Letter to the Editor, RE: Finance: Finding the right line of credit for your association’s repairs, by Karyn Mann, June 2008 edition. I read this article with great interest. However, this article did seem to omit one important facet of the type of credit that may be available to associations: What is required by lenders to secure such a loan? During past decades lending institutions typica... read more

More than 60 million Americans today live in 300,000 community associations across the nation. While some real estate values may decline, owners often are left with little to no equity in their property. Investors sometimes are left holding properties that do not produce a cash flow. Mortgage loans are re-pricing at higher rates and interest-only loans now require principal payments. All these fac... read more

Questions from readers Q: I’m hoping you can help us. We have 12 privately owned condos where I reside – Lakewood, Calif. – and we are in need of financial assistance for painting, exterminating termites, etc. We don’t have enough monies in our reserves, and I’m wondering if you have ever heard of homeowners’ association’s having credit cards for such use. Please let me k... read more