CACM CHAT - HOA LIFE

In this week’s episode, guest host, Celeste Huecias, of CACM sits down with The Management Trusts Diane Houston, CAMEx, CCAM, to dive into the key takeaways from the NorCal law Seminar and what to look forward to in SoCal. With over 35 years in the industry, Houston breaks down the executive track—a first for this year’s event— and why high-level discussions are essential. With SoCal Law Seminar k...

In this episode of CACM Chat: The HOA Life , guest host Alia Saouli of CACM sits down with Alfred Logan, CCAM-LS, of Spring Valley Lake Association, to dive into the critical topic of safety and security. Whether you're a large-scale manager or overseeing a smaller community, having a solid evacuation plan and security strategy is essential. With over 17 years of industry experience—and a career t...

In this special LA Fire edition of CACM Chat: HOA Life, we tackle one of the most pressing issues affecting community associations in California—the aftermath of wildfires. Join guest host Alia Souli of CACM as she sits down with Shant Karnikian, Esq., managing partner at Kabateck LLP, and an expert in complex litigation, including insurance and property damage claims. Shant provides invaluable in...

In this special LA Fire episode, host Tom Freeley sits down with Dr. Diane Gehart, an award-winning psychotherapist, to explore the emotional impact of the recent LA fires. They discuss how victims can recognize when it’s time to seek professional help, cope with grief and uncertainty and take steps to rebuild resilience after such a life-altering event. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Gehar...

In this special LA Fire episode, host Tom Freeley talks with Senior Professional Public Adjuster Steve P. Severaid about how victims of the LA County fires can begin rebuilding their lives. The devastating wildfires have impacted thousands of families, homeowners, business owners, HOAs and managers. With over 30 years of experience, Severaid offers practical advice on starting the recovery process...

Guest host Alia Saouli of CACM sits down with Korinna Peterson, CACM Education Events Coordinator, to explore the pressure of New Year’s resolutions—or the decision to ditch them altogether. For community managers, the start of the year can feel overwhelming with so much already on their plate all the time. Instead of setting unrealistic resolutions, this episode focuses on achievable goals and ce...

CEO and host Tom Freeley brings some end-of-year holiday cheer and good tidings in this festive episode. One recent update that brings good news is on the Corporate Transparency Act. At the time of this recording, HOAs and managers responsible for filing on behalf of their client boards were relieved of the requirement to provide beneficial ownership information to the U.S. Treasury Department. Wi...

Guest host Alia Saouli of CACM sits down with Becky Jolly, CCAM, Senior Community Manager at Professional Association Services, to talk about dealing with hoarding in your communities. Hoarding is something that both you and the resident don’t intend for and especially don’t know how to navigate. With 20 years of experience under her belt, Becky dives into tips on dealing with the clutter while al...

Guest host Alia Saouli of CACM sits down with Shawn Hill of Storm Water Innovative Solutions to discuss the reality of storm water in Southern California. Though it may not rain much down here, community managers and homeowners should be aware of the potential damages of storm water. Storm water can affect not only your home but other belongings as well, such as a Volkswagen Bus (which Shawn share...

This week, guest host Alia Saouli of CACM talks about the importance of gratitude in everyday life. On a day-to-day basis, most people are thinking about themselves, their to-do lists, their families and more. But what if you could begin to rewire your brain just by expressing gratitude every day? Studies show that being more grateful and optimistic in the little things can ultimately improve your...

CEO and podcast host Tom Freeley talks about the qualifications and the qualities of leaders. Leaders set goals, provide guidance, surround themselves with talented people and have a clear vision for teams and organizations. A leader also is an influencer of people, who can coach a group to achieve a common goal, and who is willing and able to ask for help. Trust and communication are key. Difficu...

The deadline to comply with the Corporate Transparency Act is quickly approaching (December 31, 2024). What does that mean for homeowners’ associations, which are included in the BOI reporting requirements of the act? Which communities are exempt? What must beneficial owners file with the Department of Treasury and what are the penalties for non-compliance? Dawn Bauman, Senior Vice President of Go...

This week guest host Alia Saouli of CACM sits down with Stephanie Romero of Aeroscopic Environmental to discuss all things health and wellness as it relates to community managers and the buildings they help look after. Tune in to listen to the topic of water damage like mold and how to look for signs. Plus, tips on how to prevent water damage and mitigate risk. Romero recommends insurance is revie...

The HOA industry is in a very active phase of consolidation with mergers and acquisitions. But even as larger management corporations take over longstanding medium and small businesses, newcomers are entering the scene. Host Tom Freeley sits down with Laura Hurtado, CCAM-PM.CI, who recently launched Synergy Management Group in San Diego. After working many years in the industry managing all types...

Homeowners’ associations should set aside anywhere from 15 to 40 percent of their annual budget to adequately fund reserves, says Reserve Specialist Matthew Swain. However, many boards and associations kick the can down the road and avoid setting aside money into their reserve fund because they don’t want to increase assessments. But if you treat reserves like an impound account on a mortgage, it...

In part two of this 2024 legislative update, community management executive Joseph Price weighs in on the balcony bill, the CID repair bill and the electronic voting bill, all which were recently signed into law. What now? How do you start to implement at the association level? It’s not going to be plug and play. Plus, the deadline to comply with the Corporate Transparency Act looms large and asso...

The 2024 legislative season is over in California, but it was an action-packed thrill ride with many bills introduced that targeted common interest developments, or HOAs, in the state. Host Tom Freeley and attorney and CACM’s Legislative Advocate Jennifer Wada analyze the impact of three bills specifically: SB 900 (CID Repair and Maintenance), AB 2114 (Balcony Inspections) and AB 2159 (Electronic...

The pink flamingo ban that turned into a temporary art installation at a community. A community manager that calls the authorities on a trespasser sleeping in the clubhouse, just to find out he’s the association’s board president. Plus, how a community manager tried to avoid serving a violation notice to Lorena Bobbitt. These are just some of the weird stories that will make you chuckle. You can’t...

“Don’t fake your budget.” Hear this and other great advice from guest Lorena Sterling with Community Association Financial Services in Palm Springs. It’s budget season, so tune in for insights from Sterling on how to create and present an association budget. This episode also presents tips on how to read and present a financial statement to the HOA board. Hear about options for funding a budget de...

California’s fire season is in full swing. CEO and host Tom Freeley talks about preparing for emergencies and natural disasters including fires, floods, earthquakes, landslides, storms, and more. In the HOA industry, the term often used is: Fire, flood or blood. Reserve funds can be easily or entirely wiped out to cover the cost of unplanned disasters. In an oceanfront LA community, more than 200...

Burnout is a common symptom for community association managers, aka, Personality Managers, and it manifests both physically and mentally affecting job performance. Insomnia, digestive issues, grumpy mood are all signs of burnout. It’s hard to avoid when subjected to constant negativity and bullying from clients. Taking vacation, identifying stressors, working on time management, writing or verbali...

Who is CACM, what do we do and why are we launching a podcast? Our first episode gives you a glimpse of what our purpose is: to elevate the community association management industry by providing resources, education and certification to HOA managers in California and beyond. Learn about our host, CEO and industry veteran Tom Freeley, and what he will cover in future episodes including the reality...

CACM Chat – HOA Life where no HOA topic is off the table. We’ll bring you stories, trends, legislative matters and best practices in HOA management straight from the day-to-day professionals who work in the California community association management industry and the expert Industry Partners that serve HOAs. CACM was founded in 1991 to elevate professionalism in community management through Califo...