Interest rates have never been better. As a result, many owners have jumped at the chance to refinance their homes or condos at seriously low rates. Yet, individual owners are not the only ones who can benefit from these low rates. Community association loan rates are probably lower than you think. Some of our associations have seen rates in the 4% range, and they may be going even lower if recent economic trends continue. read more

It's going to rain on Saturday, which means you should probably postpone your planned mowing and gardening. If you were thinking of golfing on Saturday, I am sorry to report that I heard someone say that every course in Seattle aerated their greens, so golfing's out, too. Oh, and don't even think about skiing or hiking--the snow has melted and the mountains are closed, plus the 520 bridge is also closed so traffic will be murder. read more

In times of crisis, Boards generally try to solve the specific issue in front of them, sometimes overlooking basic principles and procedures. So the best time to focus on these basic principles and procedures is before a crisis. Those times may be few and far between, but just after the annual meeting at which new board members were elected is the perfect time for basic board training or, as we like to call it, Board Boot Camp. Boot Camp is also good as a refresher for incumbent board members. read more

The title of this weekly email is a recent headline that ran in the Oregonian on January 12, 2016. The link to that article can be found here. read more

There are certain situations in life that tend to bring out the worst in people, and one of those is when neighbors just cannot seem to get along. Whether at an HOA or condominium, when people of diverse personalities and interests, who would otherwise not be connected in any way, are forced to live in close proximity to one another, it can be a recipe for conflicts, particularly when owners refuse to compromise or communicate with one another. I have yet to see a set of governing document that expressly requires owners to be friends and get along. read more