Blog / 01
What we’ve learned running communities — and thinking about the ones we haven’t yet.
A complete, plain-English guide to the California Davis-Stirling Act as it applies to Bay Area HOAs in 2026. Covers the six new laws effective January 1, 2026 (SB 770, SB 625, AB 1170, SB 410), the SB 326 balcony inspection deadline, SB 800 repair tracking, reserve study requirements, and the Annual Policy Statement. Written for board members, not lawyers.
By Lawson Pan
California law gives every HOA homeowner the right to inspect association financial records. This guide covers what the board must disclose (Civil Code §5200-5520), the new SB 410 production timelines, and how to spot the gap between legal compliance and real financial transparency.
California law requires HOA reserve studies every three years. A Level I study in the Bay Area costs $3,000-$8,000 for a 50-100 unit community. This guide covers the three study levels, what the law requires, how to read the results, and when to commission a new one.
A step-by-step guide for California HOA boards that have decided to switch management companies. Covers the termination process, the transition timeline, legal requirements under Davis-Stirling, what to look for in a new manager, and the most common mistakes boards make during a switch.
A practical checklist of 20 questions every HOA board should ask when evaluating a management company. Covers pricing transparency, vendor practices, response time SLAs, financial reporting, technology, and transition process.
California SB 326 required all condominium HOAs to inspect exterior elevated elements (balconies, decks, walkways) by January 1, 2025. If your community missed the deadline, here's the liability exposure, the repair timeline, and the step-by-step path to compliance.
Why static monthly financial reports are no longer enough for modern HOA communities, and how real-time dashboards are changing the standard for transparency.
By Yvonne
