Very small HOA - self management

I have a lot of experience managing (own) property.

We recently bought an office building (rented out).

It is part of an HOA. There is one more building with one commercial owner, self-used.

We bought it through an LLC, so did the other owner.

So, two houses, both owned by companies, both care for their own building.

The HOA has a bit of grass and parking spots.

The HOA is incorporated. The presidents of both LLCs were named directors of the HOA. Nobody really asked, but I did not object. So, I am now a board member.

Never managed an HOA, where should I start?

You can get the CC&R's at your local courthouse if you don't have them already. They should be on file in the records department. Some localties have them online. Some states the seller is to provide them at closing. Articles of Incorporation are filed at the State level. May also be online. By-laws are usually internal documents within the HOA. They may or may not be with the CC&R's.

Remember you are NOT managing a HOA. It is a GROUP of people managing it. The money the HOA has is NOT your money. It's EVERY MEMBER's Money. So your just in charge of making decisions for the whole. A HOA is more like an incorporated club.

I will note that LLC's are a bit tricky to deal with in a HOA. Not getting into a lot of details, I call an LLC the "member" who gets to choose who does the "prison time". Whomever chooses the shortest stick get the &it. They are harder to collect from than an individual. So be prepared to understand that relationship as well.