Any books?

Yes....your Convenants and Restrictions, Articles of Incorporation, by laws, and Archectual committee documents. It is best to start reading and knowing what you have and how they all work together and can change.

This is a really good site with lots of good information. You can feel free to be a board member or just interested in knowing what HOA questions you have. Not many HOA sites like this. So feel free to look up old posts but it is best to start new ones if you have new questions or info.

Welcome. Many of us were new to HOAs and we learned by hard knocks, experience, and knowing our documents. You have come to the right spot for understanding.... Or atleast we try....

A more helpful approach is www.caionline.org. They have a lot of free material.

Looks like good advice for you, Ryan! We have one regular poster, Jon from NY, who might check in and can probably help you with state statures. CarolF is right, these statutes matter a lot and vary from state to state considerably. Unless they state otherwise, they supersede your HOA's governing documents.

Your own "governing documents," as Melissa points out also are very important. There is a hierarchy among them with your Articles of Incorporation at the top. Next are your CC&Rs (aka Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions; also Declaration). Next, bylaws, then Rules and Regulations. Your Architectural Guidelines might be part of your CC&Rs or might be a separate document.

You know, Richard and Charles, I just went (again) to the CAI website and can't find where the free literature is. Directions, please.

This is a good document, HOA Board Toolkit

http://www.epohoa.org/library/articles/doc_view/89-the-board-member-tool-kit

OOPS...no edit:

....because they did not know their own docs

Actually, that hierarchy is incorrect. The CC&Rs are on top. If you think about it, it makes sense. Not every Association is incorporated. However, every Association has CC&Rs. The complete order would be:

1) Federal Laws (like Fair Housing Act, ADA, etc.)
2) Federal Regulations (like EPA or FCC)
3) State Laws (HOA, COA, Corporate)
4) State Regulations
5) County Codes
6) City Ordinances
7) The PLAT for the development (shows boundary lines, easements, etc.)
8) Declaration of Covenants Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) i.e. the deed Restrictions
9) Articles of Incorporation (if your Association is incorporated)
10) Bylaws
11) Resolutions (formalized decisions by your Association Board. Examples would include architectural guidelines, Collections policy, Common Area/Amenities rules, etc.)


Here is a link:

http://www.caionline.org/info/help/Pages/ResourcesforHomeownersandBoardMembers.aspx

Note, each local chapter may have additional resources (some free, some available for a fee)

All of the advise given sounds good. When I first became a Board member in addition to reading our documents I read the book "New Neighborhoods" that I checked out from our local library. I don't remember the authors' names. It was written by a couple of lawyers.

Of course one must check the copyright date of the book and sift through the processes advised as to what is legal in your state and according to your governing documents.

I made a mistake of asking a previous President for advice. Through the years I have learned this person is not a good person to ask advice of. I learned more from my own reading and studying that I did from any current or former Board member.

LISTEN TO AND FOLLOW TimB