Looking for helpful resources - advice

Hey everyone,

I'm in a new housing development with 1,500 houses and have just been elected to serve on the three member board.

We have over $100,000 in delinquent payments ( I would guess somewhere around 30% of our homes are behind with an average of around 200 dollars or so per house ).

Does anyone have any advice on *successful* collection strategies or schedules? ( Liens, collection agencies, funding drives? ) I also would like to know if there are any web resources about HOA's ( what's a normal reserve amount we should aim for? )

Basically, there's very little homeowner involvement in the HOA, which we need to change, and we also need to make people pay their dues for the HOA to even be slightly effective.

Any advice or reading material on how to increase Homeowner involvement or on collections or community initiatives would be helpful.

Thanks,

Brookfield.

James,
You are very generous bro.... 1500 homes and only 3 of you. That is a challenge. You need a management co. to asst. It will mean higher dues but that sounds like a full time job to me.

James,
You all need to get your act together. 3 Board members is totally inadequate to take care of 1500 homes. You can get the best management company there is but three board members can not assume the kind of responsibility due the owners. Of course a managing company would help but you need homeowners representation to tha managing agent or company.
You need to break you total membership down into areas or sections and have representatives of the Board from each section.
That is where to start, then hire a company to manage and get a credentialed HOA General manager and let him/her set up your internal structure. I bear wittness to the value of a smart General manager, invalueable assest for an HOA this size.

How old is your place? Things must be out of control and not likely grt under control if you don't create the foundation for owner representarion.

James,
I see some of your initial questions about finding resources and "How to's" never got addressed.

This site has a ton of stuff. Try Community Association Network. on the left of this page. On the Discussion page use the search feature that is extensive and helpful. Read you documents, read any State Statutes, any corporation requirements, make sure you have completed and correct turn-over papers from the developer. Go on line and search your association name at the County court house, deed, tax, licenses, registeration, etc.
Go to State site for licenseing of Corporation and make sure you are current.

California has specific laws about HOA's, check them out at Library.
This is not a two week 101 in HOA's. This is a learning experience that you never complete.