Okoniq Journal
Property tips, taxes & HOA guides
Plain-language guides for homeowners, landlords, and HOA boards — written to help you stay organized and keep more of your money at tax time.
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New to managing property? Start here.
Taxes & Accounting
Deductions, basis, Schedule E, and staying audit-ready.
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Leases, rent, screening, and tenant relationships.
Maintenance & Repairs
Upkeep, vendors, and keeping a home in shape.
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Financing, refinancing, insurance, and cash flow.
Buying & Selling
Valuation, prepping to sell, and the closing process.
HOA & Community
Boards, reserves, meetings, and living in an HOA.
Latest articles
HOA Selective Enforcement: What It Is and Why It Sinks Cases
Selective enforcement means an HOA enforces a rule against one owner but ignores identical violations elsewhere, and it's the top defense that beats boards in court.
HOA Secretary Duties — A Complete Guide for New Volunteers
An HOA secretary typically handles meeting minutes, official records, and notices — here's what the role covers and where new volunteers get tripped up.
HOA Rules vs. CC&Rs — What's the Difference, and Which Wins?
CC&Rs are recorded with the county and usually need 67% owner approval to change; board rules can be adjusted at a single meeting.
HOA Reserve Study vs. Capital Plan: The Real Difference
A reserve study prices out future repairs over 20-30 years, while a capital plan schedules and funds them — most boards need both, not one or the other.
HOA Progressive Enforcement: Warning to Fine to Hearing
A three-step enforcement ladder — warning, fine, hearing — keeps HOA fines legally defensible and cuts owner disputes by giving everyone written notice.
HOA Loss Assessment Coverage: The HO-6 Add-On Owners Miss
A $10,000 HOA loss assessment can land on your bill with 30 days' notice, and most standard HO-6 policies only cover $1,000 of it.
HOA Homeowner Open Forum: How Much Speaking Time Is Required?
Most states require HOA boards to set aside open forum time, with several setting a 3-minute-per-speaker floor unless the bylaws say otherwise.
HOA Governing Documents Hierarchy — Which Rule Wins?
When HOA documents conflict, state law usually wins, then the recorded Declaration, then Articles, Bylaws, and Rules — in that exact order.
HOA Election Rules for a Clean, Contested Vote (2026)
Most contested HOA elections fail on notice, quorum, or ballot secrecy, not on the actual vote count, and those errors can void the result.
HOA D&O Insurance Explained: What Directors Are Protected From
Most HOA D&O policies cap defense and settlement costs between $1 million and $3 million per claim, but common exclusions can still leave directors paying out of pocket.
HOA Cure Period: How Much Time to Give an Owner to Fix It?
Most HOAs give owners 10 to 30 days to cure a violation before fines start, but the real number lives in your governing documents, not a rule of thumb.
HOA Committee Structure — Which Committees Your Board Actually Needs
Most HOAs only need 2-3 working committees, not the 6-8 that bylaws often list, and running unused ones wastes volunteer hours every year.
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