For anyone who has spent time in the Arizona Valley during the summer, 100+ degree temperatures are the norm. While we tend to spend most of our time indoors during this time of year, our landscaping does not have that option. In most cases, once a plant or tree shows visible signs of decline due to the heat, it is [...]
Your community pools are likely very busy right now as residents attempt to beat the heat! Pools can be an attractive, albeit expensive, amenity for potential owners, especially in warmer climates like we have here in Arizona. It is important for communities to manage and maintain their pools in good condition so that owners can continue to enjoy the amenities [...]
Approximately 65 million Americans (or 1 in every 5) live in homeowner associations, including condominiums and planned communities in the United States.[1] The number of homeowner association communities in the United States has risen from approximately 10,000 communities in 1970 to 342,000 communities in 2016.[2] In a recent study, Arizona ranked tenth in the country in number of community associations, [...]
As any board member will tell you, managing the day-to-day operations of an association can be a daunting task. Many associations hire a professional management company to assist them with their responsibilities. But with so many management companies out there, how do you know which one is right for your association? Below is a step-by-step process that our firm has [...]
Board members and managers frequently ask my firm whether their Association can hire a handyman to complete projects or repairs within their Association. My response is generally yes, but there are a number of considerations that I advise the Board to first contemplate. First, the Board should review the situation to determine whether the work should be done by a [...]
Summer is officially here. A few years ago, I witnessed the heroic efforts of a bystander revive a young child that nearly drowned at a community pool. Needless to say, as a mother to two young children, I was rattled to the core by the events of that day. Pool safety is something we all need to keep an eye [...]
By: Beth Mulcahy, Esq. We are lucky to live in a place where we don't have to worry about extreme weather due to winter storms like other places in the country are experiencing. But, come summertime, you never know when a big dust storm or heavy monsoon may hit! Is your Association prepared? Now is a good time to put [...]
Beth Mulcahy, Esq. A very common question that I receive from planned community boards is: “can we prohibit owners from installing solar panels on their Lot?” The short answer is “no”. Arizona law, specifically, Arizona Revised Statute Section 33-1816 of the Planned Community Act, addresses installation of solar panels or solar energy devises in a planned community and sets [...]
By: Beth Mulcahy, Esq. Here are our Quick Tips for the Annual Budgeting Process that will make sure your board is assessing the current and future needs of the association. In a planned community, the budget must be approved by the board, but there is no requirement that the budget be approved by the membership prior to the start of [...]
Dear Cyber-Followers: It was another interesting week at the Arizona Legislature! After 96 days in session, 106 bills have passed and 105 have been signed by the governor. Last week was all about the budget and everything else was placed on a giant “pause”. It is rumored that the budget will be passed this week and once the budget [...]
