Information for New Owners

Anders, we on provide information to the seller or the seller's agent, not the buyer or the buyers agent. In Colorado the information which must provided includes the Declaration of CC&Rs, the Bylaws, all Rules and Regulations (Policies & Procedures), the annual budget, the minutes of the last annual meeting, the minutes of the last 6 months Board meetings, and the most recent financial reports. We also include the Architectural request form.

Anders,

First, please note there are different types of information to be given at different times and possibly different audiences. It is important to realize this when reading the responses since a prospective buyer, for example, probably doesn't need to know how to operate the intercom. I would break them down to: 1) information to be given to prospective buyers before closing; 2) information to be given to new owners once they close; and 3) information to be given to new residents regardless of whether they are an owner, tenant, or guest.

With regards to the information to be given to prospective buyers, read Arizona Revised Statutes Section 33-1806 (for true planned community HOAs) and Section 33-1260 (for condominiums).

Anders,

Copied below is ARS 33-1806 which outlines the info that is to be provided a new owner upon resale of a unit. This statute is for planned communities. If you live in a condo the statute that applies is ARS 33-1260; however, it reads the same.

I'm surprised your mgmt co is not aware of these statutes. Does that mean they aren't giving any info to prospective and/or new buyers? I find this very distressing! Who, may I ask, is your mgmt co. If they are not aware of these statutes I wonder what other important HOA statutes they are also not aware of.

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33-1806. Resale of units; information required; definition

A. For planned communities with fewer than fifty units, a member shall mail or deliver to a purchaser within ten days after receipt of a written notice of a pending sale of the unit, and for planned communities with fifty or more units, the association shall mail or deliver to a purchaser within ten days after receipt of a written notice of a pending sale that contains the name and address of the purchaser, all of the following:

1. A copy of the bylaws and the rules of the association.

2. A copy of the declaration.

3. A dated statement containing:

(a) The telephone number and address of a principal contact for the association, which may be an association manager, an association management company, an officer of the association or any other person designated by the board of directors.

(b) The amount of the common regular assessment and the unpaid common regular assessment, special assessment or other assessment, fee or charge currently due and payable from the selling member.

(c) A statement as to whether a portion of the unit is covered by insurance maintained by the association.

(d) The total amount of money held by the association as reserves.

(e) If the statement is being furnished by the association, a statement as to whether the records of the association reflect any alterations or improvements to the unit that violate the declaration. The association is not obligated to provide information regarding alterations or improvements that occurred more than six years before the proposed sale. Nothing in this subdivision relieves the seller of a unit from the obligation to disclose alterations or improvements to the unit that violate the declaration, nor precludes the association from taking action against the purchaser of a unit for violations that are apparent at the time of purchase and that are not reflected in the association's records.

(f) If the statement is being furnished by the member, a statement as to whether the member has any knowledge of any alterations or improvements to the unit that violate the declaration.

(g) A statement of case names and case numbers for pending litigation with respect to the unit filed by the association against the member or filed by the member against the association. The member shall not be required to disclose information concerning such pending litigation which would violate any applicable rule of attorney-client privilege under Arizona law.

(h) A statement that provides "I hereby acknowledge that the declaration, bylaws and rules of the association constitute a contract between the association and me (the purchaser). By signing this statement, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the association's contract with me (the purchaser). I also understand that as a matter of Arizona law, if I fail to pay my association assessments, the association may foreclose on my property." The statement shall also include a signature line for the purchaser and shall be returned to the association within fourteen calendar days.

4. A copy of the current operating budget of the association.

5. A copy of the most recent annual financial report of the association. If the report is more than ten pages, the association may provide a summary of the report in lieu of the entire report.

6. A copy of the most recent reserve study of the association, if any.

B. A purchaser or seller who is damaged by the failure of the member or the association to disclose the information required by subsection A of this section may pursue all remedies at law or in equity against the member or the association, whichever failed to comply with subsection A of this section, including the recovery of reasonable attorney fees.

C. The association may charge the member a reasonable fee to compensate the association for the costs incurred in the preparation of a statement furnished by the association pursuant to this section. The association shall make available to any interested party the amount of any fee established from time to time by the association.

D. A sale in which a public report is issued pursuant to sections 32-2183 and 32-2197.02 or a sale pursuant to section 32-2181.02 is exempt from this section.

E. For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "member" means the seller of the unit title and excludes any real estate salesperson or real estate broker who is licensed under title 32, chapter 20 and who is acting as a salesperson or broker and also excludes a trustee of a deed of trust who is selling the property in a trustee's sale pursuant to chapter 6.1 of this title.

©2007 Arizona State Legislature. privacy statment