What is a Community Association?
A Community Association is a non-profit corporation registered with the State and managed by a duly elected Board of Directors. Its purpose is to maintain all common and other designated areas and to govern the community in accordance with the provision of the legal documents: Covenants, Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation.
All community associations have three features that make them different from traditional homeownership. First, members share ownership of common land and have access to facilities, such as swimming pools, that often are not affordable any other way. Second, when someone buys a home in a community they automatically become a member of a community association and typically must abide by covenants, conditions, and restrictions. Third, the association can charge an "assessment" (a regular fee, often monthly, that is used for upkeep of the common areas and other services and amenities).
The association may have one of a variety of names: homeowners association, property owners association, condominium association, cooperative, common interest community, or council of co-owners. To simplify matters, they are all frequently referred to using the umbrella term, community association or CA.
What are the Advantages of Community Association Living?
Neighborhoods with a Community Association often have an attractive combination of well-designed homes and landscaped open spaces. Clubhouses, parks, pools and other amenities are often part of the community common areas. Community members can enjoy community facilities that may have been unaffordable individually. Further, the individual does not have to be directly responsible for maintenance. The Community Association operates and maintains the shared facilities.
What are Member Responsibilities?
Each homeowner pays, through the association fees, a share of the expenses and, as an association member, has a voice in the association's decisions. Associations typically elect a board of directors from their members to make the strategic management decisions for the association's future and direct the Association Managers in carrying out the daily operations and business of the association. Typically association boards meet as needed during the year and the association has an annual meeting to select new board members or vote of important community issues. Volunteer members, on site employees, a professional management company, or a combination of the above usually take care of the daily management requirements of the association.
What is a "management company" and what do they do?
A management company is contracted by the Board of Directors to provide such services as: Collection of assessments, supervision of subcontractors, obtaining bids for subcontracted services, providing financial statements and collection reports, as well as a general clearing house for problem solving, communications with homeowners and the Board of Directors and to serve in an advisor capacity. The management company reports directly to the Board and all decisions are made by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
How do I submit a maintenance request?
For normal non-urgent maintenance items please mail or fax your written request. Be sure to provide us with the best possible time to reach you. If the item is an emergency and it is during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), you may call our office at (252) 329-7368 to report the problem.
You may also submit maintenance requests through our HOA Member Login and monitor the progress of the work through this login. You have to register with the Resident Login first and this takes about twelve hours to process your request. To report emergency maintenance needs be sure the receptionist is informed that you have a maintenance emergency. If it is after business hours, call the office, follow the voice mail instructions and you will be transferred to our answering service. For police or fire emergencies, dial 911 before calling us.
What is the HOA Member Login?
This is a menu option that allows our HOA members to:
- access their account activity online
- submit and monitor work orders online
- pay rent online with a credit or debit card or draft their checking/savings account
If you would like to sign up for the HOA Member Login, click here and follow the sign up process.
