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RickA
(Colorado)

Posts:1

08/08/2008 7:14 AM
Our HOA BOD needs to identify other HOAs in our area. Is this data available on HOATalk.com? If so, how? An email address is preferred. Thanks.

GeorgerwilliamsW
(Indiana)

Posts:768

08/08/2008 7:30 AM
As a start, you might try contacting the nearest chapter of the Community Associations Institute: Colorado * Rocky Mountain Area covered: Denver, Colorado and vicinity http://www.caionline.org/about/chapterdetail.cfm?ChapterCode=ROCM * Southern Colorado Area covered: Colorado Springs, Colorado and vicinity http://www.caionline.org/about/chapterdetail.cfm?ChapterCode=SOCO Hope this is helpful. If you have additional questions be sure to come back here, but don't take things to seriously or personally--life is to short

RobertR1
(South Carolina)

Posts:2514

08/08/2008 3:36 PM
George, This is an interesing question, and one we should investigate. Why isn't association phone numbers not listed under the HOA section of the Yellow pages (Is there such a thing as HOA's in the Yellow Pages)and aslo listed by name in the Phone Book? Sure would open some doors for communication. We have Condo Office phones paid for by the condo and fax machines and cell phones for the manager and probably for some boards, all paid by the association and we don't rate a phone listing. To me, this seems incredible. How many associations out there are listed in the Phone Book? How many in the yellow pages? I think something slipped throught the cracks.

GeorgerwilliamsW
(Indiana)

Posts:768

08/08/2008 4:50 PM
Posted By RobertR1 on 08/08/2008 3:36 PM George, This is an interesing question, and one we should investigate. Why isn't association phone numbers not listed under the HOA section of the Yellow pages (Is there such a thing as HOA's in the Yellow Pages)and aslo listed by name in the Phone Book? Sure would open some doors for communication. We have Condo Office phones paid for by the condo and fax machines and cell phones for the manager and probably for some boards, all paid by the association and we don't rate a phone listing. To me, this seems incredible. How many associations out there are listed in the Phone Book? How many in the yellow pages? I think something slipped throught the cracks. This has been a problem for years, particularly for real estate agents and title companies trying to close on a sale. With officers changing frequently, and no central way of keeping track of how to get in touch with the homeowners association, it is an ongoing challenge. Even the county recorders and assessors do not maintain lists of property related associations. Most do not have a permanent address or even a phone. In a lot of cases an attorney serves as the registered agent, and that is all the information available. Sometimes a Google search is the best that can be done. In Naptown, Hoosierland we have a Neighborhood Liaison Office that does a reasonable job of keeping track of community and neighborhood groups. And I can do a statewide search of corporations on line using search terms such as "homeowners," "property" or "community" and get a list of many (not all) homeowners associations. (There is no requirement here that such associations even be incorporated--some are not.) Mandatory annual state registration of homeowners associations coupled with an annual fee of, say $5 per unit, to support an ombudsman may be the way to go. My guess is that it will be a tough row to hoe with the state legislature. I would think CAI and its local chapters would have an interest in doing something. I think they may have tried 10 years ago, but gave up, because it was such a daunting task. The best information, I think, would be from the IRS, since the vast majority of homeowners associations file an 1120-H. But that information is not disclosed. The concept of a homeowners association is a great national experiment in "private governments" right now. We are learning as we go along, making some good decisions and some huge mistakes. Go figger. . .

MaryA1
(Arizona)

Posts:2498

08/08/2008 4:55 PM
Posted By RobertR1 on 08/08/2008 3:36 PM George, This is an interesing question, and one we should investigate. Why isn't association phone numbers not listed under the HOA section of the Yellow pages (Is there such a thing as HOA's in the Yellow Pages)and aslo listed by name in the Phone Book? Sure would open some doors for communication. We have Condo Office phones paid for by the condo and fax machines and cell phones for the manager and probably for some boards, all paid by the association and we don't rate a phone listing. To me, this seems incredible. How many associations out there are listed in the Phone Book? How many in the yellow pages? I think something slipped throught the cracks. Robert, Not all assn's have a business phone number. Not all assn's contract with a mgmt co; many, many are self managed. I would never put my home phone number in the phone book under the name of my assn, would you? I think there should be a state agency that HOAs would fall under. A list of all the HOAs in the state, with contact information, would be maintained and available for anyone to access.

JosephW
(Michigan)

Posts:787

08/08/2008 5:28 PM
Most (not all) associations are incorporated. Many states now place corporate information online, sometimes searchable by keyword, i.e. "condominium", "Homeowner association", etc. I know in MI we can find a large percentage of them this way. With the exception of a few states, you basically have to complie the information from a variety of sources. Joe

Joseph West Official HOATalk.com Sponsor Community Associations Network, LLC www.CommunityAssociations.net *See legal notice below (end of page) or go to www.hoatalk.com/legal

RobertR1
(South Carolina)

Posts:2514

08/08/2008 6:58 PM
Thank you all for your repliws. I am of course aware of most of what you talk about but I know that because I am interested. But for the associations to develope some kind of isolationist position be cause they don't want their name to be passed around is not what I am getting at. I am talking about Associations saying "Here I am, I am real and here is where you can find out about me. I will send you a brouchure about what I am about and I welcome you to come and have a look at my facilities. Really folks, this is not new, or unusual. Include an e-mail address instead of phone number or something. We are all restricted communities, we all operate inside our limits, we have the welfare of the residents under our canvas, and we close our gates or present a picture of some secular enclave that wants no notice. Well that doesn't buy us much until we can find a way to draw more people to our doors. I know the range of differences over the distribution of all the different properties is staggering. But don't you think if YOUR condo or association stood out a little from the rest, you could benefit. I'm really not sure how to handle this and it might have to be individually, but advertizing has been around a long time and from what I can see it works. Maybe, as George says, CAI, could intergrate all their association with a common Newletter or WebPage that some one loopking to settle in Colorado could Google, Condominiums, mountains, sking, and skinng dipping, hell, I don't know, but I think Our condo might spend a little to go on a National site. Nothing more than what private individuals all over the country are doing to showcase their rental units competeively on the internet. And what do they use for pictures and promos, of course, scenes from your associations and text about your association that they feel will draw a crowd. And the residential owner is sitting back in his residential unit helping to pay for advert by keeping up the property. Why not blow your own horn and have everyone pay for it....fair is fair. AND WHAT do we promote? THE JOYS OF LIVING IN THIS IDYlLIC PARADISE AS A FULL TIME RESIDENT.

JeanneK3
(Maryland)

Posts:134

08/09/2008 6:41 AM
"Mandatory annual state registration of homeowners associations coupled with an annual fee of, say $5 per unit, to support an ombudsman may be the way to go. My guess is that it will be a tough row to hoe with the state legislature." It is a fine solution. It would solve many problems at once but if there is an ombudsman, community association attorneys would have less work which is probably why the Maryland CAI chapter hires lobbyists to make sure such legislation is defeated. Very sad.

MaryA1
(Arizona)

Posts:2498

08/09/2008 6:53 AM
Posted By JosephW on 08/08/2008 5:28 PM Most (not all) associations are incorporated. Many states now place corporate information online, sometimes searchable by keyword, i.e. "condominium", "Homeowner association", etc. I know in MI we can find a large percentage of them this way. With the exception of a few states, you basically have to complie the information from a variety of sources. Joe In AZ, that information is online at the Corp Commission website. However (and it's a big however!) one must know the name of the corporation, i.e. the HOA! I think Rick's question was how to identify other HOAs in the neighborhood, meaning he may not know the names of those HOAs, or even if there are any! That's why I say there should be a state agency that is required to maintain a listing of all HOAs in the state and contact info. Actually AZ passed a law several years ago requiring each HOA to record a document outlining the contact info. Only problem no state agency was designated to keep track of this info, so unless you know the name of the HOA -- and the year they supposedly recorded the contact info -- it's still impossible to gather this info.

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