Property owners can earn a good income from their property provided they have the right property manager looking out for their best interest. One of the biggest and most common mistakes that property owners make is hiring a property management company in haste. In their desire to earn from their investment as soon as possible, they fail to realize that entrusting their investment to the wrong property management company can turn their asset into a liability in a matter of months.

Protect your investment; choose your property management company wisely. Here are a few red flags to watch out for:

1. The company has a real estate “side business”

The company’s primary business may be property management but they have a side business: selling real estate. Why is this a red flag? First off, property owners think that a property management company that also sells real estate is the perfect entity to oversee their property because they have a deeper understanding of the business, both from the perspective of the owner and the seller. Unfortunately, it’s not as black and white as it appears.

Usually, property management companies like this offer to manage your property so they can have first dibs on it if you decide to put it on the market. So really, their interest is more on getting their hands on your property solely to earn from it, both as the property manager and broker. It’s a win-win for them, not so much for you.

2. They don’t have a *good* network of vendors and suppliers

When your property gets damaged by the renters or it needs emergency repairs, who do they turn to? If they only know one or two vendors, suppliers, and contractors to do maintenance jobs, you could be looking at long delays caused by emergency repairs. Also, you have to wonder why they don’t have a good network of contractors ready and willing to take on jobs at a drop of a hat. Could it be a lack in business ethics? Or perhaps they also try to get a commission for every commissioned job? There could be a number of reasons but one thing’s for sure: your property could end up more damaged than managed if you hire this type of property management company.

3. Frequency of tenant eviction

This red flag isn’t something that property owners even consider asking about, but not doing so could mean having long periods of vacancy on your property, which means potential income lost. In a word, a property management company that seems to be in the habit of evicting tenants mean only one thing: they do not screen applicants thoroughly.

Take your time choosing your property management company. A little bit of effort could save you future stresses and headaches.

Before you purchase or move into a new home, you should check first if your house is part of a community that belongs to a homeowners association (HOA) because this will spare you from surprise dues or fees that you’ll be asked to pay monthly (or at regular intervals), and you’ll also know things that you’re allowed to do and what you shouldn’t do if you want to avoid trouble.

To help you get started, here are five things you should know about homeowners associations, with a particular focus on the one thing that could affect your lifestyle: fees.

1. Fees vary from HOA to HOA

HOA fees or dues largely depend on two things: location and services. As with real estate, the location of the HOA greatly affects how much each HOA member will be charged for their regular dues. Suffice it to say that the more expensive the location, the higher the fee.

Additionally, the amenities and services that the HOA provides dictate the amount of HOA dues. Fees could be anywhere “between $100 and $700 per month.”

2. Special assessment fees may be required from time to time

Depending on the HOA’s financial structure, homeowners may be charged an additional assessment fee from time to time. Essentially, these charges may be due to major repairs that need to be done on the community’s common areas or facilities and the HOA doesn’t have enough funds to cover the expenses. Check your HOA’s financials for such emergency expenses to see if these are already covered in the monthly dues.

3. Mortgage lenders consider HOA fees

Believe it or not, mortgage lenders (banks, generally) will look into the HOA and your fees before approving your mortgage application. Mortgage lenders consider how the HOA dues could affect your finances overall, seeing these as critical factors that could affect your ability to pay your mortgage dues. In general, the higher the HOA dues, the lower your mortgage loan (so you’ll have a lower monthly mortgage due).

4. Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions

One of the most crucial factors about HOAs that homeowners neglect to check before moving in is the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) document. The CC&Rs basically dictate what you can and can’t do on your property, and the community. Some HOAs have exaggerated restrictions like dictating the accepted paint on your home’s exterior walls. Be sure to check every condition and restriction to avoid being penalized or worse, kicked out of the community.

5. Conflict resolution

In relation to the above, check to see how the HOA resolves disputes or conflicts between neighbors, as well as the fines or penalties given for violations of the rules. As mentioned above, homeowners may be charged a fine or, in extreme scenarios, kicked out. Some HOAs even attach a lien on, or foreclose, the property.

Feel free to send your questions online or call 951-270-3700 for questions or inquiries.

Homeowners associations (HOAs) have become increasingly popular over the recent decades. With well-maintained amenities and shared areas, rules that benefit property owners, a safe, welcoming neighborhood that’s perfect for raising a family, and more, there’s a lot to love about living in an HOA community.

There’s more to HOA communities than meets the eye, however. Below, we list down 10 little-known yet fascinating facts about HOA communities.

1. Of 92 percent of HOA community residents, 70 percent consider living in such communities a positive experience.

2. 90 percent of HOA community residents have a good relationship with their association’s board of directors. 88 percent are of the opinion said board endeavors to serve the community’s best interests.

3. 76 percent of such residents believe the rules and regulations of their HOA enhance and protect the value of their property. This is because HOAs usually don’t allow homeowners to make extreme aesthetic or structural modifications to their homes.

4. 22 to 24 percent of United States citizens live in HOA communities.

5. Every year sees the establishment of over 8,000 new HOA communities across the United States. In fact, there are now an estimated 344,500 communities governed by HOAs. This is an enormous rise in the number of such communities in the country, especially considering there were only around 10,000 of them in the 1970s.

6. Homes in HOA communities are often higher in value than homes in non-HOA communities. As of 2017, HOA community homes have a value of $5.88 trillion.

7. There are currently between 7,000 and 8,000 HOA management companies in the United States. They provide employment to between 95,000 and 100,000 people.

8. HOA communities boast a multitude of amenities, including parks, basketball courts, tennis courts, football fields, swimming pools, barbecue pits, walking trails, clubhouses, playgrounds, playrooms, gardens, cafes, business centers, and more. You can also expect recycling bins, cooking classes, art workshops, pet-grooming services, and the like.

9. Today, many HOA communities encourage eco-friendly solutions to common issues, such as solar panels and the use of energy-efficient appliances. They also prioritize the development of green systems, such as water irrigation that prevents the wasting of water and drastically lowers your water bill.

10. HOAs host community activities, gatherings, and festivals to give residents opportunities to form friendships with their neighbors. This strengthens the sense of community within the neighborhood.

If you’d like to know more interesting facts about HOA communities, please don’t hesitate to contact So Cal Property Enterprises, Inc. through its corporate website or give us a call at 951-270-3700. We’d be happy to hear from you!

When a Home Owner’s Association (HOA) is unable to effectively juggle managing a corporation and ensuring a community’s needs are met, it turns to an HOA management company for assistance.

An HOA is generally responsible for the maintenance of the community’s amenities and other shared spaces. It also enforces rules, collects fees, covers continuing expenditures, and amasses the funding for larger expenses. These functions are overseen by the HOA’s board of directors, which is comprised of volunteers from the community. As you can see, the board has a multitude of obligations to attend to.

Thankfully, HOA management companies are licensed to provide much-needed aid to HOAs. Read on to know the responsibilities of such companies, and why they can be of great benefit to HOAs.

Neighborhood management

The failure of homeowners to observe the HOA’s rules can lead to poorly maintained facilities, unkempt parks, and more—all of which can cause a reduction in the community’s value.

Thankfully, HOA managers help the association enforce their rules in an effective manner. Their responsibilities include conducting investigations regarding issues related to maintenance and rule violations; ensuring service providers adhere to contractual specifications when caring for pools, lawns, and other amenities and common areas; and coordinating tasks authorized by the board of directors.

Administration

HOA management companies also provide expert administrative services. Through adept communication and organization, managers excel at supervising operations designed to maintain and improve the state of the community.

In addition to assisting the board in their preparation of the yearly financial plan, HOA managers can provide regular management reports; schedule and participate in board meetings; communicate with homeowners regarding their specific concerns; and help enforce the community’s rules as mentioned above.

Accounting

Most HOAs know the handling of association and community finances can be a complex affair. HOA management companies can help simplify matters by managing the community’s bank accounts; providing accurate estimates of expenditures related to community maintenance; generating financial statements on time; reviewing monthly fees; offering direction when it comes to preparing the board and community’s long-term financial plan.Of course, not all HOA management companies are the same. While the above list discusses their basic services, you can expect different companies to have other ways of contributing to the maintenance and betterment of the community.

If you’d like to know more about the responsibilities of HOA management companies, please feel free to contact So Cal Property Enterprises, Inc. through its corporate website, or give us a call at 951-270-3700. We’d be glad to hear from you!

One of the best things that an HOA’s Board of Directors can do for the association and its members is to hire the services of a property management company as they have the experience and expertise to handle not only the daily responsibilities of the homeowners association but more importantly, to expertly handle challenges as they come; which could include crises and disasters.

With that said, it’s important to be careful about the property management company you hire as their professionalism could either make or break your HOA. Remember that they are there to help you handle the responsibilities of an HOA. And on that note, here are the top four questions you should ask during the selection process:

1. What is the scope of your services?

First off, know that not all property management companies provide the same services, or if they do, the scope of each specific service may be limited compared to others. It’s important to know all the specifics of the services they offer, so make sure to write down the particulars you’d like to focus on and discuss each one with the property management company as thoroughly as possible.

2. How long have you been serving HOAs?

Often, longevity in any business and industry translates to good service. A business wouldn’t have survived for as long as it did if consumers/customers do not trust them and do not find their services/products reliable. This doesn’t mean however that a new player does not deserve to be considered. It’s always best to keep your options open, hence; the thorough vetting process.

3. Who are the professionals behind your management team?

There are two things to determine here. First, the type of professional service, i.e. accountant, finance expert, an on-site contractor for auditing HOA maintenance, and so on. Next, the actual professionals assigned to various aspects of HOA management. This should entail meeting some of them face-to-face for some of your questions.

4. How many HOAs does each team handle?

For your HOA to receive optimal services from the property management team assigned to you, you need to make sure that the team, especially the lead property manager, does not have too many jobs on their plate. You will need a property management team that will be available to you 24/7. While you may not need them on-site all day, every day, there are times when you need to contact them at ungodly hours for emergencies. They should be accessible to the HOA anytime.

If you wish to learn more about the services of a property management company, please feel free to send your questions online or contact So Cal Property Enterprises, Inc. at 951-270-3700.