored social functions.

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Conflict Among Neighbors
Of those who cite neighbor-to-neighbor issues, 24 percent say conflict

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CONDO MEDIA • MAY 2010

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Condo Media - May 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - May 2010