For Immediate Release

Associations, Board Members and Community

Managers Earn High Ratings
Falls Church, VA, May 6, 2016Americans who live in homeowners associations
and condominiums remain overwhelmingly satisfied with their communities, their
homeowner leaders and professional managers, according to a national survey
conducted in March by Zogby Analytics for the Foundation for Community
Association Research.
No matter who or when you ask, the answer always comes back basically the
same, says CAI Chief Executive Officer Thomas Skiba, CAE. A large majority of
Americans who live in community associations are happy and satisfied in their
communities. This is a testament to how much the community association model
has evolved in recent years. The concept has grown up, become well established
and become an increasingly successful form of community governance and an
essential component of the U.S. housing market. Not surprisingly, it represents a
growing portion of our housing stock.
Almost 70 million Americans live in close to 340,000 common-interest communities,
from city-sized, master-planned communities and multi-building condominium
complexes to urban cooperatives and small homeowners associations built into
small tracks of open suburban spaces.
Pollsters have asked the same fundamental question as part of six surveys of
randomly selected association residents in the U.S., beginning in 2005: On a scale
of one to five, with one being very bad and five being very good, how would you
rate your experience living in a community association?
The answers have been strikingly consistent. In the March survey, almost 9 in 10
respondents are either satisfied (4 or 5) or neutral (3) on the question. Sixty-five
percent say they are very or somewhat satisfied, with 22 percent neutral and
just 13 percent expressing dissatisfaction.
The findings from the six surveys rarely vary more than the expected standard
margin of error for national, demographically representative surveys. Community
association residents are equally clear with respect to other questions:
They say their association board members serve the best interests of
their communities and that they are on friendly terms with these elected
homeowner leaders.
They say their community managers provide valuable support to
residents and their associations.

They overwhelmingly support community association rules designed

to preserve the nature and appearance of the community and protect property
values.
By a two-to-one margin, they believe they pay about the right
amountsome even say too littlein association assessments, versus paying too
much. Assessments cover services, utilities and amenities provided to residents by
the association.
They want to see less, or at least not more, government oversight
and control of community associations.
Findings from the six surveys can be assessed at www.caionline.org/validation.
These surveys are not conducted to prove a point. We know that most community
associations function very well, thanks to the skills dedication of homeowner
leaders, community managers and others who provide professional services to
associations. We also know that all communities do not operate as well as they
should, says Skiba. Were never happy when we see a community in the news for
the wrong reasons, but its reassuming to know we know struggling communities
are the exception to the rule. We will continue to work with our members and other
stakeholders to help Americans build and sustain better communities.
The keys to successful associations, Skiba notes, are open communication between
residents and association leaders, a commitment to transparency in governance,
dedicated volunteers and adherence to best practices for association governance
and management. Many time-tested best practices are delineated in From Good to
Great, a free, downloadable document that includes CAIs initiative, Rights and
Responsibilities for Better Communities. Visit www.caionline.org/good2great.
With more than 34,000 members dedicated to building better communities, CAI
works in partnership with 60 chapters to provide information, education and
resources to community associations and the professionals who support them. CAIs
mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership and responsible citizenship
ideals reflected in communities that are preferred places to call home.
Visit www.caionline.org or call (888) 224-4321.
The Foundation for Community Association Research provides authoritative
research and analysis on community association trends, issues and operations. Its
mission is to inspire successful and sustainable communities. Visit www.cairf.org.
________________________________________________________________

For members and general inquiries, contact the CAI member service team:
Community Associations Institute
Phone: (888) 224-4321
E-mail: CAI-info@caionline.org

MEDIA CONTACT: Frank Rathbun

Phone: (703) 970-9239
E-mail: FRathbun@caionline.org
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