Condo Media - July 2016 - 16

Homeowner's Corner

Happy Residents

Associations, Board Members, and Community Managers Earn High Ratings
Americans who live in homeowners
associations and condominiums
remain overwhelmingly satisfied
with their communities, homeowner
leaders, and professional managers,
according to a national survey conducted
in March by Zogby Analytics for the
Foundation for Community Association
Research.
"No matter who or when you ask, the
answer always comes back basically the
same," says CAI Chief Executive Officer
Thomas Skiba, CAE. "A large majority
of Americans who live in community associations are happy and satisfied in their
communities. This is a testament to how
much the community association model
has evolved in recent years. The concept
has grown up, become well established,
and become an increasingly successful
form of community governance and an
essential component of the U.S. housing
market. Not surprisingly, it represents a
growing portion of our housing stock." Almost 70 million Americans live in close to
340,000 common-interest communities,
from city-sized, master-planned communities and multi-building condominium
complexes to urban cooperatives and
small homeowners associations built into
small tracks of open suburban spaces.
Pollsters have asked the same fundamental question as part of six surveys of
randomly selected association residents
in the U.S., beginning in 2005: On a
scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being very bad and
5 being very good, how would you rate
your experience living in a community
association?
AND THE SURVEY SAYS
The answers have been strikingly
consistent. In the March survey, almost
9 in 10 respondents are either satisfied
(4 or 5) or neutral (3) on the question.
Sixty-five percent say they are "very" or
"somewhat" satisfied, with 22 percent

16

CONDOMEDIA

Validation
SIXTH NATIONAL SURVEY AFFIRMS COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION SUCCESS
For the sixth time in 11 years, Americans living in homeowners
associations and condominiums have told pollsters they are
overwhelmingly satisfied in their communities.

neutral and just 13 percent expressing
dissatisfaction.
The findings from the six surveys rarely
vary more than the expected standard
margin of error for national, demographically representative surveys. Community
association residents are equally clear
with respect to other questions:
The March 2016 survey affirms the findings of almost identical national
surveys conducted in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2014. The 2016 survey
was conducted by Zogby Analytics for the Foundation for Community
Association Research.
The findings from the six surveys are strikingly consistent and rarely vary
a standard margin error for national, demographically representative
surveys.
z By large majorities, most residents rate their overall community
experience as positive or, at worst, neutral.
z They say their association board members serve the best interests of
their communities.
z They say their community managers provide valuable support to
residents and their associations.
z They support community association rules because they protect and
enhance property values.

The findings objectively refute the unfounded and unsubstantiated myth
that the community association model of governance is failing to serve
the best interests of Americans who choose to live in common-interest
communities.

The findings below compare results from the six surveys conducted since
2011. Totals may not equal 100 percent due to rounding and "don't
know" answers.

n They say their association board

members serve the best interests of
their communities and that they are
on friendly terms with these elected
homeowner leaders.

n They say their community managers

provide valuable support to residents
and their associations.

n They overwhelmingly support com-

munity association rules designed to preserve the nature and appearance of the
community and protect property values.

n By a 2-to-1 margin, they believe they

pay about the right amount-some
even say too little-in association
assessments, versus paying too much.
Assessments cover services, utilities,
and amenities provided to residents
by the association.

n They want to see less, or at least not

more, government oversight and control of community associations.

Findings from the six surveys can
be found on the Foundation's website
at www.cairf.org. The keys to successful associations, Skiba notes, are open
communication between residents
and association leaders, a commitment to transparency in governance,
dedicated volunteers, and adherence
to best practices for association
governance and management. Many
time-tested best practices are delineated in From Good to Great, a free,
downloadable document that includes
CAI's initiative, Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities. Visit
www.caionline.org/good2great.
http://www.cairf.org http://www.caionline.org/good2great
Condo Media - July 2016

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