Your Homeowners Association (HOA) maintains the common areas, preserves a consistent look throughout the community, and can enhance the sense of community. An HOA may prevent your neighbors from making changes to their homes and using their property in ways that might negatively impact other homes.

An HOA is the way by which homeowners may maintain the pleasant, desirable lifestyle envisioned when they purchased a home. After transition, HOAs are wholly run by homeowners who volunteer to serve their community.

For more information about active committees in your community, please visit the "Committees"page of this website.

 

All HOAs are created by Covenants or CC&Rs. They are recorded on the title to every piece of property in a community; therefore, they are legally binding upon the entire community. CC&Rs grant the HOA and the HOA Board legal authority and are the source of restrictions that apply to all members.

CC&Rs may be amended only by the Declarant or a supermajority of homeowners (the percentage required in the Covenants, but more than 50%).

Other governing documents include the Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation and Community Rules or Guidelines. The Community Rules are made by the Board of Directors, and may change. They may not conflict with the CC&Rs, but should add helpful guidance to homeowners.  Please go to the"Documents"page of this website to download a copy of the governing documents and rules.

Homeowners have the right to use and enjoy the common areas owned by the HOA. Examples of common areas include parks, trails, mailboxes, detention ponds, play structures, sport courts, etc. In some communities, local jurisdictions or third parties may own certain common areas. Check the recorded plot map or call the community association manager to find out what your HOA owns.

Direct Debit: To pay for your monthly assessment using Direct Debit, click here to download the form.

 

 

Assessments (also referred to as “dues”) are each home’s share of the annual operating costs of the HOA. For example, assessments cover:

• Maintenance and repair of common areas
• Landscaping of common areas
• Community Association Management fees
• Insurance on the common areas
• Water and electricity for the common areas
• Contributions to long-term maintenance reserves
• Legal and accounting fees

In addition to assessments, all new home buyers pay an initial capital contribution. This set up fee is separate from advanced assessments. Instead, it goes into the HOA operating account that pays start up costs.

Coordinates and supervises maintenance activities, landscaping, repairs, snow removal, trash pickup.

Advises the board of regulatory issues and compliance requirements, fair housing procedures, fair debt collection practices

Coordinates member/board communication: prepares newsletters, posts notice of meetings, arranges and facilitates social interactions.

Manages office operations: accounts payable and receivable, bookkeeping, filing.

Manages association finances: budgeting, collecting assessments, analyzing reserves, pursuing delinquencies.

Works with accountants and auditors to maintain the association's financial viability.

Works with insurance companies to file or settle claims.

Works with state and regulatory agencies as an advocate for the association.

Carries out delegated officer duties: takes meeting minutes.

Prepares proposals and screens contractors.

Facilitates the PIC submittal and response process and keeps a record of all PIC applications and decisions for property improvements within your community.

The Declarant is usually the developer. It is a corporation that owns the land being developed in a community. The Declarant—sometimes Quadrant Homes—is responsible for managing the HOA during the development phase. As the initial owner of all property in the subdivision, the Declarant at first holds all voting rights in the HOA and appoints the first Board of Directors.

An HOA is a Washington State non-profit corporation. It owns and is responsible for maintenance and repair of common areas in a subdivision. All homeowners in that subdivision are members of the HOA. Membership is automatic when you purchase a home. 

To preserve consistency and make living in your community more pleasant, the CC&Rs include a list of uses that are prohibited or restricted in within the community. Examples of common use restrictions include limits on breeding animals, nuisances, and parking oversized vehicles.

Before transition of HOA to Homeowner Control:

Most Declarant-controlled HOAs also have use restrictions that—among other things—prohibit the following:

• Rentals during development period
• Businesses—homes are intended for residential use only
• Signs
• RV, trailer, and commercial vehicle parking

The HOA is turned over to the homeowners after the developer is done developing, selling, and building the community. After that period, a meeting is held when homeowners vote to elect members of the community to the board of directors. That meeting is called the "transition," and marks the transfer of full control to homeowners.

HOAs are governed by a board of directors. After transition, the board is elected by, and composed of, homeowners. The board hires and supervises the community association management firm, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the HOA.

 

Community Association Manager:  Call (800) 544-4912 or Fax (360) 336-5393