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Owners to Tenants: The Shift in America’s Housing Landscape
Not only are homeowners attracted to build-to-rent communities, but developers and builders who specialize in multi-family, active adult, senior housing, and student housing are beginning to dip their toes into BTR communities to diversify their portfolios.
An Update on the Sustainable Insurance Strategy
On December 13, 2023, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara addressed the Assembly Insurance Committee at Pasadena City Hall. During this address, Lara highlighted California’s position at an ‘insurance crossroads’ and an ‘insurance emergency’ for many residents.
Lessons in Accountability: Raven’s Cove Townhomes v. Knuppe Development Co.
In 1981, a homeowner’s association filed a lawsuit against its developer and his employees, who were former directors in control of the association, for strict liability and breach of warranty. This landmark case is known as Raven’s Cove Townhomes, Inc. v. Knuppe Development Co.
The Importance of Financial Guidance and Structured Phasing
A developer who was constructing his first Common Interest Development approached us. The project was a gated HOA Community that featured several large and captivating common areas…
Understanding the Levels of Reserve Studies: A Comprehensive Guide
In 1998, the Community Associations Institute (CAI) introduced Reserve Study Standards to establish the baseline for professional reserve studies. These standards, which have recently been updated, define four distinct levels of reserve studies, ensuring consistency in services across various providers.
Challenges Facing Homebuilders in Meeting Demand for New Homes
In the quest to address the current housing crisis, homebuilders are facing substantial hurdles that hinder their ability to meet the rising demand for new homes. Despite the expectation that new construction would alleviate the shortage and stabilize home prices, builders are grappling with their own set of challenges that are stalling their progress.
Borrowing from Reserves: The Right Way
Budgeting is a critical aspect of managing a homeowner’s association. It helps ensure that the community’s financial needs are met while maintaining financial stability. However, some common budget mistakes can hinder the smooth operation of an HOA. One such mistake is borrowing from reserves. In this blog, we will discuss the potential pitfalls of borrowing from reserves and explore the legal implications of this practice.
California’s Insurance Landscape: The Legacy of the Ruoff Case
In the state of California, it’s no secret that we face a dynamic and challenging insurance landscape. Insurance has become a hot topic, with community associations, condominium developments, and homeowners’ associations facing increasing challenges in securing adequate coverage and the limited number of providers in the state.
Overcoming Resistance to HOA Budget Contributions
In every Homeowners Association board, there’s often one member who passionately opposes any increase to the budget. Regardless of justifications, this individual consistently votes against it. We were contacted by a Condominium Association that had never conducted a reserve study in its 18-year history.
Navigating Compliance Challenges: Deed Recording and DRE Requirements
We are working with a client who recently transitioned to using all our services at California Builder Services when they previously only used our Budget services.
The Perfect Recipe for the Start-Up HOA Budget
Are you in the early stages of forming a Homeowners’ Association (HOA) for your new residential development? Crafting the ideal HOA budget is a crucial step toward ensuring the smooth operation and long-term financial health of your community.
Streamlining Success in a Limited Timeframe
California Building Services provided the necessary information to the DRE, enabling the builder to obtain their Final Report for their upcoming closings and stay on track with their schedule.
3 Things Smart Developers Do
In the competitive and high-risk world of residential development, smart developers stand out by implementing effective strategies that pave the way for their projects’ success. From the initial stages of planning to the final execution, there are three things all residential developers can do to ensure the success and efficiency of their projects.
Reserve Study Misconceptions: Debunked
As an owner or manager of a homeowner’s association or other planned community, it’s your responsibility to ensure that finances are properly managed. Reserve studies are vital for an association to maintain its financial health, as they are required to take place every three years in accordance with CA Civil Code 5550. However, there are several misconceptions about them. We’re going to divulge some of the most common myths about reserve studies and explain why they are untrue.
HOA Dues Increase: What You Need to Know
In recent years, the amount of new community associations has experienced a remarkable surge in numbers. However, community associations have not been immune to the far-reaching effects of the pandemic, like surging sale prices and inflation. Both developers and homeowners have encountered their fair share of challenges. In today’s landscape, everything comes at a higher cost, and HOA budgets need to reflect these price increases accurately.
California’s Home Insurance Crisis
California homeowners and Homeowner Associations are currently grappling with a severe insurance crisis. Numerous providers are choosing to opt out of the State or reduce coverage. This predicament stems from a combination of factors, including persistent challenges in the supply chain, escalating climate-related disasters, and inflation.
Subdividing Land: What You Need to Know
As the world population continues to grow, the demand for land will only increase. By subdividing land into multiple usable lots, the possibility of reaping additional profits is highly likely. This has led many people to ask the question, “How do I subdivide land?”
Huge Efficiencies Gained with Phase Predictor Tool
Our success with the project in this case study was so significant that the home building company extended our methodology to another project, and we’ve been working together for many years.
Red Flags that Signal Potential Problems with Your Reserve Fund
As a homeowner, board member, developer, or community manager, you bear a significant responsibility of ensuring that your community is always in top-notch condition, well-maintained, and prepared for any unexpected situations. One of your primary duties is managing your community’s reserve fund, which serves as a financial buffer to cover any unforeseen expenses or significant repairs.
Making Your HOA more attractive for Insurance Companies
There are fewer insurance companies willing to write policies for HOAs due to perceived risk. In the events that have taken place in 2022, such as floods and fires, there is a massive deficit in insurance for HOAs. Community association insurance plays a significant role in budgeting for HOAs. Insurance premiums are a necessary expense that HOAs must include in their budget to ensure that the community is protected.
Why Customer Confidence Always Comes First
By: Scott Ford for Entrepreneur Magazine
Using the recent banking crisis as the leading example, we should all step back and remember that customer confidence is the first and foremost thing that matters to us. How we do what we do comes secondary.
Community Associations and Inflation: Strategies for Resilience and Financial Stability
Inflation is a persistent issue that wreaks havoc on the financial health of community associations. From project delays to regular assessment increases and impact on reserve funds, the effects of inflation can be far-reaching and challenging to manage. Community association boards must be proactive in mitigating the impact of inflation to ensure that they can continue to provide necessary services to their members while also planning for future capital projects.
Breaking Ground: How California’s SB-330 Law is Tackling the State’s Housing Crisis
For years, California has been grappling with a pressing issue – a severe housing shortage that particularly impacts low- and moderate-income households who struggle to find affordable homes. To address this issue, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill No. 330
Your Go-To for DRE Public Report Processing
If you are a real estate developer in California, obtaining a public report from the Department of Real Estate (DRE) is a crucial step in your project’s success. The public report discloses important information about the development to prospective buyers, such as an overview of the community, the developer’s financial stability, the project’s legal status, the association’s monthly assessments (if any), and the estimated completion date.