Homeowners joining CAI...

Started by TomE4 • 14 replies • 2821 views

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TomE4 (South Carolina)
Posts: 26

Posted:

Hello,

As a homeowner, is it worthwhile to join the CAI? I recently attended
a seminar given by the CAI and found it very informative (it was their annual
Law Day seminar). My gut says the more educated I am about how HOAs should operate,
the better off I am. Any views about this (positive or negative)?

thanks,

Tom

DorothyO (Washington)
Posts: 293

Posted:

TomE4,
Well I joined this past year, and I do think it is worth the $114 a year. You have access to so many FREE newsletter articles that can address a specific concern. Then there is the CAI Law Reporter, which is monthly, plus has years worth of archives. I love getting lost in those! It is a great learning tool. For me, this forum and CIA have served me quite well. Always trust your gut!

TomE4 (South Carolina)
Posts: 26

Posted:

Dorothy, thanks for your reply. Are you a HO or board member?

thanks,

Tom

DorothyO (Washington)
Posts: 293

Posted:

Tom? I am the President of a small, 42 homes, HOA. I'm beginning my fourth year at the helm. We have a Vice-President/Secretary, and Treasurer as a Board, and three HO's on the ARC.

Dorothy

RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 1,767

Posted:

I joined CAI last year and just received my certiicate as a Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA)

LawrenceC1 (Georgia)
Posts: 480

Posted:

Tom,

I applaud your desire to become a more effective and informed board member. I have found that there is a wealth of free information on the Internet (including HOATalk), or available in books. You may find the CAI to be of help, but it is an organization with a particular view of homeowners associations that must be taken into account when reading their material.

DorothyO (Washington)
Posts: 293

Posted:

Okay, Lawrence, I'll bite. What is the particular view of homeowners associations that must be taken into account when reading their (CAI) material?

DianneL1 (Washington)
Posts: 34

Posted:

I've been a CAI member (as an individual) off and on for years. While serving on the board, I insisted that we keep one membership current just to get access to the great resources.

Two things to be mindful of:
1. It is a 'for profit' organization so cost is a consideration for Associations that have tight budgets – information you seek about a certain topic could be found in a good book instead of an expensive seminar.
2. Get quotes for services outside the organization too - I found that a certain group of service providers have formed a close network that recommend each other. My Property Manager (a CAI member) only hired service contractors from this network and they may not have been the best or the most competitively priced. Do your due diligence to shop around for your big service providers like landscapers, accountants, attorneys, reserve study specialists, etc. A cottage industry was born from the housing boom of the late 90iest and not everyone one who is a CAI member has your community’s best interest in mind.

Again, CAI is a great resource, but not the only. IMHO…

DorothyO (Washington)
Posts: 293

Posted:

Dianne,
It would be interesting to know the demographic of CAI members. Large vs. small HOA's. Condos vs. houses. Urban vs. rural. Property-managed vs. self-managed. Being in a small, self-managed, rural HOA, I wouldn't even consider using a service contractor from a national organization, nor the state chapter centered almost three hundred miles away from my town, nor attend any of the national or statewide seminars or conventions. In becoming a member, I knew these features were not what I wanted my $114 to give me. What I wanted was to have access to read case studies nationwide. I wanted to learn the precedents and get the pulse on the nature of the beast. In reading the CAI Law Reporter I can read about all types of HOA's. Both the national Common Ground magazine and the state Community Associations Journal have published great articles on a wide range of all HOA topics. I guess when you say, "Not everyone who is a CAI member has your community's best interest in mind," must come from a HOA relationship with which I am wholly unfamiliar.

LawrenceC1 (Georgia)
Posts: 480

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By DorothyO on 03/04/2011 1:54 PM
What is the particular view of homeowners associations that must be taken into account when reading their (CAI) material?

CAI is a trade association and special interest group, dominated by lawyers and property managers. While it was once an educational tax-exempt organization, it has elected to become a business trade group. IMHO, CAI is less supportive of individual homeowner rights in an HOA than they are an advocate for developers and management companies. There is a wealth of information available regarding CAI and its mission on the Internet.

DagmarB (Georgia)
Posts: 21

Posted:

CAI has some great learning tools available, I think it is worthwile for a homeowner to be informed in the operation of their HOA.
My hat off to you

JohnJ9 (Texas)
Posts: 6

Posted:

CAI is a great resource. I have attended many free seminars. I have also purchased some of the books that they endorse. While I am not trying to push any, "Texas Homeowners Association Law" has paid for itsself in spades. It does include Texas law but also many of the federal statutes that also affect us as homeowners. I am not sure if there are other similar books for different states, but if you are in TX, you NEED this book.

DagmarB (Georgia)
Posts: 21

Posted:

I agree on the trade organization, have tried CAI Contractors, not always the best, get together with other HOA's in your immediate area for reliable, cost concious good contractors. A better scource than CAI. But still has some good learning tools.
Condominium Homeowners need to become educated, most do not even read the Declaration and Bylaws, unless they perceive there is a issue that efects them on a personal level. That poses a problem for any Board.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

ALL,

Old thread reactivated by a poster. It is unknown why it was reactivated as their post was removed.

Tim

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