CharlesM2
Posts: 16
Posts: 16
Posted:
I've been looking at many homeowner association sites and have come across several that have a secure login area. What do the HOAs offer to homeowners on these pages?
Thanks,
Charles
Thanks,
Charles
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HOA Websites - Purpose of secure area
Started by CharlesM2 • 9 replies • 1659 views
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GloriaM
Posts: 820
Posts: 820
Posted:
Their ARC form, CCR's, Articles of Incorporation, Newsletters, anything that pertains to their HOA.
CharlesM2
Posts: 16
Posts: 16
Posted:
Alot of those are in the public areas of the websites. Is it just a choice to put them in the secure area for some HOAs?
GloriaM
Posts: 820
Posts: 820
Posted:
Yes, it is a choice, we have some communities that have their sites up for the public to view, however once they try to access forms and pertainant information, it then goes into a secure log in.
MikeS1
Posts: 658
Posts: 658
Posted:
Charles, You hit my hot button here. I've been pushing our HOA to lock down our website to member's only. I can think of several reasons here and security is one. The other reason is this... We have a contact form on the website that is always subject to abuse from the anonymous member who is too much of a coward to insert their correct name, email address, and physical address. One of the largest newest communities in Southern Loudoun county in Northern Virginia has this setup whereby you have to have an account to do anything on the web. I think that this is the wave of the future and I'm hoping that I can get our HOA to move in that direction. I'm not so sure that all this information on the website should be available to just anyone who wants to access it. If anyone can think of any other reasons to move in this direction, please let me know.
RonaldW
Posts: 873
Posts: 873
Posted:
We have a website that's fully open to the public. There's no "members only" section. There's nothing on the site that needs to be secure or restricted. Personally, I believe it's a good idea to offer the CC&Rs, bylaws. etc. to prospective buyers. The dues assessment is also posted. I would like prospective buyers to approach ownership in our development with as much information as possible. It's much better than someone moving in only to be told after the fact that they can't keep their trailer in their front yard.
JosephW (Michigan)
Posts: 874
Posts: 874
Posted:
One of the basic reasons for a secure website is that they often allow owners access to their accounts, so they can track their assocaition assessments. Often work order status is available. In large associations with serious amenities, you can book tee times, classes, etc. Some associations post portions of the minutes and/or financial reports and these should only be made available to members. Best thing to do is survey the owners as to how they feel they would most likely use the site and then design it ot fit those needs, secured or unsecured.
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hoatalk (Other)
Posts: 506
Posts: 506
Posted:
As you may have seen, HOATalk is run by Community123.com, who offers secure HOA websites. Our customers may choose which info. is public or private, but here's a guideline:
One of our sponsors, HindmanSanchez is a large law firm that has handled over 1,800 associations. All they do is association law. They publish a newsletter and here's a quote on what should not be made public on web sites: "... financial records, names, addresses and phone numbers of residents, and probably even the minutes of board meetings should be restricted to residents only."
See: http://www.imakenews.com/ortenhindman/e_article000572279.cfm?x=b11,0,w
Now, I'll give my non-legal, non-attorney opinion on this: The Board's fiduciary duty is to serve only the members (e.g. owners). If you post financials or Board meeting minutes on the public website and it has a negative impact on the community or an individual member, then it seems the Board is responsible for the damage.
For example, you post your financials showing what might be interpreted as a very low reserve fund. You later see your community mentioned in a newspaper article called, 'HOAs going broke and forcing owners to pay huge assessments!'. Might that article immediately impact property values when every Realtor sees it?
Another example: You post Board meeting minutes on the public website that mention a possible future one-time assessment. A prospective buyer finds it and backs out of a pending purchase. The owner ends up taking 3 more months to sell while making 2 house payments. Who's liable?
These are only examples, but you get the idea. The HOA is a private corporation serving only its members. Of course, the owners should follow all disclosure laws when they sell a property, but it's not the Board's place to provide internal corporate/HOA documents to the public. That said, providing 'public' HOA documents on the public website can be a good idea, as has already been mentioned here.
One of our sponsors, HindmanSanchez is a large law firm that has handled over 1,800 associations. All they do is association law. They publish a newsletter and here's a quote on what should not be made public on web sites: "... financial records, names, addresses and phone numbers of residents, and probably even the minutes of board meetings should be restricted to residents only."
See: http://www.imakenews.com/ortenhindman/e_article000572279.cfm?x=b11,0,w
Now, I'll give my non-legal, non-attorney opinion on this: The Board's fiduciary duty is to serve only the members (e.g. owners). If you post financials or Board meeting minutes on the public website and it has a negative impact on the community or an individual member, then it seems the Board is responsible for the damage.
For example, you post your financials showing what might be interpreted as a very low reserve fund. You later see your community mentioned in a newspaper article called, 'HOAs going broke and forcing owners to pay huge assessments!'. Might that article immediately impact property values when every Realtor sees it?
Another example: You post Board meeting minutes on the public website that mention a possible future one-time assessment. A prospective buyer finds it and backs out of a pending purchase. The owner ends up taking 3 more months to sell while making 2 house payments. Who's liable?
These are only examples, but you get the idea. The HOA is a private corporation serving only its members. Of course, the owners should follow all disclosure laws when they sell a property, but it's not the Board's place to provide internal corporate/HOA documents to the public. That said, providing 'public' HOA documents on the public website can be a good idea, as has already been mentioned here.
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CharlesM2
Posts: 16
Posts: 16
Posted:
Thanks for all of the info. I appreciate everyone's comments. I'll have to make some decisions on which direction to go.
JM2
Posts: 428
Posts: 428
Posted:
Hi all:
Our community, Forest Heights in Portland, Oregon has a website that is mostly open (check us out at www.fhhoa.com) but has a private section for members only, that includes an opt-in members directory.
Our documents are out there for all to see, as well as our newsletter (which is a plus for the newsletter advertisers; we also offer them the option of links for an extra cost). There's also budgets, board biographies, community calendar, FAQ's and more.
Each community will judge what they want open to the public on their website, and what they want private. It's a help to us to have a lot of stuff available on it with easy access to our residents as well as buyers.
J. Patrick Moore, CMCA
Compliance Coordinator
Forest Heights HOA
Our community, Forest Heights in Portland, Oregon has a website that is mostly open (check us out at www.fhhoa.com) but has a private section for members only, that includes an opt-in members directory.
Our documents are out there for all to see, as well as our newsletter (which is a plus for the newsletter advertisers; we also offer them the option of links for an extra cost). There's also budgets, board biographies, community calendar, FAQ's and more.
Each community will judge what they want open to the public on their website, and what they want private. It's a help to us to have a lot of stuff available on it with easy access to our residents as well as buyers.
J. Patrick Moore, CMCA
Compliance Coordinator
Forest Heights HOA
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